From Our Own Correspondent, 1st February 2012

Jake Wallis Simons tracks down the oldest bell in the world . . . to a small village in Hampshire

Listen to the audio (5 mins 13 secs)

“Church bells have been ringing in England for more than thirteen hundred years. The English ringing technique – in which a bell is swung through a full 180 degrees to allow it to sound mouth-up, projecting its voice upwards out of the tower – is quite unique; it can only be found in the British Isles, a few former colonies, and the area around Verona in Italy.

Traditionally, English bells are rung to summon the faithful to worship, to celebrate weddings and festivals, and to mark national thanksgivings. At funerals, and at times of disaster, the bells are sometimes muffled; during wartime, it’s agreed that church bells will not be rung except as a warning of invasion.

One cold January Saturday, I came across the oldest bell of this kind in the world, which dates back to the year 1260. It is a handsome treble bell, cast in solid bronze, its face mottled with the distinctive grey-green patina that has protected it from centuries of atmospheric corrosion . . .”

From Our Own correspondent, 13th August 2011

In the midst of the Eurozone crisis, Jake Wallis Simons meets the Portuguese communities who refuse to let economic collapse get in the way of a good celebration

Listen to the audio (5 mins 12 secs)

“A festival of bounty might not be what you would expect from Portugal at the moment. But the Festa dos Tabuleiros, or Festival of Trays – one of Portugal’s oldest and most colourful traditions – is exactly that. It has been held every four years since pre-Christian times, and the authorities decided it would not be cancelled for something as temporal as a national economic crisis (which, let’s face it, tends to happen once or twice each century). Indeed, this year, in the face of financial ruin, the festival was celebrated with extra vigour . . .” The full story

From Our Own Correspondent, 23rd July 2011

Animal tracker Peter Allison can imitate baboons and wrestle pumas, but he will not feel at home until he is back in the Amazon, says Jake Wallis Simons

Listen to the audio (6 mins 3 secs)

“More than 200 years ago, the distinguished man of letters Samuel Johnson famously said: ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.’ Today, with mass transport and communication changing the face of the globe, that sentiment rings truer than ever. Despite the greyness, stress and pollution of the capital, a flash of international colour can always be found just around the corner . . .” The full story

From Our Own Correspondent, 23rd June 2011

Malta is replacing its fleet of characterful vintage buses with a more modern and efficient model. But not all the islanders welcome the change. Jake Wallis Simons spends time with the drivers and their vehicles

Listen to the audio (5 min 55 secs)

“The island of Malta does not exactly have a central bus station. Instead, it has the Funtana tat-Tritoni, an open-air fountain in the middle of the capital city Valletta, which is home to a frenzy of bus-related activity. From early morning until late at night, fume-belching buses sweep around the fountain, picking up passengers, negotiating log-jams and stopping for the odd half-hour rest . . .” The full story

From Our Own Correspondent, 26th May 2011

Jake Wallis Simons meets the people fighting to legalise divorce in Malta — and those trying to keep it outlawed

Listen to the audio (5 min 17 secs)

“People came in ones and twos until the place was packed. Somebody closed the door to stifle the breeze. Then Father Angelo Seychell — a short, rotund priest in a spotless white robe — glided in, positioned himself beneath the crucifix, and began Mass. The congregation followed the proceedings automatically. But when it came to the sermon, there was an unexpected change . . .” The full story

BBC Radio 4: Four Thought, 18th May 2011

Introduced by David Baddiel

Listen to the audio (13 mins 52 secs)

Buddha vs Buddha: Jake Wallis Simons describes how an ancient row within Tibetan Buddhism is causing a modern schism, and why it led him to give up Buddhism for good

Four Thought combines big ideas and evocative storytelling in a series of personal viewpoints – speakers take to the stage ready to air their latest thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect our culture and society. Recorded live at the RSA in London, these talks are unscripted, thought-provoking and entertaining, with a personal dimension. Read more

From Our Own Correspondent, 27th May 2010

Jake Wallis Simons meets the Orthodox Jewish sect, living in Jerusalem, that denies Israel’s right to exist

Listen to the audio (5 min 54 secs)

“Just ten minutes’ walk from bustling downtown Jerusalem is the district of Meah She’arim, home to the most inaccessible ultra Orthodox Jewish community in the world. It is a labyrinth of narrow, winding alleyways, and the apartment blocks are rickety, cramped and overcrowded. This is a poor community where life is dominated by religious conservatism and a dislike for outsiders. Enter this neighbourhood improperly dressed, and you risk being pelted with rubbish or stones, or even attacked with mace gas . . .” The full story