Invisible Lives

Since this series of podcasts began a year ago, one tale has continued to fascinate listeners more than any other; the extraordinary life of revolutionary artist Doris Hatt. Her story reads like something from a cold war spy novel, yet every detail is true. Here, for the first time, that first telling is intercut with the research interview that provided a first hand account of the woman who continues to fascinate listeners.

Two learned Victorians forged a remarkable friendship when work began on the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Yet how was a convicted lunatic allowed inside such hallowed circles?

Long before the computer age two British writers dedicated their lives to creating extraordinary reference books. One was a work of awesome scholarship that is still in use today by ecclesiastical scholars. The other created a publishing empire whose works can still be found on our bookshelves today. But as the different men locked themselves away for years to create their remarkable publications, some observers doubted their sanity.

In such unprecedented times we all need a story of hope. So here's an account of the work of one man who held firm to his beliefs in the face of a global epidemic: Dr John Snow.

A small community tucked in a rural community in middle England scandalised Britain in the 19th century when they became the prototype of 20th century cult religions. Accusations of brainwashing, dramatic rescues of its inmates, and moral outrage followed their controversial gospel.

At the turn of the 19th century one of Britain's most admired estates welcomed a new owner. The beautiful Piercefield Park in Wales which had been built by the owner of a sugar plantation worked by slaves became home to a black owner who'd himself been born a slave.

In 1926 a man called Frank Power captivated British readers by promising to reveal an awesome secret. The government was forced to act but the final revelations by a mysterious newspaper journalist caught everyone off guard.

How did an English schoolboy who dreamed of escaping to live on the frontier in North America's wilderness become one of the first modern ambassadors for protecting native wildlife? To do so an intense deception was required.

As a new Prime Minister takes up residence in 10 Downing Street we open the files to discover which spirits could haunt his home. And a priest, philanderer and pirate reveals himself as perhaps the most disreputable former resident.

Victorian Britain hid an underworld of poverty, vice and squalid living. Until a brave writer called Henry Mayhew brought the scandal of inequality to light in a series of searing and inspirational publications. Who knew the secret world of the Royal bug destroyer? The sewer "Toshers" who fought hungry rats to grub a living deep in the underbelly of London? Even the collectors of dog turds who sold their goods on to the tanning industry? Journalist Henry Mayhew made polite society only too painfully aware of the secret world around them.

Hundreds of years before our greatest concert venues were created a shed above a coal merchants in the back streets of London was converted in to the first venue where serious music was heard. Great composers like Handel even had their first British performances there as a coal merchant called Thomas Britton created what's thought to be the first venue for classical concerts. This is his remarkable story.

It's that time of year. From the dark files, three real life stories of grim events that can occur after death. The fear of being buried alive led one woman to plan an extraordinary death. A love struck Lord who kept his lover in a glass coffin. And the most gruesome story in literary history when an exhumation is prompted by a book of buried love poems. A Halloween special not recommended for those who are faint of heart.

Oscar winning actress Margaret Rutherford won international praise for her many popular film roles, yet few knew the original Miss Marple hid a dark secret. A gruesome murder haunted her private life, eventually leading to enforced spells inside psychiatric institutions. But the tragic event that triggered such deep depressions had happened even before she was born.

When a British aristocrat fell in love with a hot blooded Spanish dancer little did either know the troubling times that lay ahead. This dalliance with an Andalusian spitfire came to scandalize society and gripped the nation at the start of the 20th century. A true life tale of arrogance, hatred and tragedy amongst the upper crust of old England.

Robert Cowell led life straight out of the pages of a "Boys Own" adventure story. He was an award winning motor racing driver and fighter pilot. Yet this outwardly machismo identity hid a person battling inwardly with an identity crisis. Today gender dysphoria; the condition of feeling ones emotional and psychological identity to be at odds with one's birth sex, is well recognised and supported. But back in the 1950's such matters were swept under the carpet until a brave woman, Roberta Cowell, emerged as the UK's first trans woman to bravely undergo sex reassignment surgery.

When a last minute re-shuffle was made just before the Titanic set sail on its inaugural voyage in 1912 a fatal error occurred. Was this the most catastrophic lapse of memory in history? As the Titanic sank a man held a key to the lookout's binoculars, but he was hundreds of miles away on dry land. So what role did David Blair play in this epic tragedy?

When a British bobby became sick from a small scratch, a chain of events triggered a discovery that would change medical history. Police Constable Albert Alexander acted as a human guinea-pig for the trial of the first antibiotic; Penicillin. Yet his role in this remarkable story is relatively unknown. We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

In late Victorian England an ugly war was waged upon the newly formed Salvation Army. Many towns and cities saw confrontations as drunken mobs attacked the men, women and children showing compassion to the poor. However, one leading member of the so called "Skeleton Army" had a miraculous conversion which saw him change sides from attacking the Salvationists to becoming one of their leaders. This episode of "Invisible Lives" tells the remarkable story of Charles Jeffries.

Long before the world woke up to our global environmental crisis, a lone voice was calling for change. Yet English eccentric, Charles Waterton was often dismissed as a raving idiot. Despite a barrage of criticism he created the world's first nature reserve and has been applauded by today's leading conservationists. This episode tells his remarkable story and asks what legacy he has left for us to learn from today.

As the battle to gain British women the vote grew, many women were imprisoned for their actions. They were often brutally treated, force fed and punished violently. But on their release many found succour and comfort inside a grand house on the outskirts of Bath. There a remarkable memorial was made to memorialise their brave actions with the planting of an arboretum where scores of trees were planted to symbolise the strength and growth of the Suffragette movement. Whilst their battle for the vote was won, tragically the arboretum, which is most likely to have been the first feminist landscape, was destroyed. This segment tells the remarkable story of the woman behind this historically important site.

As an addition to the Doris Hatt episode, hear one of the research interviews conducted to acquire information for the segment. Adrian Webb is now 83 years old but clearly remembers his many colourful encounters with artist Doris. He talks candidly about her lifestyle, politics and the shock of being asked by Doris's partner, Margery, to reinstate the reputation of an overlooked great artist as she lay on her death bed.

In one of England's gentle back waters a radical woman brought revolutionary ideas causing alarm back in the 1930's. Feminist, Communist and Modernist artist, Doris Hatt shook the establishment in the sleepy seaside town of Clevedon. But just what was being hatched inside her political hothouse meetings which saw some of Britain's most outspoken agitators and, later, Soviet spies in attendance? This segment lifts the lid on a talented artist who paid a heavy price for her political views despite the best efforts of her life partner, Margery, to save her from obscurity.

A century before the dawn of the computer age, a young woman had a remarkable vision. Ada Lovelace is credited as the first computer programmer. So how did she achieve the insight which would become the core concept of the digital era? And why do some doubt such claims?

How has such a pioneering figure in medical history been neglected in gaining recognition? Why does Dr Barry not merit an historic marker in England? This remarkable individual endured a life of secrecy, loneliness and harsh criticism in the quest to become a practising doctor. Find out Dr Barry's secret in the opening episode of "Invisible Lives."

Why was Mrs Humphrey Ward a hate figure to the women of Britain? A remarkable life as the highest paid woman in Victorian and Edwardian England, along with her considerable charitable work, all came crashing down when she made a fundamental mistake that saw her publicly vilified. Discover her story in this episode.