Podcasts about east yorkshire

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell chats with jeweller and shop owner Tori Foster to talk about the real journey of opening a jewellery shop — the trials, the joys, and everything in between. Tori shares how she made the leap from maker to shop owner, revealing the ten things no one tells you about setting up and running a jewellery store. From learning that things won't always go to plan to discovering the hidden benefits of having a creative haven, Tori offers insights for any jeweller dreaming of their own space. The conversation covers practical tips like researching local funding, navigating hidden costs, and dealing with the public — as well as the unexpected opportunities that come from having a shopfront, from commissions to community connections. Whether you're dreaming of a bricks-and-mortar shop or just curious about the behind-the-scenes reality, this episode is packed with lessons, encouragement, and honest reflections to help you take your next big step.   Here's what we cover in this episode: Why it never goes exactly to plan — and why that's OK Local funding opportunities and how to prepare The hidden costs of shop ownership What it's really like working with the public Why investing in yourself matters How set hours and a creative space can transform your work The unexpected perks of having a customer-facing workshop  And much more.   About Tori Foster Diploma graduate Tori Foster creates jewellery inspired by the beauty of nature and the magic of the night sky. Her pieces blend delicate designs with celestial touches, using natural textures and gemstones. Working from her studio in East Yorkshire, Tori crafts meaningful, wearable treasures and runs workshops, helping others discover the joy of making their own jewellery and exploring their creativity.   Online Jewellery Diploma Courses As discussed in this weeks episode, Tori has taken three Diplomas with Jewellers Academy. Year 1 - Diploma in Silver Jewellery Year 2 - Diploma in Fine Jewellery Year 3 - Advanced Jewellery Diploma You can find out more about the courses below. The next intake starts in September 2025 and we will close for enrolment in June. https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diplomas   Learn more about Jewellers Academy Watch this episode on YouTube Join the Jewellers Academy Facebook Group Find Jewellers Academy on Instagram and Facebook

Rob Parsons hosts a special mayoral hustings edition of The Northern Agenda podcast, brought to you from the home of the Hull Daily Mail and Hull Live. We are just a few days away from finding out who is going to be chosen by voters for a job that's never existed before, but could have a huge impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people north of the River Humber.  After May 1's elections, the seven metro mayors across the North - the likes of Andy Burnham and Ben Houchen - will be joined by one representing Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire, a patch representing 600,000 people. Whoever gets in next week will have a £400m long-term investment fund and powers over education, housing and transport to help make life better for the region's 600,000 population. With the help of questions from Hull Daily Mail readers, Rob Parsons quizzes five of the six candidates to be mayor: Reform UK's Luke Campbell, Liberal Democrat Mike Ross, Conservative Anne Handley, Labour's Margaret Pinder and the Yorkshire Party's Rowan Halstead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rural communities could find it increasingly difficult to save their local pubs following the decision to shut down a government grant scheme. The Community Ownership Fund, which helped groups to buy local assets such as pubs and parks, was set up as part of the Conservative government's levelling up programme. The Labour government closed the scheme earlier than originally planned.Poultry keepers across the UK must follow strong biosecurity measures to try to prevent the spread of avian flu. We hear what that means on the ground for farmers, and hear from a vet who says it is having an impact.And millions of tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles have been found washed up on the east coast of England - leading to concerns about their impact on seabirds and marine life. The Coastguard has said it's likely the nurdles came from the collision involving a tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea, off East Yorkshire last week. Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Edition No112 | 13-03-2025 - On Monday morning the Solong sailed into the US-registered tanker Stena Immaculate, which was carrying fuel for the US Navy. Fires broke out on board both vessels. It may not come as a huge surprise to many who are paying attention to Russia's hybrid war against Europe, but the captain of the Solong container ship is a Russian national. He is now under arrest. The incident occurred 13 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire. 36 people were rescued, and one is missing presumed dead. The rest of the crew were Russian and Filipino nationals, according to German shipping company Ernst Russ. Police said a a 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence and manslaughter in connection with Monday's collision. Police are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in relation to a criminal probe into the cause of the collision between the US-registered Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged Solong. It can hardly be a coincidence, that the tanked was carrying critical fuel for the military. The tanker was carrying Jet-A1 fuel for the US Navy as part of a United States government programme designed to supply American armed forces with fuel in Europe. But authorities say there no indication of any malicious activity, and they have found no evidence of foul play in the crash. It's been reported that authorities from the US and Portugal will lead the investigation into what happened, along with UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch. ----------https://dzygaspaw.com/triad-silicon-curtain?notes=Jonathan%20Fink%20for%20TRIAD&project=Triad:%20Night%20Drones----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------LINKS:https://news.sky.com/story/captain-of-solong-container-ship-involved-in-north-sea-crash-is-russian-national-company-says-13326888https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/12/captain-arrested-over-uk-ship-collision-is-russian-owner-sayshttps://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/03/12/uk-police-arrest-russian-captain-over-north-sea-ship-collision-a88332----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

We're experimenting and would love to hear from you!In this episode of 'Discover Daily', we explore a major maritime disaster in the North Sea where the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate collided with the Portuguese cargo ship Solong off East Yorkshire on March 10, 2025. The collision caused fires on both vessels, forced crew evacuations, and released jet fuel into the sea, raising environmental concerns. All 37 crew members were rescued safely, though questions remain about whether the Solong was on autopilot when it struck the anchored tanker.We also examine Neuralink's ambitious plans as the company files trademark applications for futuristic terms like "Telepathy" and "Telekinesis," signaling development of brain-computer interfaces that could allow users to control devices with their thoughts. Our main story focuses on the European Union's efforts to reduce Ukraine's dependence on Starlink by negotiating with major European satellite operators like SES, Hisdesat, Viasat, and Eutelsat OneWeb to create alternative satellite communication solutions for Ukraine's critical infrastructure needs.The episode highlights the complex relationship between technology and geopolitics, particularly as Ukraine relies on approximately 40,000 Starlink terminals for government functions, healthcare operations, and military communications in areas where traditional internet infrastructure has been compromised. While European satellite operators remain optimistic about providing alternatives, experts note that no current European system can match Starlink's extensive coverage, underscoring Europe's push for technological independence in satellite communications.From Perplexity's Discover Feed:https://www.perplexity.ai/page/tanker-collision-in-north-sea-.873SdLDRgGwCPhztCI_Cghttps://www.perplexity.ai/page/neuralink-files-telepathy-and-LHjgvYQrTuqKZ7fgeIau9Qhttps://www.perplexity.ai/page/eu-to-help-ukraine-replace-sta-t5eIZ_IMTOyC6kj6yKO4Vw**Introducing Perplexity Deep Research:**https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-deep-research Perplexity is the fastest and most powerful way to search the web. Perplexity crawls the web and curates the most relevant and up-to-date sources (from academic papers to Reddit threads) to create the perfect response to any question or topic you're interested in. Take the world's knowledge with you anywhere. Available on iOS and Android Join our growing Discord community for the latest updates and exclusive content. Follow us on: Instagram Threads X (Twitter) YouTube Linkedin

Thirty-six people have been brought ashore after a cargo vessel collided with an oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast. It's emerged that the cargo ship was carrying 15 containers of the toxic chemical sodium cyanide. We get the latest with Vincent McAviney London based journalist.

Thirty-six people have been brought ashore after a cargo vessel collided with an oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast. It's emerged that the cargo ship was carrying 15 containers of the toxic chemical sodium cyanide. We get the latest with Vincent McAviney London based journalist.

A major rescue operation is underway in the North Sea after an oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the East Yorkshire coast in the UK. Europe correspondent Olly Barratt spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Fires are still burning on two ships which collided off the East Yorkshire coast. A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship, carrying fifteen containers of highly toxic sodium cyanide, struck an American oil tanker. Thirty-seven crew members from the ships have been brought safely ashore but one crew member remains missing. The American ship was carrying aviation fuel, some of which is pouring into the sea.Also in programme: we assess whether the Government's new planning legislation can placate residents' concerns about housing developments and electricity pylons; and as the head of the UK's security industry calls for the word "bouncer" to be kicked out, we'll explore the word's history with Countdown's Susie Dent.

In the latest bonus episode of the 1904 Club podcast, we sat down with Colombia midfielder Steven Alzate to talk about City's trip to Sunderland on Saturday, the picture at the bottom end of the Championship and how he's settling into life in East Yorkshire following his move in late summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi Besties! We missed you! In this episode we are so honoured to interview the wonderful Marie Gentles OBE. Marie is a renowned behavior expert and former headteacher with nearly two decades of experience in education.She led an outstanding primary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) provision, where her innovative approaches to behaviour management garnered national recognition.Marie gained wider public attention through the BBC Two documentary series "Don't Exclude Me," where she collaborated with Milton Hall Primary School to address challenging student behaviors and reduce exclusions.In June 2023, she published the book "Gentle Guidance: How to Understand, Inspire and Empower Your Kids," offering practical advice for parents and caregivers on managing children's behavior.Throughout her career, Marie has been a strong advocate for viewing behavior as a form of communication, promoting strategies that prioritize emotional safety and well-being for children and young people.In PART 1 we dig into:You have been an inspirational champion for children. Fighting against a culture of exclusion. What is the impact of exclusion on our young people and why should this be avoided at all costs?A child swears, throws a table, shouts, climbs on a wall…Big behaviours are present in our classrooms and you have been head on live and direct. What do you think all adults need to know about big behaviours?TES news recently shared that 1 in 4 educators have restrained a child. I'd love to hear your perspective on this. What is your opinion on what we are missing in behaviour training to avoid this?I love your mantra: No blame no shame. Can you shed some light on why blaming and shaming strategies are so damaging in schools?You share many amazing strategies, but I wanted to hone in on emotional connection. Why is that so vital for big behaviours?We are so proud to have two incredible sponsors:Now, Press, PlayNow>Press>Play is an award-winning educational company founded in 2012 by Alice Lacey and Oscar Wood. The company offers immersive audio experiences designed to engage primary school children in the curriculum through sound, story, and movement.Each child wears a pair of wireless headphones and becomes the main character in a story, meeting people, discovering places, and solving problems on an educational adventure. This makes make learning magical, memorable, and meaningful by connecting students to the material through experiential learning. TGMC APPROVED!Besties can get a discount by simply saying they are a bestie! WINNING! You can get into contact with them here: ⁠⁠hello@nowpressplay.co.uk⁠⁠Little Coach HouseThe Little Coach House is a family-run business based in East Yorkshire, England, specializing in handcrafted, Montessori-inspired educational resources for early years learning.Their product line includes name tracing boards, alphabet tracing boards, number tracing boards, and various flashcards, all designed to support early writing, numeracy, and fine motor skills development. These resources are particularly beneficial for children in nursery and reception stages, as well as in Key Stage 1. We LOVE their breathing boards as they make a core regulation strategy TANGIBLE. And that is so impactful for our babes. You can get a discount by using the code TGMC15 . Get your breathing boards here: ⁠https://littlecoachhouse.co.uk/collections/mindfulness⁠⁠⁠littlecoachhouse.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecoachhouse.co.uk⁠⁠Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/morning-coffeeLicense code: LPGUERTEIIKDUYT4

On the pod this week, we are joined by former two-time National Pig Association chair, Richard Longthorp, to discuss a very important topic of Parkinson's Disease. Richard, a former pig farmer from Howden in East Yorkshire, was diagnosed with the condition back in 2017.What you'll hear during the course of this pod is how fitness, particularly boxing, has helped Richard to manage his condition, how it has provided him with a new lease of life at the age of 71, and why he has raised thousands of pounds to support Parkinson's UK, St Paul's Boxing Academy in Hull and Goole Amateur Boxing Club. He talks about his time as NPA chair, including the struggle with foot-and-mouth disease, and what a life in farming has provided him. Both boxing clubs provide fitness provision for people living with Parkinson's and Richard wanted to give something back. It is an extraordinary story of pushing one's physical and emotional limits, and never giving up; something British farmers are well-known for.One of Richard's idols, former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Alli, said: “Inside of a ring or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. It is staying down that's wrong.” Words we can all relate too for the many challenges that life throws at us. So sit back, and enjoy the pod.Message us

Welcome back Besties! We missed you!Today we are so fricking honoured to interview Dr Emma Hepburn. Dr. Emma Hepburn is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist with over 15 years of experience in both public and private sectors. She is also an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, where she lectures on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.Known on social media as "The Psychology Mum," Dr. Hepburn has gained recognition for her engaging illustrations that simplify complex psychological concepts, aiming to make mental health information accessible to a broader audience.Dr. Hepburn has authored several books focused on mental health and wellbeing, including: "A Toolkit for Your Emotions"Dr Emma was generous enough to give up her time for Jen to interview her for Behaviour: The Lost Modules for the chapter 'Behaviour and Emotions.'In Part 2 we dig into:You talk about life being an emotional rollercoaster. Accurate. But you talk specifically about creating pit stops. Can you explain why this is essential in order for us to function well? What happens if we just keep ploughing on?You share 4 key pit stops: calm, connected, contained and compassionate. Can you shed a little light on why each of those are so important for our wellbeing?What would you say to school leaders who say they don't have time to teach or make room for emotions in school?What mantra would you like to leave our behaviour besties with?We are so proud to have two incredible sponsors for Behaviour Besties season 4: Now,Press, Play and The Little Coach House.Now, Press, PlayNow>Press>Play is an award-winning educational company founded in 2012 by Alice Lacey and Oscar Wood. The company offers immersive audio experiences designed to engage primary school children in the curriculum through sound, story, and movement.Each child wears a pair of wireless headphones and becomes the main character in a story, meeting people, discovering places, and solving problems on an educational adventure. This makes make learning magical, memorable, and meaningful by connecting students to the material through experiential learning. TGMC APPROVED!Besties can get a discount by simply saying they are a bestie! WINNING! You can get into contact with them here: ⁠⁠hello@nowpressplay.co.uk⁠⁠Little Coach HouseThe Little Coach House is a family-run business based in East Yorkshire, England, specializing in handcrafted, Montessori-inspired educational resources for early years learning.The company's product line includes name tracing boards, alphabet tracing boards, number tracing boards, and various flashcards, all designed to support early writing, numeracy, and fine motor skills development. These resources are particularly beneficial for children in nursery and reception stages, as well as in Key Stage 1. We LOVE their breathing boards as they make a core regulation strategy TANGIBLE. And that is so impactful for our babes. You can get a discount by using the code TGMC15 . Get your breathing boards here: ⁠https://littlecoachhouse.co.uk/collections/mindfulness⁠⁠⁠littlecoachhouse.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecoachhouse.co.ukMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/morning-coffeeLicense code: LPGUERTEIIKDUYT4

Welcome back Besties! We missed you!Today we are so fricking honoured to interview Dr Emma Hepburn. Dr. Emma Hepburn is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist with over 15 years of experience in both public and private sectors. She is also an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, where she lectures on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.Known on social media as "The Psychology Mum," Dr. Hepburn has gained recognition for her engaging illustrations that simplify complex psychological concepts, aiming to make mental health information accessible to a broader audience.Dr. Hepburn has authored several books focused on mental health and wellbeing, including: "A Toolkit for Your Emotions"Dr Emma was generous enough to give up her time for Jen to interview her for Behaviour: The Lost Modules for the chapter 'Behaviour and Emotions.'In Part 1 we dig into:You have a beautiful ability to illustrate very complex concepts. Neuroscience is tricky, let's be honest. But you visualise big concepts into memorable ones. One, I think we need to be talking about more in schools is the body budget. Can you explain the concept of the body budget?What kind of ‘deposits' can we make to our own body budget and can we make deposits for our children?You share that social isolation is a withdrawal, can you explain what you mean by that?You also highlight suppressing emotions as a withdrawal. How might we expect a child's behaviour to change if they have no opportunities to identify or talk about how they are feeling?From a neuroscience perspective, what are some of the implications of children being isolated as a way to ‘teach them a lesson'? We are so proud to have two incredible sponsors for Behaviour Besties season 4: Now,Press, Play and The Little Coach House.Now, Press, PlayNow>Press>Play is an award-winning educational company founded in 2012 by Alice Lacey and Oscar Wood. The company offers immersive audio experiences designed to engage primary school children in the curriculum through sound, story, and movement.Each child wears a pair of wireless headphones and becomes the main character in a story, meeting people, discovering places, and solving problems on an educational adventure. This makes make learning magical, memorable, and meaningful by connecting students to the material through experiential learning. TGMC APPROVED!Besties can get a discount by simply saying they are a bestie! WINNING! You can get into contact with them here: ⁠hello@nowpressplay.co.uk⁠Little Coach HouseThe Little Coach House is a family-run business based in East Yorkshire, England, specializing in handcrafted, Montessori-inspired educational resources for early years learning.The company's product line includes name tracing boards, alphabet tracing boards, number tracing boards, and various flashcards, all designed to support early writing, numeracy, and fine motor skills development. These resources are particularly beneficial for children in nursery and reception stages, as well as in Key Stage 1. We LOVE their breathing boards as they make a core regulation strategy TANGIBLE. And that is so impactful for our babes. You can get a discount by using the code TGMC15 . Get your breathing boards here: https://littlecoachhouse.co.uk/collections/mindfulness⁠littlecoachhouse.co.uk⁠⁠littlecoachhouse.co.uk⁠Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/morning-coffeeLicense code: LPGUERTEIIKDUYT4

In this special bonus episode of the 1904 Club podcast, new Hull City signing Eliot Matazo talks to Tigers reporter Barry Cooper about his surprise move from Monaco to Hull City, and why he chose East Yorkshire over Monte Carlo after coming off the bench to help City to a thumping 3-0 win at Sheffield United last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Wollstonecraft, famous for her work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, was born in London in 1759 but spent some of her early life in Beverley near Hull in Yorkshire. Playwright Maureen Lennon and actor Laura Elsworthy will together bring her back to the region in Maureen's play Mary and The Hyenas, in which Laura will play Mary. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Maureen and Laura while the play was in rehearsal in Hull about Mary's life and legacy, the continuing relevance of her message, bringing her story to life on stage and the flourishing arts scene in Yorkshire. Laura Elsworthy stars in the title role of Mary and The Hyenas by Maureen Lennon for Hull Truck Theatre and Pilot Theatre, directed by Esther Richardson with music by Billy Nomates, which runs at Hull Truck Theatre from 7 February to 1 March 2025 before transferring to Wilton's Music Hall in London from 18 to 29 March.

The Stuph File Program Featuring some of the great guests of 2024 in this “Best-Of” year ender Stuph File Program Download Fiona Wilson is the co-owner of Dumble Farms in East Yorkshire in the UK. You can visit the farm to experience cow cuddling. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0751. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Fiona Wilson - Cow Cuddling). Doug Worple, along with his wife, Becca, are operators of Golden Retriever Experience, where people can visit their farm and play with their dogs and those of their neighbours. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0763. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Doug Worple - Golden Retriever Experience). Josee Gautreau is the operator of Llamazing Adventures, which gives people the opportunity to take walks with llamas and alpacas. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0766. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Josee Gautreau - Llamazing Adventures). Biko Skalla is the broadcast entertainer for the baseball team, The Savannah Bananas. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0755. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Biko Skalla - The Savannah Bananas). Chris Martin is the owner of The Tri-City Chili Peppers, a minor league baseball team in Colonial Heights, Virginia. They've created something called Cosmic Baseball, where they play at night under only black light and the balls, bats, bases and uniforms glow in the dark. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0778. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Chris Martin - Cosmic Baseball). Journalist & foreign correspondent, Ivor Davis, is back with a new book that's very personal. It's called The Devil In My Friend, and it chronicles the story of a friend who committed murder. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0797). Louis Ferrante, a former mobster who spent eight years in prison. Since he came out, he's written several books. His latest, called Borgata: Rise Of Empire, A History Of The American Mafia, is the first of a trilogy. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0798. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Louis Ferrante - Borgata: Rise Of Empire, A History Of The American Mafia). On January 23, 2024, legendary folk singer Melanie, died at the age of 76. We feature part of an interview that we did with her back at the beginning of 2021. First heard on Stuph File Program #0754. (You can hear the full interview from 2021, via YouTube under the title Melanie – Folk Singing Icon). We remember Peter Marshall, actor, singer, Broadway star, and the original host of The Hollywood Squares. Peter died August 15, 2024 at the age of 98. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0783. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Remembering Peter Marshall).(Patreon Stuph File Program fans, there is a Patreon Reward Extra where Peter talks about his singing career, and you'll hear some of his music, plus he shares stories about his sister, actress Joanne Dru, his major league baseball player son, his work on stage and in film, and much more). We remember The Amazing Kreskin, who passed away on December 10, 2024 at the age of 89, with part of an interview we did with him from September 2004. (First heard on Stuph File Program #0800. Also heard & seen on YouTube under the title Remembering The Amazing Kreskin). This week's guest slate is presented by broadcaster Blair Bartrem.

Christmas has come early to Bridlington, East Yorkshire; Ian and Amy find out why in this week's bonus episode.To listen to the full bonus episode and for WEEKLY bonus content, videos, BTS bits, extra guest stories, live show discount codes and more, sign up to the Yer Don't Get Owt Fer Nowt! tier on Patreon at patreon.com/northernnews.Got a juicy story from t'North? Email it to northernnewspod@gmail.com.And follow Northern News on Twitter @NorthernNewsPod and Instagram @NorthernNewsPodcastRecorded and edited by Aniya Das for Plosive.Artwork by Welcome Studio.Photography by Jonathan Birch. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agriculture accounts for around 12% of greenhouse gases in the UK, according to DEFRA and there is much work across the industry to cut that figure. Arla, the farmer run dairy cooperative plans to reduce its emissions by 30% per kilo of milk by 2030. The company has just started trials using a dietary supplement called Bovaer which is added to a cow's feed to reduce methane emissions. The trial involves around 30 farmers and 3 supermarkets who buy their milk. But despite the feed supplement getting the thumbs up from UK and European food safety bodies, there's been a social media storm of protest, some people calling for the boycott of Arla products because they do not think it should be used, including posting videos of themselves on social media pouring milk away. A scientist and industry expert give their views.A number of tenant farmers in East Yorkshire say they could be facing eviction to make way for a large solar farm.Dairy farmers say it is hard to find workers and growers use seasonal migrant workers to pick fruit and veg. The lack of people joining the fishing industry means some older skippers are now giving up early as they can't find a crew, meanwhile one farming apprentice is realising his dream.And Charlotte speaks to the winner of the BBC Food and Farming award in the "Farming for the Future" category.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach

Arla, the farmer run dairy cooperative plans to reduce its emissions by 30% per kilo of milk by 2030. They've just started trials using a dietary supplement called Bovaer which is added to cow's feed to reduce methane emissions. The trial involves around 30 farmers and 3 supermarkets who buy their milk. However, even though the feed supplement has been approved by UK and European food safety bodies there's been a social media storm of protest, some people calling for the boycott of Arla products because they don't think it should be used. Some other milk suppliers have been guaranteeing they don't use it. We ask a dairy analyst what all the fuss is about.We're talking agricultural labour all this week on Farming Today. Horticulture relies heavily on the Government's Seasonal Worker Scheme which means it can recruit overseas workers on short term contracts. We ask British Growers how well the current scheme's working for fruit and veg producers.Tenant farmers in East Yorkshire say they could be facing eviction to make way for a large solar farm. The BBC has been told that at least eight farms that lease land from The Dalton Estate, north of Beverley, had been notified of the proposals. Farmers said the solar project could cover at least four square miles and would be a "bombshell" to families who've farmed in the area for generations. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The midweek derby between Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday at the KCOM Stadium is oikely to have been a significant occasion for the future of Tigers boss Tim Walter – and our podcast panel of Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobschall give their take on the season so far for the East Yorkshire club and what is likely to happen next. They also cast their collective eyes over Huddersfield Town's promising form which is gradually turning them into a genuine play-off contender in League One.  Back in the Championship, Leeds United's ability to bounce back from a lte equaliser by Swansea City and reply to post s 4-3 win in South Wales shows a resilience not seen perhaps enough times this season.  Elsewhere, promotion rivals Sheffield United enhanced their hopes of a top-two finish with a clinical 3-0 midweek win over Oxford United.

In this week's episode, Anna Campbell and Jess Croft discuss their recent jewellery collaboration, the Good Girl Rebellion jewellery range. They share actionable advice on how to ensure a successful partnership covering essential tips such as finding the right collaborator, aligning your visions, maintaining respect and communication, navigating challenges, and celebrating milestones. If you've been thinking about how to approach and manage a partnership with an influencer or other brand, don't miss this episode.   Takeaways   - Collaboration can lead to greater creativity and success. - Finding the right partner is crucial for a successful collaboration. - Aligning visions helps avoid misunderstandings later on. - Respect and communication are the foundation of any partnership. - Regular check-ins can prevent misalignment and confusion. - Celebrate small wins to maintain motivation and excitement. - Be open to adapting plans as circumstances change. - Don't hesitate to ask for help when feeling stuck. - Sharing responsibilities can lighten the load for everyone. - A successful collaboration can lead to long-term partnerships.     About Jessica Jessica Croft is the heart and hands behind Homebird Jewellery, based in Hull, East Yorkshire. For more than a decade, she's been crafting jewellery that carries personal meaning and celebrates the unique stories of those who wear it. With a passion for traditional metal stamping and a love for affirmations, Jess creates sterling silver and solid gold jewellery that is designed to uplift, inspire and captures moments of joy. When she's not at her workbench, you'll find her cozied up at home with a good book, a blanket and accompanied by her cat Jeremy.   www.homebirdjewellery.com Instagram @homebirdjewellery   Watch The Handmade Jewellers Documentary Book - Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business Learn more about Jewellers Academy Watch this episode on YouTube Join the Jewellers Academy Facebook Group Find Jewellers Academy on Instagram and Facebook

We head to the East Yorkshire city of Hull this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, where one bright April evening in 2016, the resident of number 9 May Street got the shock of her life as she peered into the garden of the neighbouring property.Amongst the various clutter and discarded rubbish in the garden was a duvet.Out of which, was poking a human leg....The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of injury detail, that some listeners may find disturbing and/or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening in. Music used in this episode: "TheDescent" by KevinMacleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Stone Temple Pilots - PlushJosh Idehen - Mum Does The WashingThe True Crime Enthusiast's Fundraiser For Macmillan Cancer SupportReferences - Follow/Contact/Support The True Crime Enthusiast PodcastFacebookFacebook Discussion GroupTwitterInstagramYoutubeWebsiteTTCE MerchandisePatreon PageRemembering Daniel and Matthew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

G. Michael Vasey PHD, has authored more than 40 books with his most notable on paranormal subjects. He has written books about poetry, metaphysics, and business. He loves collecting strange stories. Born in Hull, England, Vasey, grew up in East Yorkshire. As he grew up, he experienced paranormal activity that included poltergeists, ghosts and other phenomena. Those experiences created a lifetime interest in the supernatural. He wrote a trilogy, “My Haunted Life,” about his experiences and has also written about “Black Eyed Kids,” and other paranormal topics. He has appeared on radio shows such as X Radio, The Knight's Pub, and Mysterious Radio. In addition, he also writes and performs songs. In 2016, he released an album and since then has been writing songs on a regular basis.Websites garymvasey.com myhauntedlifetoo.comBooks The Chilling, True Terror of the Black-Eyed Kids: A Monster Compilation Your Haunted Lives 3: The Black Eyed Kids The Black-Eyed Demons Are Coming (Paranormal Eyewitness 1)Help support California Haunts Radio by becoming a member of The Booo Crew visit... patreon.com/CaliforniaHauntsRadio Booo Crew Store https://boocrew.printful.me/

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Austrian election Kickls far right heads for unprecedented victory McDonalds and supermarkets failed to spot slavery Switzerland and Italy partly redraw border over melting glaciers Hurricane Helene leaves biblical devastation in North Carolina US country music star Kris Kristofferson dies, aged 88 SpaceX capsule docks at ISS to collect stranded astronauts East Yorkshire dentist facing rising tide of broken Turkey teeth Diego Garcia What is on the secretive UK US island Marine le Pen on trial for alleged EU funds misuse Netflix fails to get Baby Reindeer lawsuit dropped

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv East Yorkshire dentist facing rising tide of broken Turkey teeth McDonalds and supermarkets failed to spot slavery Marine le Pen on trial for alleged EU funds misuse SpaceX capsule docks at ISS to collect stranded astronauts Netflix fails to get Baby Reindeer lawsuit dropped US country music star Kris Kristofferson dies, aged 88 Diego Garcia What is on the secretive UK US island Austrian election Kickls far right heads for unprecedented victory Hurricane Helene leaves biblical devastation in North Carolina Switzerland and Italy partly redraw border over melting glaciers

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv McDonalds and supermarkets failed to spot slavery SpaceX capsule docks at ISS to collect stranded astronauts Austrian election Kickls far right heads for unprecedented victory Netflix fails to get Baby Reindeer lawsuit dropped East Yorkshire dentist facing rising tide of broken Turkey teeth Switzerland and Italy partly redraw border over melting glaciers US country music star Kris Kristofferson dies, aged 88 Hurricane Helene leaves biblical devastation in North Carolina Marine le Pen on trial for alleged EU funds misuse Diego Garcia What is on the secretive UK US island

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Netflix fails to get Baby Reindeer lawsuit dropped East Yorkshire dentist facing rising tide of broken Turkey teeth Diego Garcia What is on the secretive UK US island US country music star Kris Kristofferson dies, aged 88 Austrian election Kickls far right heads for unprecedented victory Switzerland and Italy partly redraw border over melting glaciers Hurricane Helene leaves biblical devastation in North Carolina McDonalds and supermarkets failed to spot slavery SpaceX capsule docks at ISS to collect stranded astronauts Marine le Pen on trial for alleged EU funds misuse

The Labour Party conference is underway in Liverpool. Last week we heard from the Liberal Democrats and next week we'll report on the Conservative Party conference. Agriculture is a devolved issue, so the budget and how it's spent is up to governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed spoke at the Labour conference. He told us a land use framework will be published before Christmas, but details of funding for farmers will have to waiting until the chancellor's autumn budget.All week we're hearing how plans for new infrastructure are affecting farmers and their land. A row over whether farm land in North Yorkshire should be turned into a solar farm is going before a public inquiry. The tenant farmers at Eden Farm, Old Malton say a solar farm would make their business unviable. The developer says it's listened to feedback, and reduced the solar farm's size by a third.The number of cases of bluetongue disease in cattle and sheep has risen to 97. As a result the restriction zone has been redrawn and now covers all Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, all Greater London, Surrey and West Sussex. Previous restrictions in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and East Yorkshire remain in place.Apple growers tell us how the weather this year's affected them. One cider producer in Somerset says he's lost trees because of waterlogged orchards and the yield is way down. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new report is calling for more investment in rural areas. The Rural Coalition says the English countryside has the potential to generate billions, but chronic underinvestment is costing jobs and money. Meanwhile, the Government is promising a "devolution revolution", with new mayors soon to be elected in Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. So will that help when it comes to rural investment?Rural homelessness is often a hidden problem and it can be hard to find help and support. We visit a working farm in Somerset where the dairy house has been converted into a hostel for homeless people, who are also given the chance to learn rural skills.And storks died out in the UK 600 years ago. But after a re-introduction project on the Knepp Estate in Sussex in 2016, migrating birds are now returning to the country to breed. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

