The MrT Podcast Studio

Season 2021 – Talk 09 – The History of Language In The History of Language Alan Freeland explains how language developed – verbally, with the use of icons and drawings, and through the written word. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. What is language? A good question! The word is complicated to define and different people define it in dif...

From Reading to Wantage Road – Series 1 – Episode 4 In this episode we continue our journey travelling from Reading to Wantage Road . Our journey takes us west, through towns and the countryside, over bridges as we cross rivers. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcast: The Sonning Cutting: The cutting allows the railway to bypass Sonning....

Season 2021 – Talk 08 – The Mounties In The Mounties Richard Thomas tells us about the history of the North West Mounted Police, their people, their legends and their myths. We learn of their important role in bringing law and order to Canada’s North West. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. A ‘frontier force’ for the North Wes...

Across the London border and on towards Reading – UK Rail Journeys – Series 1 – Episode 3 We continue our journey and go  across the London border and on towards Reading . Our journey takes us west, first through the suburbs and then on towards the countryside, over famous bridges across rivers. Click on a ‘thumbnail’ to view the photographs that accompany this podcas...

National Treasures – Legends of the Four Nations – u3a Theme meeting 2022 01 The talk Legends of the Four Nations by Lorna Thomas tells the stories of an Englishwoman, an Irishman, a Scotsman and a Welshman . A rebel, a Saint, a mercenary and a nobleman! Listen to Lorna tell the full story! Pictures and maps illustrate the talk. Please click on an icon below to open the gallery. Boudic...

The Welsh Dragon departs – UK Rail Journeys – Series 1 – Episode 2 Paddington Station: The Welsh Dragon departs  after our Guard, Paul, blows his whistle, waves his green flag and the signal changes to green giving us the ‘road’.  We listen as Mayflower starts to pull us out of London’s Paddington station and our journey to North West Wales begins! Click on a &#...

Season 2021 – Talk 03 – The Barbary Corsairs In The Barbary Corsairs Richard Thomas tells us about these pirates who exercised power in the Mediterranean over a number of centuries. Because the talk makes use of maps, pictures and other presentation material I suggest that you open the image gallery below. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Rob...

The Welsh Dragon from Paddington – UK Rail Journeys – Series 1 – Episode 1 Paddington Station: In ‘ The Welsh Dragon from Paddington’ I start with a look around this amazing Grade 1 Listed railway station. Simon Jenkins, in his book ‘ Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations’ * awards it 5 stars and starts his description by telling us that ‘there i...

Season 2021 – Talk 02 – US Presidential Election results from 1920 to 2020 In US Presidential Election results from 1920 to 2020 Rob Sykes tells us about the evolution of the political map of the United States in a century of elections. Because the talk makes great use of maps showing the result for each state in each election I suggest that you open the image gallery below. Click a th...

Episode 12 – The Carbon Footprint of my glass of wine The Carbon Footprint of my glass of wine is a podcast made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. Surrey County Council asked people to submit ideas to help combat the climate crisis in September 2019 . They selected ten ideas from the submissions and these podcasts are one of them. In this podcast I talk to Luke Landers...

Season 2021 – Talk 01 – Coniston Coniston is a talk  by John Mitchell about the history of Coniston Water and the surrounding area. John knows the area well, he has made regular visits there since his childhood. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. John tells us about five historical topics : Arthur Ransome: The talk starts with Arthur Ransome wh...

National Treasures – Nelson – u3a Theme 02 The talk Nelson is a collaboration between Michael A’Bear, who researched and wrote the material, and Joanne Watson who edited and delivered the talk. They take us on a journey across the world following the life of Nelson. This is the story of a Norfolk Parson’s son who becomes the most famous Admiral in the Royal Navy. The Royal...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 29 – William Morris William Morris is a talk  by Judith Edge about a Victorian British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, printer, translator and socialist associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Early years: William Morris is born, in Walthamstow, on 24th March 1834. The...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 28 – Owen Jones Owen Jones is a talk  by Alan Freeland about this versatile Victorian architect and designer. He helps pioneer modern colour theory. Owen Jones is responsible for the interior decoration and arrangement of the exhibits in the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery . Early years: Alan tells us...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 27 – The Talented and Tormented T E Lawrence – part 2 The Talented and Tormented T E Lawrence – part 2 is the second of two talks  by Adrian Martin about this fascinating and complex person. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery . The end of World War 1 in the Middle East: Adrian begins the talk by telling us about the end of the war in...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 26 – The Talented and Tormented T E Lawrence – part 1 The Talented and Tormented T E Lawrence – part 1 is the first of two talks  by Adrian Martin about this fascinating person. Adrian tells us that this is not a ‘one sided Boys Own Paper tale of  derring do’. He gives us analysis, balance and objectivity in his talk about the fascinati...

Farnham Repair Café update – episode 11 Farnham Repair Café update is a podcast made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. Surrey County Council asked people to submit ideas to help combat the climate crisis in September 2019 . They selected ten ideas from the submissions and Environmental podcasts is one of them. The Repair Café Conference: I last met Martin Charter in ea...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 25 – Islamic Spain’s History through Art and Architecture Islamic Spain’s History through Art and Architecture is a talk by Alan Freedland. He splits his talk into 5 sections. Alan uses many illustrations in the talk. Where copyright allows I use the original illustrations, however where the images are copyright I try to find substitutes. Where the...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 24 – Profumo In the talk Profumo Adrian Martin gives us a cocktail of drugs, lust politics and power. To these ingredients he adds spies, lies, corruption, hypocrisy  and revenge thus creating a heady mix for us to listen to. Photographs of the key players are subject to copyright and therefore cannot be included here. John Profumo: Profumo first enters Parlia...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 23 – Colours in History In the talk Colours in History Jo Watson explains many of the reasons why specific colours have their specific associations. The talk has many illustrations therefore you will find it interesting to view the picture gallery whilst listening to the talk. Pictures: Please click here to open the gallery . When the gallery opens please clic...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 22 – Spanish Medieval History as illustrated by the Church of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo In the talk Spanish Medieval History illustrated by the Church of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo Peter Duffy takes us on a journey through the Iberian Peninsula between the fifth and fifteenth centuries. Pictures The talk  has pictures and diagrams to illustrate Pete...

National Treasures – Thomas Cochrane In Thomas Cochrane Richard Thomas takes us on a journey across the world following the adventures of Thomas Cochrane. He was one of Nelson’s most successful Captains, he became an Admiral and a Lord. His exploits have inspired the writers of novels that many of us will have read. Listen to Richard tell the full story! Pictures and maps illustrate th...

Episode 31 – The Autumn Steam Gala 2019 Welcome to The Autumn Steam Gala 2019 where I see some locomotives in pristine condition and talk to people. This is being published in time for the Spring Steam Gala 2021. To view the photographs that accompany this podcast: Please click here to open the gallery in another tab . When the gallery is open ‘hovering’ over a picture shows arro...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 21 – Poverty In Poverty Lorna Thomas takes us on a journey through the centuries from the middle ages to the early twentieth century. The talk is illustrated with pictures and diagrams which illustrate Lorna’s words. Please click on an icon below to open the gallery. In Feudal times…. We learn about the stratification of society in Feudal times. We...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 20 – Are all inventions necessary In Are all inventions necessary Joanne Watson introduces us to a great number of inventions that, for some, make one wonder about the sanity of the inventors. For others, we must wonder about the users! To fully appreciate Joanne’s talk you should follow her presentation, accessed below. The images really do bring the ta...