Going Round the Banjo: the Dagenham Story Podcast
Join the author of the Dagenham Story series of novels Elaine Spires every fortnight as she and her guests discuss the history and the people of the village, the town, the London Borough, close to their hearts.
Listen to the Podcast
St Peter’s and St Paul’s Part Two Passcode: 0!0=+yuH
Release Date: 7th March 2025
Rosemary Rogers shows us the grounds of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church
Click to ListenPaul Embery Passcode: Lsdr@8n5
Release Date: 19th February 2025
Firefighter. Trade Unionist. Broadcaster. Columnist. Author. Dagenham Boy. Such a great pleasure to welcome Paul to the podcast.
Click to ListenSt Peter’s and St Paul’s Church (Part 1). Passcode *6!*xC*w
Release Date: 9th February 2025
Rosemary Rogers shares her encyclopaedic knowledge of Dagenham Parish Church with us. Apologies for my camerawork.
Click to ListenThe Snowy Winter of 62-63 (Passcode 3G*a&69e )
Release Date: 17th January 2025
Elaine and Bill reminisce about the freezing weather and how Dagenhamites dealt with it
Click to ListenDagenham Mastermind (passcode: %rxn6L=^ )
Release Date: 6th December 2024
If you don’t recognise Les Morrell from his Dagenham days you’ve probably seen him in TV.
Click to ListenBDTN. (Passcode: ewr3@q98)
Release Date: 18th November 2024
John Blake talks about the Barking and Dagenham Talking Newspaper
Click to ListenThe Magical Mystery Dagenham Bus Tour (Passcode: zd0j!s@j)
Release Date: 29th October 2024
Bill Jennings takes us on his bus tour of our favourite place.
Click to ListenSome Facts You Might Not Know about Chadwell Heath (Passcode 9%Z%N7&Q)
Release Date: 13th October 2024
Some unknown facts from Vice Chair of the Chadwell Heath Historical Society, John Blake
Click to ListenOur Sporting Idol (passcode: 3D23T.W#)
Release Date: 30th September 2024
Dave Peters talks proudly of his brother Martin’s footballing achievements.
Click to ListenThe Dagenham Future is Bright Passcode: UV4Yt$jm
Release Date: 24th July 2024
Showbiz entrepreneur the vivacious Sharon Borthwick talks about her Dagenham based business.
Click to ListenFrom Dagenham to Jo’burg (Passcode: *8sTh5Ur)
Release Date: 1st July 2024
Beryl Fowls (nee Harvey) recalls her younger years in Dagenham before crossing the world to start a new life in South Africa
Click to ListenOctober 1936 (Passcode: =4HdCgF+)
Release Date: 9th June 2024
The Siege of Cable Street from A Town in Essex
Click to ListenThe Day They Bulldozed The Merry Fiddlers (Passcode: +%sMpf6k)
Release Date: 24th May 2024
A chapter from The Banjo Book Two
Click to ListenSlices of Dagenham (passcode 2kRE?ILQ)
Release Date: 6th May 2024
Danny Fenn aka The Boleyn Poet shares his memories of Dagenham and poetry.
Click to ListenFrom Dagenham Girl to TV Quiz Queen. (Passcode x^gp6=Q2)
Release Date: 21st April 2024
Dagenham Girl Robbie London discusses her very interesting life — shorthand typist, go-go dancer, DJ & TV Quiz Queen
Click to ListenWhatever Happened To The Rapiers (passcode 5wutyBS+)
Release Date: 28th March 2024
Steve Webb and Jack Benjamin, two members of Dagenham 60s group the Rapiers reminisce and talk about their lives since they found fame as young teens.
Click to ListenLeaving Dagenham 1939 (Passcode: Y0*6WgXJ)
Release Date: 16th March 2024
Tony recalls his experiences of evacuation as a five-year-old.
Click to ListenFrom Bookworm to Librarian (passcode: H=XZ$N4*)
Release Date: 1st March 2024
Lisa Roullier was the little girl who rushed to Valence Library to get her 10 books. Now she works for Library Services. Click below for Lisa’s lively interview.
Click to ListenStreet Names. (Passcode: %1.8$yBx)
Release Date: 16th February 2024
Local historian Bill Jennings talks about the fascinating roots of some of the town’s roads and streets.
Click to ListenFrom Dagenham to the West End (passcode: *kd%8=1W)
Release Date: 2nd February 2024
Child actor Bill Preston talks about his 3 years in Oliver!
Click to ListenMy Boy From Dagenham (View code F4ZVuG.^ )
Release Date: 19th January 2024
From her home in Carboneras, Spain, Kathy Hill tells us about her husband Ron, her Boy From Dagenham
Click to ListenChristmas at Valence House passcode: 00Qy^NsK
Release Date: 22nd December 2023
Outreach and Education Officer Mark Watson talks about Christmas at Valence House
Click to ListenEpisode 3 Talking Banjos. (passcode: upBi?A%9)
Release Date: 8th December 2023
Local historian extraordinaire Bill Jennings discusses that Dagenham phenomenon — the banjo.
Click to ListenEpisode 2 Mr Tony Spires (passcode aW+0*ESH)
Release Date: 23rd November 2023
Tony tells us about going to school, starting work and meeting his wife of 72 years in Dagenham
Click to ListenThis is Dagenham Calling!
Release Date: 10th November 2023
A new podcast series all about Dagenham and it’s fascinating history.
Click to Listen
Journal Entry:
Hot Holidays
Each week someone very interesting will be telling us all their holiday and travel tips and secrets!
Latest Guest: Kitty French
Today it’s my turn on the Blog Tour for Kitty French’s new book MELODY BITTERSWEET AND THE GIRLS’ GHOSTBUSTING AGENCY, which came out on 14th July. It’s an absolutely hilariou...
Elaine is also on facebook - click here to view her facebook page.