Random Edition

All that remains of the famous 1889 Exposition Universelle on the huge Champ de Mars in Paris is the Eiffel Tower. And even that wasn't intended to survive.

Peter Snow travels to Paris, clutching a copy of Le Matin for 7th May 1889, to examine the background to this iconic structure's creation. The legendary French newspaper provides vivid detail on the opening ceremony of this massive event and the array of buildings that made up the exhibition: the massive Galerie des Machines, full of new-fangled machinery from around the world; the Palais des Beaux Arts, showcasing painters and sculptors; and all manner of pavilions provided by countries large and small. Easing transport round the huge site, we read, was the Decauville Railway.

Dominating everything though, is the Eiffel Tower. And it's the central feature of the firework display which closes the exhibition's opening day. Taking in the view from on high, Peter examines how the tower came to be built, what it symbolises and why it has survived. There are also visits to the Theatre de la Ville, where Massenet's opera Esclarmonde was premiered; to a celebrated hotel which opened on the very day this edition of Le Matin was published; and to the world-famous Carnavalet Museum, where many contemporary artefacts bring the exhibition alive.

Peter also examines the political agenda underpinning the creation of the exhibition, timed by the Third Republic to mark the centenary of the French Revolution. Why is Le Matin keen to know Britain's opinion of the event? Peter also brings alive reports in the paper that the exiled Napoleon III's former home in Kent is being sold and that his widow has been spotted in Birmingham en route for Malvern.

Producer: Andrew Green
An Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

Peter Snow visits Paris to recreate the 1889 event which gave the world the Eiffel Tower.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Gagarina talks about how her father hugely regretted that his experience in space was over so fast. he wanted to experience space again but it proved impossible. Random Edition visits the National Space Centre in Leicester, where Peter Snow enters a mock-up of Gagarin's Vostok 1 spacecraft and inspects a soviet-made space suit for a dog.

Among the contributors to the programme are astronomers Sir Bernard Lovell and Sir Patrick Moore. In 1961 Lovell was establishing Jodrell Bank as one of the world's great centres for space research. Now 97, he reflects on his confidence shown in this 1961 Daily Telegraph that Russia would be first to the moon. Lovell also talks of his role in the use of Jodrell Bank as an early warning indicator of a soviet missile attack on Britain. He talks of his belief that he was lucky to survive his visits to moscow in this period.

This Special Random Edition also brings alive the newspaper's reporting of wild celebrations in Russia at the news of Gagarin's flight. in 1961, Olga Selivanova was living in the caucasus. she recalls hearing the news on the sole tv set left on the shelves of her local department store. The Daily Telegraph shows the British Government congratulating Russia on the space flight, but the authorities were reluctant to host Gagarin on his international PR tour later in 1961...until he accepted an invitation to visit a foundrymen's union in Manchester. We hear from a Mancunian who cine-filmed Gagarin's arrival at Ringway Airport.

Producer: Andrew Green

An Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

~Random Edition Special to mark the 50th anniversary of Gagarin's first manned spaceflight.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

The English Revolution was as brutal, divisive and - in its way - as politically significant as its counterparts in France and Russia.

But somehow the nation more or less came together again in the spring of 1660 in support of one route out of the chaos that followed Oliver Cromwell's death in 1658 - monarchy. And this Random Edition examines, with the help of the Parliamentary Intelligencer 'newsbook' for April 30th to May 7th 1660, just how Charles II came to be accepted back as king, eleven years after his father had been beheaded.

The Intelligencer describes in graphic detail the arrival before both Houses of Parliament of Sir John Grenville, a messenger from Charles, who is currently in the Dutch town of Breda. Grenville carries the king's 'Declaration of Breda' containing the various guarantees that will prove to make his restoration possible.

Using other extracts from the Intelligencer, Peter Snow, examines some of Charles's guarantees - that all in the army will be paid arrears owing to them; that a general pardon will be offered to (almost) all those who worked against the monarchy in the preceding years; and that freedom of religion will be respected.

Just how far were these guarantees fulfilled?

Peter Snow is joined by Restoration historian Ronald Hutton for a tour of various sites in Westminster that help bring alive the Intelligencer's stories.

