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Postbag
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THE HOUSE OF SECRETS
Picture-perfect Harvington Hall hosts many surprises. Claire Saul visits this unique Worcestershire treasure to discover some of them
Finding His True Self
Chris Hallam pays tribute to the many different lives of comedian and broadcaster Paul O'Grady
WHEN 'ENRY'S 'AMMER FLOORED CLAY
Colin Allan looks back 60 years to the night Henry Cooper took on Cassius Clay
THE GOLD STANDARD
Simon Stabler climbs on board the Golden Hinde, a much-travelled replica of Sir Francis Drake’s galleon
RAIL BLAZER
Fifty years ago, British Rail’s prototype High Speed Train set a new diesel speed record. Tony Bending looks back on this achievement
CATHERINE THE GREAT
On the 25th anniversary of the bestselling author’s death, Caroline Roope turns the pages of the remarkable backstory of Dame Catherine Cookson
The Girl from Mars
Chris Hallam looks back to when Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space
Ready for Action!
Paul Carey looks at the work of special effects designer Derek Meddings, which included the Thunderbirds series and the James Bond franchise
POSTCARD FROM BELFAST
Bob Barton goes in search of the Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis, steps back in time, learns more about the story of the Titanic and goes to the theatre
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF LESLIE HOWARD
John Greeves looks at the untimely death of the Gone With the Wind star amid speculation this was an attempt by the Nazis to kill Winston Churchill
Cereal Thriller
Simon Stabler joins the breakfast club
The Fall and Rise of Tony Hancock
Robert Ross examines the continuing legacy of the lad himself
Dame Mary Quant
The fashion designer Dame Mary Quant has died. She was 93.
Declaring a Display
The Declaration of Arbroath, a letter urging Pope John XXII to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king, will go on display at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (0300 123 6789, nms. ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland) from 3 June to 2 July.
BACK IN TIME WITH COLIN BAKER
BoB’s very own Time Lord shares fond memories of the stars of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), and reminds us that the leaf doesn’t fall far from the tree
Chapter and Verse
The National Trust’s latest publication highlights the range and variety of 100 intriguing books from its vast collection
Halfway to Paradise
Pete Nelson remembers singer-songwriter Billy Fury
An Elizabethan Evening
Kevin Geddes looks back on the BBC's “experiment in time”, which imagined how television would have looked during the time of Queen Elizabeth I
Royal Relics
As souvenirs fill the shops ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, Susan Brewer looks back at previous commemorative memorabilia
Travelling Well
Chris Hallam looks back on the political career of Michael Portillo, now better known as a presenter of travel documentaries for television
"Time's Up!"
Chris Hallam pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd, the first female speaker of the House of Commons
WOODEN WONDERS
More than a century ago, the Lanchester brothers began producing motorcars that were years ahead of their time
The Queen of Beers
As beers commemorating the King’s coronation hit the pubs and off licences, Simon Stabler raises a glass to a beer brewed to mark the last such event
POSTCARD FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Bob Barton goes in search of the cherry to top off his visit, revives fond childhood memories of carpentry with Grandad, and is transfixed by the variety of houses
BEATING THE BLITZ
Steven Taylor delves into the archives and unearths some of Winston Churchill’s bizarre schemes to defeat the Luftwaffe’s night-time bombing offensive of Britain
Dreaming of Jeannie
Simon Stabler talks to actress Annette Andre, a star of the detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
INCREDIBLE TELEVISION CONTENT
Will Barber-Taylor tells the story of the hit-making production and distribution company ITC
Kate's Lasting Legacy
Artist Kate Greenaway managed to influence fashion in two separate centuries, as Susan Brewer reveals
Summer Wine and Worzel Weather
For some actors, their first steps into the profession are often hindered by their parents’ desire for them to “get a proper job”. Not so Sarah Thomas, who played Glenda in the sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.