In this episode, Jonathan and Devon chat with composer Robin Hiley & writer Becky Hope-Palmer about their musical "LIFELINE" currently running off-Broadway. LIFELINE tells the story of Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming's world-changing discovery of penicillin in 1928, charting the rise and fall of antibiotics. Fleming's historic story is interwoven with Jess', a present day doctor whose childhood sweetheart, Aaron, is recovering from cancer treatment, almost 100 years after antibiotics were discovered. But just as Aaron is desperate to resume normality and rekindle the romance, his life hangs in the balance, as he waits to see if Fleming's miracle cure will still work well enough to save him. The musical is a two-time Edinburgh Festival Fringe sell-out (2018 and 2022). It has toured to London, Glasgow and the east coast of the USA (2022). It has also been showcased at the UK Houses of Parliament and in Barbados for Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Previously entitled The Mould that Changed the World, the show underwent significant re-development in 2023 to incorporate numerous modern day patient stories that the producers had collected from around the world. More info available at LIFELINE The Musical (lifelinemusical.com) Guests - Robin Hiley & Becky Hope-Palmer Robin Hiley was a founding partner of Charades Theatre Company upon the company's inception in 2010. In 2017 he took the company forward as Artistic Director & CEO, overseeing its transition to a Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organisation and establishing partnerships and collaborations with major national and international organisations. As a composer, and lyricist Robin is passionate about writing and creating musical theatre that tackles pertinent social issues and also gives opportunities for the community to get involved in performing. Developing LIFELINE has been a signifcant focus for Robin over the past 6 years, immensely enjoying collaborating with writing partners Becky Hope-Palmer (book writer), his long-time friend and songwriting partner James Ross, as well as the rest of the creative team. Robin holds an undergraduate degree in music from Newcastle University and a MSc in enthnomusicology from the University of Edinburgh. Becky Hope-Palmer is a Scottish writer and theatre director from Edinburgh. She trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and was a finalist for the prestigious JMK Directing Award in 2019 and 2021. She is an associate artist for She Productions in East Yorkshire and worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2017-2019. Recent credits include work for the Lyceum Theatre and Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, Perth Theatre, Dundee Rep and A Play, a Pie and a Pint in Glasgow. Her directing and facilitation work spans musical theatre, Shakespeare, classic and new writing in various forms and capacities. As a writer, Becky's first play with music, Seven Against Edinburgh, was produced by the Lyceum Theatre in 2022. She is delighted to be making her Off-Broadway debut with Lifeline as a book writer in collaboration with Robin, James and the wonderful team. Produced and edited by Jonathan Cook LIFELINE music tracks were used in this episode with permission from the creators. Intro music by JK/47 You can watch the full video of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@GatherbytheGhostLight Gather by the Ghost Light merch is available at www.ghostlightpubs.com (Ghost Light Publications) If you would like to further support this podcast, please visit Gather by the Ghost Light is increasing public knowledge of emerging writers and actors (buymeacoffee.com) If you enjoy this podcast, please please please leave a rating on your preferred podcast app! For more info or if you wish to contact us, please visit www.gatherbytheghostlight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 15, 1848, something that had happened two months earlier was finally reported in a newspaper for the first time. It only made it into one newspaper, but that was all that was needed to announce that gold had been found in California. That announcement sparked the California Gold Rush and changed history. SOURCES “Advertisements (Front age).” The Californian (San Francisco, California), March 15, 1848. www.newspapers.com. “The Annual Message of the President of the United States to the Thirtieth Congress.” The New York Herald (New York, New York), December 6, 1848. www.newspapers.com. “The Bermondsey Horror: History Blog UK.” The Ministry Of History History Blog UK Europe. Accessed June 12, 2024. https://www.theministryofhistory.co.uk/short-histories-blog/bermondsey-horror. “A Big Snake Excitement.” The Evening Post (New York, New York), July 6, 1848. www.newspapers.com. “The Californian (1840s Newspaper).” Wikipedia, November 26, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Californian_(1840s_newspaper). “The Discovery of Gold: Early California History: An Overview: Articles and Essays: California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900: Digital Collections: Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress. Accessed June 12, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/collections/california-first-person-narratives/articles-and-essays/early-california-history/discovery-of gold/#:~:text=Governor%20Mason's%20report%20of%20that,Niners%22%20were%20on%20their%20way. “Gold Rush: California, Date & Sutter's Mill.” History.com. Accessed June 12, 2024. https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/gold-rush-of-1849. “The Great Russellville Snake.” Buffalo Courier Express (Buffalo, New York), March 22, 1849. www.newspapers.com. “Marie Manning (Murderer).” Wikipedia, April 11, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Manning_(murderer). McEneaney, Cian. “Changing Attitudes toward Irish Canadians: The Impact of the 1847 Famine Influx in the Province of Canada .” Bridgewater State University, 2021. https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1491&context=undergrad_rev. “A Monster Snake.” The Hull Packet and East Riding Times (Hull, East Yorkshire, England), January 12, 1849. www.newspapers.com. “Mortality of Immigrants to Canada.” Daily National Intelligencer (Washington D. C.), January 24, 1848. www.newspapers.com. “The Murder at Bermondsey.” The Observer (London, Greater London, England), September 3, 1849. www.newspapers.com. SOUND SOURCES Al Jolson. “I'll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music. Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music. Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

Send us a Text Message.Danny Worsnop, born on September 4, 1990, in Beverley, East Yorkshire, England, is best known as the lead vocalist of the British rock band Asking Alexandria. His distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence have been central to the band's success and evolution over the years.Worsnop co-founded Asking Alexandria in 2008 alongside guitarist Ben Bruce. The band quickly gained traction in the metalcore scene with their debut album, Stand Up and Scream, released in 2009. This album was characterized by its heavy breakdowns, electronic elements, and Worsnop's powerful screams and melodic singing. It helped establish the band as a force within the genre, and Worsnop's dynamic vocal abilities were a significant factor in this rise.Following the success of their debut, Asking Alexandria released Reckless & Relentless in 2011. This album marked a shift towards a more rock-oriented sound while retaining their metalcore roots. Worsnop's versatility as a vocalist was showcased through his ability to switch seamlessly between harsh and clean vocals, contributing to the album's critical and commercial success.In 2013, the band released From Death to Destiny, further evolving their sound. This album leaned more towards hard rock and featured Worsnop exploring a wider range of vocal styles. His performance on tracks like "The Death of Me" and "Moving On" highlighted his growth as a singer and songwriter.However, in 2015, Worsnop parted ways with Asking Alexandria to focus on other musical endeavors, including his rock band We Are Harlot and a solo career. During this period, he explored different genres, showcasing his versatility as an artist. His solo work, particularly the album The Long Road Home, delved into country and blues influences, demonstrating his ability to adapt and excel in various musical styles.In a surprising turn of events, Worsnop rejoined Asking Alexandria in 2016. The band's self-titled album, released in 2017, marked http://www.betterhelp.com/TheBarnThis episode is sponsored by www.betterhelp.com/TheBarn and brought to you as always by The Barn Media Group. YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@TheBarnPodcastNetwork SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/09neXeCS8I0U8OZJroUGd4?si=2f9b8dfa5d2c4504 APPLE https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1625411141 I HEART RADIO https://www.iheart.com/podcast/97160034/ AMAZON https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7aff7d00-c41b-4154-94cf-221a808e3595/the-barn All equipment used in the making of this video:Shure Sm7b https://amzn.to/3uAMzMAShure Sm58 ...

Alex Forsyth presents political discussion from the East Riding Theatre in Beverley in East Yorkshire.

Over the past two decades, 900 British postal workers were wrongfully prosecuted for fraud. On this week's On the Media, hear how a TV show about the Post Office Scandal sparked a political reckoning in the U.K. Plus, meet the Redstones – the complicated family behind Paramount Global.[00:00] Host Brooke Gladstone interviews Jonathan Freedland, columnist at the Guardian and host of the Politics Weekly America podcast, about how coinciding election campaigns in the US and the UK this year are influencing each other from across the pond.[00:00] Brooke explores how a recent British TV drama about the "Post Office Scandal" sparked a long overdue political reckoning in the U.K., and shone a light on the stories of British postal workers wrongfully prosecuted for fraud. Brooke interviews reporter Rebecca Thomson, who first broke the story in 2009; reporter Nick Wallis, author of The Great Post Office Scandal and consultant for the television drama; and Lee Castleton, a former subpostmaster in East Yorkshire.[00:00] Lastly, Brooke interviews Rachel Abrams, senior producer and reporter for The New York Times Presents and co-author of Unscripted:​​ The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy. They discuss the Redstones, the family behind the media empire Paramount Global.Further reading:The Great Post Office Scandal by Nick WallisMr. Bates vs The Post Office, PBSUnscripted:​​ The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy by Rachel Abrams and James B. Stewart On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Sight Support Hull and East Yorkshire are hosting a glamorous film music concert to celebrate their 160th anniversary.  Amelia talked to Angela Gregory from the charity to learn about their history, services and how life for blind and partially sighted people has changed since they began. The concert takes place in Hull Minster at 7pm on Friday 7th June 2024. Learn more about Sight Support Hull and East Yorkshire on their website -https://www.sightsupport.org/ Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. RNIB is written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath, 'Connect Radio' written in smaller black letters. 

