Whistledown Newsletter – No 4. June 2005 Summer wouldn’t be the same without a gentle game of cricket and the sound of leather on willow, but leather on bone is a different matter. In WES HALL BROKE MY ARM, Garth Crooks will be gathering memories from those amateur players of the Lancashire League who cowered in fear as they faced up to the extraordinary West Indian pace-men of the 1960’s. And look out too for HEADSTRONG AND PROUD, the inside stories of some of Britain’s most intriguing political societies, presented by Michael Crick. QUESTIONS QUESTIONS THE REUNION CRUISING THE WORLD WES HALL BROKE MY ARM HEADSTRONG AND PROUD More stuff on Whistledown by clicking to www.whistledown.net |
In the last few weeks we’ve had philosopher A.C.Grayling musing on old age, Geoff Capes talking about budgie behaviour and Ann Widdecombe feverishly constructing an argument as to why blondes really do have more fun. It’s been a great series of QQ, with record levels of listener feedback. There’s still time to catch Stewart Henderson and the team answering some of the great questions of life. Emily Williams and Sarah Cuddon still have some surprises up their sleeves for the end of the current run including the search for the nightingales of Berkeley Square and the skill of the sushi chef. And don’t forget to send more teasers to 
Before a recording of THE REUNION, there’s always a frisson of excitement. Will those who are gathering together recall that seminal moment they shared with good grace and humour or will years of hidden animosity crackle to the surface. This year’s Reunion’s are much anticipated. There’s the 1980 British Olympic team, who defied their Government and travelled to Moscow, the campaigners who brought about the 1967 Abortion Act, the “Not the Nine O’Clock News” team, and the Women and children POW’s who waited and waited for VJ day. As ever, Sue MacGregor acts as hostess, as they recall the highs, lows and raw emotion of the time they shared together. For details, and archived programmes, check out THE REUNION homepage on the BBC Radio 4 website. 
Caribbean cricket and the Lancashire League are worlds apart. One is dominated by images of stylish stroke play in languid beach games played on sun-kissed beaches. The other is a hard-bitten sport in the shadow of the chilly Pennines. In this programme, former England striker and West Indian cricket fanatic Garth Crooks tells the story of how a clutch of small northern clubs brought star West Indian players into their midst. The likes of Clyde Walcott, Charlie Griffiths and Wes Hall forged a special, if unlikely, relationship between the Caribbean and Lancashire mill towns which still exists today. Chris Green produces this delightful feature including memories of those legendary names. 'I will never forget seeing Wes Hall steaming in with rhythmic grace - his shirt flapping and gold chain swaying as he bowled from the Hyams End at Accrington' recalls former amateur player Russ Cuddihy. 
In this age of widespread voter apathy, political newshound and biographer, Michael Crick takes a refreshing look at the micro-political forums that exist in homage to some of the great politicians of the past. He joins the meetings and listens in on the debates whether they are over a dry sherry in Hampstead or a packet of pork scratchings in a Manchester pub. From Thomas Paine to Gladstone, to Simon de Montfort, the Pankhursts and The Primrose League, he finds that there are plenty of lessons to be learnt from the great political idealists of the past. Michael Crick was famously described by Frederic Raphael in the Observer as being “a man who makes biographical fairness into a lethal weapon”, and in this series, produced by Vicky Shepherd, he revels in the political debate of these counter-culture gatherings.