Episodes

  • Century Speaks (social history) trail - money (11)
    Sep 7 2025

    Promoting a 16-part social history series which explores how everyday life changed during the 20th Century, described by the people of Essex.


    Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 min
  • CENTURY SPEAKS 10 Food & Drink
    Aug 16 2025

    Essex people talk about their experiences of food and drink in the 20th century. The flavour of a changing diet is described from the same pattern of meals every week and the grocer selling foodstuffs loose, to the huge variation of the modern supermarket.

    There is also a taste of the impact of rationing during and after the Second World War and how farming methods have changed is discussed.

    The programme also features the increased choice of places to eat out, with the introduction of Chinese, Indian and other cuisine.


    Produced and broadcast by BBC Essex in 1999.

    Original title: A Square Meal.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 mins
  • CENTURY SPEAKS 9 Technology/Industry (social history)
    Jul 26 2025

    Essex people talk about the effect of changes in technology on their home and working lives.

    There are examples from the shop floor at Marconi, the Ford car assembly line and the printing and publishing industries. Contributors describe their offices from the strict regime of the 1950s typing pool to the first huge computers.

    People also speak about the introduction of home computing, video recorders and automated telephone answering.


    Produced for BBC Essex and originally broadcast in 1999.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    30 mins
  • CENTURY SPEAKS 8 Old Age (social history)
    Jul 12 2025

    Essex people talk about positive and negative aspects of old age. They describe the experience of alzheimer's disease and express views on euthanasia. Contributors share their energy and enjoyment of retirement and the twilight years. There are also thoughts about grandparents.


    Produced for BBC Essex and broadcast in 1999.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    30 mins
  • CENTURY SPEAKS 7 Childhood/Teenagers (social history)
    Jun 29 2025

    Essex people talk about their childhood and teenage experiences, from carefree days of roaming free outside, playing sports and games to helping with household chores and the work on a farm. They also describe the pressures of being a teenager, sexual awakening and first relationships.


    Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    30 mins
  • CENTURY SPEAKS 6 Crime/Law (social history)
    Jun 29 2025


    Essex people compare the days of the bobby on the beat to modern car-based policing. The programme includes the views of those who have been to court and those of a magistrate and a judge. Experiences of crime are described and the media's portrayal of safety on the streets.


    Part of a 16-part series which explores how everyday life changed during the 20th Century, described by the people of Essex, in collaboration with the British Library.

    Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 mins
  • Century Speaks (social history) general trail 2
    Jun 20 2025

    Promoting a 16-part social history series which explores how everyday life changed during the 20th Century, described by the people of Essex.


    Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.


    The entire series can be heard here: soundcloud.com/anton-jarvis-206182017/sets/the-century-speaks


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 min
  • CENTURY SPEAKS 5 Relationships/Family (social history)
    Jun 20 2025

    Essex people talk about relationships: living together in and out of marriage, divorce, sex and parenthood. They explore changing attitudes to sex and childbirth before marriage. There are emotional stories of illegitimacy and adoption.


    Part of a 16-part series which explores how everyday life changed during the 20th Century, described by the people of Essex, in collaboration with the British Library.

    Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins