The BackTracker History Show

Welcome to the first Backtracker podcast where we stroll down the path through historical news and see what we can find. As this is the first one I’ve done, please be kind, but if you want to get in touch, go to @BackTrackerUK on Twitter. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

The sad but true tale of William and Matthew during WW1 when they were on guard north of Bristol. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

On the night of October 23, 1817 the sailing packet William & Mary , en route from Bristol to Waterford in Ireland, struck a rock near Flat Holm in the Bristol Channel and sank within 30 minutes.  It was a clear night, the water was calm and there was a gentle wind blowing, but the negligence and selfish behaviour  of the crew is said to be  what caused the accident, and was largely responsible for the subsequent loss of life. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

The story about the last moments on 17th April 1960 when a rock legend passed away. His concert at the Bristol Hippodrome and that fateful taxi ride to the airport that ended in disaster. Eddie Cochran was the man behind such classic hit songs as “Summertime Blues” and “C’mon Everybody,”. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK

In May 1891, a married couple, desperate for money, decide to leave family and friends in Bristol to walk to Manchester for the possibility of work. They have their travels cut short by a heinous crime in Thornbury. What led up to it and what happened next! A look into life at a time of hardship and struggles in the South West of England. Crafted by a self confessed history geek who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke FM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy!  If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK

PODCAST EXCLUSIVE!  She was internationally known as 'The only Female Fakir in the World!' Koringa performed alongside four female assistants, all dressed in Eastern costumes, and five live crocodiles, the largest named Churchill. Her particular expertise was the art of mesmerism or hypnotism: she startled her audience with her ability to walk on the heads of hypnotized crocodiles in a specially designed tank whilst wearing a necklace of live serpents. Her stage persona as a wildly coiffured green-tinted exotic was artfully crafted and drew on a number of influences within performance history. Crafted by a self confessed history geek who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK

This episode highlights the extraordinary life of a woman who was a World famous singing legend and was discovered in Bristol. She was a driving force behind the fundraising for World War One soldiers as well as the inspiration for a famous song by Elgar. Crafted by a self confessed history geek who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK

When Bessie Smith sang the blues, everybody stopped to listen. She had a powerful, earthy voice which embodied all the misery and sadness of the world. She was probably one of the best female blues singers who ever lived but she lived too high, drank too much and died tragically on 26 September 1937, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Bessie was the first bisexual, alcoholic, beaten by segregationists, cheated out of songwriting royalties, dark skinned singing sensation. She was also the first black, female superstar. Crafted by a self confessed history geek for no financial gain, who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK You can also check out my shiny new website at www.backtracker.co.uk

In 1928, Filton held it’s Great Air Pageant organised by the Bristol & Wessex Aeroplane Club, which had only been founded in the previous October. A show of all that Filton had become famous for with aerial displays and all the newest aviation technology to wow the crowds. After the euphoria of an amazing event, the next day proved to bring the worst tragedy to befall two pilots whose lives were ahead of them. Crafted by a self confessed history geek for no financial gain, who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK You can also check out my shiny new website at www.backtracker.co.uk

Bartholomew Roberts was described as a tall, attractive man, who loved  expensive clothes and jewelry. He was often seen dressed in a gorgeous crimson waistcoat with an expensive hat which had a unique red feather. Even in battles he was well-dressed. On his chests, there was a heavy gold chain with a diamond cross hanging to it. And yet, this dashing young man was the most successful pirate that ever lived and you can hear all about it in this podcast. "For I have dipped my hands in muddied waters, and withdrawing them find 'tis better to be a commander than a common man!" Bartholomew Roberts to his crew, on becoming their captain, 1719. Crafted by a self confessed history geek for no financial gain, who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK You can also check out my shiny new website at www.backtracker.co.uk

Described as one of the most famous imposters that ever lived, this cheeky little minx began her amazing adventure into the history books in our very own Almondsbury. Of course, I talking about Princess Caraboo. find out about how she started this great adventure and what happened next. You'll never believe who she met on the way. This is Alice on The Backtracker History Show and as always, I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch with me via Twitter or Facebook using @BackTrackerUK or email me at info@backtracker.co.uk.

It was a cold, autumnal Monday morning on Platform 5 at Temple Meads Station in the centre of Bristol but even at 1am, the area was packed. Soldiers were waiting for their train to start them on their journey back to the trenches in France to continue fighting in WW1 and with them, scores of loved ones, cherishing precious moments before they went off. A tale of love and betrayal for a soldier home from the trenches of France in WW1 and a callous man out for revenge. Crafted by a self confessed history geek for no financial gain, who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK You can also check out my shiny new website at www.backtracker.co.uk

“Old Dinah Riddiford and her son Luke broke open Daniel Reed’s house and stole several articles there, they were taken up with the articles discovered on them, and committed to Gloucester, tried and both found guilty and received sentence of death.  Luke was reprieved but the poor old woman was executed and her body brought to Thornbury.” And so begins the tale of the oldest woman to be hanged in England, but it doesn't end there as you'll find out when you listen to the whole story of the Riddiford family. Crafted by a self confessed history geek for no financial gain, who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to share or leave feedback. It all helps! Keep in touch via either Twitter or Facebook by using @BackTrackerUK You can also check out my shiny new website at www.backtracker.co.uk Sources include... Thornbury Roots Thornbury Museum GenesReunited.