Sometimes it's just a pleasure to sit back and listen.  This is one of those moments - for me, certainly, but hopefully for you too.  I had the pleasure of sitting and chatting with two icons of the industry - Sean Conboy and the inimatable nonagenarian, Stuart Clark who is not only still shooting at the age of 97 but is a considerable racontour (you can hear me and Sean laughing in the background throughout!) Stuart started his career in 1941, so his stories are not only entertaining but are fascinating as they cover every photography development from glass plate through to the state of the art digital wizardry we're facing today. This interview is worth listening to every one of its 90 or so minutes! Enjoy!   Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.    Transcript [00:00:00] Paul: So there are so, so many things I love about being in this industry, the things we get to do, and in particular, this podcast, and one of the many things is having these moments that you're about to hear, where I get to sit and chat with someone I've known for a very long time, Sean Conboy, fantastic photographer, and just a wonderful human being. [00:00:20] And someone he introduced me to, a guy called Stuart Clark.  [00:00:23] Now Stuart is 98 years old in July this year. Self proclaimed as one of the oldest working photographers in the country, and I'm not sure that anyone's going to argue with that. He started training as a photographer in 1940. That makes this, he's been working as a photographer for 84 years. [00:00:46] And the whole of this interview is taking place in what was, his photography studio in a little town just outside Leeds. It's his front living room, but it's huge. It's got a high ceiling and you can imagine how the lighting would have been hot, continuous lights and families just having the best time with someone who I learned very quickly, is a storyteller and a raconteur, uh, just a wonderful, a wonderful human being. There are lots of things to listen out for in the following interview, and let me draw your attention to just a few. Uh, listen out for the flash powder story. It's very funny. Uh, the story of, uh, People retouching, lots of retouching stories from the 1940s and billiard ball complexions. [00:01:31] . Doing multiple jobs in a day. He used to do three or four jobs in a day, and have the timing so accurate that could include photographing a wedding. He learned his craft. He's great. [00:01:42] He's spent time creating images for press, looking for alternative, alternative images and looking for PR images that no matter how much a sub editor crops them, the brand or at least the story is still very much intact. He talks about the utter love of the job and appreciating what a privileged position photographers like ourselves are in every day of the week. [00:02:07] He talks a little about the role of agencies and how they now manage messages from companies in a way that probably they never did. He talks about relationships and he talks about being positive and persistence. He also talks about the role of the Institute. [00:02:24] Finally, he talks a little bit about photographers always being the fag end of everything, but in the end, what he talks about really, It's the love of his job and the love of his clients.  [00:02:35] Why am I telling you all of this upfront? Well, this is a long interview, but the sound of Stuart's voice and the history that it represents, as well as the fact that he's more current than an awful lot of photographers who I know right now who are much younger, uh, but just, there's something in his, his entire manner that is captivating and enthralling, informative and useful. And so, although it's a long interview, I thought I'd just explain a little bit about why I found it so appealing and why I've left the edit almost entirely intact. I've removed a few lumps and bumps where we all managed to hit a microphone as we're gesticulating. [00:03:16] So picture the scene, there's myself, Sean and Stuart sitting, in armchairs and on couches. [00:03:27] And if you're wondering why it took me quite so long, this interview is actually, it goes back to February of this year, and why it took me quite so long to get it out, it was partly because there was a lot of of lumps to remove and partly because it was this trip, this interview, this podcast that I was returning home from when the Land Rover blew up. [00:03:46] And frankly, I think there's a little bit of trauma there with a six and a half thousand pound bill to re, to replace and repair piston number two. I think my heart just, I needed a minute just to not recall it every single time I try to edit this particular podcast down. It's a wonderful interview. Please enjoy. [00:04:06] I know it's quite long, um, but what an absolute legend. I'm Paul and this is the Mastering Portrait Photography Podcast.  [00:04:32] So, firstly, Stuart, thank you for welcoming us into your home. We've driven quite a long way, uh, to come and see you. Sean, uh, recommended we speak to you, because the number of stories you have make even his collection of stories look Insignificant. [00:04:48] And as we all know, Sean, The Footnote Conboy has more stories than any man I've ever met up until probably this, this moment in time. So to kick the conversation off, how did you become a photographer? [00:05:05] Stuart: It was an unfortunate or fortunate chain of events because, um, I was at the Leeds College of Art in 1940, 41, and I had the desire and intention of being a commercial artist, which is now referred as graphic designer and at that time, being wartime, there was little advertising being done, and so, uh, perhaps I was not sufficiently talented, but I finished up working for a firm who were essentially photoengravers, but they had a commercial photography studio as well, and they were short of somebody to join them, and I went in there and became virtually an apprentice photographer. This was very interesting because at that time, again, there was very little commercial photography advertising being done, and so all our efforts, or most of our efforts, were centred on war work, which involved going round the factories and, uh, Photographing for record purposes, the input of the particular company. And in those days, I can tell you that that was not a very comfortable proposition because we were on total blackout, and therefore, all the fumes in the factory, whatever they were, had very little chance of escaping, so you've got the fumes and the heat, and then of course we were only Illuminating scenes with flash powder, which was an added hazard, and, and so Photography outside in the factories was not very pleasant, but inside the factory, or in the studio, we were also doing war work, and that was to photograph silhouettes, scale models of all aircraft of both the enemy and, uh, and, uh, Home, uh, Aircraft for identification purposes, so that the air gunners were not shooting our own planes down in action. And another very interesting thing which I have always remembered was that the four, or the eight cannons In the Spitfire, that was four in each wing, were harmonized to converge at a point away from the Spitfire so that the Fire, the maximum fire point was when those two lots of cannons converged. [00:08:34] The only reference that the pilots had was a silhouette which we had photographed, so that he could visualize that silhouette in the, aiming sight of his  [00:08:50] guns.  [00:08:51] Paul: a very early heads up display.  [00:08:53] Stuart: Indeed.  [00:08:54] Paul: Yeah. [00:08:55] Stuart: And, so, that was quite an important element, I think, of our war work for the Air Ministry. [00:09:03] The main factory was engraving the, conical, rangefinder cones for 25 pound howitzers. [00:09:14] Paul: Right. [00:09:15] Stuart: And at the time of leaving school, everybody had to be doing war work.  [00:09:21] And so I went to the company on the pretext of doing war work of that nature, rather than going round snapping. [00:09:31] Paul: Right. [00:09:32] Sean: Stuart, could you also, um, I mean you've told me many great tales about your time actually in the, uh, armed services film unit, i think that might be quite interesting,  [00:09:42] Stuart: Well, I was called up and because of my interest in mechanical things and gadgetry and so forth, I finished up in the Royal Army Service Corps. But a friend of my mother's husband suggested that I applied for a trade test in photography. And one day I was called up to the orderly room and they said, We've got the movement order here for you. Um, to go to Pinewood Studios, of all places. I don't know what this is about, but anyway, here's your movement order. So, I went down to Pinewood, and we had a trade test, and I think I finished up, uh, top of the, the, uh, examination. But then I was returned to unit at Catterick, and I was up there for another few months, and then I was posted. And eventually, after about six weeks of the posting, I got another movement order to go back to Pinewood Studios, where I started my course in cinephotography, [00:11:06] and still photography. Now, this was the last course. before Pinewood closed down and the unit closed down. I'm talking about Pinewood closing down, Pinewood was the headquarters of the Army Film and Photographic Unit from when it was formed in October 41. [00:11:35] The course included preparation for action photography, essentially. when the course started, the war was still on in Central Europe. but before the course finished, it, uh, the war finished. [00:11:58] And The Japanese War was still going on until September of the same year, which was 45. But we were still being trained, and when the course finished, we had very little to do but just wait to see what happened. And so from September to, um, December of that year, we were just hanging about in the studios. [00:12:30] We were then posted to the Far East, in fact to Malaya, where the No. 9 unit was formed. Having been moved by Batten's headquarters, Mountbatten's headquarters, from Ceylon to Singapore, thought that it would be probably much more congenial there than in Ceylon, India. [00:12:57] So number nine was there and it's interesting to note that right at this moment an exhibition is being produced for the photographer's gallery on Bert Hardy's life and Bert Hardy at the time that I there was, in fact, the stills captain in charge of all the still photography in Malay Command. Or the, not Malay Command, the Far East Command, because we had outstations in Java and Hong Kong, and even, uh, one guy, uh, was in, um, in Hiroshima. So that was the formation of the, the, uh, Far East, Southeast Asia Command photographic, uh, outfit. until it closed down, uh, in September, August September of 46, and we are then dispersed Some went to the Imperial War Museum, the Imperial, uh, war, graves Commission, et cetera, and six of us went back to Vienna, where we joined number 9, Public Relations, because unit had been disbanded completely. So, there in, uh, in Austria, we were doing what they call Local Boy Stories, and we made a couple of films on the Irish regiments and also the East Yorkshire, not the East Yorkshire, the Yorkshire regiments who were guarding and on guard duties at the palace, Shurnbran Palace, which everybody has heard of, and um, and so that carried on until, uh, the Until I was demobbed in 1947, December. came home and went back to the company I originally started with because they were compelled to take people for 12 months. And at the end of that time, I decided to leave I had a bit of a a difference of opinion with the studio manager, who was RAF, and I was Army, and I was a sergeant as well, and I don't think he was quite that when he was in the RAF photographic section, but there was a resentment anyway. [00:16:02] of my presence.  [00:16:03] So, I went to the firm called C. R. H. Pickards, who were one of the finest industrial, uh, and leading industrial photographic units, companies, in the north of England. [00:16:24] It was there, then, that I began to learn industrial photography. And we photographed all sorts of various things, from factory engineering, factories, products and so forth, lathes, milling machines, railway engines, all manner of things. And that's where I cut my teeth on industrial photography. [00:16:56] Sean: And, and Stuart, what sort of, um, equipment would you be using in those days? not  [00:17:01] Stuart: so ha!  [00:17:02] Sean: but how  [00:17:03] would you be lighting these spaces in those days  [00:17:05] Stuart: um The equipment that we were using was always, almost always, whole plate, six a half, eight by, eight and a half, six a half, uh, folding field cameras. when I started, we [00:17:29] were on glass plates. But then the advent of film came in. And this was obviously much lighter stuff to carry around. And every, exposure had to count. Now in today's terms, where you press the button and pick the best out of however many, all we used to do was a duplicate at the most. So we used to There was a variation in the exposure or the aperture setting, and that was the only difference the two exposures. [00:18:19] So what we used to do was develop one side of the, uh, the double dark slides, see what they were like, if they wanted a little bit more or a bit less development, that was applied to second side. And, don't know whether you've ever heard of the expression of, um, developing by, uh, vision. But we used to have a very dim green light, and the sensitive film. [00:18:59] was not, uh, sensitive to the green light.  [00:19:03] Paul: All right.  [00:19:04] Stuart: But you had to be in the darkroom for ten minutes for your eyes to become adjusted, and you could then see absolutely every detail of the, the development process. And when the highlights started to you, to, To show a dark mark through the back of the antihalation backing, then the development was just about right, if but if you wanted a little bit more contrast, then you just pushed it on. If it had been a dull day, a dull, miserable day, then you pushed the development on a little bit further. [00:19:49] Sean: And  [00:19:49] Stuart: you've asked  [00:19:50] Sean: be, how would you be lighting some of these scenes? I'm very intrigued at that  [00:19:53] Stuart: I  [00:19:53] Sean: that  [00:19:53] Stuart: about to say that. [00:19:54] Um, for big areas, we used to use flash powder. And a little bit of flash powder goes a long way, believe me. But it was pretty dangerous stuff. And um, I remember we photographed a wedding on one occasion at the Majestic Hotel Harrogate. And there were 450 people. at the reception and they wanted a photograph to show as many of the people as possible. So we put the whole plate camera on a table stood up there with tray into which I poured flash powder. [00:20:38] Now then, this was actuated. with a percussion cap, like we used to have in little [00:20:46] hand pistols for toys. and when you pulled the release catch, that ignited the cap, [00:20:56] that ignited the flash powder. [00:21:00] So, the exposure was only going to be once. One exposure. [00:21:07] And so, the photographer I was with, he said, right everybody. Look this way, and I want to be making sure that everybody keeps still. [00:21:21] I'm going to count five for you, but don't move until I've finished counting. [00:21:29] So the idea was to take the sheath out of the slide. With having put a cap over the lens, shutter, just an open lens with a cap or a lid on the front. [00:21:46] And the technique was to take the cap off hold it in front of the lens, so that that allowed the vibration or any vibration in the camera to settle down and then take the exposure. the idea was count 1, 2, 3, 4, then take the cup off. And on four I ignited the flash gun and then the cup went on and the guy that I was worth put the sheath back and said, right, let's get out of here quick. The reason for that was that you got the brightness, got the, the buildup of the available lights. then it's just topped off, illuminated with the flash, not a very big one, I hasten to add. But the significance of flash powder was that there was a flame which simply went upwards.  [00:23:00] And that was it, that was all there was to be seen. But, it produced smoke, which used to go into, onto the ceiling, and it would roll across the ceiling, carrying with it the grains of the flash powder, which had obviously changed colour from [00:23:24] silver [00:23:25] To yellow, that was okay. But when the waiters came to move the, uh, soup plates, what they found was a white circle on a yellow  [00:23:47] cloth. [00:23:51] And you can also visualize the fact that a lot of people had a lot of. Little flash powder grains in their hair  [00:24:01] as well. well. By the time that [00:24:04] By the time that this happened, we were halfway back to Leeds.  [00:24:08] Sean: Very good.  [00:24:09] Stuart: But this this was the scourge of flash powder because you could only take one shot. Because the place used to, the whole of the place, the factory, if you using a large amount of powder, made a lot of smoke, and it just collected on the ceiling and it obscured it, the vision. So, we used to use photo floods, these were overrun pearl lamps, we used to have six on a button. And if the subject was still, we could go around on a long lead and paint scene with light. And that was, and that became established, So flash balder started to go, [00:25:08] Paul: Right. [00:25:10] Stuart: but you see, at this time, flash bulbs hadn't really got going. [00:25:17] The GEC flash bulbs, which were foil filled, were about the only thing that was available. Um, in this, in this country. And they were sympathetic. [00:25:31] And the GEC Warehouse in Leeds on one occasion, uh, a consignment of, um, bulbs came, [00:25:43] Uh, [00:25:44] in a, in a case, and, uh, one of the attendants decided that he would test them to see whether they were all alright. [00:25:54] So [00:25:54] he fired one. [00:25:57] and 50 flashbulbs, because [00:26:01] they had to be in contact with each other. If they were separate, it didn't work, but when you put them side by side, they were sympathetic. [00:26:11] Paul: What [00:26:11] happens?  [00:26:13] Stuart: Well, the whole lot  [00:26:14] went  [00:26:14] off. A whole box full of, um, flashbulbs, and they weren't cheap at that time.  [00:26:22] So  [00:26:23] really,  [00:26:23] that was, that was the basic equipment which we used to [00:26:29] use. [00:26:31] And [00:26:32] it was all, [00:26:33] it [00:26:34] was all, uh, 8x6. [00:26:37] Sometimes it was 10x8. [00:26:41] The, uh, the railway engines, which we used to photograph for the Hunsley's Engine Company [00:26:47] and hudderswell Clark's in Leeds, we always used to use 10x8 for those. Now it was interesting there because we used to have a particular date for going to photograph them. And [00:27:04] they were all finished up in black, white and grey paint. Because that served the cost of retouching the finished print. [00:27:15] There was very little photography done at that time. Apart from views and so forth. But anything that meant a machine, a lathe the, or whatever, it always had to go to the process retoucher who airbrushed the reflections or put one or two, put a shadow in or whatever it is. It was a highly skilled, uh, process. Uh, process, retoucher with white lines and so forth. But the interesting thing about these two railway engine companies was. that they only painted them on one side, the side that was being photographed. [00:27:59] Paul: And [00:28:01] Stuart: we used to go back to the studio, develop them straight away, yes, the negatives are alright, as soon as that happened, then they would strip all the black, white, and grey paint off and finish up in the customer's required, required colours. [00:28:23] Paul: Wow. [00:28:25] So, so the bit that strikes me is retouching has been part of this art  [00:28:30] Sean: a long time. Well,  [00:28:33] Paul: I mean, think about [00:28:33] it, right? Because we, there's a lot of debate about retouching and post production. That rages. Even now, but when you think about a manufacturer only painting one side of a train, they're painting it colours that repro well, and then it's being handed on to a retoucher, retouching's been going on for a very long time.  [00:28:51] Stuart: Well of course, everything at that time was, was, um, retouched, and most portraits finish up with complexions like billiard balls. There were no shadows, etc.  [00:29:03] Paul: haha, It's like nothing's changed!  [00:29:07] Stuart: Indeed. Indeed, and, and when people speak now in condemnation of, oh well you can see the retouching and so forth, well the only thing that you have to do now is to make sure that it doesn't show. But, it was, really when Photoshop and the like came in on the scene, this was manna from heaven. [00:29:32] Paul: Yeah. [00:29:33] Stuart: Because it cut out the need to do the work on the actual print. To retouch transparencies was a rather different process altogether. [00:29:48] And it was  [00:29:49] Sean: difficult process to be [00:29:50] Stuart: Oh yes, and very highly skilled. And the firm that I worked for, Giltrous Brothers, who were the photo engravers, they used to retouch twenty, twenty [00:30:02] four, twenty glass plates. Whereby, when you talk about printing today, and I think the, uh, top of the range, uh, Epson, Uh, printer works in, uh, we're printing 11 colors, but the, limited edition photolitho, uh, illustrations were, uh, certainly on, on 13 colors [00:30:36] And from 13 separate plates. All of which were retouched. [00:30:42] Paul: So [00:30:42] the plates were retouched separately?  [00:30:45] Stuart: correct?  [00:30:45] Oh yes.  [00:30:46] Paul: Wow. [00:30:48] Stuart: So [00:30:48] Paul: each of these plates is a black and [00:30:49] white plate that's going to take one color ink? [00:30:52] Sean: Correct. I understood the [00:30:52] Paul: the process right? [00:30:53] Sean: Yeah.  [00:30:54] Stuart: process, right? Retouches were earning more than photographers at any time.  [00:31:01] Sean: It's most interesting to hear this, Stuart, because you come into my era when I was learning photography and the discipline of the transparency, the 4x5 and 8 inch transparency, and of course there, retouching was an anathema because if we retouched the transparency, we started to lose some quality. [00:31:17] Stuart: Yes. we to, it was a period of photography, I think, more than ever, when we had to get everything right in the camera because the client demanded the transparency. Whereas the processes you were using enabled this retouching method, which is very, very interesting. [00:31:29] There are certain elements, as you well know, with your, even with your skills, whereby there are elements which cannot be lit out or exposed out or  [00:31:43] whatever. And there has to be some artwork, or whatever you call it, retouching done. And at the end of the day, most of the photography which, which I was taking and involved with, was going to be reproduced. And so if it was retouched at source, before it got to the retouchers on the reproduction, uh, side. [00:32:11] of the plate making, then that was, it was as we wanted it rather than what they thought it should be.  [00:32:20] Paul: As ever photographers being control freaks.  [00:32:24] Stuart: Well, after something like two to three years at Picards, by which time I got a fair amount of idea of what's going on.  [00:32:37] Um, I decided that, um, I ought to seek pastures new and became a staff photographer for the 600 Group Of Companies just on the west side of Leeds. And there I photographed secondhand machinery, which they used to recondition and I photographed the, lathes and milling machines, drilling machines and that sort of thing, and they were then printed on and they, all these were taken on the half plate camera, which is half the size of a whole plate camera, obviously, um, and, um. they were made on 6x4 glossy prints, and these were distributed by the appropriate department to potential buyers. And I was there for three and a half years. But I'd got to the stage where I'd photographed everything that didn't move, and I was becoming rather dissatisfied with life. So I  [00:33:49] Paul: Do you mind if I ask how old are you at this point? [00:33:53] Stuart: this point? Well, let me see, I would be about, twenty, twenty four, twenty, what, twenty five. Right. Twenty five, six.  [00:34:03] Paul: Right. [00:34:04] Stuart: I was dissatisfied because I didn't think I was getting anywhere. [00:34:09] Sean: So you were, you were ambitious, really, to take your photography on to another level and, and have more control, would you say, over what you were doing [00:34:16] Stuart: you could say that, yes. just say to work for yourself, Stuart?  [00:34:20] Sean: The Thing is that the, the company that I worked for. was part of the A. H. Leach corporate, uh, company at Brighouse, which was, uh, a very big organization with studios in Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow. Um, and the prospects of moving to any one of those places was stalemate because they were well staffed was no flexibility for moving, and so I thought, well the only way to see whether I am a capable photographer was to make it on my own, see if I could make it on my own. And in fact started the business in some premises now occupied by the local library. down at the bottom end of the village. [00:35:19] Stuart: But this was going on for some time, two or three years, and then the question of getting married. [00:35:27] came into the reckoning, and this house in which we're sitting now became available, and very suitable because the front room lounge in which we now sit became my portrait studio. [00:35:46] And across the top of the window, which is facing opposite you, was a bank of Kodak, um, lighting with five, four 500 watt lamps in each for general illumination. [00:36:04] And So then I had a spotlight which is, was behind you for lighting the hair and then a fill in light on this side. And by this time, we'd moved on to two and a quarter square, real film cameras, 12 on 120. [00:36:22] I hadn't really at that stage got into, back into the industrial scene because I was doing social photography, weddings and portraits, to build up a reserve of capital to move on to buying more advanced equipment. [00:36:44] And the changes at that time were considerable. 5x4 were on the, on the fringe. At the time that I'm speaking of, German 9x12 plate cameras were still being used for press photography. And there they were, on the touchline at Heddingley, these, the local press photographers, with box of 9x12 single shot plates freezing to death, and um, and that's it, one off shots. [00:37:26] But I missed the point earlier on, I think, of saying that uh, every shot had to count. And, over the years, that has influenced me considerably, because I've always made sure that everything was right before I took the exposure. [00:37:48] And whatever the, whatever the occasion was, whether it was an industrial scene or a social scene, you look at the subject before you, to begin with, and then start looking round and see what's happening in the background. Because, if you do that, it saves retouching, and that's an absolute classical instance of today, where people, when Photoshop came, what about so and so? [00:38:22] Oh, don't bother about that, I'll take it out. I can take it out in Photoshop, and I've heard speakers come to the Institute and talk about, Oh, I do this and do that, and I've said, well, how long does it take you to do that? Oh, well, a couple of hours or so, like that. It could have all been addressed in the taking, and that would have been eliminated. [00:38:51] And when you talk about 2 or 3 hours retouching, well how much do you charge for, oh well I'll throw it all in. [00:39:00] And the number of people who I've heard say that, oh well I'll just include it. I think they've got a bit wise to it now because Uh, any extramural activities are chargeable by the hour, and, uh, and it's certainly in need of that, but what I would say to any in, up and coming photographer, they need to sure of what it is that they're taking to avoid having to retouch it afterwards, albeit that in today's terms, [00:39:40] With the relaxation of dress and disciplines and so forth, Um, I don't think it quite matters. And so, I think as far as today is concerned, I would find it difficult to go back to being a photographer in today's terms. Because, I can sit in a restaurant or in a room, somebody's room or whatever, and I'm looking at the, the vertical lines of the structure to, to see whether that line lines up with that, and it's surprising how often I can see lines that are out, even buildings. [00:40:27] I could see buildings that, that were not, um, vertical. completely vertical and line up with the I sit there looking at the streets and doors and windows and it's very, it's very difficult to get out of that discipline into the much more free and relaxed attitude towards photography today. [00:40:56] I don't know whether I, whether you would agree with that or not. [00:41:00] Sean: Stuart, I would agree with what you're saying and it's like the photographer's eye, your whole life has been trained by your eye viewing scenes and viewing situations and it's quite impossible to turn that off really. [00:41:10] That's part of you and how you see things, so no, I couldn't agree with you more. So Stuart, tell me, you obviously, the room we're in now was your studio, and you're in here, you're now married, you're doing more social photography, as you said, and obviously starting to make money. Where did the business go from there? [00:41:29] What was your sort of next stage really? Because I believe you had another studio then in the village, is that correct?  [00:41:35] Stuart: The children grew up and we were running out of room space, [00:41:40] So an opportunity came in the main street down the road to take over a building, um, which I was able to use the ground floor and turn it into a studio, a reception studio and darkroom. And, uh, during that time, I was doing, um, mainly social photography, but also, I had got associated with the local newspaper which circulated in this area, and I virtually, without being on the strength, I virtually became the staff photographer for the whole of the circulation area. [00:42:32] So on a Saturday in the summer, it was not unknown for me to do perhaps 11 cover 11 eventualities such as garden parties, a flower show, etc. and also fit in a complete wedding. So, [00:43:00] Paul: So,  [00:43:00] Stuart: so [00:43:01] my time, my, my mind used to work like a, like [00:43:07] a clock, uh, a precision clock, because it was, it was timed to the nth degree. Um, what time is the, uh, what time is the wedding? How long will the service be? Where's the reception? And I had a mental, uh, mental, uh, memo of the distance from here to there, and the length of time it takes to get from, from there to there. [00:43:36] And, as far as the, as the newspaper is concerned, I tried to take a different picture. at each occasion, so that we don't want the same picture of women serving tea, uh, for the WI, the church of this and that and the other. Um, I tried to make a different picture. So that training and experience fitted me in good stead for when the industrial scene tailed off. [00:44:15] Sean: I've just, uh, I've just, um, picked a photograph up here. [00:44:18] Stuart's got quite a number of his photographs in the room with us here. It's a very nice PR, press type shot here of Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chips shop, and it's got a very 1980s mobile phone and the world famous in this part of the world, Nora Batty which some of you may know from a famous last of the summer wine tv show and i think this is to do with the flotation of Harry Ramsden because it became quite a successful company didn't it so talk a little bit about this photograph Stuart it's very captivating and i think very very well executed [00:44:50] Stuart: Well, the story as you've already identified, I'm surprised that you have, because that was when they went public. And, uh, the, story was the Harry Ramsden fish restaurant, which, it was the center of all activities, just on the outskirts of Leeds, and they, as you said, they got Nora Batty there, who was a very leading personality at the time, and, of course, telephones, you can see the size of that, that mobile telephone, which is about the size of a half of a brick. Um, this was the, um, the story. And the essential thing was to locate the seed of the picture with the name of the, the company. across the top of the, the print or the format. [00:45:46] Sean: And if I could just butt in there Stuart just to say sorry to do this but I think it's important to get this across that I've just picked this image up and the story has come straight across to me. We've got the mobile phone. You've got the Financial Times, which is holding the fish and chips. You've got the sort of banker type chap behind her. [00:46:02] It just shows the skill that's gone into that picture, that an image is telling that story to me all these years later. Because I presume this photograph is 30 or 40 years old, Stuart. Am I correct there?  [00:46:12] Stuart: It's quite a long time. And the essential thing about that picture, uh, Sean, is that however much a sub editor chops it down. There was always be something of the story there, because the nearest or the furthest down that they could chop it would be across the top of the bloke's head, but it would still say Harry on the left hand side. [00:46:42] And, and, that was the, the art of, at that time, of getting the story across for public relations. Include the company's name or the brand in the background somewhere so that it had to be seen and it couldn't be taken out.  [00:47:03] Paul: I ask you a question? Have you always loved being a [00:47:06] Stuart: being a photographer? Oh, absolutely.  [00:47:09] I wouldn't do anything else. Um, had a very enjoyable life in every aspect of it. And I'll tell you one thing about it, and Sean will agree with me on this. Photography, photographers are in a very privileged position, and they don't realize how much so. Because so often, they are in, at the ground floor of activity. A conference, a confidential conference projecting the aims of the company. [00:47:46] I was in a company when I was in the conference actually, when the whole of the regional bank managers were in a conference at Harrogate, and they were told then, that we were going to dispose of the buildings, our assets, and I photographed several banks which were up for sale and they were simply being sold off. The managers didn't know. What's the photograph for? Oh, it's just for the estate. I knew what they were, why they were selling it. It was going on the market. [00:48:25] You know all these little convenience grocery shops and so on, on filling stations, I was in the conference there for all the ESSO managers in the region, when the the project was put to them that we're going to put these little kiosks, or whatever it is, and, and, and there I was. Um, and we were privy to information that was light years ahead of the actual official announcement. [00:48:59] Paul: Yeah. [00:48:59] Stuart: Metahall, for instance, um, I was in the conference when they were talking about what their footprint was needed to be to make that viable. And there are several instances such as that. And you do get it to a more personal level, where we've got, uh, injuries, personal injuries to photograph. [00:49:26] Oh well, what about Snow? [00:49:29] Well, [00:49:29] And you just can't get involved with passing that or repeating that information. [00:49:35] Paul: Yeah. [00:49:36] Stuart: It's confidential. And as I said, photographers are so often right in the heart of things. And I'm sure, Sean, that in today's terms, you'll be more exposed to it than I was with them. [00:49:51] Sean: Well, very much so Stuart. [00:49:52] Very much so. Yeah. I mean, it's, I can't tell you how many NDAs I've signed in my career, so, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.  [00:50:00] So Stuart, so you've now got the studio, the, the biggest studio now on in the, in the, in the village here. And you're obviously doing your social, your weddings, you're obviously doing a lot of PR. [00:50:11] Did you start to do, did the industrial photography come back a little bit more as well? [00:50:15] Stuart: Yes But I was, I was extremely fortunate and the odd thing about it was that the connection came through the, uh, the work of the local paper because three miles from here was the control room for the Central Electricity Generating Board and they were having an open night and the local paper was invited to to cover the, the event. So I went along and took a few photographs of whatever was going on and had a bit of a look around the place and subsequently then I was approached by their, their public relations department for the northeast region. Would I take a photograph of something else?  [00:51:13] From that stemmed the work, which really became the mainstay of my activities with the Central Electricity Generating Board. [00:51:26] Again, I wasn't on the staff, but I was vir, virtually became the staff photographer for the Northeast Region. And the amazing thing is that here I was, photographing power stations, the grand openings of power stations, starting with Thorpe Marsh, which was the, down in Doncaster, which had two 400 megawatt sets, which were the f The Forerunner, they Thorpe Marsh was really the testbed for the, um, the 400 megawatt stations which followed. [00:52:13] And there again, this was being in on the ground floor whenever there was a fault down there or whatever. or a problem, um, I was called in to, to, to take the photographs.  [00:52:27] Sean: So [00:52:28] Stuart, would you say that, um, he's very interesting listening to this about how your business built. Would you say that networking was a great part of building your business? [00:52:37] Stuart: Networking, well they call it networking now, and it's, it's contacts really. And I think, I'm sure that you'll agree that being in the right place at the right time, and that really applies to anything, the theatrical world, et cetera, and, not necessarily knowing the people, the right people, but getting on with them, and being able to mix with people, and behave in a way that people expect you to. So  [00:53:10] Sean: Would you have any sort of advice or tips for a young photographer or somebodnew breaking into photography and how to. build a business? Have you anything to add there at all?  [00:53:22] Stuart: I think that in today's terms, it is extremely difficult for photographers. And I'll tell you why, because I think that the opportunities which I just mentioned are remote, probably remote in the extreme. Social photography is something else, and the, the website, and all the various media opportunities, with which I am unfamiliar and have no knowledge of because I've not had the need to do it. But I am aware because I look at what people are doing. And that's another instance of success. Of keeping an eye on what other people are doing. If you admire anybody's particular work, then that sets the example and the criteria to work to. But as far as going back to contact is concerned, I have the distinct impression now that not only photography, but everything now stems from public Relations and I don't know whether you've noticed it or not, but if there's, if there are any problems, on the one hand, of people's behavior or their activities, or whatever it may be, adversely or favorably, and the promotion of brands and industries and business, it all seems to stem now very much from the agencies.  [00:55:12] If you read question of the so and so company are going to introduce this product or [00:55:22] service or whatever it is, or they've taken over a business. the [00:55:27] statements attributed to the managing director or chief executive or accountant or whatever it is, right across the board, a great many of the people that are being quoted, I would suggest, are not capable of speaking and thinking the way that the statement appears in print. And it raises sometimes, a lot of suspicion as to just what is behind this thing. This business with the post office. It's full of it. And so the point that I'm making is that advertising agencies, that's another one, the advertising agencies are in direct contact with the, um, with the brand or the company. [00:56:24] And so the opportunities of the photographers, in my judgment, are minimized because of the hold. that the advertising agencies have on the job.  [00:56:43] And  [00:56:43] they,  [00:56:45] they will say who they want and who should be employed. They may think them best or otherwise. And it also then comes down to, rights, and I bet you are right in the thick of this, that, uh, you are the, the favorite bloke on the, on the block, and whilst ever that person is engaged in that company, your situation is secure. But suddenly, if he goes to pastures new, and they've already got their established photographers, as far as you're concerned, you've lost that company. [00:57:28] Sean: Very  [00:57:28] Stuart: company.  [00:57:29] Sean: very true. Yeah, yeah.  [00:57:30] Stuart: Is it true? [00:57:31] Paul: But there's always opportunities with these things, I mean, in the end, there are more photographs being created today than ever historically, I think you're right about the structures of advertising agencies, though this isn't my world, when someone moves on, there's an opportunity, and there's always the opportunity to stay as well, there is risk, of course there's risk, but equally, you could be the guy he takes with you. [00:57:54] So how do you make that happen? [00:57:56] Sean: Well, I think it's very apt because I've had two or three key clients in my career that have moved numerous times, you know, seriously big companies and they've taken me with them, yeah. And not only that, in some cases, they've taken me to their new company. And it's gone well. They've then moved on to another company and taken me with them, but the company they've left still retains me. [00:58:19] So there's a benefit that way. But I think it's really, I greatly believe in the, in the networking, keeping in touch with people, making an effort at all times. And I think, I know we've got today's digital world and there's lots of advantages to that, but also personal contact I think is still really, really important. [00:58:38] Relationships and personal contact. [00:58:40] Stuart: What you are saying is, is correct. And I remember an uncle of mine who was a milkman and, had a, a big dairy, and he once said to my mum, oh, well, it's so and so, he's come again, a rep has come. It's been three times, so really it deserves an order. [00:59:03] There's a  [00:59:04] lot  [00:59:05] Paul: in [00:59:05] Stuart: a lot in [00:59:06] truth in that, backs and it backs up what you were just saying, of keeping in contact, and, of course as far as advertising is concerned, or mail shots. the first one they take no notice of and throw away. The second one, oh well, there's another one from this so and so. The third one, it is usually reckoned that the person will be activated by that And so, as you said, keeping in contact is very important. [00:59:42] But I'm bound to say that breaking in a lot of it is by accident, but certainly the persistence of contact is very important. [00:59:56] And when you consider, you see, over the years we have thought of Only the Institute, or I have, and I've done, I've put a lot of time and work into it, as other people have, without which we might have been a lot more better off or a lot wealthier than we in fact are. [01:00:20] Sean: Stuart, did, did, when we say the institute, it's the British Institute Professional Photography we're talking about here. And I, I'm a member too, and that's how I met Stuart through the institute. Through your long career as a photographer, how important did you find the, The Institute and the ability to mix and talk and, and, and work, you know, get information from other photographers, I suppose. [01:00:41] How important did you find that  [01:00:44] Stuart: Photographers, um, are, as you know, very, very much individualists. they work a lot on their own, and when you consider that there are probably 7 or 10, 000 practicing photographers in this country, and so few of them belong to anything.  [01:01:10] It makes you wonder how all those people survive. but, it really comes back to, to, uh, what we were saying earlier, of contact, those people must be in contact with other people. [01:01:29] Their reputation goes before them, obviously, and when you consider the situation with the Royals, for instance, who, from time to time, have official photographs taken, um, by names that I've never heard of, where you would perhaps expect that they are members of the, this organization, the Royal Photographic Society, as a case in point. Um, these people are not members of them and so how they I'm not talking about the Litchfields, I'm talking about the other people who officially, officially photograph, uh, in recent times, the, um, William and Kate's family, the, their birthday or whatever anniversary it was. So, those people, um, are plowing their own furrow. [01:02:33] But going back to the the meaning of the institute, whereby people are individual, the opportunity over the past years was for all these individuals to rub shoulders with each other and the networking that went on then. For instance, you go to a meeting and you're chatting away, and a couple of blokes have a common, common interest, uh, uh, or they're equal practitioners, but suddenly, one of them comes up with a problem that he can't answer, and so he's able to phone this guy in Nottingham, or wherever, because he is not in competition down the street. He can't ask the guy down the street how to tackle the question, but the man in Nottingham will willingly bare his soul for you, and keeping in contact with, um, with other people to solve problems where they have them is incredibly useful, in my judgment.    NOTE: to see the rest of the transcript, head over to https://masteringportraitphotography.com (it exceed the normal limit for podcast texts!)

