Episodes

Season 2021 – Talk 13 – The Songhai Empire In The Songhai Empire David Simpson tells us the story of the greatest Empire on the African continent. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Where was it? The empire dominates to the west of Sudan in the 15th and 16th century. The largest Empire in Africa at its peak. The name is derived from its leading ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai. The state came into existence in the 11th Century centred on i...

Day 2 – We start our Mystery Tour – UK Rail Journeys Series 1 – Episode 9 The second day of The Welsh Dragon begins in Shrewsbury station where we start our Mystery Tour. Sadly we are not following the planned route along the Welsh coast because someone has crashed into a bridge. We are travelling by a long route to Crewe. Our four and a half hour journey will allow every passenger to eat a full Sunday Lunch before we get arrive. We start by retracing our steps along the Welsh Marches line on o...

Season 2021 – Talk 12 – The History of Farnham Park In The History of Farnham Park Pam Taylor tells us the story of the Park, or more correctly Parks, over the centuries. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Farnham Castle: The Park surrounds the site of Farnham Castle. Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester, founds the castle in 1138. He is the brother of King Stephen. The castle is a favoured residence of the Bishops of Winchester for many centurie...

We reach Shrewsbury and head for our hotels – UK Rail Journeys Series 1 – Episode 8 The first day of The Welsh Dragon ends as we reach Shrewsbury and head for our hotels. For the last few hours we’ve been having dinner and travelling along the Welsh Marches line on our journey towards Shrewsbury. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: North from Abergavenny: We leave Abergavenny and soon pass a number of long closed stations. In many cases little still rem...

Season 2021 – Talk 11 – Six Characters from History – the Burning House Debate In Six Characters from History – the Burning House Debate six speakers put the case for our historical characters. Please decide which one deserves to be saved. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Sir Alexander Fleming: Margaret Denyer tells us the story of Sir Alexander Fleming. We learn how he discovered penicillin in 1928. The importance of penicillin is described as the...

Along the Severn and on to the Welsh Marches Line – UK Rail Journeys Series 1 – Episode 7 Our journey continues as we travel along the Severn and on to the Welsh Marches Line. The first part of our journey is on the Gloucester to Newport line. We pass over Maindee junction near Newport and take the Welsh Marches line. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: Along the River Severn: After we pass Lydney we travel down the west bank of the River Severn and soo...

Season 2021 – Talk 10 – Wellington’s Campaign in Portugal and the Lines at Torres Vedras In Wellington’s Campaign in Portugal and the Lines at Torres Vedras Peter Duffy takes us back to the Peninsular War. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. The start of the war: The Peninsular War begins when France and Spain invade Portugal in 1807. In 1808 the French occupy Spain – their previous ally! Napoleon deposes the Spanish King and replaces him with his bro...

In and around Gloucester – UK Rail Journeys Series 1 – Episode 6 In this episode our journey continues as we travel along the Golden Valley line through Stonehouse station and on to Gloucester. We have a few hours in Gloucester whilst the crew services our train. We then take the Gloucester to Newport line for the next part of our journey. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: More closed stations: Dr Beeching has a lot to answer for! On our way to Stoneh...

From Challow to Stroud – UK Rail Journeys Series 1 – Episode 5 In this episode we continue our journey and travel from our water stop at Challow to Stroud. Our journey takes us along the Golden Valley line. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: Our water stop: A steam engine needs water, lots of water. Mayflower holds over 4,000 gallons. Water comes to the engine by road tanker because there is no infrastructure to water steam locomotives on the mainline ...

Season 2021 – Talk 09 – The History of Language In The History of Language Alan Freeland explains how language developed – verbally, with the use of icons and drawings, and through the written word. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. What is language? A good question! The word is complicated to define and different people define it in different ways. We believe that humans have used spoken language for at least 150,000 years. What about animals? They ...

From Reading to Wantage Road – Series 1 – Episode 4 In this episode we continue our journey travelling from Reading to Wantage Road. Our journey takes us west, through towns and the countryside, over bridges as we cross rivers. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: The Sonning Cutting: The cutting allows the railway to bypass Sonning. The cutting is over a mile long and, in places, 60 feet deep. Navvies dug the cutting and moved the spoil in wheelbarrows ...

Season 2021 – Talk 08 – The Mounties In The Mounties Richard Thomas tells us about the history of the North West Mounted Police, their people, their legends and their myths. We learn of their important role in bringing law and order to Canada’s North West. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. A ‘frontier force’ for the North West: The Dominion of Canada is created in 1867. The majority of the population lives in the east of the country. The north west is...