Also in the programme, Andrew Green travels to Breda to learn about Charles II's years of exile. Trevor Barnes fills out the Intelligencer's story of how militant Republican resistance has been snuffed out. And historian Jenny Uglow stands on the beach at Deal in Kent to imagine the great fleet preparing to cross the North Sea to bring Charles home from The Netherlands.

All this....and the newspaper's ads.

Programme contributors include historians Pene Corfield, Jenny Uglow, Jason Peacey, Ronald Hutton, Mark Goldie, John Morrill and David Farr.

Sites visited include undercroft of Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Margaret's Westminster, and Banqueting House in Whitehall.

This is an Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

Peter Snow retells the story of Charles II's Restoration via the pages of a 1660 newspaper

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a special edition of the history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

He revisits the pages of The Guardian for September 4, 1939 to re-create stories from the previous day, when Neville Chamberlain announced Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Within hours a U-boat had sunk the passenger liner Athenia. London taxi drivers rushed to join the Auxiliary Fire Service. Novelist Jilly Cooper describes how pets fared in the crisis, and singer Gracie Fields was back home but heading for trouble.

Peter Snow revisits the pages of The Guardian for September 4, 1939.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

US President Franklin D Roosevelt called the 7th December 1941 'a date which will live in infamy'. The total unexpectedness of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour is vividly captured in the newspaper which Peter Snow uses in this Random Edition Special to bring alive this key landmark in the history of the Second World War - the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The paper's 'Extra' editions describe bombs 'raining from the skies' and 'huge fires raging'. Civilian casualties are named and there are reports of suspected Japanese saboteurs. Other attacks in the Pacific are listed. Yet as there was only time to change a few pages of the newspaper, the Star-Bulletin also paints a picture of a Hawaiian community peacefully anticipating Christmas and following sport and movie stars. And it was clearly a society in which those of Japanese descent are deeply embedded.

As ever in Random Edition, Peter Snow uses news reports to recreate history. From the Star-Bulletin's pages spring some of the major players - Roosevelt and Churchill, legendary US Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Japanese navy minister Shigetaro Shimada and Emperor Hirohito among them. This Pearl Harbour special features colourful sound archive of the time, not least the BBC's reporting of the attack. There are eye-witness memories of the day and some of the music that Pearl Harbour inspired. Perhaps most fascinating is the story of the effect Pearl Harbour had on Japanese Americans on Hawaii and mainland USA.

Joining the programme is Daniel Martinez, grandson of a Pearl Harbor survivor and the foremost historian of the Japanese attack living in Hawaii. Central to everything is the ultimate significance of the day of 'infamy' - that in bringing the USA into the war, Pearl Harbor decided the fate of both Japan and Germany

Producer: Andrew Green.

Peter Snow with a Random Edition Special to mark the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbour.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria and the love of her life, died on December 14th 1861. Nine children were left fatherless.

To mark the 150th anniversary of Albert's demise, Peter Snow uses reports and comment in a single copy of an archive newspaper - the London Daily News - to describe the circumstances of his death and the significance of his loss to the nation. The Daily News carries detail of Albert's slow decline in his last days and the team of doctors who were powerless to revive him. There are accounts of how news of his death spread, not least via the ringing of church bells in a world without radio and telephone. We learn of Victoria's imminent departure for Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, unable to face her husband's funeral. There are accounts of services at which churchgoers grieved at the nation's loss. We read fulsome assessments of Albert's importance in the field of the arts...and of his crucial role in the success of the 1851 Great Exhibition. All these features of the coverage will be brought alive, along with other reports in the paper less obviously a significant part of the story.

With the Daily News reporting the Prince of Wales's return to Windsor from Cambridge University, Peter Snow assesses how far Albert's admonitory visit to his wayward son a few days before in terrible weather contributed to his demise. The Daily News also carries detail on preparations for possible hostilities with the Northern US states, during the Civil War: how far was Albert instrumental in his last days in averting conflict?

The programme includes the latest thinking on Albert's fatal illness, and assesses his behind-the-scenes political significance. Locations include Madingley Hall in Cambridge, Osborne House, Windsor Castle and the Royal Albert Hall

Contributors include: Helen Rappaport, latest biographer of Prince Albert.

