Ladies and gentlemen, please take your partners for the planetary waltz!

The heavens may look tranquil, yet everything is in constant motion. The Earth revolves around the Sun, the Solar System revolves around the Milky Way, which in turn revolves around the Local Group of galaxies, and so on.

Discover more in this month's Sky Watch. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Ladies and gentlemen, please take your partners for the planetary waltz!
The heavens may look tranquil, yet everything is in constant motion. The Earth revolves around the Sun, the Solar System revolves around the Milky Way, which in turn revolves around the Local Group of galaxies, and so on.
Discover more in this month's Sky Watch. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Local stories, local voices and local information from Petersfield.

We cover community news, culture, nature, history, events and entertainment in the South Downs market town of Petersfield in Hampshire, UK.

This feed includes all our on-demand audio. Find our more specific feeds by searching "Petersfield" on your  favourite podcast app.

Shine Radio is the radio station made by you. Share your stories or join our volunteer team. Find out more at https://shineradio.uk, email team@shineradio.uk or call Petersfield 01730 555 500.

You make it shine.

Local stories, local voices and local information from Petersfield.
We cover community news, culture, nature, history, events and entertainment in the South Downs market town of Petersfield in Hampshire, UK.
This feed includes all our on-demand audio. Find our more specific feeds by searching "Petersfield" on your  favourite podcast app.
Shine Radio is the radio station made by you. Share your stories or join our volunteer team. Find out more at <a href="https://shineradio.uk">https://shineradio.uk</a>, email <a href="mailto:team@shineradio.uk">team@shineradio.uk</a> or call Petersfield 01730 555 500.
You make it shine.

Voices and stories from Petersfield in Hampshire, UK

Petersfield's Shine Radio

A month-by-month guide to our night skies.

Written by astronomer Geoff Burt and presented by Claire Vennis from inside the South Downs National Park dark skies reserve.

Produced by Petersfield's Shine Radio.

A month-by-month guide to our night skies.
Written by astronomer Geoff Burt and presented by Claire Vennis from inside the South Downs National Park dark skies reserve.
Produced by Petersfield's Shine Radio.

A month-by-month guide to our night skies.

Sky Watch by Geoff Burt

Sky Watch - the night skies above Petersfield in February 2026

Albert is a clever young working cocker showing plenty of talent at his grisly, yet very important job.

P.C. Matt Thompson of the West Midlands Police is a joy to listen to - he is focused 100% on Albert while he's waiting for his next "big" dog. Albee is showing plenty of potential and Matt is an articulate and humorous interviewee.  

Please be aware that, there is some detail about the reality of life as a victim recovery dog, which some might find unsettling. 

If you found this episode interesting, you may enjoy hearing about several other dogs in a similar line of work.  As Matt explains in this interview - Albee works in the city, but the job can be very different in different areas of the country, and these interviews illustrate that difference: 
Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary - who does a live demo on the show. Jax' handler is strong on the human element; and
Rambo the forensic police dog, with some detail about recovering victims from water - a sub-specialism of this discipline. 

More amazing police dogs (other working dogs are available on the podcast - just scroll through). 
Oreo, the digital asset dog
Billy the drug detection dog
The UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025
P.D. Viper the firearms support dog
P.D. Chase and the career arc of a general purpose police dog
P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms 
P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police
Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police
Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police

Do you work your dog or dogs? 

Or perhaps know someone else whose dog is doing an interesting job? Please get in touch!  I love to hear about dogs with interesting jobs.

Find me at kfairweather5@gmail.com or team@shineradio.uk.  

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2026

Albert is a clever young working cocker showing plenty of talent at his grisly, yet very important job.
P.C. Matt Thompson of the West Midlands Police is a joy to listen to - he is focused 100% on Albert while he's waiting for his next "big" dog. Albee is showing plenty of potential and Matt is an articulate and humorous interviewee.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Please be aware that, there is some detail about the reality of life as a victim recovery dog, which some might find unsettling.&nbsp;
If you found this episode interesting, you may enjoy hearing about several other dogs in a similar line of work.&nbsp; As Matt explains in this interview - Albee works in the city, but the job can be very different in different areas of the country, and these interviews illustrate that difference:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/police-dog-jax-the-victim-recovery-dog?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">Jax the victim recovery dog </a>with Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight Constabulary - who does a live demo on the show. Jax' handler is strong on the human element; and</li>
<li><a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/rambo-the-forensic-police-dog?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">Rambo the forensic police dog</a>, with some detail about recovering victims from water - a sub-specialism of this discipline.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
More amazing police dogs (other working dogs are available on the podcast - just scroll through).&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Oreo,&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/oreo-the-digital-asset-detection-dog?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">the digital asset dog</a></li>
<li>Billy <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/billy-the-drugs-detection-drug-with-the-west-midlands-police?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">the drug detection dog</a></li>
<li>The UK's&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/the-national-police-dog-trials-2025?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">National Police Dog Trials 2025</a></li>
<li>P.D. Viper the&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/viper-the-firearms-support-dog?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">firearms support dog</a></li>
<li>P.D. Chase and the&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/police-dog-chase-and-his-last-few-months-on-duty-w?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">career arc of a general purpose police dog</a></li>
<li>P.D. Meika, who&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/police-dog-mika-who-searches-for-london-criminals?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>P.D.&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/police-dog-ted-the-explosives-detection-dog?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">Ted, the explosives detection dog&nbsp;</a>with the West Midlands Police</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Mika, the&nbsp;<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/mika-the-wellbeing-and-trauma-support-dog-who-work?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">well being and trauma support dog</a>&nbsp;in the Metropolitan Police</li>
<li>Champ, the<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/petersfieldstories/meet-champ-the-engagement-dog-working-in-child-pro?in_playlist=dogs-with-jobs">&nbsp;engagement dog working in child protection</a>&nbsp;in the Victoria police</li>
</ul>
Do you work your dog or dogs?&nbsp;
Or perhaps know someone else whose dog is doing an interesting job? Please get in touch!&nbsp; I love to hear about dogs with interesting jobs.
Find me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kfairweather5@gmail.com">kfairweather5@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:team@shineradio.uk">team@shineradio.uk</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&copy; &amp; ℗ Kate Fairweather 2026

P.D. Albert, the cadaver dog 

Andrew Earwaker is the Chair of Liphook, Bramshott and area u3a. Mark Simpson asked him about the formation of the organisation, its aims and the events and groups they organise in the Petersphere.

Andrew Earwaker is the Chair of Liphook, Bramshott and area u3a. Mark Simpson asked him about the formation of the organisation, its aims and the events and groups they organise in the Petersphere.

Liphook & Bramshott u3a has some great groups and events

Today's local news and information update from Petersfield's Shine Radio.
Petersfield Council stands to remember Cllr Martin Holmes
Don’t let the New Year credit card bill get the better of you.
Clanfield Centre has a Pickleball Marathon
and We preview this weekend’s sport

To share your news stories email team@shineradio.uk or call, text or WhatsApp 01730 555 500.

You make it shine.

Published at 4:58am on 30 January, 2026

Today's local news and information update from Petersfield's Shine Radio.
<ul>
<li>Petersfield Council stands to remember Cllr Martin Holmes</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t let the New Year credit card bill get the better of you.</li>
<li>Clanfield Centre has a Pickleball Marathon</li>
<li>and We preview this weekend&rsquo;s sport</li>
</ul>
To share your news stories email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:team@shineradio.uk">team@shineradio.uk</a> or call, text or WhatsApp 01730 555 500.
You make it shine.
Published at 4:58am on 30 January, 2026

Sky Watch - the night skies above Petersfield in February 2026

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