Episodes

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 04 – Victorian Philanthropy and its Legacy Judith Edge’s talk is about Victorian Philanthropy and its Legacy. She introduces us to four different people and one couple. Joseph Rowntree: A Quaker and businessman from York. He made his fortune from chocolate and created three Charitable trusts in 1904: The Joseph Rowntree Village Trust to set up and manage the village of New Earswick. The village was built to provide homes for his employees. The Joseph Rowntree Charit...

The Southwest Chief part 5 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 6 From La Plata, Missouri to Princeton, Illinois The Southwest Chief part 5 starts as we pass wet and muddy farms and cross flooded level crossings. As we approach La Plata in Missouri the train is still running late. This morning, sadly, there is no sun – just rain and flooding. The total journey is advertised as taking 40+ hours – click here for more details. Long distance passenger trains in the US often run late because freight ...

Episode 6 – RHS Bridgewater Welcome to the RHS Bridgewater podcast made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. Please note: it was a windy day so there is some wind noise in parts of the podcast. Francis Egerton, them 1st Earl of Ellesmere, built Worsley New Hall between 1839 and 1846. His fortune was generated from coal mining in the area. The hall fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1940s. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is building the RHS Bridgewater garden in ...

The Southwest Chief part 4 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 5 From Raton to nearing La Plata The Southwest Chief part 4 starts as we approach Raton. The train is running late as we reach Raton. It is dusk and we are seeing the last of the sun. The total journey is advertised as taking 40+ hours – click here for more details. There are frequent delays to long distance passenger trains as freight takes priority so they are often late. After leaving Raton (pronounced ‘Ratone’) we pass through ...

Episode 29 – War on the Line 2019 (part 1) Welcome to War on the Line 2019 (part 1), where I talk to a number of characters from the local community. The 2019 event commemorates 75 years since D Day. The cycling Cobbler: I talk to a shoe repairer who uses his bicycle to visit different parts of the area so that he can provide a service. I find that he has a pair if shoes for a soldier. He doesn’t know where the soldier has got to. Let’s hope he’ll come back to pay for the repairs! The Auxilie...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 03 a – Robert Baden-Powell Michael A’Bear tells us about the life of Robert Baden-Powell. We learn that he was born in Paddington in 1857. His father taught geometry at Oxford. Robert was the fifth of the six children borne by his mother. His mother was the daughter of an Admiral and the niece of a General. Baden-Powell didn’t excel in lessons at school. He enjoyed stalking and tracking in the woods next to Charterhouse. He caught and cooked rabbits, making sure that n...

Episode 5 – Surrey’s Greener Future (5) Welcome to the Surrey’s Greener Future (5) podcast made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. We start with the great news that the ‘Green Lungs of Stoughton’ project has received a grant of over £12,500 from the Pocket Parks funding programme. This will enable them to start planting trees. You can find out more about the the Pocket Parks programme by clicking this link. Mandy Johnson tells us about the ‘Solution for Air pollution’ project wh...

The Southwest Chief part 3 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 4 From Albuquerque to Las Vegas, New Mexico The Southwest Chief part 3 starts as we leave Albuquerque. We stopped in Albuquerque for enough time for everyone to have a decent ‘air’ break. It is a beautiful day as we return to the desert. The total journey is advertised as taking 40+ hours – click here for more details. There are frequent delays to long distance passenger trains as freight takes priority so they are often late. We p...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 02 – The Scramble for Africa and the Winds of Change Richard Thomas tells us about the Scramble for Africa which took place over a short period at the end of the nineteenth century. He then goes on to tell us about the Winds of Change leading to African states gaining independence in the twentieth century. In 1880 the European powers controlled around 10% of the continent. The scramble gained momentum following the Berlin Conference from 1884 to 1885. The colonisation ...