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

  • BDTN. (Passcode: ewr3@q98)

    Release Date: 18th November 2024

    John Blake talks about the Barking and Dagenham Talking Newspaper

    Click to Listen
  • The 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 Listen
  • Some 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 Listen
  • Our Sporting Idol (passcode: 3D23T.W#)

    Release Date: 30th September 2024

    Dave Peters talks proudly of his brother Martin’s footballing achievements.

    Click to Listen
  • The 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 Listen
  • From 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 Listen
  • October 1936 (Passcode: =4HdCgF+)

    Release Date: 9th June 2024

    The Siege of Cable Street from A Town in Essex

    Click to Listen
  • The Day They Bulldozed The Merry Fiddlers (Passcode: +%sMpf6k)

    Release Date: 24th May 2024

    A chapter from The Banjo Book Two

    Click to Listen
  • Slices 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 Listen
  • From 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 Listen
  • Whatever 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 Listen
  • Leaving Dagenham 1939 (Passcode: Y0*6WgXJ)

    Release Date: 16th March 2024

    Tony recalls his experiences of evacuation as a five-year-old.

    Click to Listen
  • From 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 Listen
  • Street 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 Listen
  • From 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 Listen
  • My 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 Listen
  • Christmas 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 Listen
  • Episode 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 Listen
  • Episode 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 Listen
  • This 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:

October 2024

13 Sunday

Social Media is a funny old place. I’m slowly learning not to voice opinions on X (formerly known as Twitter) as there are some very nasty people out there. Troll

Read more from Elaine's journal

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...

Read more Hot Holidays


Elaine's Latest Tweets


Facebook

Follow Elaine on FacebookElaine is also on facebook - click here to view her facebook page.