Ladies Who London

Latest Episodes:

Ep 198: Walking and talking - Refugee Tales with Anna Sayburn Lane Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Today we are ringing London, joined by special guest, author and walker, Anna Sayburn Lane. Refugee Tales is a modern recreation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. A five day walk with stories along the way. Each evening there's entertainments (and snoring, especially from the men's dorm!) The walkers are a mix of interested supporters and people who have been through the process of arriving in this country as a refugee. Sharing a path, breaking bread, and chatting along the way. This year, for their 10th anniversary the main walk in July with be around part of the Capital Ring.

Plus the profound effect a walk to Canterbury can have on your life, Christopher Marlowe, a fresh red room and and a hint of Something Rotten

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Ep 197 Glorious Greenwich: a tale of two shipies Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Climb aboard and come away with us on the high seas. Take a trip to France on Henry Grace a Deau. The pride of Henry VIII's fleet. Or overtake her whilst laden with tea, wool or pianos, on board The Cutty Sark. How many woolly jumpers can you fit on the only extreme tea clipper left in the world? Henry's ship was built nearby, and maybe ended it's life nearby as well. A war ship that broke the rules, bedecked with guns in all directions. The Cutty Sark you can still visit in Greenwich. Climb her masts, peer inside her chests and squint at her figurehead. Nannie, what's that you're wearing? Alex tells us of a hard life well lived, and gracious lady who's enjoying her retirement*.

Plus teaspoons and cheeseboards, news of Crossness and get your skates on if you want to see the Winter lights.

*the ship, not Alex.

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Ep 196 Hip hip hooray for National Hat Day! Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

This week we are talking hats. What's Fiona's favourite London hat? Celebrating National Hat day, and giving you time to prepare for London Hat Week. We've got a bit of a beaver update to start us off, and sadly their ancestors make an appearance in one of London's notable hats - The Beaverskin or Muscovy Hat of the Swordbearer of the City of London. The hat pocket plays an important part in one of the solemn and important (or, bonkers, depending on your point of view) City ceremonies.

We can't talk hats without visiting the hatters, and where better than Lock and Co. It would be quicker to list the stylish celebrities who haven't had a hat made there, than those that have.

What do you get if you cross a homburg and a Bowler? and bonus points if you know who might be wearing one. And where oh where was London's most unlikely hat wearer.

Plus mercury madness, Nelson's Olympic flame, and what do Chaplin and Churchill have in common?

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Ep 195 Enfield - Dedication. Norris McWhirter, small arms, llamas and a tank called Julian Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

Ooh it's a mixed bag this week. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Farming. Industry. Royal Enfield - which might not be from Enfield. What is an Enfield anyway? A heraldic beast with a bit of Fox, a touch of Eagle, maybe some wolf, that's what. And this week's main topic might be a wolf in sheep's clothing. He was a figure of fun in our house when I was growing up. Norris McWhirter - the man who checked the Guiness world records. Turns out there's a whole other story of his life I knew nothing about. If you wanna be the best, and stand out from the rest, oooh dedication's what you need.

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Ep 194 Merry Christmas live at the Tap Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

Well here it is, the second half of our live record evening. We set out to discover the most important/ best/ typically London/ Londitudinal building. Can the champions of Regent St sway the room, to win against The Barbican? Will rock, paper, scissors, finally settle the age old question, is Roman stuff more important than Greenwich? And, critically, is St Pancras railway station better than the Wanstead Tap?

Joined once again by Leo Hollis, plus lovely listeners, Dan from the Tap and friend of the pod, Katie Wignall, Alex and I ask you to put on a silly hat, maybe have a glass of something to hand, or even one in both hands, just in case, and brace yourselves for the silliness ahead.

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Ep 193 Industrious Ealing: Beavers gotta beave Dec 18, 2024

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Our story this week is of a hardworking immigrant family, beavering away to improve the quality of life for Ealing. But first there’s hills made of rubble, classic comedy capers (we find out which world leader was their biggest fan) and the first incline lift in a tube station.

An experiment is underway at Paradise Fields, to see if Beavers can live in an urban setting. Since moving in last year the family have been coppicing trees, damming lakes, and filtering the water. We chat about why beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain, their extraordinarily useful fur and secretions, and how they are making a comeback.

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Ep 192: Lilian Bader and women of colour in World War Two Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

We're still on an airfield this week. But it's all about the woman wielding the tools, keeping the planes aloft. It's 1941 and Lilian Bader is one of the first women to qualify as an instrument repairer. Her Barbadian father had served in the Navy, her husband drove tanks, her son flew helicopters. Across the generations her family served across the forces, and gave back more than they received. Lilian not only broke barriers as a woman of colour, she campaigned to remember the contribution made from across the commonwealth. Her unit were the first women in the WAAF to be given overalls rather than wearing skirts. Overalls that hang on the Women of World War two memorial in Whitehall. The uniforms and clothes adopted by women to commemorate all those who served, military and civilian.

Plaster wedding cakes, Pilots of the Caribbean and Who wants to be a millionaire? Plus Christmas trees, singing and an Easter egg. What's that you say Ben? BONG.

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Ep 191: Classic crime in Croydon Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Mayday, M'aidez! I'm worried that Alex is turning to a life of crime!

Croydon: The international airport of London in the golden age of glamorous travel. Even the cargo was golden, and enticing. And this week we're learning why you should organise your own getaway car. Plus a superstar kidnapping caper. It's all go. Just as well Alex has had a relaxing holiday. No, I'm not jealous at all, I've been living it up in London with Bert.

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Ep 190 Life lessons from Historical Women with very special guest Eleanor Morton Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

We are slightly overexcited this week, as we're chatting with comedian and writer Eleanor Morton. Her fabulous book of lessons from historical women features many of our favourite women. And a host of, maybe, less familiar ones. From mountaineering and marathons to creating familiar music and much loved characters, we're casting the net wide this week. Who slapped who, and why? Who found adventure in the most dangerous of journeys? How does hiding in a cupboard help anyone?

Plus ghosts, tour guiding, the month of Edinburgh, and another potential podcast outing.

No animals were harmed in the making of this episode, although Rusty does join in.

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Ep 189 Camden cures all featuring Elizabeth Garett Anderson Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

We're taking a stroll through the medical powerhouse that is south Camden and focussing on Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. She's been on the fringes of many an episode - her sister and her daughter have already featured, now she gets the limelight. And boy does she deserve it. She overcame hurdles and jumped through loopholes, even learning another language in her fight to become the first female Dr to practise (while presenting as a woman) in the UK. Her co-founders of the London School of Medicine for Women, were equally determined, playing the establishment at their own game to learn their skills. Inspiring women whose legacy still lurks along the Euston Rd.

Plus a miniature distillery in Scotland. Cheers!

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