Welcome to 20th Century Tales, a podcast series featuring interviews with my grandfather who was born in the 1920s recorded shortly after his 95th birthday, between Christmas and New Year 2022 to 2023.
The Second World War details the raids on Grimsby. Plus, you will hear about a life on the railways as an engine driver and the story of the 1952 Farnborough Airshow Disaster.
A lot has happened and changed around the world in the near Century since my grandad was born, so you will hear some outdated terminology which some listeners may find offensive. Enjoy!
This final conversation with my grandad covers a wide range of topics, focusing mostly on modern life & transport.
We discuss politics, changing technology & his first trip abroad when he was in his 70s.
There’s memories from the 1951 Festival of Britain, watching the Moon landing & the 1966 World Cup, plus plenty of football chat including his progressive thoughts on the women’s game.
A fair few transport tales crop up, mostly discussing his matchless motorbikes, unpopular sidecar & his many breakdowns.
It’s a nice random rambly chat, with my parents popping up towards the end as we discuss the biggest differences over the last century and his thoughts on the future.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my grandad's Twentieth Century Tales. Thanks for listening!
30 Dec 2024
Episode 4 - 1952 Farnborough Airshow Disaster
In this episode, my grandfather discusses the Farnborough Airshow Disaster that took place on the 6th of September 1952.
He was watching from the crowd when a prototype de Havilland DH.110 fighter jet disintegrated mid-air, killing the two on board. Debris from the crash claimed the lives of 29 spectators and injured a further 60 people.
These are his memories of that tragic day, which some listeners may find upsetting.
29 Dec 2024
Episode 3 - Life on the Railways
This episode focuses on my grandad’s career on the railways as an engine driver.
We begin with post-War Grimsby and the rationing that followed in the UK.
My grandad started working on the railways in 1944 and you’ll hear a lot of detail on steam engines, including driving the Oliver Cromwell, Mayflower 1379 and Britannia locomotives.
He’ll also discuss a day in the life of a fire man, coping with the great snow of 1947 & his near-death experience!
28 Dec 2024
Episode 2 - Second World War in Grimsby
In this 90 minute podcast, my grandad discusses his memories of the Second World War.
He was aged 11 -17 during World War II, so has very clear memories of the War and raids on Grimsby in Lincolnshire.
From hearing the war being declared on the wireless to building the air raid shelter, you'll hear plenty of interesting stories. There’s also the moment when the family home was bombed in 1943.
Plus there’s his experiences in the air cadets, flying in a Lancaster & the story of his brother Ernie returning from the Belsen concentration camp.
As with other episodes you will hear some outdated terminology which some listeners may find offensive.
It's a lengthy episode, but it is fascinating to hear these War stories first hand from someone who lived through it in Grimsby.
27 Dec 2024
Episode 1 - Childhood Memories (1930s)
In this first episode, my grandad talks about his early years growing up in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Born in 1927, Mervin discusses what school, food and entertainment were like in Grimsby in the 1930s.
Hear what a young boy got up to in the pre-war years.
27 Dec 2023
Introduction to Twentieth Century Tales
Welcome to 20th Century Tales, a podcast series featuring interviews with my grandfather who was born in the 1920s.
Today is his birthday, and to celebrate I thought I’d share a few hours of conversation with him that I recorded shortly after his 95th birthday, between Christmas and New Year 2022 to 2023.
I felt it was important to speak to someone who can remember the 1930s & was a teenager for most of the Second World War as there are some really interesting stories about that era.
It’s the War that takes up most of the conversation, detailing the raids on Grimsby in particular. Plus, you will hear about a life on the railways as an engine driver and the story of the 1952 Farnborough Airshow Disaster.
A lot has happened and changed around the world in the near Century since my grandad was born, so you will hear some outdated terminology which some listeners may find offensive. His thoughts on the modern world will be covered in the final episode!
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