Podcasts about queen's coronation

The remarkable life of Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret who was also a Maid of Honour at the Queen's Coronation - and is a character in The Crown this autumn. Anne Glenconner reveals the real events behind The Crown as well as her own life of drama, tragedy and courage, with the wonderful wit and extraordinary resilience which define her. Anne Glenconner has been close to the Royal Family since childhood. Eldest child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, she was, as a daughter, described as 'the greatest disappointment' by her family as she was unable to inherit. Her childhood home Holkham Hall is one of the grandest estates in England. Bordering Sandringham the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were frequent playmates. From Maid of Honour at the Queen's Coronation to Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret, Lady Glenconner is a unique witness to royal history, as well as an extraordinary survivor of a generation of aristocratic women trapped without inheritance and burdened with social expectations. She married the charismatic but highly volatile Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, who became the owner of Mustique. Together they turned the island into a paradise for the rich and famous, including Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and it became a favourite retreat for Princess Margaret. But beneath the glitz and glamour there has also lurked tragedy. On Lord Glenconner's death in 2010 he left his fortune to a former employee. And of their five children, two grown-up sons died, while a third son had to be nursed back from a coma by Anne, after having suffered a near fatal accident. Anne Glenconner writes with extraordinary wit, generosity and courage and she exposes what life was like in her gilded cage, revealing the role of her great friendship with Princess Margaret, and the freedom she can now finally enjoy in later life. She will appear as a character in the new series of The Crown this autumn.

Welcome to Monday Club Conversations. This is your opportunity to listen in to the 'chat and char' sessions held in a local community library in the South Wales valleys.In this episode, volunteer librarian Carol asks us where we were when certain events happened. We talk about our experiences of events ranging from the Queen's Coronation to the end of both World Wars. We share stories about the Aberfan disaster and the UK's entry into the EU.We invite you to settle down with a cup of tea or coffee, listen to our conversation and see if it triggers some memories of your own.With grateful thanks to all this week's contributors.

Do you ever wonder what happened to your classmate? In this audio interview we found out what became of one of the classmates that appeared in the photo celebrating the Queen's Coronation photo on 2nd June 1953. The class of St Mary's School (the National) have undoubtedly taken many different parts. Barry explains how his own wanderlust began with an exchange trip involving a young German boy. It opened his eyes to a new language and perhaps more tellingly a fascination for 'counting' in other languages. Wandsbek, a borough of Hamburg, gave Barry the first taste of foreign travel. Eventually he chose to reside in the US pursuing a career in another type of exchange....foreign currency exchange.

It has been reported that Prime Minister Theresa May is planning on lifting the ban on creating new grammar schools. Chris Cook, Policy Editor for Newsnight, has been looking at the evidence for whether these selective schools improve exam performance or social mobility. Swimming World Records New world records are being set in swimming at a much faster rate than other sports – but why? Tim Harford speaks to swim coach and blogger, Rick Madge about the reason swimmers keep getting better results in the pool. Why do other sports, like athletics, not seem to have the same continual improvements in results? Teenage girls aren’t so bad after all This week’s Desk of Good News challenges the concept that teenage girls and young women are badly behaved. It features statistics on falling teenage pregnancy rates, drinking figures and improving educational success. The rise of TV Was the Queen's Coronation the event that sparked the biggest rise in TV sales ever? We take a look at the rise of television in the UK. Lottery wins Adam Kucharski, author of The Perfect Bet, looks at the maths behind playing the lottery or gambling. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Charlotte McDonald

In 1953, the young Queen Elizabeth the Second was crowned at Westminster Abbey. Two of her Maids of Honour share their memories of Coronation Day for Witness. PHOTO: Press Association.

Libby Purves meets actor and comedian Hugh Dennis; David Watson, a chorister at the Queen's Coronation; campaigner Carol Highton and author Liz Trenow. Former journalist Liz Trenow comes from a family of silk weavers. Her first novel, The Last Telegram, is set in a silk mill during World War II and draws on her own 300-year-old family history. The Last Telegram is published by Harper Collins. Hugh Dennis is an actor and comedian. He is best known for BBC Radio 4's The Now Show, satirical panel show Mock the Week and BBC sit-com Outnumbered. His book, Britty Britty Bang Bang, explores the changing image of Britain and Britishness. Britty Britty Bang Bang - One Man's Attempt to Understand His Country is published by Headline. In 2005 Carol Highton's son Brian Shields took his own life as a result of spiralling debts to a loan shark. The loan shark was convicted and is currently serving a long prison sentence. Following her son's death, Carol set up The Brian Shields Trust to help others in a similar situation. As a result of her campaigning work Carol was awarded an MBE which she received from Buckingham Palace this week. David Watson was one of three solo choristers who sang at the Queen's Coronation in 1953. His singing talent was recognised early on and at eight he was accepted into the Westminster Abbey choir. He went on to become a Hollywood actor, appearing in Rawhide and Planet of the Apes, and is now a theatrical agent. He features in the documentary Choristers of the Coronation on BBC Radio 4.