I have recently completed two seasons of my literary radio program, 'Writers from the Vault'. When I conceived of the show two and half years ago, it never entered my head that I would get anywhere near fifty or more episodes. And yet, here I am.

To curate and present a program that essentially dips, over and over, into that old, unfairly discredited canon is a bit of an ask and does take somewhat of a hide. Not long ago, an English head teacher told me in all seriousness that the age of literature was dead. 'Once more into the breech..' I thought to myself. And so the show was born.

It seems to me that there is room today for writing from the past - good writing, of course. Dismissing novels or plays because they don't satisfy a modern mindset, whatever that happens to be, is disenfranchising generations who have not had the opportunity to hear, to read, yes, to study works that have given pleasure because they are good.

A recent program I completed had pieces by Strindberg, Hughes, Plath, Steinbeck and Mansfield. That is relatively modern for me, but it gives you an idea. If I enjoy reading it aloud, then perhaps someone will enjoy listening, and a process of passing on quality that represents the best of human endeavour, continues.