Historians Kathleen Burk, Roland Quinault, Adam Smith and Rohan McWilliam.

Michael Hunter of Osborne House. Sue Pemberton of Madingley Hall, Cambridge.

Producer: Andrew Green
An Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

A Random Edition Special marking the 150th anniversary of the death of Prince Albert.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Just one angle for Peter Snow to explore in this Random Edition Special. As ever, the newspaper of choice guides his investigations. With the Evening News reminding readers of the splendours of the great ship, Peter visits the Titanic Artefacts Exhibition and Queen Mary 2 (today's largest ocean-going liner) to imagine what impressed passengers on the maiden voyage - like salesman Adolphe Saalfeld, listed in the newspaper. His perfume vials have been rescued from the seabed and are part of the exhibition.

The Evening News also carries a string of cues to the great 'what ifs' of the Titanic story. What if sister ship Olympic hadn't been damaged the previous year, diverting workers from completing Titanic and thereby changing the date of the maiden voyage? If only Titanic hadn't narrowly avoided an accident in Southampton as she set off...her departure might have been delayed. As the newspaper makes clear, this was a big night for the still fledgling Marconi wireless system - Peter Snow visits the Marconi Archive and the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford to discover more.

And with the Evening News overdosing on iceberg stories, Peter asks whether a head-on collision rather than the fateful glancing blow would have meant the ship staying afloat. Throughout the programme listeners can hear vivid eye-witness testimony from Titanic survivors, plus music recorded soon after the disaster. And there's also the authentic sound of one of Titanic's hooters, restored to working order.

Producer: Andrew Green

A Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

Peter Snow looks again at the Titanic disaster via the pages of the London Evening News.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

The 1688 Glorious Revolution was one of the key events in creating the Britain of today.

So much directly or indirectly stemmed from William of Orange's successful invasion and the resultant expulsion of James II - regular parliaments with control over spending, a constitutional (and avowedly Church of England) monarchy, Britain as a great international power with a worldwide empire, the Bank of England and the concept of our National Debt, the rise of Britain as a manufacturing powerhouse, and much more. All because James II dared to try and turn Britain back into a Catholic nation with absolute rule, on the model of Louis XIV of France.

The famous, yet still not widely appreciated story of the Glorious Revolution, is the subject of this Random Edition. Peter Snow uses the jumble of short stories which tumble out of the Universal Intelligence newspaper for December 11th 1688 to describe how the Dutch Prince William of Orange landed a multinational army at Torbay to counter James's Catholic ambitions and promote parliament's cause - but also to ensure that this country was on the 'right' side in the war against Louis XIV, who had ambitions to control vast swathes of Europe.

The programme visits Torbay to describe the arrival of the vast invasion fleet and various points on William's route into London. Why did James run away from fighting a 'Battle of Salisbury Plain', leaving the paltry 'Battle of Reading' as a substitute?

Peter Snow also visits several key London sites, from the spot which saw James take to the Thames and flee into exile in France, to the Guildhall where moves were made to create a new understanding between parliament and the crown.

Produced by Andrew Green
An Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

Peter Snow uses a 1688 newspaper to describe the last successful invasion of this country.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations saw a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for a Service of Thanksgiving. How far did the whole event re-establish a link between Victoria and her people after the extended mourning for Prince Albert?

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations saw a procession through London.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

Royal Fireworks in London's Green Park. Famed for Handel's colourful music, this massive event had everything to do with political spin and featured a huge number of extraordinarily varied fireworks. A blaze broke out on site, giving the new fire engines of the day the chance to shine.

Royal Fireworks in London's Green Park.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow with another journey into newspaper history. The Daily Mail for May 5th 1951 carried detailed reports of the previous day's events as the Festival of Britain at last swung into action.

The King and Queen opened the South Bank exhibition in London - Skylon, Dome of Discovery and all - and the Daily Mail carried a plan of the site. Visitors complained about the price of food in the restaurants. Memories come from Michael Frayn, Lionel Blue, broadcaster Edward Greenfield and Festival of Britain Society chairman Fred Peskett...as well as from Peter Snow himself.

