The BackTracker History Show

Season:  3 Episode: 22 It was the summer of 1979 and with the Yorkshire Ripper hunting the red light districts, prostitutes across the country were living in fear. Then came the news that Bristol had been dreading. Workmen had found the mutilated body buried under a pile of sand on a St Paul’s building site just off Backfield. It turned out to be that of 32-year-old Wendy Jenkins. It didn’t t...

Season:  3 Episode: 21 More than 70 years ago the manager of a Bristol cinema was gunned down while those at the picture house continued, unaware, watching a movie. The killer of Robert Parrington Jackson has never been brought to justice in what is the city's oldest cold case still being investigated. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bris...

Season:  3 Episode: 20 The Queen's first jubilee year, in 1977, was celebrated with street parties across the country. The Platinum Jubilee celebrations  marking the Queen's 70 years on the throne  are the first of their kind - aside from Victoria, no other Queen or King of Great Britain has even reigned for 60 years. This episode tells you more about the coronation of the Queen, wh...

Season:  3 Episode: 19 It started just like any other on Cherry tree House Farm in Lower Mynde, St Briavel's but it would end with several wounded and one dead. What exactly happened to turn 21 year old Joe Webb into a man intent on killing as many as he could? Listen to the eyewitness account by Richard Kear aged 13 to find out more. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a...

Season:  3 Episode: 18 On the afternoon of Tuesday March 12, 1872, a labourer was rowing home to Hunters Hill along the Parramatta River when he smelled something disgusting as he approached Kissing Point. As he drew closer, he saw a man’s decomposing body bobbing in the water. This was John Bridger, who had been a Wardroom steward on H.M.S Rosario but had wanted to start a new life in Austra...

Season:  3 Episode: 17 Stourhead Estate has a breathtaking 18th century landscape garden with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples. It also has a tragic history. The previous manor house that stood on these grounds was the backdrop to a heinous crime powered by vengeance and greed when Charles, the 8th Baron Stourton demands what he feels is his. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been s...

Season:  3 Episode: 16 While at anchor at Sandy Point, Punta Arenas, Chile on Apr. 26, 1881 waiting to take on coal, an explosion occurred on the new screw sloop HMS Doterel, half a minute later a second more powerful explosion destroyed the ship and sent her to the bottom. The entire episode took about three minutes, but it would take over a year to discover what had caused the loss. Here's...

Season:  3 Episode: 15 When you think of famous song writing duos, Lennon and McCartney are usually right up there at the top of the list, but when it comes to writing Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway's songs are almost as well known as the iconic Beatles duo. About Fifty years ago the Bristol-born pair created a song for a Coca Cola advert that not only topped the charts but found its way into...

Season:  3 Episode: 14 1909 was a very active year for suffragettes in Bristol and five women were sent to Horfield Prison for actions ranging from vandalism to attacking a politician. Hear about their incredible story and the horrors they suffered whilst in prison. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.  If you liked it p...

Season:  3 Episode: 13 Desmond Watkins wrote a letter to his friend, Ken, after surviving the daylight attack, 27 February 1941, on Parnell aircraft factory in Yate, Gloucestershire. Parnall was a British aircraft manufacturer that evolved from a wood-working company before the First World War to a significant designer of military and civil aircraft into the 1940s, making it a prime target fo...

Season:  3 Episode: 12 In the year 1574, Bristol was buzzing with the preparations for a major event: Queen Elizabeth was visiting the city and so a grand pageant was organised. The great and the good of Bristol were all anxious to see and be seen by her majesty but what else happened during that visit? THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bri...

Season:  3 Episode: 11 William Lidderdale had everything to live for. he was the Bank Manager in the Ilminster branch, he was going to get married in a few days, and his future looked rosy. So what happened to him in London and who was Miss Viney? THIS PODCAST This particular episode is a PODCAST EXCLUSIVE  If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comment and if you’d like to su...

