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Showing posts from October, 2021

Radio Historical Drama : Gunpowder, Treason & Plot

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                                  First broadcast by the BBC on 1st November 1980  The Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot and the Taking of Guy Fawkes  (c. 1823) by  Henry Perronet Briggs . In the Public Domain, courtesy of 'Wikipedia'  At time of writing the Play is  available to  Listen Here UPDATE  The Play has been removed from Youtube but now available here, Michael Bully 16th October 2022.  Internet Archive 'Gunpowder, Treason & Plot; Radio Drama, was part of the 'Saturday Night Theatre' series, written by A.J.Walton, with Michael Spice, Christopher Scott and John Moffat. Produced by Margaret Etall. Said to be influenced by Francis Edwards 'The True Story of the Gunpowder Plot' ( 1969). A description of the play read .... But what if the legend is based on a deliberate plan to deceive the country and discredit the Catholics? Why Guy himself was a voluntary participant, only on condition that he would reprieved.  The play starts with Guy Fawkes incar

Review -The Kings Captain by Mark Turnbull / Crabchurch update .

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        Book 2 in the War of the Three Kingdoms 'Rebellion'  Series  Delighted to have a chance to review Mark Turnbull's new novella featuring Royalist soldier Maxwell Walker. I have done my best not to present any 'spoilers'.  And the tale begins on 4th October 1645, with the Royalist cause, post the defeat at Naseby, in desperate straits, and their chances of victory are looking quite hopeless by May 1646 when the novel ends.  The author presents  the more enjoyable and  familiar strands of fiction quite well.  Maxwell Walker fights his own private battles,  being continually confronted  with his nemesis, Gervase  Harper , who is nominally  fighting on the same side. The contrast between the two is well shown. Walker  uses his intelligence to persuade Parliamentarians who are trapped into surrendering to avoid pointless bloodshed, tries to ensure prisoners are treated fairly. Harper is just a master of lies and betrayal.  As the plot develops Walker encounters  a

The Third Wintour Brother and the Gunpowder Treason

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                      John Wintour , executed Redhill, April 1606 As we are now entering the Gunpowder Treason Season, thought that would share some of my (inconclusive) research of the life of John Wintour, the younger half brother of Thomas Wintour and Robert Wintour, who were both executed for their involvement in the Gunpowder Plot .I have used the spelling 'Wintour ',  though 'Winter' or 'Wynter' are sometimes used for the family name. For this piece, have broadly taken the official 'King's Book' version of what happened at face value, though quite understand why others choose not to.        The Scene at the Execution of the Gunpowder Plotters. Date: 1606   Nikolaus Visscher  (1597–1651) Following the 400th anniversary of the Plot in 2005,  a new wave of books documentaries, TV dramas have emerged, The downfall of the two elder Wintour brothers was well portrayed and sometimes embellished . There is a strong contrast- the elder Robert, married