But the programme also reflects the national character of the Festival, travelling to the mountains of North Wales to examine the Dolhendre Hillside Farm Scheme, which showed off modern farming methods to visitors from as far afield as Coventry and India. Dolhendre Isa Farm survives today in the hands of the same family who witnessed the dramatic changes the Festival brought.

Also told is the story of the Festival ship, Campania, which carried an exhibition to ports around the coast. There are memories from Merseysiders who converted the ship, sailed in it and visited it.

Elsewhere in this Random Edition, Charlotte Donaldson-Hudson recalls Noel Coward writing his wicked satire on the Festival, the song Don't Make Fun of the Fair, at her home in London: her film star mother was best friends with the songwriter.

Despite the festival fever, the government minister responsible for the event, Herbert Morrison, received fearful stick in the press. Peter Snow explains why. Also in the mix of course, many visits to the BBC Sound Archive (including a contribution from the inimitable Brian Johnston, learning how to drive huskies), plus more musical sounds that lit up the Festival.

Producer: Andrew Green
An Andrew Green production for BBC Radio 4.

Peter Snow explores a 1951 Daily Mail to bring alive the start of the Festival of Britain.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow turns the pages of The Times for 16th August 1945, reporting VJ Day the day before.

Commemorations of the end of the Second World War tend to focus on VE Day rather than VJ Day. Yet, in marking the defeat of Japan, VJ Day celebrated the final end of hostilities.

The newspaper reports of the wild jubilation at Piccadilly Circus, and the programme talks to Gwendolen Hollingshead, who was there. Filling out The Times' description of events in Liverpool, Merseysider Irene Gill recalls joining the crowds while three months pregnant.

Dean of St Albans, Jeffrey John, discusses his predecessor's refusal to allow the Abbey to be used for a VJ Day thanksgiving service - because of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Labour peer and historian Lord Morgan talks to Peter about the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on VJ Day - when the famous programme of the post-war Labour government was announced, embracing nationalisation and the creation of the NHS. Historian Jessica Reinisch meets Peter at Church House in Westminster where, on VJ Day, the preparatory session for the creation of the United Nations took place.

Gwendolen Hollingshead also describes her memories of Rainbow Corner, near Piccadilly Circus - an American servicemen's club where she was a volunteer worker. She recalls music from Glenn Miller and the death of an American she was planning to date.

Finally, POWs Maurice Naylor and Bob Hucklesby movingly describe coming home after being long-term captives of the Japanese in Thailand.

Producer: Andrew Green
A Singing Wren production for BBC Radio 4.

Peter Snow marks the seventieth anniversary of VJ Day at the end of the Second World War.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

The main story in a Penny London Post newspaper from 1749 reports on the Royal Fireworks in London's Green Park. Famed for Handel's colourful music, this massive event had everything to do with political spin and featured a huge number of extraordinarily varied fireworks. A blaze broke out on site, giving the new fire engines of the day the chance to shine.

The Penny London Post reports on the Royal Fireworks in London's Green Park in 1749.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

Dutch businessman Tiede Herrema recounts his terrifying ordeal as an IRA hostage. Dutch elm disease ravages the British countryside. Anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain recalls his wrongful arrest and Old Bailey trial after a theft from Barclays Bank in Putney.

The Guardian, October 30, 1975. Dutch elm disease ravages the British countryside.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

Just days after its first appearance on the news-stands, the ILN features the latest on the fall-out from an attempt on the life of Queen Victoria and news of test-runs for the state-of-the-art atmospheric railway at Wormwood Scrubs. The main feature, however, describes the continued agonising over the British army's catastrophic retreat from Kabul.

The Illustrated London News of June 1842 reports on the British army's retreat from Kabul.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers

Peter Snow presents a history series in which the stories are provided by archive newspapers.

Charles Lindbergh arrives in the UK, searching for peace and quiet in the aftermath of the murder of his son. Two Cape of Good Hope stamps incorrectly coloured fetch an unheard-of sum at an auction. In Australia, a campaigning society has petitioned federal Prime Minister Joseph Lyons concerning the appalling treatment of aboriginal peoples in police custody.

Charles Lindbergh arrives in the UK in 1936, after his son's kidnap and murder.

History series investigating stories taken from archive newspapers