Robert Howard, aka ‘Nosey Bob’, was the longest serving hangman in the colony of New South Wales. But Bob wasn’t always a hangman. In the mid-nineteenth century he was a hansom cab driver, making a good living on the streets of Sydney. But a kick from a horse removed his nose and destroyed his face. Nobody would ride in his cab anymore. With a family to feed, it was time for a career change – and being the least popular man in the colony of New South Wales paid surprisingly well.

In his episode, Bob shares tips for a good, clean hanging and his thoughts about the abuse that he received in the press and in the pubs. Bob loved his garden and his family, and he trained his horse to go to the pub for him. You’ll hear about his life.

Script and production by Nicole Steinke

Sound engineering by Judy Rapley

Nosey Bob read by Jeremy Waters

The Angel read by Ainslie McGlynn

Archival research by Neil Arber

Music and SFX from Epidemic Sound