Woodes Rogers was an English sea captain and privateer and, later, the first Royal Governor of the Bahamas. He is known as the captain of the vessel that rescued marooned Alexander Selkirk, whose plight is generally believed to have inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. 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. If you didnt, well let’s just leave it at that shall we.  I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch with me via Twitter or Facebook using @BackTrackerUK or email me at info@backtracker.co.uk So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. Sources include... Ancestry.com Macpherson Collection, © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. National Archives. London. Newspaper Archives.

Elizabeth Blackwell was a Bristol born woman who went onto become the first woman doctor through sheer determination. She overcame many who were against idea to be very influential in not only medicine, but the Suffragette movement as well as slavery. This is a fascinating, yet little known history that we should be proud of. Here are some of her most famous quotes... “It is not easy to be a pioneer but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.” “It is well worth the efforts of a lifetime to have attained knowledge which justifies an attack on the root of all evil ... which asserts that because forms of evil have always existed in society, therefore they must always exist.” “None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested.” “I DO NOT WISH TO GIVE (WOMEN) A FIRST PLACE, STILL LESS A SECOND ONE- BUT THE COMPLETE FREEDOM TO TAKE THEIR TRUE PLACE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.” 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK SOURCES National Women's History Museum. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Harvard Blackwell Collection.

The Boer War had a huge effect on our country and started off a century of conflict. We hear from the Bristol Soldier’s just what life was like on the battlefields of South Africa, in their own words, from letters written to their loved ones in back home in Bristol, England. The South African War was fought between Britain and the self-governing Afrikaner (Boer) colonies of the South African Republic (the Transvaal) and the Orange Free State. (At the outbreak of war, Britain ruled the South African colonies of the Cape and Natal). The war began on October 11 1899, following a Boer ultimatum that the British should cease building up their forces in the region. Special thanks to members of the St Stephen's Drama Group in Soundwell Bristol as well as other presenters from Bradley Stoke Radio for helping to bring the letters to life. You can find out more about them by going to their websites... https://www.bradleystokeradio.com http://www.ststephensdramabristol.co.uk 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK SOURCES & USEFUL WEBSITES http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Gloucestershire/BristolGlosRegtBoerWar.html Western Daily Press

5pm on 18th March 1902 and it was time to go home. It had been a busy Tuesday at the soap works in Broad Plain, Bristol and all the workmen were happy to go home or go to the local pub beforehand. The premises were left in the safe hands of the night watchman, whose duty it was to periodically make an inspection of the buildings.Also there was the smaller night shift. It was two hours later that he found the fire. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK SOURCES Ancestry.com Arnos Vale Cemetery Western Daily Press Thursday 20 March 1902 Bristol Times and Mirror Saturday 22 March 1902 

"I could not bear the thought of Gladys going back to her husband, So I killed Her!". On 18th May 1935, a murder was committed amongst the poor of Hencliffe Woods, revealing living conditions that were reminiscent of squatters in the last century. In the 1930’s, there were various families living in the woods. There were two brothers by the name of Franklin whose origins were unknown. Living on the opposite side of the track was the Nott family a husband, wife and one son. And at one period, Mrs Nott moved to the Franklin brothers’ home. And so started a series of events that ended in death. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK SOURCES Western Daily Press - Saturday 25 May 1935 Western Daily Press - Thursday 12 August 1937 (Frank’s suicide) British Executions - http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=561 Bristol History Webpage 

Born in Glastonbury, in Southwest England 22 July 1915,  Eric Perry Dowling joined the Royal Air Force when war was declared in 1939, and was trained as a navigator for the RAF Bomber Command, rising to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He was nicknamed "Digger" for helping to construct numerous tunnels while a Prisoner of War in Germany, during World War II. One of his tunnels was used in the breakout from Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, Germany, that became known as "The Great Escape," made famous by the 1963 movie of the same name. Find out more about what really happened.THIS PODCASTThis 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.So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other.CONTACT ME…Email: info@backtracker.co.ukFacebook: @BackTrackerUKInstagram: @backtrackerukTwitter: @BackTrackerUKSOURCESKit and Morgan Benson https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/46483611Imperial War MuseumThe Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/07/secondworldwarPembroke College https://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/kit-smarts-blog/roger-bushell-and-great-escapeGloucestershire Echo - Friday 23 June 1944

Hannah More was a poet, playwright, educator and anti-slavery campaigner, who was the most influential female philanthropist of her day. Seen by some as an early feminist, and others as an anti-feminist, she remains a controversial figure. 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. So, thankyou for listening and until next time guys, take care and look after each other. CONTACT ME… Email: info@backtracker.co.uk Facebook: @BackTrackerUK Instagram: @backtrackeruk Twitter: @BackTrackerUK SOURCES Dr Jo Edwards: The Hannah More Society The collected letter of Hannah More: http://hannahmoreletters.co.uk 1: Wedding details. Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser - Wednesday 18 December 1833 2: Funeral details. Royal Cornwall Gazette: Saturday 28 September 1833 3: Park Street School, Mendip Aurguments. Dublin Observer - Saturday 21 September 1833 The Abolition Project: http://abolition.e2bn.org/people_60.html Further Reading The First Victorian by Anne Scott