The BackTracker History Show

The Bristolian Creator of Penguin Books

Season: 4 Episode: 21

Sir Allen Lane was a 20th-century pioneer of paperback publishing in England, whose belief in a market for high-quality books at low prices helped to create a new reading public and also led to improved printing and binding techniques. 

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to RedBubble, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Penguin

Sir Allen Lane Foundation

The New York Times

Daily Herald - Friday 23 July 1954

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

The Beatles and Bristol

Season: 4 Episode: 20

It was 1964 and they were the biggest stars on the planet. Mobbed by screaming fans wherever they went. Here’s what happened when the Fab Four came to Bristol

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to RedBubble, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Bristol Evening Post - Tuesday 10 November 1964

Variety

Billboard

Bristol Evening Post - Tuesday 14 July 1998

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

The Devizes Workhouse Murder

Season: 4 Episode: 19

On the morning of 30th January 1882, Charles Gerrish, who was sentenced to death at the Wilts Hilary Assize for the murder of an old man named Stephen Coleman, in the Devizes Workhouse, paid the extreme penalty of the law in Devizes prison.

This was the first private execution which took place within the prison. Wiltshire had been remarkably free from the crime of murder during the previous 20 years.

Hear the full story of what happened that fateful day.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to RedBubble, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Bristol Mercury - Friday 25 November 1881

Bristol Mercury - Tuesday 31 January 1882

British Executions

Devizes Heritage

The National Archives

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

The S.S Great Western and the Hero Engineer

Season: 4 Episode: 18

Seven adventurous souls were grouped the Great Western's bows, talking excitedly, their, hearts beating faster. They were on an adventure that would bring them either ephemeral fame, or disappointment, ridicule, maybe death.

And they had paid 35 guineas for the privilege. They were the passengers who were  sailing from Bristol with the Great Western, the first steamship built expressly for regular, non-stop Transatlantic travel.

Learn more about this amazing ship and it's role in the history of transatlantic travel.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Western Daily Press - Friday 08 April 1938

Ancestry

SS Great Britain Museum

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

Dickie Valentine: The Forgotten Fifties Singing Icon

Season: 4 Episode: 17

On May 6, 1971, popular 1950s singer Dickie Valentine, his pianist Sidney Boatman and drummer Dave Pearson were killed in a car crash in Glangrwyney near Abergavenny. They were travelling along the bridge to a gig at the Diamond Club in Caerphilly when it happened.

Here was a born entertainer who rose to fame to become one of the biggest names in the fifties. Someone who genuinely loved to sing. Listen to his amazing story of rags to riches.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

South Wales Argus

Bristol Evening Post 10 Mar 1959, Tue · Page 43

Daily Mirror - Friday 07 May 1971

Daily Mirror - Wednesday 12 May 1971

Daily Mirror - Thursday 13 May 1971

Birmingham Daily Post - Saturday 22 May 1971

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

Season: 4 Episode: 16

Three people were killed and three injured when the Imperial Airways liner, City of Washington, bound from Bourget for Croydon, crashed at Neuf Chatel near Boulogne, the North of France on 30th October 1930.

One of the victims was 29 year old Bristolian, Conrad James, a successful engineer who was coming home from Cairo to marry his sweetheart.

Find out more about the crash and how it impacted the lives of those left behind.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Western Daily Press - Friday 31 October 1930

Birmingham Daily Gazette - Friday 31 October 1930

Western Daily Press - Friday 07 November 1930

Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald - Saturday 08 November 1930

Ancestry

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for Harry Bolsover

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

Season: 4 Episode: 15

45 year old Charles Houghton had been convicted of the murders of two elderly sisters, Eleanor and Martha , for whom he worked as a butler.  They had given him notice after 22 years working for them due to his drinking problem.  He shot them both on the 7th of September 1926. 

Listen to the events that led up to his despicable decision and what happened afterwards.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 14 September 1926

Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 06 November 1926

Gloucester Journal - Saturday 04 December 1926

Capital Punishment UK

Ancestry UK

Daily News (London) - Saturday 11 September 1926 [5]

GloucestershireLive

Mirror.co.uk

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

Season: 4 Episode: 14

James Aitken, nicknamed 'John the Painter', was a Scottish radical and arsonist who went around the major Royal Navy dockyards in 1776 in an attempt to burn them down in an act of sympathy with the American Revolutionaries. 

Listen to this incredible tale of one man's mission to gain notoriety and wealth.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

The Society for Nautical Research

Journal of the American Revolution

Headstuff James Aitken, Aka “John The Painter”, Saboteur And Arsonist, Ciaran Conliffe

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023

Season: 4 Episode: 13

The arrival of Easter has been associated with eggs for centuries, The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring, but it was a Bristol chocolate company that first came up with the bright idea to make them out of cocoa.

Hear the story of this devout Quaker family and the creation of one of the most iconic companies from history.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

-

Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2022

Season: 4 Episode: 12

A plaque at the top of The Bank at Robin Hood’s Bay tells the story of a heroic rescue which took place 19th January 1881, when a collier brig the ‘Visiter’ foundered in a violent storm whilst carrying a cargo of coal from Newcastle to London. 

The vessel, registered at Whitby and locally owned, was by then elderly, having been built in 1823 at Sunderland. She had sailed as far south as Flamborough. but a south-easterly gale prevented further progress, tearing the sails to shreds and driving her back up the coast past the cliffs of what is now known as Ravenscar, though in those days was called Peak.

Things got worse as she took on more and more water through the night. The Master thought that setting down the anchor would help them ride out the storm but the weather was truly evil.

Find out what happened and the amazing decision that saved the lives of the crew.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to support the show with a donation, however small, you can go to Ko-Fi.com

Some more great news for you, if you were interested in buying merchandise featuring the show’s logo, then pop over to Teepublic.com, you’ll find lots of things to choose from.

So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.

CONTACT ME

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @BackTrackerUK

Instagram: @backtrackeruk

Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

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SOURCES

SCARBOROUGH MARITIME HERITAGE CENTRE LIMITED

Gazette, 20th January, 1881

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 20 January 1881

Newcastle Courant - Friday 21 January 1881

Scarborough Mercury, 22nd January, 1881

York Herald - Friday 28 January 1881

Robin Hoods Bay Information

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2023