March 2023 - The MrT Podcast Studio

TH2022 Ep 14 Waldorf Astor

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:59 — 24.7MB)

Season 2022 – Talk 14 – Waldorf Astor

In Waldorf Astor we hear the first of Jo Watson’s talks with the theme ‘some inherit wealth, others create their own fortunes’. Waldorf Astor is from one of the wealthiest families in the world.

Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk.

Family:

John Jacob Astor moves from Germany to America. He is a businessman, merchant, real estate mogul, and investor who makes his fortune in the fur trade and by investing in real estate, in and around New York. He is the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States.

His grandson is William Waldorf “Willy” Astor has American and British nationality. He is an attorney, politician, businessman (hotels and newspapers) and philanthropist.

He moves to Britain in 1891, becomes a British subject in 1899, becomes Baron Astor in 1916 and Viscount Astor in 1917 because of his contributions to war charities.

Waldorf Astor:

Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, is was an American-born English politician and newspaper proprietor and a member of the Astor family.

In 1905, while returning to Britain across the Atlantic, he meets and falls for Nancy Langhorne Shaw, a divorced mother. They have a short courtship and marry in May 1906.

Waldorf’s father gives them the Sancy diamond and the estate at Cliveden, as wedding presents. Nancy redecorates and modernises Cliveden by installing electricity.

Politics:

Nancy encourages him to go into politics. He is elected as member for the borough of Plymouth in the December 1010. The constituency is abolished in 1918 and he moves to Plymouth Sutton.

Although he is a Unionist he acts independently by supporting both the “People’s Budget” and the National Insurance Act of 1911.

The House of Lords:

In 1916 his father, William Waldorf Astor, becomes Viscount Astor. His father dies in October 1919 and Waldorf becomes the 2nd Viscount Astor even though he tries to disclaim the title.

Because he is a member of the House of Lords he has to resign his seat his seat in the House of Commons. Nancy wins the seat in the election who becomes the second woman elected to the House of Commons.

She is the first woman to take her seat in the House because Constance Markievicz is a member Sinn Féin. Nancy retains the seat until she steps down in the 1945 general election. Jo Watson tells the story of these two political ladies here.

Later life:

Waldorf turns to charitable causes, becoming a governor of the Peabody Trust and Guy’s Hospital. He is also a considerable benefactor to the city of Plymouth, and serves as its Lord Mayor from 1939 to 1944.

Listen to the podcast and hear Jo tell the full story.

About this podcast:

This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History Group.

It is not possible to use some of the images from the original talks for copyright reasons.

The Farnham u3a site is here.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox , Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.

AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use as the theme music.

USRJ S3 Ep05 From Tampa to DeLand

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:00 — 17.4MB)

From Tampa to DeLand via Lakeland- US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 5

As ‘From Tampa to DeLand via Lakeland’ begins we are starting on our return journey to Lakeland from Tampa. We are just about on schedule!

View the photographs that accompany this podcast:

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

Lakeland:

Our return to the station, on the northern shore of Lake Mirror, coincides with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. The train crew need to wrap up well in order to keep dry on the platform.

The train needs to move forwards at the station to pick up our northbound passengers because it is too long for the platform. Because of this we leave late.

Kissimmee:

The rain is very heavy making it difficult to see out of the windows. As we approach Kissimmee the train crew put on their rain coats again!

The station is served by Amtrak and SunRail, the commuter rail system serving Greater Orlando. The station dates from 1883. It is the closest Amtrak station to Walt Disney World.

Orlando:

We arrive at Orlando station, also known as Orlando Health/Amtrak station. Amtrak and Sunrail trains use the station in addition to local and intercity buses. Both the Silver Meteor and Silver Star stop here.

The historic station dates from 1926 and is in Downtown Orlando about a mile south of the central business district. Orlando is Amtrak’s fifth busiest station in the south-eastern United States and the second busiest in Florida.

We have a long stop in Orlando and leave 43 minutes late.

Winter Park:

The modern station at Winter Park dates from 2014. The first station in the area was built in 1882.

It is completely dark by the time we arrive for our short stop. The dining car is doing good business.

DeLand:

We are 50 minutes late when we arrive at DeLand station. The station is about 3 miles west of downtown DeLand. It was formerly known as DeLand Junction. The station dates from 1918 and the last restoration was in 2007.

The station was a stop on the route of Sunset Limited until 2005 when the route was shortened to terminate in New Orleans.

It’s a pity that it is dark as I’m unable to see the station gazebo.