We get excited for Ipswich Town's final three - starting with a tricky trip to East Yorkshire to face Hull!

We dive deep into new book, "I Am Human: Pain & Pleasure" by Martin Johnson, and explore the fascinating interplay between pain, pleasure, and the very foundation of who you are. Get ready to explore these mind-blowing questions: Nature vs. Nurture: How do your genes and upbringing influence your personality and drive to survive? The Pain Paradox: Is pain the enemy? Discover why pain is essential (and how its absence could lead to serious consequences. Parenting, Purpose, and the Power of Balance: Learn how pain and pleasure play a surprising role in reproduction and nurturing future generations. Modern Malaise: Why Purpose Feels Elusive: We dissect the challenges of finding meaning in today's fast-paced world. The Pain-Pleasure Spectrum: Unveil the three key states (Challenge, Threat, Neutral) that govern your experience of pain and pleasure. High Road vs. Low Road: The Motivation Myth: Ditch the comfort trap! Learn how to break free from unhealthy cycles and find sustainable motivation. You Are Not Alone: Explore the factors that shape your unique personality, even though we all share the same core needs. Building Your Worldview: What shapes your perspective on life? We delve into the forces that mold your worldview and give you tools for self-discovery. Conquer Discomfort: Feeling overwhelmed? Discover the key attributes for building resilience and overcoming challenges. The Art of Balance: Is constant comfort a recipe for disaster? Learn how to embrace healthy discomfort and create a life rich in both pleasure and growth. This episode is perfect if you're: Interested in self-discovery and personal development. Curious about the science of pain and pleasure. Looking for strategies to build resilience and overcome challenges. Feeling lost and want to reignite your purpose. A parent seeking to understand the deeper aspects of parenting. Martin's book will be widely available for purchase on Amazon starting May 13th 2024. Alternatively, register your interest directly with us here: ⁠https://trans2performance.com/pre-order⁠ Featuring: *Interviewee - Martin Johnson, CEO of Trans2 Performance & Author of I Am Human: 30 Mistakes To Success and I Am Human: Pain & Pleasure  *Interviewer - Tom Noblett, Content Executive at Trans2 Performance  Interested in being our new Senior Consultant?  Stage 1 - Send us a 3 minute video that is as bold as your spirit (provide us with a link) Let us know why you think you would be a good fit at T2 and what you love about what we do & attach a covering letter that lets us see your experience. Stage 2 - If we want to see more….. you would be invited to T2 HQ to deliver a workshop. A brief will be provided to enable you to prepare and show up in your best authentic self. Stage 3 - Final Stage - Informal interview with the CEO and Head of consulting. Applications can be sent directly to help@trans2performance.com Note: This role will be based in Hull, East Yorkshire and you would be expected to work from the office when not travelling to clients. Remote variations are not available at this time due to the amount of collaborative work we undertake.  Follow us on: * Tiktok- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@t2_performance⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ * Instagram- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thet2hubcast/⁠⁠ *Youtube-⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@trans2performance/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠ * Facebook- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/trans2performance⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ * Twitter- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Trans2P⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ * Linkedin- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/9404485/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thet2hubcast/message

G. Michael Vasey PHD, has authored more than 40 books with his most notable on paranormal subjects. He has written books about poetry, metaphysics, and business. He loves collecting strange stories.Born in Hull, England, Vasey, grew up in East Yorkshire. As he grew up, he experienced paranormal activity that included poltergeists, ghosts and other phenomena.Those experiences created a lifetime interest in the supernatural. He wrote a trilogy, “My Haunted Life,” about his experiences and has also written about “Black Eyed Kids,” and other paranormal topics.He has appeared on radio shows such as X Radio, The Knight's Pub, and Mysterious Radio. In addition, he also writes and performs songs. In 2016, he released an album and since then has been writing songs on a regular basis.Websites garymvasey.comBooksThe Chilling, True Terror of the Black-Eyed Kids: A Monster Compilation Your Haunted Lives 3: The Black Eyed Kids The Black-Eyed Demons Are Coming (Paranormal Eyewitness 1)

In Hull, East Yorkshire, Chris Evers turned his own UFO sighting into a quest for the unknown. As the editor of 'OUTER LIMITS MAGAZINE' and organizer of UFO conferences, he's no stranger to the unexplained. But on December 1st, he took a giant leap with his first book, 'THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: FROM ELSEWHERE.' This book is more than just pages; it's Chris's journey into the mysteries of the cosmos, inspired by what he saw in the sky above Hull.What can we learn about the universe and our place within it? What if UFO's aren't all nuts and bolts?https://www.truthseekah.com/chris-evers

In Hull, East Yorkshire, Chris Evers turned his own UFO sighting into a quest for the unknown. As the editor of 'OUTER LIMITS MAGAZINE' and organizer of UFO conferences, he's no stranger to the unexplained. But on December 1st, he took a giant leap with his first book, 'THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: FROM ELSEWHERE.' This book is more than just pages; it's Chris's journey into the mysteries of the cosmos, inspired by what he saw in the sky above Hull.What can we learn about the universe and our place within it? What if UFO's aren't all nuts and bolts?https://www.truthseekah.com/chris-evers

In Hull, East Yorkshire, Chris Evers turned his own UFO sighting into a quest for the unknown. As the editor of 'OUTER LIMITS MAGAZINE' and organizer of UFO conferences, he's no stranger to the unexplained. But on December 1st, he took a giant leap with his first book, 'THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: FROM ELSEWHERE.' This book is more than just pages; it's Chris's journey into the mysteries of the cosmos, inspired by what he saw in the sky above Hull.What can we learn about the universe and our place within it? What if UFO's aren't all nuts and bolts?https://www.truthseekah.com/chris-evers✅ Get behind the scenes access!✅ Get Access To The ZOOM Spiritual Development Sessions!✅ Courses, Monthly Webinars, Prayer, Meditation, Discussion✅ TruthSeekah's Full Music Discography & Unreleased Music✅ TruthSeekah's Meditation Library

