Jane and Mike have had a life filled with activity in invigorating, lively communities, where people help and support each other. First in South Manchester and then in Salford, in the North West of England, they were surprised to hear that sharing had once been a normal part of everyday life, especially when times were hard and uncertain. Over many generations, ordinary people in the two cities had learned to work together, sharing when money was short and paid work uncertain.

Jane and Mike have spent much of the new millennium working with local radio and have had the pleasure of interviewing many dozens of older people, who were happy to recall their memories and thrilled to hear them broadcast. Those recordings have been made available online and donated to the North West Sound Archive, where they can be heard for years to come.

So it was no surprise when 'Living the New Economy' came to Manchester in early 2014, that Jane and Mike got involved, sharing their experiences and volunteering to hold a similar event in Salford later that year. This book was put together for that event, and was published as a paperback and an e-book. Now the authors have recorded their thoughts out loud, making the stories live for a whole new wave of listeners and learners.

There is a theme. The stories from the past that were gathered proved that people benefited from sharing. Perhaps new ideas, like LETS schemes, are merely the latest attempt to make things happen that were once thought of as everyday and natural. If so, perhaps future generations can gain something valuable from the past.

Mike Scantlebury