She Left Me The Gun

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20130415

When journalist Emma Brockes was ten years old, her mother, Paula, said 'One day I will tell you the story of my life and you will be amazed.' Growing up in a tranquil English village, Emma knew very little of her mother's life before her. She knew she had grown up in South Africa and had seven siblings. She had been told stories about deadly snakes and hailstones the size of golf balls. There was mention, once, of a trial. But most of the past was a mystery.

When her mother dies of cancer, Emma - by then a successful journalist at the Guardian - feels the need to uncover her history. She travels to South Africa, to the extended family she has never met, and unravels a daunting tale, the events of which her mother had kept from her - events that, even amongst her mother's siblings, were never discussed.

Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother.

Emma Brockes is a feature writer at the Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, won the Philip Geddes Prize for Journalism, and graduated with a first. In 2001 she won Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards and a year later was voted Feature Writer of the Year, the youngest ever recipient of the award. Outside journalism she has written a one act play called 'The Prompt', and a book on musicals entitled, 'What Would Barbara Do? How Musicals Changed My Life'.

Writer: Emma Brockes

Reader: Alison Pettitt

Abridger: Pete Nichols

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.

As she grew up, journalist Emma Brockes knew little of her mother's past.

20130416

Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother.

Writer: Emma Brockes

Reader: Alison Pettitt

Abridger: Pete Nichols

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.

Emma's story of her mother's early life in South Africa continues.

20130417

Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother.

Writer: Emma Brockes

Reader: Alison Pettitt

Abridger: Pete Nichols

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.

After the loss of her mother, Emma Brockes embarks on a journey of discovery.

20130418

Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother.

Writer: Emma Brockes

Reader: Alison Pettitt

Abridger: Pete Nichols

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.

In South Africa, Emma meets her mother's sister, Fay, for the first time.

05 LAST

20130419

Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother.

Writer: Emma Brockes

Reader: Alison Pettitt

Abridger: Pete Nichols

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.