In Hull, East Yorkshire, Chris Evers turned his own UFO sighting into a quest for the unknown. As the editor of 'OUTER LIMITS MAGAZINE' and organizer of UFO conferences, he's no stranger to the unexplained. But on December 1st, he took a giant leap with his first book, 'THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: FROM ELSEWHERE.' This book is more than just pages; it's Chris's journey into the mysteries of the cosmos, inspired by what he saw in the sky above Hull.What can we learn about the universe and our place within it? What if UFO's aren't all nuts and bolts?https://www.truthseekah.com/chris-evers

For many, the term UFO is synonomous with the the term Flying Saucer but for many witnesses and experiencers, they see anything but a flying saucer. From the infamous Black Triangles, Flaming Crosses, Boomerangs and even Cigars shaped craft, the sky is indeed the limit in regards to the shapes of sighted craft in the heavens above us. Joining me to discuss his new book "The Shape of Things to Come From Elsewhere" is one of British Ufology's leading lights, Chris Evers. With an interest peaked through a sighting as a teenager in East Yorkshire, Chris has been investigating, researching, writing and holding conferences about UFO's for 50 years. He joins me to discuss his book and some of the unusual craft seen in our skies from around the world. Chris's site can be found here: The book can be found here: Thank you to Chris for joining me on the show. Our Patreon is now live, with bonus content, early release of the regular show, articles and more.    Join here now for the flat fee of $4 a month which is a bargain!      Don't forget, you can now show your support with our Merchandise shop on Redbubble! Check it out here! You can join us on Facebook, Threads and Instagram as well.    You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel! Email us at mysteriesandmonsters@gmail.com with any feedback, guest suggestions or if you'd like to appear.    Our theme music is kindly provided by the amazing Weary Pines, you can find them here: Intro - Zombies Ate My Shotgun      Outro - Into The Night      All artwork by Dean Bestall and the show was produced by Brennan Storr of the Ghost Story Guys.  Mysteries and Monsters is a part of the Straight Up Strange Network #ChrisEvers #TheShapeOfThingsToComeFromElsewhere #FLyingDiskPress #UFO #UAP #FlyingSaucer #Triangles #Eggshape #FlyingCrosses #FooFighters #Italy #Belgium #England #USA #FatherGill #Hull #PhilipMantle #Ufology #OuterLimitsMagazine #OuterLimitsConference

The Stuph File Program Featuring UK farmer Fiona Wilson; Scott Overton, author of Indigent Earth; & Joyce Merwin from The Train Mount Railroad Museum Download Fiona Wilson is the co-owner of Dumble Farms in East Yorkshire in the UK. You can visit the farm to experience cow cuddling. Scott Overton is the author of the science fiction novel, Indigent Earth. Joyce Merwin is the office manager at The Train Mountain Railroad Museum in Oregon, which features the world's largest miniature railroad with over 36 miles of 7.5-gauge track on over 2,000 acres of pine forest. (Also mentioned in the segment is the excellent video done by Mike Downey entitled, Riding the WORLD'S LONGEST Model Train Track! from his YouTube channel, DownieLive. Now you can listen to selected items from The Stuph File Program on the new audio service, Audea. A great way to keep up with many of the interviews from the show and take a trip down memory lane to when this show began back in 2009, with over 850 selections to choose from! This week's guest slate is presented by actor Bruce Dinsmore, who has worked in many animated TV shows, such as being Binky Barnes in Arthur, Tubby Tompkins from The Little Lulu Show, and a host of other animated voices. He also plays a police detective in the live action thriller, Charlie Tango, which will be released in February.

Coastal Stories is back for a fifth series! At last! I know! Exciting. We kick off with the secrets and mysteries of Spurn Point, a spindly finger of land off the coast of East Yorkshire.  https://www.facebook.com/CoastalStoriesPod https://twitter.com/podcastcoastal https://ko-fi.com/coastalstories Coastal Stories is researched, written, presented and produced by Charlie Connelly.

Come to “The Edge of the Land” with the wonderful singer, songwriter and guitarist Katie Spencer. She was born and brought up in East Yorkshire. In this episode she takes us to one of her favourite places: Spurn Point, a narrow spit of land that stretches three miles out into the sea. As we head for the lighthouse at the end, she sings some of her gorgeous songs on the beach and talks about her musical inspiration, but will we be cut off by the tide? --- We rely entirely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a patron and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Katie at https://www.katiespencer.net/

Last time we spoke about the Boxers march upon Beijing. The situation in China escalated until the point of no return. The Boxers began attacked Christians and foreigners, seeing less and less opposition from the Qing government. The Qing court were hard pressed to do anything to suppression the boxers lest they fall into a full blown rebellion. The foreign community in Beijing scrambled to call for help from their navies before the Boxers cut the railways and telegraph lines to the capital. Not only were the Boxers a threat to the foreign community, but the recently arrived Kansu army of General Dong Fuxiang were also causing troubles. The foreign legations held tight waiting to see what would occur and on June 11th of 1900 the violence escalated. Mr. Sugiyama of Japan was murdered by the Kansu army, it seemed all hope for avoiding conflict was now lost.    #62 The Boxer Rebellion part 2: Seymour's 8 Nation expedition   Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. The death of Mr. Sugiyama drove the tension through the roof. 40 French and Italian marines had detached from the legation main force to defend the Peitang Cathedral. They were led by 23 year old Paul Henry and Italian officer Olivieri who was 22. The two went to work directing a defense of the Cathedral, as Henry's commanding officer sent a message to quickly recall him back over to the legations, the message never arrived. A detachment of US Marines, were also sent to guard the large Methodist Mission half a mile from the American legation. At this point the mission was housing some 1500 refugee's within its walls. Streams of refugees had flooded in when the panic began, as told to us by Frank Gamewell running the mission “The missionaries are coming in from outside districks [sic]; some with only such articles of clothing as they could carry in their arms, as they had to flee for their lives. The situation is getting more serious as the Boxers are gathering and getting more bold every hour; as the Chinese soldiers sent out to guard Foreign property are assisting the Boxers to loot the places.” On June 12th the ministers sent another message to the Zongli Yamen. The Japanese were invited to partake in the message but declined so they could submit another message bearing this. “The Chinese have murdered our Third Secretary of Legation, and Japan can have no more communication with China—except war.” The next day, a Boxer appeared on Legation Street wielding a large carving knife. Baron von Ketteler was so livid at the scene he rushed into the street and began hitting the boxer with a stick. The Boxer leapt out of his cart, running for an alley, whereupon von Ketteler discovered a young boy hiding in the cart and seized him as a hostage at the German legation. Later that afternoon thousands of Boxers stormed the city wielding spears and swords. The Boxers had prepared blacklists and were quote “hunting down all who had been connected with the foreigners, cutting them down, hacking them to pieces, or carrying them off for more terrible torture in a Boxer camp”. Beijing was filled with torches held by Boxers who began destroying all the Missions they could. The East Cathedral, South Cathedral, Nan Tang and Tung Tang were ablaze. Christians caught outside the legation quarters were cut to pieces when caught. A group of US Marines rushed out to save 300 Christians fleeing. Men, women and children lay in heaps, hacked to pieces.  American socialite Polly Condit Smith, who was staying with some relative at the US legation described the scene of seeing refugees fleeing into the legations “Half starved, covered with soot and ashes from the fires, women carrying on their breasts horribly sick and diseased babies, and in one case a woman held a dead baby. One man of about fifty years old carried on his shoulders his old mother. . . . A great many of these people were terribly wounded—great spear-thrusts that made jagged wounds, scalp-cuts and gashes on the throat where the victim had been left for dead.” To house more refugees, the palace belonging to Prince Su was seized.  The Austrian compound isolated on the northeastern part of the Quarter came under attack on June 13th. The Austrians unleashed their Maxim machine gun to lackluster resulted as Captain Francis Garden Poole of the East Yorkshire regiment recalled “The Austrian picket opened fire with their machine gun at what they said was Boxers but they killed none and after that the French, Russians and Italians squibbed at shadows etc. We shall have a lot of trouble with these irresponsible jumpy folk.” It seemed the Austrians aimed too high and hit nothing more than a few Telegraph lines. This reinforced the Boxer belief in their invulnerability spells. On June 16th, the Boxers attacked the richest trading quarter of Beijing, setting ablaze all the shops and foreign goods. 4000 stores, jewelers, furriers, fans, silk, curio shops, goldsmiths, lantern shops all were incinerated along with the Chienmen city gate. Chinese fire teams tried to save what they could and the legation Quarter was only saved because of the city walls, else it would to have gone down in flames. The foreign troops erected barricades across legation street and established their defensive perimeter. The Americans and Russians defended the west barricade, the French and Italians the east. Until now the main legation Quarter was not seriously threatened, that was until June 17th. Von Ketteler ordered some of his men to fire upon some nearby Kansu forces. Australian journalist George Morrisons noted of the event “Ketteler and his merry men have just shot 7 Boxers from the top of the wall. 50 or 100 were drilling at a distance of 200 yards.... The stalking was excellently done.”  The week of violence was followed by the Zongli Yamen sending reassuring messages to the foreign diplomats while the Qing court issued contradictory edicts. On the 16th Empress Dowager Cixi asked the Qing court what should be done with the Boxers. The reformers and conservatives began bickering as usual, but it would be Prince Duan arguing passionately in defense of the Boxers actions. The end result of the meeting was everyone agreeing the Boxers should be pacified, but no one had any real ideas on how that was going to happen. The next day, they Qing court met again and suddenly they were given an ultimatum on behalf of the foreign powers. The ultimatum demanded the foreign minister be given full responsibility for all military matters and raising of revenues and that Emperor Guangxu be restored to the throne. Now the ministers never issued this ultimatum that was in the form of a document. It is theorized to be the work of forgery done secretly by Prince Duan. According to someone present at the court when the document was issued, Empress Dowager Cixi was furious upon hearing its contents and issued an imperial edict calling upon all the provincial governors to send troops to Beijing. Prince Qing in dismay began preparing for hostilities. Two days later, Empress Dowager Cixi was informed the foreign powers were demanding the surrender of the Taku forts which in her mind was tantamount to a declaration of war.  The Qing court sent an ultimatum in neat red envelopes to each minister. It was all in police and precise wording, with a clear deadline. The ultimatum also explained that the Qing government saw the foreign demand to takeover the Taku forts as a declaration of war by all said powers. Their passports were now void and each had 24 hours to depart Beijing. Von Kettler of Germany was convinced if they attempted departing Beijing they would all be killed. Pichon of France and Conger of America argued there was no alternative but to depart. MacDonald of Britain was undecided. All the ministers were moving from one legation to another debating the issue around. Morrison remarked “If the ministers vote to leave Peking the death of every man, woman, and child in this huge unprotected convoy will be on your heads, and your names will go through history and be known for ever as the wickedest, weakest, and most pusillanimous cowards who ever lived.” The ministers told the Zongli Yamen they accepted the demand to leave but argued 24 hours was simply too short a time to make the necessary preparations. They further demanded details on how they were to travel and be protected, they demanded a meeting with Princes Qing and Duan on the matter set for 9am the next day.  At 9:30am the next day no meeting was to be found as all the ministers met at the French legation. They were uncertain as to what they should do next, they felt going as a large body to the Zongli Yamen would lose face. Apparently von Ketteler was livid and announced his intent to go to the Zongli Yamen and wait there until they met with him. Pichon warned his German counterpart that it was a dangerous course of action. Russian minister de Giers proposed going as a collective under an armed escort. Von Ketteler argued it was silly, he had in fact sent a secretary named Heinrich Cordes to the Zongli Yamen a few days prior and he returned unscathed. To this de Giers asked, why not send Heinrich again, to which Von Ketteler agreed. Everything was fine and dandy, until Von Ketteler joined Heinrich in his sedan chair at the last minute. Armed with only a cigar and book, as he expected to be waiting at the Zongli Yamen for some time, Von Ketteler and Heinrich set out. Half an hour later news came back Von Ketteler was dead. As reported in the Times “Mr. Cordes, the German interpreter, desperately wounded, had just been brought through our barricades by some of our students; that he had told that Baron von Ketteler . . . had been shot in the street by an officer of the Chinese imperial army; that he himself had been fired upon and had barely escaped; and having told his tale, exhausted by lack of blood, he sank into unconsciousness. Cordes saw a banner soldier, apparently a Manchu, in full uniform with a mandarin's hat with a button and blue feather, step forward, present his rifle within a yard of the chair window, level it at the Minister's head and fire.”” The story hit several European papers and was telegraphed around the world. The death of Von Ketteler signaled the end to any talks of foreigners leaving the legations. As MacDonald put it  “the Empress Dowager had made up her mind to throw in her lot with the antiforeign party.”  The foreign troops began aiding as many christian Chinese and foreigners they could get safely to the legations. Missionary women and children came first, hundreds of Christian converts began moving. They all went past the barricades set up across legation street. Many went the Fu palace, but the missionary leaders there were in dismay because they knew there was not nearly enough food for everyone.  Over in Peitang, 3000 refugees huddled together, protected by just a dozen French and Italian marines. The Cathedral fort at Peitang had been under attack for a few days and to the despair of Bishop Favier over there, Pichon sent a message indicating no additional help was on the way.  The American legation began issuing out crackers, sardines, scrambled eggs and tea to who they could, the storerooms were being cracked open. The American legation was too close to the city walls to be easily defended and word came they were all to proceed to the British legation. 4000 people from 18 different nations were now in the legations. 473 foreign community civilians with around 400 military personnel, 3000 or more were Chinese christians. Nearly all the foreign women, children and men who were unable to fight crowded the British legation. At 4pm heavy gunfire was heard from the east as some bullets began hitting the tops of trees. The siege had begun. Vice Admiral Seymour had first received word of the legations plight from MacDonald on May 28th when he sent a small dispatch of forces to help guard the legations. Then alarming reports came in on the 31st, prompting him to sail up the coast to join the French, German, Austrian, Italian, Russian, American and Japanese naval forces anchored off the Taku forts. He invited the commanders of each fleet to his ship for a meeting and they all agreed to work in concert. If necessary they would send a combined allied brigade to Beijing. Seymour became the most senior amongst them because he had a great deal of experience with China, ever since the 2nd opium war. He sent a telegram to Britain about the combined actions and dispatched his chief of staff, Captain John Jellicoe to Tiantsin to investigate the situation. On June 9th Jellicoe reported word had come from MacDonald, the situation was dire, communications would be cut at any moment, they needed to land men at once. Seymour wasted no time, at 1am on June 10th he ordered the landing of a British force and personally came over to take a train Tongku to Tientsin. Seymour told the other nations commanders his intentions and they all followed suit. At 7am Seymour arrived to Tientsin and he began arranged train carts to fetch the multinational force, over 2100 men in all. The British numbered 916 and Seymour was careful to choose some men as interpreters as he knew the european languages would be difficult to juggle. Alongside the British were 455 Germans, 326 Russians, 158 French, 112 Americans, 54 Japanese, 41 Italians and 26 Austrians. At 9am they began their march and within hours the telegraph line between Beijing and Tientsin was cut by Prince Duan who had just replaced Prince Qing as president of the Zongli Yamen. Seymour expected a quick train ride to Beijing with an extravagant show of force. Seymour had gambled on the iea the railway line to Beijing was still intact. There was 80 miles to Beijing from Tientsin and all seemed well until they reached Yangtsun, 15 miles away from Tientsin. There some 4000 Qin troops led by General Nie Shicheng were waiting. Nie Shicheng was struggling with conflicting orders coming from General Ronglu. At one moment he was told to suppress the Boxers which he was doing, he had in fact cut the heads of 70 off and sent them in baskets back to the capital. Then he was suddenly ordered not to fire upon them. When Seymours trains came, Seymour and Nie exchanged friendly greetings and the multinational force went on its merry way without incident.  The trains continued and it was not long until Seymour encountered the first signs of Boxer sabotage. Rails near Lofa station, around halfway to Beijing had been torn up and a bridge was damaged. The Boxers were lighting up huge fires beneath the rails to warp them and destroy the wooden sleepers. Seymour halted the trains and ordered hundreds of Chinese laborers he had brought with them just for this type of situation to go to work repairing the railways. Seymour's men would soon find the bodies of 4 dead Chinese railway officials in a passenger shed, they had been horribly mutilated. Their hands and feet were hacked off, one of them had their heart torn out. The workers got their work down and soon the trains were enroute to Langfang and it was here the Boxers made their first attack. According to Captain Lt Paul Schlieper with the Germans of what “The Boxers came with wild gestures swinging their spears, lances, or swords about their heads. . . . We often saw Boxers spring up into the air, execute a sort of war dance, and then drop to the ground . . . but when we got nearer and could see them plainly, they proved only to have been shamming to make us believe they had been killed and so avert our fire.” British diplomat Clive Bigham had this to say “They came on us in a ragged line, advancing at the double.... Not more than a couple of hundred, armed with swords, spears, gingalls [a giant smooth bored two-man blunderbuss usually fired from a wooden tripod], and rifles, many of them being quite boys. To any one who had been some little time in China it was an almost incredible sight, for there was no sign of fear or hesitation, and these were not fanatical ‘braves,' or the trained soldiers of the Empress, but the quiet peace-loving peasantry—the countryside in arms against the foreigner.” It was agonizingly slow work for the laborers and every time the trains stopped to let them work, Boxers began to attack. The Boxers destroyed the water tanks at stations, laborers were forced to water the engines by bucket, a extremely tedious process. The men likewise needed water and were delighted to find a well near Langfang, prompting Seymour to halt the trains to allow men to drink. On June 12th a message arrived from the American legation in Beijing telling them their advance was causing the capital to erupt in further violence. It also warned them that Qing troops were massing south of the city. This was bad news, but what was worse was Seymour figuring out the trains would not be able to go past Langfang very far as his reconnaissance was reporting to him the railway was terribly damaged going forward. They made camp at Langfang for 5 days trying to repair the railway line and were attacked multiple times by Boxers. British Lt Fownes-Luttrell had this to say of fighting the Boxers “They often stopped a few yards off and went through their gesticulations for rendering themselves immune from bullet wounds. Many were shot while kowtowing towards the trains and remained dead in that position. Bowling them over like so many rabbits. . . it has to be done, they are doing such a lot of fearful damage to the country.” Commander Mori with the IJN began inspecting the dead bodies of Boxers and recalled this “They were young and old . . . their costumes were various, and they had red bands tied round their heads and hanging down behind, as well as red aprons.... Their shoes also were tied with red.” June the 14th saw the telegram line to Tientsin cut. The supply train at the rear of the convoy had failed to get past the Yangtsun station because Boxers attacked a bridge between them. General Nie Shicheng's force at Yangtsun did not seem to be doing anything about the situation, simply staying away. On the same day, hundreds of Boxers began to show up, 5 Italian solders were playing cards when they were surprise attacked by Boxers who hacked them to pieces.  Seymour still hoped to make a breakthrough to Beijing and sent a courier to MacDonald stating he hoped to enter the city within days. However by June 16th, Seymour was sending Schlieper with some German troops back down the track to restore communications with Tientsin. The party got just past Lofa when they ran into extremely damaged tracks. Schlieper sent word back to Seymour that he required laborers and reinforcements. Seymour came over to see things for himself and realized the grave situation. “We were now isolated, with no transport or means to advance, and cut off from our base behind.” Seymour was forced to make the decision to repair the line going back to Tientsin, lest they found themselves surrounded. This decision has been criticized heavily ever since. Sir Robert Hart would go on the record to state “had [his force] left the train and marched straight across the country to the Capital it could have been with us on the 13th or 14th and so changed history.” From Langfang to Beijing it was some 30 miles or so, but Clive Bigham who was physically present with Seymour he had a different view of the situation “There was no road, we were absolutely without transport, and directly in front of us lay . . . the camps of the Peking Field Force . . . and in front of the south gate of the Chinese city lay, we knew, most of General Dong Fuxiang's Kansu soldiery.” Seymour prepared the men to withdraw. The commander of the German forces, Captain von Usedom was ordered to hold Langfang and protect their rear while the laborers worked tirelessly to repair tracks going back. The trains managed to get to Yangtsun, but there a bridge had been so heavily damaged it became impassable. The Yangtsun station and its water tanks were destroyed, the situation was dire. Seymour summoned the commanders of each nation for a war council. They all agreed the trains had to be abandoned, they would simply have to trek the rest. Over at Langfang von Usedom was suddenly attacked by a 5000 strong force of Kansu and Boxers. Dong Fuxiang alongside his comrades, Ma Fulu, Ma Fuxiang and Ma Haiyan had secretly departed the Beijing area to attack the western invading army. General Ma Fuxiang and Ma Fulu personally planned and led the attack, employing a pincer maneuver. On June 18th, the Kansu forces who had been stationed at Hunting Park in southern Beijing had marched and attacked multiple points towards Langfang. The 3000 Kansu men were armed with modern rifles and had a ton of cavalry units personally led by Ma Fulu who would go on to cut down western forces with his sword.  The Boxers and Kansu were working together to ambush the western army. The employed human wave attacks. The Boxers showed no fear of death as they charged at the western forces engaging in melee combat with swords and spears. Many also tossed firecrackers to give off the effect of guns. The psychological effect was tremendous on the western soldiers. The western army would suffer the vast majority of their casualties not from the Boxers however, it was the Kansu troops. The mounted Kansu with rifles in hand were tenacious, battle hardened from wars in the northwest. Von Usedom's right flank were on the brink of collapse, until French and British troops further down the track stormed up to help them. The western army was forced to make a fighting withdrawal while under attack the entire way. The trains at Langfang were ridden with bullet holes like swiss cheese. The Germans under Von Usedom fought like lions against wave after wave killing an estimated 400 and wounded 57. Of these the Kansu lost 200, the Boxers 200. Despite their losses to gunfire the Boxers never ceased charging the enemy, unnerving the westerners greatly at such a sight. The British were armed with .303 Lee-Metford rifles, the American M1895 Lee Navy's. At point blank range these men reported it could take 4 bullets to stop a Boxer, single rifle shots was not enough. There are primary accounts from the battle which I would like to read, the first is from Clive Bigham “Early on Sunday morning, 17th June [1900], a week after we had started, the Taku Forts were taken by U the Allied Forces in order to relieve Tientsin. That city was invested by the Boxers who began to bombard it next day. Of this of course we were quite ignorant. But the Court in Peking must have received instant news of the fact, for on the afternoon of the 18th Captain von Usedom, the German officer in command of the troops left at Langfang, was attacked by the Imperial forces belonging to General Tung-fuh-siang's division. Their numbers were estimated at 7,000 and they were well armed _^ with modern rifles which they used with effect, so that we suffered considerable casualties.” The next comes to us from Seymour  “On 17th messages were sent back to Lofa and Langfang to recall Nos. 2, 3, and 4 trains, it being evident that the advance by rail was impossible, and the isolation and separate destruction of the trains a possibility. No. 3 returned on the afternoon of 18th June,, and in the evening Nos. 2 and 4 from Langfang. Captain Von Usedom (His Imperial German Majesty's Navy), the senior officer present with Nos 2 and 4 trains, reported that they had had a severe engagement with the enemy, who unexpectedly attacked them at Langfang about 2.30 p.in. on that day (18th) in great force estimated 'to be-fully 5,000 men (including cavalry), large numbers of whom were armed with -magazine rifles of the latest pattern. The banners captured show them to have belonged to-tho army of General Tung Fu Hsiang, who commands the Chinese troops-in the Hunting Park- outside Peking, and it was thus definitely known for the first time that Imperial Chinese troops were being employed against us. The attack was made in front and on both flanks, the enemy pouring in a heavy fire on the allied forces coming out to engage them ; they were driven off with much loss, but when they saw our forces retiring towards the trains they rallied and made another attack ; a halt was then made and the men were once more beaten off with greater loss than before, and then finally retreated. In this action the Chinese lost over 400 killed, the allied forces 6 killed and 48 wounded.” Seymour concluded from the battle that the Qing government was officially in league with Boxers. They abandoned their trains, but were able to find 4 Chinese war junks along the river that they quickly commandeered for transporting the wounded and essential equipment. On June 19th they marched to Tientsin following the left bank of the Peiho. A lot of non essentials had to be abandoned and thus tossed into the river. As Seymour recalled ““All our trophies of war . . . the large standards, the curious weapons, all the plunder with which our carriages had been hung, all had to be sacrificed.”” The sailors aboard the war junks could see Boxers pouring in from all sides descending upon abandoned train carts which they set on fire. The western army had ablaze to their backs as they marched. To reach Tientsin was some 30 miles and the men were exhausted from combat and marching with little water, some even reportedly took their chances drinking from the Peiho. Going to go ahead and say dysentery came quickly to those boys. The Boxers held most of the small villages along the riverbank, prompting the western army to deploy guns at each. As Schlieper recalled “When one village was cleared a still hotter fire was sure to be opened on us from the next. It was a tough bit of work.” Many of the men had unsuitable clothing as well. The Germans were wearing thick blue clothing, designed for operations in the North Sea for winter time. Seymour had 62 deaths and 228 wounded, as they marched closer to Tientsin, they could hear gunfire. On June 20th, they had marched only 8 miles and had to fight the entire way. Two British soldiers were buried that night, having died from wounds. The men made it to the larger village of Peitsang where they fought a brutal battle. Schlieper took a rifle hit to his left shin, Captain Jellicoe likewise shot in the chest and coughing a lot of blood. Medics tended to him with morphine, but it looked grim so they told him to write out his will. Seymour approached Captain Von Usedom and asked him to act as his chief of staff and if he were to be killed to take over command. You have to take a step back and think about how unprecedented this entire situation was. 8 nations together with different policies, cultures, etc. It's not every day you see a British officer asking such a thing of a German. Seymour had around 200 wounded now and acquired a new war junk on the river for more of them. Seymour knew, anyone left behind would be massacred. The men were down to fewer than 10 rounds a man and all food was gone. On June 22nd the men made camp along the Peiho river bank and at dawn saw hope at last. On the other side of the Peiho river they saw a fortified position with a parapet. This was the Hsi-ku Arsenal, a place where Qing forces kept stored munitions. It held rifles, millions of rounds, rice, medical supplies and other war materials. Now that is lucky. The Arsenal was defended by a tiny force which got up and left upon seeing the western army. Seymour's men took refuge at the arsenal, but nearby General Nie Shicheng were given word of the situation. Nie Shicheng ordered forces to retake the arsenal, but the western army repulsed them. At 3am on June 23rd Qing forces attacked again, but this time they had Boxers helping them. Qing soldiers and Boxers managed to scale some of the walls during the night causing casualties upon the western army. Seymour realized departing the fortified positions was suicide. Seymour deployed his forces as best as he could and told the men to dig in. They could hear gunfire again coming from the direction of Tientsin. Seymour sent a Chinese servant named Chao Yinho with a message to make a run for Tientsin. Chao set out on the 24th with a cipher message, ordered to eat it if caught. Chao was forced to swim many parts of the way through the Peiho, going 8 miles. He was caught by Boxers and Qing soldiers and interrogated. He swallowed the message and convinced his captors he was innocent and they let him go. He made it to Tientsin where he told them the plight of Seymour and his men. A rescue party was formed, but the men of Tientsin were under threat themselves and could only spare so many. 1800 men consisting of 900 Russians, 500 British and others from the other nations departed on June 25th led by Russian Colonel Sherinsky. The rescue party came under Qing sniper fire along the way, forcing them into a single file formation. They reached the arsenal at 10:30am carrying food and cigarettes. Commander Mori of the Japanese shaked the hands of their rescuers. Sherinsky and Seymour got the men together and on way the next day, spiking the artillery pieces and destroying countless munitions they could not carry. The arsenal was ablaze on the 26th as they made their way to Tientsin. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Seymour grand 8 nation alliance force set out to rescue the trapped foreign community in the legations at Beijing. However the Qing and Boxers had joined forces and turned the tables of Seymour, for it was he who would end up needing rescue in the end.

