Month: December 2019

Aethelstan

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:51 — 18.2MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 16 D – Aethelstan

David Simpson’s talk on Aethelstan is the last in a series of four short talks given at the end of the Summer ‘Term’ to the Farnham U3A World History Group.

David tells us that he is a forgotten King from the Dark Ages. Aethelstan was the first King of the English! As late as the Elizabethan age he was seen as a hero in stage plays.

Aethelstan destroyed the invader in 937 and preserved the English throne. He was famous across Europe.

It is not possible to include all the pictures shown in the original talk because of copyright limitations.

Please follow this link for the presentation that accompanies the talk.

This is the last talk in this series of Short Talks. The 2019 series of talks will begin in a few weeks.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

AKM Music has licensed Media Magazine for use as the title music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham U3A World History Group 2019

Some Leave at Christmas (2)?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:03 — 12.9MB)

Episode 27 – Life on the Watercress Line – Some Leave at Christmas (2)?

Listen to Some Leave at Christmas (2) to find out about a great way of spending  Boxing Day and the 27th December. If you’d like a break from the relatives, or just need some exercise and air, then go along to the Watercress Line and join in the fun.

Christmas Leave is where you have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families. Some are travelling back to base whilst others are going home for a few days.

There are many characters in Christmas Leave (2). I meet the military, the entertainer at Alresford, a black marketeer, the police and many others.

I get the opportunity to talk to some of the passengers who are out for the day. Some of the story takes place on the train and other parts at Ropley and Alresford stations.

If you’ve enjoyed this podcast why not visit the Watercress Line on the  26th and 27th December 2019 and take part in Christmas Leave.  You could go through your wardrobe and find your 1940s gear – then you can dress in character! There will be lots to see at the stations and a regular train service. Full details are on the Watercress Line website – click here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

Look out for the next episode of Life on the Watercress Line.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme and incidental music, Steam Railway, used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

Some Leave at Christmas (1)?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:08 — 13.9MB)

Episode 26 – Life on the Watercress Line – Some Leave at Christmas (1)?

Do you fancy some leave at Christmas? Would you like a break from the relatives? Need some air?

Then visit the Watercress Line for Christmas Leave, where you’ll have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families. With Christmas just over, those who had leave for Christmas are travelling back to base. Those who were on duty over Christmas are going home for a few days.

The Home Guard are very active during Christmas Leave checking the identity cards of all the passengers. In addition they’re on the lookout for suspicious people – spies, black marketeers and others. I’m a little worried though because they are helping people fill out and stamp their ID cards!

I get the opportunity to talk to some of the passengers who are out for the day. In this episode all the action takes place on the train as it is mid-Winter.

If you’ve enjoyed this podcast why not visit the Watercress Line on the  26th and 27th December 2019 and take part in Christmas Leave.  You could go through your wardrobe and find your 1940s gear – then you can dress in character! There will be lots to see at the stations and a regular train service. Full details are on the Watercress Line website – click here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in a few weeks.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme and incidental music, Steam Railway, used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2019

The Chinese Art of Dissent

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:03 — 16.5MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 16 C – The Chinese Art of Dissent

Alan Freeland’s talk on The Chinese Art of Dissent is the third in a series of four short talks given at the end of the Summer ‘Term’ to the Farnham U3A World History Group.

The first part of the talk looks at the ‘scholar’ officials of the Ming Dynasty. Alan tells of the importance of scholarship in the Government of China over the years.

He talks about the trials and tribulations of the officials when there was a dynastic change. We learn about the use of ‘bamboo slips’ to create the written records.

The talk continues with the paintings of Gong Kai and Wang Hui. He ends by coming completely up to date with examples of modern dissidence expressed in art.

It is not possible to include all the pictures shown in the original talk because of copyright limitations.

Please follow this link for the presentation.

The last talks in this series of Short Talks will be published in the next week.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

AKM Music has licensed Media Magazine for use as the title music.

© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham U3A World History Group 2019