October 2026 – Remembering Mum

Canada, Family, Sheffield, ,

October 2026. A year since my last blog update.

I update Facebook and Insta all the time, so don’t tend to update often on here, relying on my Social Plugins on the site to give updates… But an update is due.
And I think it may be in a few parts. So bear with me as I sort out a year…

Remembering Mum…
June Margaret Rose McClelland
25/9/1932-29/5/2026

My mum passed away in May, aged 93. She’d been in a Care Home since June 2023 as her mobility wasn’t good and we couldn’t cope at home, despite help from carers visits.

She’s hoped that she could spend time with people her own age, but the nature of Care Homes is that many residents are hard of hearing, like my mum. So sitting and chatting wasn’t easy. She couldn’t hear what others were saying, and they couldn’t hear her. And Mum loved TV shows and keeping up on news. Many of her fellow residents didn’t share those interests. So she spent much of her time in her room. I visited as often as I could, usually taking the dogs in – and they were always a hot with all residents and staff.

Mum had a decline in her last months, some periods of delirium due to infections, she became less mobile and then confined to bed, moved with the help of a sling contraption.

She passed away quietly on May 29th. And as requested, there was no funeral service – she wanted a cremation, and then a party to celebrate her life. We had two. One in Sheffield at the New Barrack Tavern on August 1st, a second in Canada on August 29th, hosted in Amherst, NS, by my friends Charlie and Heather. Mum left money for the celebration, so I was able to go to Canada, along with some of her ashes, mixed with some of Dad’s and some ashes from two dogs, Yorkie’s Barty and Angus. Scattered in a place they loved.

I still find myself thinking, “oooh, I haven’t called mum, I’ll do it…. now.”
Missed every day, but I know at the end she was ready to leave.

Some pics of Mum

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Pictures from Celebrations of Mum’s life

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Terror Tapes Podcast

Acting, Actor, audiobook, Horror, Podcast, Radio, Voiceover, , ,

Just in time for a spooky Halloween, I am delighted to share a fabulously chilling new Podcast for your listening enjoyment….
TERROR TAPES

When Adam from Dead Media bought a new cassette player, he needed tapes to play on it. He went on the hunt at his local car boot sale, and there he found a box of unlabelled cassette tapes. These are those tapes. 

He’s called them Terror Tapes. 

They are not for the faint-hearted and have trigger warnings for almost everything. So, listen with caution, if you dare. 

This podcast is intended for adult audiences.

This is some spine chilling audio here, just for you…
So turn off the lights, hug your favourite person or pet close, and hold tight… 

Here’s the links – 

Please, please, please, Follow, Like and Share everything you can. 
It’s all about the algorithm, innit?

Thanks
D x

Barry Pigeon on TikTok!

Acting, Actor, Barry Pigeon Protects, Humour, Sheffield, ,

Hello mateys!

Some of you longer-term followers may remember Barry Pigeon Protects – a lovely web series about a night security guard working on an industrial estate.

During Covid times we even did a special isolated edition.

Well, Barry is back – with some TikTok content to get down with the kids!

It’s short and snappy and will hopefully tickle your bone.

Here’s some links –

TikTok

YouTube

Subscribe to keep up with late night thoughts from Barry!

New TV Series – CALIFORNIA AVENUE

Acting, Actor, BBC, TV,

I was busy in August, shooting an episode of a new series for BBC – CALIFORNIA AVENUE.

I cannot divulge much, but had a lovely day shooting with a lovely chap and a lovely crew.

More when I can tell you

Wikipedia Info – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Avenue_(TV_series)

California Avenue is an upcoming BBC One television drama series from Hugo Blick, starring Bill Nighy, Erin Doherty, Helena Bonham Carter and Tom Burke.

Premise
A young woman on the run with her child seek shelter in a secluded caravan park in the British countryside.

Location shot – Hemel Hempstead

Project Bläckfisk Podcast

Acting, Actor, audiobook, Manchester, Voiceover,

I have been following and involved with Project Bläckfisk for some time – and the Podcast has been a revelation. 

Please check the website for links and evidence of the huge cover-up in Manchester.

Where to listen

Social media

Walking for Prostate Cancer Research in Nov…

Actor

Time to get my walking shoes on again…. 

Did you know that 1 in 8 men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime?

I’ve done a couple of previous fundraisers for Prostate Cancer. Now I am taking on a month-long Challenge for 2 miles a day throughout November.

I walk quite a bit anyway, so I’m planning to do a couple of extra miles every day for the fundraiser.

Your support would be much appreciated.

The Link to help out is here – Walk 60 Miles in November 

Thanks for your support. D

The Boys Are Back in May!

Acting, Actor, comedy, Music, stage, theatre, Yorkshire,

May 10th – come and see us at Seven Arts in Leeds.

Leeds based rockers, Lucifer’s Love Child are back! The band have attracted a new generation of fans since their 1980s hit single “You Make it Hard to Love You” was used in a Viagra commercial.

Thirty years after an acrimonious split, they return to Tykes View WMC, the scene of their first ever gig on the eve of a world tour. Accompanied by long-time manager Rupert, and Thomas, the mysterious new sound engineer.

https://www.sevenleeds.co.uk/event/the-boys-are-back-in-t-tarn/

March the Month for Prostate Cancer UK

Actor, health, Sheffield, ,

Good day to you!

I’ve had a busy month of walking – I am doing March the Month for Prostate Cancer UK – 11,000 steps a day.

I’m joining thousands of people, across the nation, committing to walk or wheel 11,000 steps a day throughout March.
I’m doing it for more than 11,000 dads, brothers, grandads, partners and mates who die from prostate cancer every year.

PLEASE SUPPORT AND DONATE HERE

A few pics from my walks….

Our film Changing Tides – now available on YouTube

Acting, Actor, Blackpool, Lancashire, Short Films, , , , ,

After time on the festival circuit, and limited screenings, our amazing film Changing Tides and the Making of Changing Tides are now online and ready to watch and share, so please do just that.

ABOUT:
Changing Tides is a punchy, realistic social drama that puts the spotlight on alcoholism, abandonment, and finding hope in unexpected places.

​Bea (Natasha Cottriall), early 20s, feisty and streetwise, works as a domestic carer. She has a new patient, Aiden (Rowe David McClelland). A bitter, aging alcoholic, who intimidates for sport, but she’s determined not to let him win.

​Their standoff softens when Aiden’s fragility becomes apparent. It shifts the power dynamic and forces her to take care of him. The balance tipped, and with his curiosity spiked, her unrelenting sarcasm wins him over.

​Bonding over dark humour and chips, he decides to stop drinking and be her friend. But when you’re an alcoholic, you can’t just stop.

Kathryn Georghiou – Writer | Director | Producer

The easiest way to find links to both of the films is on the House of Tales website:

If you want to go directly to the films then follow these links:

The Boys Were Back in Town!

Acting, Actor, comedy, stage, theatre, Yorkshire, ,

Hi folks. And Happy New Year…. bit late for that aren’t I? Hope 2025 is treating you well.

But anyway, I’ve been busy with a remount of our show, The Boys are Back In’t Tarn, at the fabulous Lamproom Theatre in Barnsley last Friday night, Feb 7th.

A fabulous evening with an amazing audience and a bloody lovely cast, recreating our aging metal band, Lucifer’s Love Child.

More shows coming up later in the year, Leeds (May 10) and Sheffield (Oct 3). Keep an eye on Coalface Productions for details. And special thanks to our amazing writers/producers, Paul Athorne and Lee Pollard. Very talented chaps.