Across the London border and on towards Reading – UK Rail Journeys – Series 1 – Episode 3 We continue our journey and go across the London border and on towards Reading. Our journey takes us west, first through the suburbs and then on towards the countryside, over famous bridges across rivers. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: Hanwell to Langley: As we continue our journey we pass Hanwell, once called Hanwell and Elthorne. We then cross the River Bre...

National Treasures – Legends of the Four Nations – u3a Theme meeting 2022 01 The talk Legends of the Four Nations by Lorna Thomas tells the stories of an Englishwoman, an Irishman, a Scotsman and a Welshman. A rebel, a Saint, a mercenary and a nobleman! Listen to Lorna tell the full story! Pictures and maps illustrate the talk. Please click on an icon below to open the gallery. Boudicca Boudicca is married to Prasutagus and they have two daughters. Prasutagus rules the Iceni tribe. Unfortunat...

The Welsh Dragon departs – UK Rail Journeys – Series 1 – Episode 2 Paddington Station: The Welsh Dragon departs after our Guard, Paul, blows his whistle, waves his green flag and the signal changes to green giving us the ‘road’. We listen as Mayflower starts to pull us out of London’s Paddington station and our journey to North West Wales begins! Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: Mayflower: Mayflower is a Thompson B1 steam locomotive. The LNER places...

Season 2021 – Talk 03 – The Barbary Corsairs In The Barbary Corsairs Richard Thomas tells us about these pirates who exercised power in the Mediterranean over a number of centuries. Because the talk makes use of maps, pictures and other presentation material I suggest that you open the image gallery below. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Robbery on the High Seas: Richard tells us that piracy requires busy trade routes with narrow choke points becaus...

The Welsh Dragon from Paddington – UK Rail Journeys – Series 1 – Episode 1 Paddington Station: In ‘The Welsh Dragon from Paddington’ I start with a look around this amazing Grade 1 Listed railway station. Simon Jenkins, in his book ‘Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations’* awards it 5 stars and starts his description by telling us that ‘there is magic in the air at Paddington’. First I walk down the ‘premium’ Platform 1 which oozes history. * Please Note – Simon says that this is a Railway Statio...

Season 2021 – Talk 02 – US Presidential Election results from 1920 to 2020 In US Presidential Election results from 1920 to 2020 Rob Sykes tells us about the evolution of the political map of the United States in a century of elections. Because the talk makes great use of maps showing the result for each state in each election I suggest that you open the image gallery below. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. The Electoral College: We learn of the impo...

Episode 12 – The Carbon Footprint of my glass of wine The Carbon Footprint of my glass of wine is a podcast made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. Surrey County Council asked people to submit ideas to help combat the climate crisis in September 2019 . They selected ten ideas from the submissions and these podcasts are one of them. In this podcast I talk to Luke Landers, the Sustainability Lead, and James Crawford, the Skipper, at the Naked Wines UK business. Who are Naked Win...

Season 2021 – Talk 01 – Coniston Coniston is a talk by John Mitchell about the history of Coniston Water and the surrounding area. John knows the area well, he has made regular visits there since his childhood. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. John tells us about five historical topics: Arthur Ransome: The talk starts with Arthur Ransome who is born in Leeds in January 1884. He is the author of the Swallows and Amazons series of books set in the Lak...

National Treasures – Nelson – u3a Theme 02 The talk Nelson is a collaboration between Michael A’Bear, who researched and wrote the material, and Joanne Watson who edited and delivered the talk. They take us on a journey across the world following the life of Nelson. This is the story of a Norfolk Parson’s son who becomes the most famous Admiral in the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy remembers his life every year on Trafalgar Day – the 21st October. Listen to Joanne tell the full story! Pictures a...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 29 – William Morris William Morris is a talk by Judith Edge about a Victorian British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, printer, translator and socialist associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Early years: William Morris is born, in Walthamstow, on 24th March 1834. They are comfortably off because his father is a wealthy financier working in the City of London, his mother comes...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 28 – Owen Jones Owen Jones is a talk by Alan Freeland about this versatile Victorian architect and designer. He helps pioneer modern colour theory. Owen Jones is responsible for the interior decoration and arrangement of the exhibits in the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery. Early years: Alan tells us that Owen Jones is an English born Welsh architect. He is born in the City of London. His father is a successful...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 27 – The Talented and Tormented T E Lawrence – part 2 The Talented and Tormented T E Lawrence – part 2 is the second of two talks by Adrian Martin about this fascinating and complex person. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery. The end of World War 1 in the Middle East: Adrian begins the talk by telling us about the end of the war in the Middle East. Because he discusses the importance of the Arab Revolt we learn that a number of different forces, includi...