Next up:

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this podcast. Please join me in a couple of weeks for the next part of my journey on the Silver Star to New York.

Links:

To visit the Amtrak website please follow this link.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox , Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.

Music:

AKM Music licenses the theme, Steam Railway and The 50’s v 12 for use in this podcast.

TH2022 Ep13 East India Company

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:12:36 — 66.5MB)

Season 2022 – Talk 13 – The East India Company

In The East India Company Alan Freeland explains why he believes that the company was so important for Britain.

Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk.

Foundation:

The company is founded in 1600, under a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth 1, to trade in the Indian Ocean area. They take this to be anywhere east of the Cape of Good Hope!

The company isn’t the first European company to trade in this area as the Dutch and Portuguese have been there for some years.

The initial charter is for 15 years giving the company a monopoly on trade with England.

Early voyages to the Indies:

Sir James Lancaster commands the first voyage in 1601 aboard the Red Dragon. In 1602, whilst in the Malacca Straits he takes the 1,200 ton Portuguese carrack Sao Thome carrying pepper and spices. This enables the voyagers to set up two ‘factories‘.

On their return to England, in 1603, they learn of Elizabeth’s death. Lancaster is knighted by James I because of the voyage’s success. The company has profitably breached the Spanish-Portuguese duopoly and new horizons open.

Charter renewed:

James I renews the East India Company’s charter for an indefinite period in 1609, however if trade is unprofitable for three consecutive years it will be annulled.

In 1615, James I instructs Sir Thomas Roe to visit the Mughal Emperor Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir to negotiate a commercial treaty giving the company exclusive rights in Surat and other areas. This mission is highly successful!

The Dutch:

The company successfully expands and receives trading rights in other parts of India. The major competitors are the Dutch because they oust the Portuguese in 1640/41 to have a monopoly of the spice trade in the Straits of Malacca.

Because of the intense competition between the East India Company and the Dutch East India Company or Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, (VOC) there are the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the early 17th century, the Dutch East India Company is the world’s wealthiest commercial operation giving its shareholders 40% annual dividend.

Absorbed by the British Government:

The government sees the company as a good source of tax and fee revenue. When the company falls on hard times the Government, over a number of years, takes control of the company and creates the Imperial Raj.

Listen to the podcast and hear Alan tell the full story.

About this podcast:

This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History Group.

It is not possible to use some of the images from the original talks for copyright reasons.

The Farnham u3a site is here.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox , Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.

AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use as the theme music.

USRJ S3 Ep04 From Sebring to Tampa

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:14 — 17.6MB)

From Sebring to Tampa – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 4

As ‘From Sebring to Tampa’ begins we hear that we are 40 minutes from our next stop. At least the scenery has started to improve! Our route takes us past fields…..

View the photographs that accompany this podcast:

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

Sebring:

We stop at Sebring Station which was constructed in 1924 by the Seaboard Air Line Railway. It is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Sebring International Raceway is a road car race track near Sebring, Florida. It is one of the oldest continuously operating race tracks in the U.S. as its first race was in 1950. It is one of North America’s classic race tracks and hosts the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The dining car:

This train doesn’t have an observation car because the carriages are single deck. I have positioned myself in the Dining Car because that means I see both people passing through and those having their meals. It is amazing how many sleeping car passengers have their meals delivered to their rooms. The excellent staff are very busy!

Winter Haven:

The Seaboard Air Line Railway station dates from 1925 and was rebuilt in 1947. A freight depot was demolished in 1983. Abandoned tracks still cross the platform on the south side of the station.

Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County. It is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven area and is 51 miles east of Tampa.

Lakeland:

The station, served by the Silver Star, is on the northern shore of Lake Mirror.

Lakeland is unique because it has two separate Amtrak station codes; one for passengers travelling to and from the north and the other for passengers travelling to and from the south. This means that passengers joining or leaving the train at Lakeland do not need to take the round trip to Tampa!

Tampa:

As we travel towards Tampa the train turns round using a ‘wye’ junction. It then reverses for the last part of the 40 mile journey from Lakeland to Tampa.

Tampa Union Station opened on May 15, 1912 combining the passenger operations of the Atlantic Coast Line, the Seaboard Air Line and the Tampa Northern Railroad.

In 1974 Tampa Union Station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It closed in 1984, because of its condition, and Amtrak passengers used a temporary prefabricated station building (nicknamed an “Amshack”). Following restoration the station reopened in 1998.

We say goodbye to some passengers and meet a large number of new ones here.