Last time we spoke about the road to the Boxer Rebellion. Christians and foreigners were encroaching into China. Boxers and other anti-foreign groups were emerging in places like Shandong and Zhili. Conflicts were growing rapidly as the two forces converged, leaving the Qing government in a terrible situation trying to please both. It seems for a time, they were keeping the hawks of war at bay, but the more incidents flared up the tougher each side became. Then came an evolution to the mayhem, the Yihetuan emerged to the stage, a large scale movement of Boxers seeking to revive the qing and destroy the foreigners. The Qing tried to crack down upon the movement, but it seems all was for nought as they only grew in popularity. Beijing has called upon forces from the northwest to bolster defenses, but can they stop the inevitable clash?    #61 The Boxer Rebellion part 1: The Boxer's March on Beijing   Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After the battle of Senluo Temple Governor of Shandong province, Yuxiang ordered the boxers caught, but not to be killed. The missionaries and foreigners remarked “it was insane orders not to have the soldiers kill any one”. But Yuxiang sought to not drive a wedge between the state and the people. Zhu Hongdeng fled south joining other boxer leaders to discuss what to do next. Major boxer activity halted, as they watched to see what the Qing government would do. THe magistrate of Pingyuan was removed, there did not seem to be any real hunt after them. After awhile Zhu Hongdenf and the other boxers began raiding christians in Yucheng, Changqing, Chiping and Boping. They burnt homes, stole property, performed violence and even killed a few people. Outside Boping, Christians fought back leading to skirmishes and fatalities. Yuxiang's lenient policies were failing, the Christian community felt the Qing government could not protect them. Yuxiang began targeting the boxer leaders, as he had done with the Big Sword Society prior. Tactically it went brilliantly, he managed to arrest and execute the main leaders, but these Boxers were nothing like the Big Swords. Following the elimination of the boxer leaders, boxer movements sprang up in new places all over the region, villages were being attacked all over. Whenever one Boxer leader was arrested or killed, another would generate at a moment's notice, it was like a Boxer Hydra.  Now the Boxers had been targeting small villages with Christian communities, but then on November 15th they attacked the fortified Catholic village of Zhangzhuang. The boxers successfully raided the village and it seems this emboldened them greatly as their next targets became mission stations holding foreigners. As the missionaries and foreign communities felt threatened, they began complaining to remove officials like Yuxiang. On December 5th, the complaints worked, the Qing government replaced Yuxiang with Yuan Shikai. Although Yuan Shikai was convinced Yuxiangs lenient policies led to the Boxer problem and sought to use military force to quell it, prominent Qing officials advised him to not brutalize the Boxers, as they rightly feared it would spark a large-scale rebellion against their government. Thus Yuan Shikai used his forces defensively to try and protect foreigners and Christians, little actually changed. On December 31st of 1899 the British missionary S.M Brooks was murdered in Feicheng by bandits. The Boxers continued to spread and rumors of what they did were heard everywhere. Mission stations were being attacked everywhere in a wild frenzy of panic field by rumors. The Boxers would claim missionaries were poisoning wells. Boxers would target all things foreign such as railways which they said “had iron centipedes or fire carts which desecrated the land and disturbed the graves of their ancestors” Empress Dowager Cixi would love that one. Likewise telegraph lines were feared. Some thought the rusty water dripping from their wires looked like blood of air spirits. Foreign own mines were seen as disturbing the spirits of China's earth. Boxer Manifestos began to state “When we have slaughtered them all, we shall tear up the railways, cut down the telegraphs, and then finish off by burning their steamboats.” When rumors emerged of the new Yihetuan slogan “Revive the Qing, remove the foreign”, those in the Qing court like Prince Duan and Empress Dowager Cixi listened with keen interest. For once it seemed the peasants were on their side! The Empress Dowager was also extremely superstitious and seemed to be transfixed on the tales of Boxers practicing ritual exercises to induce gods to possess them. She was also intrigued by tales of the female Boxer group known as “Hong Deng Zhao / the red lanterns”. Yes, female Boxers of this order practiced rituals and healing techniques to aid the male Boxers. They trained in martial arts and were said to carry red lanterns used to burn down missionary buildings. Rumors had it they had magical powers to fly, honestly the tales run the gambit. Now something that interested Cixi and some conservative Qing the most was the prospect a group of warriors were out there that did not require payment to fight. On the last day of 1899 in Shandong province the Boxers killed an english reverend named Sidney Brooks. Brooks had been helping his sister defender a mission “about twelve miles from Ping Yin he was attacked by a band of about thirty armed ruffians who after struggling with him and wounding him on his head and arms with their swords bound him and led him away towards Ping Yin. It was an intensely cold day and snow was falling. In spite of this they took from him all his outer garments and led him about for some hours. He endeavored to ransom himself with promises of large sums of silver but they were unwilling. . . . It is said that by some means he managed to escape and fled in the direction of Ping Yin. He was quickly pursued by three horsemen who cut him down when only a mile from our little church at Ta Kuang Chuang and there by the roadside the last act in this terrible crime was committed. His head was taken from his body and both were thrown into a gully.” News of Brooks murder reached Beijing on January the 2nd of 1900. American Minister Edwin Conger, a bearded civil war veteran met with Herbert Squiers, the American first secretary. They talked about Brooks murder and two other incidents that had recently occurred. The first was the imperial decree ordering Qing officials in the coastal and Yantze provinces to be on their guard against foreign aggressors. The second was a complaint given in November of 1899 about how foreigners were carving up China and urged the Chinese to defend their land. Conger was unsure how to react to such rhetoric. The US favored an open China policy, but certainly not a xenophobic and aggressive one. Conger decided to alert Washington, but did not go as far as to state the foreign community was outright in danger.  Over in the British legation, Sir Claude MacDonald was also reeling over the recent news. MacDonald had been appointed minister to Beijing in 185 and was a soldier who had fought in Egypt. MacDonald had been complaining for awhile to the Qing government about the conflicts brewing in Shandong, Brooks murder seemed to be the latest and worst of them. He often dealt with the head of the Zongli Yamen, Prince Qing, who was a moderate amongst the Qing court, unlike Prince Duan who was adamantly conservative and quite anti-foreign. The Zongli Yamen immediately promised Brooks murderers would be brought to justice. To the foreign community everything looked like the Qing government favored their protection, but it became gradually apparent to them the Qing were not fully suppressing the Boxers.  On January 27th the Americans, French, Italian and German legations sent a mutual protest demanding the suppression of the Boxers, but they received no reply for over a month. The Qing court was far too busy dealing with the imperial succession since Emperor Guangxu's health was declining, Cixi nominated Pujun, a son of Guangxu's cousin, no other than Prince Duan as the presumptive. Pujun was much alike to his father, extremely anti-foreign. The following weeks saw the foreign ministers scrambling with demands to the Zongli Yamen to increase measures against the Boxers. Telegrams were frantically sent back to home nations in March suggesting an international naval show of force was needed. America, Britain and Italy began sending a handful of warships to anchor outside the Taku forts, while Kaiser Wilhelm sent an entire squadron to Jiaozhou.  On April 16 of 1900, Empress Dowager Cixi persuaded MacDonald into believing the Boxer problem was coming to an end and this saw the British warships Brisk and Hermione withdraw from the Daku Fort area. The foreign community began breathing a bit easier, but the reality was the Qing Court was considering incorporating the Boxers into an official militia group. The Qing court was at war with another. Prince Duan, leading the conservatives had purged many progressives, he was married to Cixi's niece and now his son was the heir apparent. Alike to Prince Duan, Cixi was very anti-foreign, ever since her summer palace was burnt down during the second opium war. She like many of the conservatives blamed the foreigners for all problems facing China, never recognizing the corruption present within. But unlike Duan she was much more cautious, she lent an ear to those around her like Li Hongzhang, Yuan Shikai and Jung Lu, the commander of Beijings local forces. The progressives had prevailed until now, walking a tightrope against fully or partially denouncing the Boxers to please the foreigners.  The missionaries in the more interior parts of China provided the best source of intelligence to the legations. They were sounding the alarm, but there was little anyone could do but place their faith in the Qing government and wait to see what occurred. In early 1900, a British missionary named Frederick Brown was writing out of Tientsin that it was being overrun with Boxers, endangering the Christians there. The foreign diplomats were failing to appreciate such reports, many believed and quite rightly so, the missionaries were the aggressors, bringing conflict upon themselves. There was quite a belief going around that these reports were cases of “crying wolf” as they say. The foreign community in Beijing were failing to notice, thousands of Boxers were venturing out of places like Shandong and Zhili enroute to the capital. Zhili held nearly 100,000 Christians at this point and large foreign populations at Tientsin and Beijing. The 250 foreign missionaries in Beijing were becoming extremely anxious, though they were certainly better off than their colleagues our in the countryside.  By late april the Boxers began placing placards in Beijing. One was dated April 29th stating “Disturbances are to be dreaded from the foreign devils; everywhere they are starting missions, erecting telegraphs, and building railways; they do not believe in the sacred doctrine, and they speak evil of the gods. Their sins are numberless as the hairs of the head. . . . The will of heaven is that the telegraph wires be first cut, then the railways torn up, and then shall the foreign devils be decapitated. In that day shall the hour of their calamities come.” By May 1st, Herbert Hoover, yes that Herbert Hoover happened to be in China at the time, he found the situation too dangerous and recalled his geological expeditions from the interior. Hoover and his wife Lou, stayed put in Tientsin. By mid May, news of Boxer atrocities flooded Beijing. 60 Chinese catholics had been slaughtered in Kaolo a village 90 miles away from Beijing. The bodies had been tossed down a well, the entire village razed. Then just 40 miles outside Beijing a Chinese preacher working for the British was murdered. MacDonald telegraphed Britain and the Zongli Yamen demanding an apology, but was given the usual run around. On May 19th, Bishop Favier sent a letter to the French Minister Stephen Pichon, urging him to send for troops. ““I am well-informed and I do not speak idly. This religious persecution is only a façade; the ultimate aim is the extermination of all Europeans.... The Boxers' accomplices await them in Peking; they mean to attack the churches first, then the legations. For us, in our Cathedral, the date of the attack has actually been fixed.“pour protéger nos personnes et nos biens”—“to protect our persons and our possessions.” The next day the foreign minister met to discuss Bishop Faviers' warning. MacDonald was skeptical, Pichon conceded Favier was a bit of an alarmist, but could be telling the truth. In the end the ministers agreed not to send to Tientsin a demand for further guards, but instead would ask the Qing government to crack down on the Boxers, or else they would summon troops. Well the Qing did not do so, in fact on May 23rd, George Morrison and Australian journalist wrote in his diary “the Boxers had the cognizance and approval of the Government, as shown by them drilling in the grounds of Imperial barracks and royal princes”. Morrison was one of the most knowledge westerners in China at the time and one of the few who could see the very real looming threat the Boxers were. Meanwhile MacDonald and his wife were preparing a major social event, a party to honor Queen Victories 80th birthday. Most of the foreign community took part and there were some of the conversations that emerged were about the rise of the Boxers. Yet still many waved it all off as nonesense that would soon fade away. The next day the foriegn community saw their Chinese gardners, washermen, house workers all begin leaving their work and going into hiding. It had become unsafe for Chinese, whether they be Christians or not to work for foreigners. At the same time Christian refugees began flooding the Beijings churches and gathering centers. Many of them bore wounds such as burn marks from Boxer attacks. On May 28th a refugee hobbled over to Morrison's house reporting to him dire news. The Belgian construction staff building at Changsintien had been attacked by Boxers. The Boxers were destroying the railway line linking Beijing and Hankou. Not only that, they were cutting telegraph lines and the stations at Fengtai were razed to the ground. These were the first reports of concentrated mass action against the foreigners. Morrison was so disturbed by the report he went himself with two friends racing over to Fengtai on horseback and what he saw was “black smoke curling ominously into the sky. It was as if the whole countryside was afoot, streaming towards the station. The engine sheds were on fire . . . and the villagers from all around were shouting. We could do nothing, though we should have shot a Chinaman who threatened us with a sword and swore to cut our throats. It will always be a regret to me that I did not kill this man.” A bit hardcore to be honest.  Herbert Squiers 47 servants, most being Christian Chinese began raising alarm stating “these people are all Boxers, most of them flaunting the red sash, [and] are preparing for a general uprising when the time shall be ripe—an uprising that has for its watchword, ‘Death and destruction to the foreigner and all his works.'” Smoke and flames could be seen rising the locomotive shed that housed Empress Dowager's railway coach, something she naturally never used, mind you. Boxers blew up the foreign built steel bridge over the Peiho river. When trouble began in Fengtai, the Qing forces withdrew. Morrison went to work going out to the foreign villas to warn those there of the incoming Boxers. Herbert Squiers went to his villa accompanied by a Cossack guard lent to him by the Russian minister, de Giers. Russia had maintained a small armed guard in Beijing for quite some time now. The Chinese servants were saved by the party before the Boxers reached them. However the party now had to travel back to Beijing and could face two possible threats, Boxers or the Kansu. It was a 15 mile journey that took 5 hours, but they made it safely without incident. Meanwhile the Belgian engineers 16 miles from Beijing in Chansintien were stuck. Luckily for them the French dispatched a small force to rescue them before the Boxers struck. As the Belgians made their way to Beijing, they could see their residence up in flames in the distance. They also noticed Qing troops sent to aid them were joining the Boxers in looting their former residences. Another group of foreign engineers at Paotingfu were not as lucky as the rest and were attacked as they fled for Beijing. They were attacked at the same time as the railway line, thus they were unable to flee by train. The telegraph lines went soon after cutting their communication as well. Unable to communicate or know where Boxers may be coming from, they fled east to Tientsin using river boats. 30 Belgian, French and Italians with women in children departed Paotingu on May 31st. When they were boarding boats the Boxers attacked, and some of the families fled in the wrong direction and would be murdered. The majority huddled together and took dangerous routes through swamps to avoid further detection. Two men rushed to Tientsin as fast as they could reaching it on june 3rd to raise an alarm. The rest of the survivors showed up, most semi naked, dehydrated and wounded. Hearing news of these incidents, the foreign diplomats in Beijing were now beginning to freak out. On may 28th MacDonald formed a meeting with the ministers and argued they had no option left but to request the foreign fleets anchored outside the Taku forts send forces to the legations. There was a very real danger the rail link from Tientsin to Beijing would be severed, if they did not act quickly enough the foreign fleets would be unable to move troops by train. The French and Russians stated they already made their requests, so MacDonald hastily telegraphed Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour, yes the veteran of the second opium war who was now the commander of British naval forces in China. Seymour was currently patrolling the coast with his squadron when he received the telegraph. Meanwhile MacDonald lambasted the Zongli Yamen that they were damn fools or liars, before demanding they inform Prince Qing who was at the summer palace with Cixi “that the troops are coming tomorrow, and if [there is] any obstruction, they will come in ten times greater force.” On May 31st the Zongli Yamen gave official permission for the foreign troops to come to Beijing, but imposed a limit of 30 guards per legation, which all the foreign diplomats ignored. The first contingents departed Tientsin that same day for Beijing. The foreign diplomats knew having troops come over would bolster the Boxers to attack even more, but it seemed to all that the Qing court had no intention of helping. In fact they did not know it, but the Qing court were in a hell of a mess. On May 22nd, the Boxer attack upon Christians in Kaolo had also seen the death of the Manchu commander, Yang Futong. The Qing did not react to this and the Boxers were greatly emboldened, as they quickly went after the railways. An imperial edict was made on May 30th stating “the really guilty must be distinguished from those merely led by the excitement of the moment.” Sir Robert Hart, working as the inspector general of the Qing maritime customs had been closely observing the Qing response to the Boxers and would remark “The government seemed entirely unable to cope with the movement, even when they were willing; and the Government would, or could, do nothing but issue edicts, many of which were so dubiously worded that they might have been taken as equally favorable to the ‘Boxers,' or to Christians and foreigners.” The terrible position the Qing government were in was not lost on the foreigners as Sir Robert Hart told his colleagues  “the Court appears to be in a dilemma: if the Boxers are not suppressed, the legations threaten to take action—if the attempt to suppress them is made, this intensely patriotic organization will be converted into an anti-dynastic movement!” Thus the foreign ministers knew they could not depend on the Qing government. They also knew they had inflamed the situation by calling up troops, but what choice did they have? There were worries the foreign troops would not reach Beijing in time, the ministers began issued protective directives. Women were not to leave the legation compounds, the diplomats and military personnel were to make efforts to investigate the situation at all times. One of the first things they uncovered were placards being places around the legation Quarters giving “helpful tips on how to destroy the foreign buildings”. This prompted MacDonald to telegraph the foreign office in London “The situation is one of extreme gravity, people very excited, troops mutinous; without doubt it is now a question of life and property being in danger here.” Boxers began parading openly in the streets of Beijing. Foreigners if caught walking the streets could expect rocks thrown at them by not just Boxers, but angry locals. French diplomat, Baron D'Anthouard described the scenes as such “handbills, and advocating the massacre of foreigners and the destruction of all religious institutions. They no longer take the trouble to hide, and move about carrying their insignia: a red scarf tied around their heads with the inscription ‘Fu' [Happiness] on the front of it, a kind of red coat of arms on their chest, and red bands around their wrists and ankles. They also carry flags with the inscription, ‘We fight by order of the Emperor and for the salvation of the Dynasty.' Their handbills announce the forthcoming massacre of the ‘Western devils.'” The foreigners in the legations began to plan defenses against possible attacks. I really recommend at this point checking out maps of the legation quarters 1900, there are excellent maps, photo's and renderings. The British legation was quite strong, had high walls, held the Jade river to one side and the Imperial Carriage park on the other, it was by far the strongest position. MacDonald knew it was their greatest stronghold and he immediately offered sanctuary to any and all British residents seeking refuge. There was news, 6000 Kansu soldiers had been deployed to the railway terminus at Machiapu just outside the city walls. The foreigners wondered if they would join in attacks against them. Machiapu also happened to be the railway station the foreign troops would be arriving at, was it going to be a battle when they did? The foreign diplomats bit their nails waiting for the trains to arrive and at long last they did bearing 350 men from Britain, Russia, America, France, Japan and Italy. Another group of Germans and Austrians were coming in the next few days. There were curses and screams thrown at the foreign troops, but no violence as they entered the city gates. The foreign community came rushing out to see the various soldiers march into Beijing. Captain Francis Poole of the East Yorkshire regiment acting as a guard at the British Legation had this to say of the sight “the British fighters were naturally the smartest, that the Americans were “a serviceable-looking lot,” but that the French, Russians, and Italians were “very dirty.” All the guards were ill-equipped for what was going to go down. The admirals who sent them did not anticipate how long they would be stationed there. Most had rifles with a few hundred rounds per man, but there was no reserve ammunition, no heavy weapons, aside from 3 machine guns. The British carried the Nordenfelt .45 which was prone to jamming; the Austrains had a Maxim gun; the Americans carried light Colt 236's. For artillery there was a single one pounder the Italians had brought with 120 shells. The Russians intended to bring a 12 pounder but left it behind at Tientsin because of space issues, though they did bring shells for it. Despite the small size, the diplomats were extremely grateful to see their new guards. MacDonald expressed his relief stating “the Empress Dowager would see the error of her ways. The crisis I think is past as far as Peking is concerned.”   On June 3rd MacDonald sent word to Vice Admiral Seymour stating their situation had calmed down. The remaining German and Austrians arrived turning their guard force of 350 to 435. All seemed quiet at the legations, but outside Christian attacks were becoming more violent and systematic. News began to emerge that the Boxers were now targeting the railway line  and stations to Tientsin. The foreign ministers met to discuss things going forward and it was argued immediately, the Boxers would most likely cut the telegraph lines to Beijing next. This of course met they would be unable to cable their governments to request more aid if it came to that. On June 4th, MacDonald requested the Zongli Yamen to publicly denounce the recent murder of two missionaries, but was ignored. The next day another meeting was made with Prince Qing, leading MacDonald to conclude the Zongli Yamen were powerless to do anything. His conclusion was bolstered by recent imperial edicts that exonerated the Boxers and instead began placing blame on Christians for violence. The atmosphere in Beijing was one of foreboding again.  On June 9th a mob of Boxers burned down the grandstand the Beijing Race Course near the southern city gates. The news drew an excited young student interpreter to gallop over to take a look and he was confronted with a violent crowd. A Chinese civilian was shot during this process, the first to be killed by a foreigner. MacDonald was livid at the news and ordered no other foreigners to ride out of the city again. The ministers yet again met and debated if they should request further troops from the navy outside the Taku forts. MacDonald told everyone he already requested such from Vice Admiral Seymour as they expected the telegraph lines to be cut any day. Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi had also returned that day to the forbidden city from the summer palace. This would have brought relief to everyone if it was not also reported, General Dong Fuxiang and his entire Kansu army had escorted the royal party into the city.  MacDonald sent word again to Seymour that he should send all available troops at once. He received a confirmation of the order on June 10th, help was on the way, just before the telegraph line to Tientsin was cut. The only line left was one running north to the Russians. The Kansu troops began massing around the Machiapu railway station clearly looking for a fight with the incoming relief force. Hours passed with no trains. Meanwhile Prince Qing was replaced as president by Prince Duan. Then the chancellor of the Japanese legation, Mr. Sugiyama, neatly dressed in a tailcoat and bowler hat went to the Muchiapu station to check out the situation. As he got outside the city gate, Kansu troops grabbed him out of his cart and according to Morisson “disemboweled and cut him to pieces. It is said his heart was ripped out and sent as a gift to General Dong Fuxiang”. There was zero attempt to recover his body. The remaining telegraph line to Russia was cut. The normally bustling streets of the legation Quarter were emptied of servants and shopkeepers who vanished. The situation had escalated beyond control now. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The foreign community in Beijing managed to gain some extra guards for their legations, but what were a few hundred against tens of thousands? Mr. Sugiyama was murdered in cold blood and now the violence would hit the legations.