Season:  3 Episode: 10 John Gray (1819-1872) was a Scottish merchant seaman and master mariner who served as Captain of the SS Great Britain for eighteen years and was extremely popular with crew and passengers alike, but his story ends in tragedy. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.  If you liked it please leave a rati...

Season:  3 Episode: 9 On May 22, it will be the  250th birth anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy,  the "Father of Bengal Renaissance," the founder of the "Brahmo Samaj," and a stalwart warrior against the social evils that plagued Indian society. He was not only a great social reformer and educator, but he also had an impact on religion, politics, and public administration. Find...

Season:  3 Episode: 8 John Maskell was considered a man of very good character, having been in the Royal East Kent Regiment, or Buffs, for many years. So what pushed him over the edge in April 1868 and made a man such high standards go on a rampage around his barracks? You won't believe the answer. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol,...

Season:  3 Episode: 7 On April 4th 1823, the Somerset Assizes were filled with an excited and curious crowd. They were there to see the three women who were charged under Lord Ellenborough's Act, of maliciously cutting and stabbing an old woman with the intent to murder her. Why? Because they believed her to be a witch !  THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley...

6 3 Charles Stephens was a 58 year old barber from Bristol, England where he had acquired a reputation of daredevil through a number of high dives and several parachute jumps. In Bristol he was known as the “Demon Barber of Bristol” and he wanted to use his addiction to adrenaline to gain more money to feed his large family. The biggest and riskiest endeavour at the time was going over the Horsesh...

Season Number: 3 Episode : 5 Shipwrecks were tragically common in the 1860s – the official figure being 10 every week , with a loss of at least 34 lives. The real figure could be so much more, given that they only reflect the shipwrecks which took place off the coast of Britain.  The Steamship London was considered extremely safe. Just two years old when she embarked upon her final...

Joel Fisher was a hard working man who had fought for his country at Waterloo but was unlucky in love. His first wife passed away leaving him with two young boys but his second wife would be the end of him. Find out the events that led up to that eventful night in 1844. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.  If you liked it pl...

Among the artists Uncle Art Satherley discovered, signed or recorded during his career as a recording director for Columbia Records were Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, the Carter Family, Roy Acuff, Gene Autry, the Sons of the Pioneers, Bill Monroe, Lefty Frizzell and Marty Robbins. Satherley was credited with naming Wills’ signature tune “San Antonio Rose.”  He also pushed blues music in...

The golden age of Highwaymen was 1650 to 1830, with the peak in the second half of the 18th century, At that time trade and commerce were increasing and there were many well-to-do travellers., and it turns out Gloucestershire was a popular spot for them. In this episode, you'll hear all about several of these notorious villains that haunted the roads looking for an easy target. THIS PODCAST This p...

The Vickers VC.1 Viking is developed and manufactured by Vickers-Armstrong Limited and introduced in 1946. It is a twin-engine short-range airliner primarily used by British European Airways. The aircraft was developed from the Vickers Wellington long-range medium bomber and was produced from 1945 to 1954 with a total number of 163 aircraft built. It featured the Bristol Hercules, a 14-cylind...

It wouldn't feel like Christmas without the traditional Christmas Carol, so we take a look into the history of this heart warming custom as well as the origins of some of the nation's most loved songs. PLUS it's the final instalment of The Big Bristol to London Stroll where we end up in what has been called, the birthplace of The Church of England. This is the last show of the year. The first one...

In this episode, we continue to find out the history behind some well known Christmas traditions. Have you ever wondered about who the hell came up with the idea of explosives at your festive meal? Yes, I'm talking about the Christmas cracker. What about the origins of the Yule Log? All this and more in a special little festive gift episode. Merry Christmas Everyone and thanks so much for your sup...

Ever wondered why we do certain things only during the festive season? Well, wonder no more as we look into a few of the Christmas traditions that have been around for decades. Some for much, much longer. 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 suppo...