Reel History of Britain

In Torquay, Melvyn looks back to the 1940s and the largest mass movement of people in British history - wartime evacuation. Bunty Tait shares her epic adventure of a runaway evacuee. EastEnders star Derek Martin tells stories of his time as an evacuee and relives the terror of the Blitz. And Derek Capel recounts his harrowing experience of surviving a torpedo attack by the Nazis when he was evacuated overseas.

In Soho, Melvyn looks back to the 1950s and a time when Britain broke free of the burdens of the Second World War and the teenager was born. One of the original trendsetters, Wee Willy Harris, talks about the rockers who ripped up the dance floor. Molly Lowton and Jennie Prescott glimpse a much loved friend and sister in films of their village dance. And 50s heart-throb Marty Wilde explains how the new music scene brightened up post-war Britain.

At the Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum and Barracks in Preston, Melvyn looks back to the First World War, when British men answered the call to fight for king and country. Rita Humphrey shares the remarkable story of her uncle, Walter Tull, who overcame great prejudice to become the first black officer in the British Army. Richard Bell talks about his great uncle Donald who received the highest award for valour during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. And Accrington man Les Bond gives his verdict on the sacrifice made by the men of his home town's Pals Battalion, including his uncle Harry, who died at the battle of the Somme.

At the Big Pit Mining Museum in South Wales, Melvyn looks back to the 1930s and salutes Britain's Black Diamonds, brave miners who risked their lives digging for the coal that powered an Empire. Vicky Stradling tells the shocking truth about one of the worst disasters in coal mining history. Melvyn goes underground to learn about the limited safety equipment used by coalminers in the 1930s. And David Bogg reveals the occupational hazards of working with pit ponies.

At Cliveden House in Berkshire, Melvyn looks back to the Roaring Twenties to discover how the other half lived, when a group of bright young people created Britain's first modern cult of celebrity. The tragic story of Britain's original 'it girl', Elizabeth Ponsonby, is told by her niece Elizabeth. The current Lord Astor returns to his ancestral home to give a guided tour. And Martin Blaber explains what life was like below stairs for Cliveden's renowned head butler, his uncle, Edwin Lee.

Today we're pulling up at Osterley Park in Middlesex, the site of the first Home Guard training school, to look back to the Second World War and a time when millions of ordinary men were prepared to die for our country as Home Guard recruits. Robert Brown will come face to face with his father as a Home Guard Company Commander. Dad's Army creator, Jimmy Perry will tell us why he signed up to the Home Guard. And Ken Chambers will share with us his own extraordinary stories from his time in the Home Guard, some of which could have been taken straight from Dad's Army.

Today we're pulling up in Columbia Road in the East End of London, to look back to the 1930s and a time when millions of people across Britain lived in the squalor of urban slums. Two cousins Pat and Carole will come face to face with their grandfather, who was captured in a remarkable 1935 film of Stepney tenement slums. We'll hear about the sense of community which existed amongst the slum dwellers from childhood friends Roger Packer and Brian Davies. And Stan Hardy will share with us his incredible story about his years in the workhouse as a young boy.

Today we're pulling up at the Haynes International Motor Museum in Somerset, to look back to the 1960s when dreams of the open road became a reality for the first time for millions of people. Joan Wright remembers the impact on her family when her father acquired his first car. We'll hear from Joe Moran, one of the thousands of men who travelled from Ireland to build Britain's motorways. And Anna Purkiss will see footage of her parents that evokes emotional memories of the time they were forced to make way for the motorway.

Today we're pulling up in Great Yarmouth, once home to the world's largest herring fleet, to look back to the 1920s and the heyday of British fishing. We'll speak to Fred Normandale, whose family have been fishing since the early eighteenth century, and Ronnie King who first went to sea in a steam drifter in 1937. Maritime historian and writer Mike Smylie will tell us about the heyday of herrings before the fish finger got us hooked. And fishing lassie descendant, Irene Watt provides an unexpected musical treat with a sea shanty about the work of her ancestors.

This episode comes from Bristol airport and looks back to the 1970s, when package holidays really took off and millions of British holidaymakers headed abroad. Former Pontins entertainer Paul James remembers when this most British of holiday chains first set up camp in the Mediterranean. Jean Pitt and Jane Hosegood talk about what it was like being some of Bristol airport's first package holiday reps. And Stephen Manley-Clarke recounts how his passion for air travel, beginning with his first package holiday, led to a life spent in the air.

Today we are pulling up at the College of Medical and Dental Sciences in Birmingham, to look back to 1948 and the formation of the NHS. June Rosen will share with us a childhood memory of serving breakfast to the health secretary Nye Bevan on the day he announced the birth of the NHS. We will hear Aneira Thomas' remarkable claim to fame, as the first baby born on the NHS. And one of Britain's top nurses, Nola Ishmael, will share her experiences on arriving from Barbados to start her training.

Today, Melvyn Bragg travels to the site of the once great John Brown's shipyard in Clydebank near Glasgow to look back to the Thirties when Britain's shipyards, once the wonder of the industrial world, were fighting to survive.

Today on Reel History we are going back to 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It was a time of great celebration across Britain and many people held street parties and other celebratory events. But not all of the people were happy- punk was in its prime and there was rumours that the Sex Pistols were kept of the top of the charts with their song called 'God save the Queen'.