Emma meets her uncle Steven, and more of the details of her mother's past are revealed.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20130415	When journalist Emma Brockes was ten years old, her mother, Paula, said 'One day I will tell you the story of my life and you will be amazed.' Growing up in a tranquil English village, Emma knew very little of her mother's life before her. She knew she had grown up in South Africa and had seven siblings. She had been told stories about deadly snakes and hailstones the size of golf balls. There was mention, once, of a trial. But most of the past was a mystery. When her mother dies of cancer, Emma - by then a successful journalist at the Guardian - feels the need to uncover her history. She travels to South Africa, to the extended family she has never met, and unravels a daunting tale, the events of which her mother had kept from her - events that, even amongst her mother's siblings, were never discussed. Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother. Emma Brockes is a feature writer at the Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, won the Philip Geddes Prize for Journalism, and graduated with a first. In 2001 she won Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards and a year later was voted Feature Writer of the Year, the youngest ever recipient of the award. Outside journalism she has written a one act play called 'The Prompt', and a book on musicals entitled, 'What Would Barbara Do? How Musicals Changed My Life'. Writer: Emma Brockes Reader: Alison Pettitt Abridger: Pete Nichols A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4. As she grew up, journalist Emma Brockes knew little of her mother's past.
02	20130416	When journalist Emma Brockes was ten years old, her mother, Paula, said 'One day I will tell you the story of my life and you will be amazed.' Growing up in a tranquil English village, Emma knew very little of her mother's life before her. She knew she had grown up in South Africa and had seven siblings. She had been told stories about deadly snakes and hailstones the size of golf balls. There was mention, once, of a trial. But most of the past was a mystery. When her mother dies of cancer, Emma - by then a successful journalist at the Guardian - feels the need to uncover her history. She travels to South Africa, to the extended family she has never met, and unravels a daunting tale, the events of which her mother had kept from her - events that, even amongst her mother's siblings, were never discussed. Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother. Emma Brockes is a feature writer at the Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, won the Philip Geddes Prize for Journalism, and graduated with a first. In 2001 she won Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards and a year later was voted Feature Writer of the Year, the youngest ever recipient of the award. Outside journalism she has written a one act play called 'The Prompt', and a book on musicals entitled, 'What Would Barbara Do? How Musicals Changed My Life'. Writer: Emma Brockes Reader: Alison Pettitt Abridger: Pete Nichols A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4. Emma's story of her mother's early life in South Africa continues.
03	20130417	When journalist Emma Brockes was ten years old, her mother, Paula, said 'One day I will tell you the story of my life and you will be amazed.' Growing up in a tranquil English village, Emma knew very little of her mother's life before her. She knew she had grown up in South Africa and had seven siblings. She had been told stories about deadly snakes and hailstones the size of golf balls. There was mention, once, of a trial. But most of the past was a mystery. When her mother dies of cancer, Emma - by then a successful journalist at the Guardian - feels the need to uncover her history. She travels to South Africa, to the extended family she has never met, and unravels a daunting tale, the events of which her mother had kept from her - events that, even amongst her mother's siblings, were never discussed. Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother. Emma Brockes is a feature writer at the Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, won the Philip Geddes Prize for Journalism, and graduated with a first. In 2001 she won Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards and a year later was voted Feature Writer of the Year, the youngest ever recipient of the award. Outside journalism she has written a one act play called 'The Prompt', and a book on musicals entitled, 'What Would Barbara Do? How Musicals Changed My Life'. Writer: Emma Brockes Reader: Alison Pettitt Abridger: Pete Nichols A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4. After the loss of her mother, Emma Brockes embarks on a journey of discovery.
04	20130418	When journalist Emma Brockes was ten years old, her mother, Paula, said 'One day I will tell you the story of my life and you will be amazed.' Growing up in a tranquil English village, Emma knew very little of her mother's life before her. She knew she had grown up in South Africa and had seven siblings. She had been told stories about deadly snakes and hailstones the size of golf balls. There was mention, once, of a trial. But most of the past was a mystery. When her mother dies of cancer, Emma - by then a successful journalist at the Guardian - feels the need to uncover her history. She travels to South Africa, to the extended family she has never met, and unravels a daunting tale, the events of which her mother had kept from her - events that, even amongst her mother's siblings, were never discussed. Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother. Emma Brockes is a feature writer at the Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, won the Philip Geddes Prize for Journalism, and graduated with a first. In 2001 she won Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards and a year later was voted Feature Writer of the Year, the youngest ever recipient of the award. Outside journalism she has written a one act play called 'The Prompt', and a book on musicals entitled, 'What Would Barbara Do? How Musicals Changed My Life'. Writer: Emma Brockes Reader: Alison Pettitt Abridger: Pete Nichols A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4. In South Africa, Emma meets her mother's sister, Fay, for the first time.
05 LAST	20130419	When journalist Emma Brockes was ten years old, her mother, Paula, said 'One day I will tell you the story of my life and you will be amazed.' Growing up in a tranquil English village, Emma knew very little of her mother's life before her. She knew she had grown up in South Africa and had seven siblings. She had been told stories about deadly snakes and hailstones the size of golf balls. There was mention, once, of a trial. But most of the past was a mystery. When her mother dies of cancer, Emma - by then a successful journalist at the Guardian - feels the need to uncover her history. She travels to South Africa, to the extended family she has never met, and unravels a daunting tale, the events of which her mother had kept from her - events that, even amongst her mother's siblings, were never discussed. Emma Brockes' story of her mother's past is warm and moving, in moments upsetting, and ultimately redemptive, as she rediscovers her mother. Emma Brockes is a feature writer at the Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, won the Philip Geddes Prize for Journalism, and graduated with a first. In 2001 she won Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards and a year later was voted Feature Writer of the Year, the youngest ever recipient of the award. Outside journalism she has written a one act play called 'The Prompt', and a book on musicals entitled, 'What Would Barbara Do? How Musicals Changed My Life'. Writer: Emma Brockes Reader: Alison Pettitt Abridger: Pete Nichols A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4. Emma meets her uncle Steven, and more of the details of her mother's past are revealed.