Torgold's Tales

Send us Fan MailWelcome to my podcast channel. With friends over the past few months I've been able to publish a number of podcasts which are mostly about  historically interesting and humorous stories  linked with our recent history in the 20th century. As King Charles III arrives in the USA I think it is important to see if democratic principles are still being upheld 250 years after the Declaration of Independence. For this exposé on what I think is America's crumbling democracy I'm delighted to be joined by my good friend the Rt Hon Norman Baker.  Norman was our MP here in Lewes for 18 years.  Since leaving Parliament he has been a commentator on a whole range of public affairs appearing on TV and publishing a number of books.Background notes:It's difficult to keep track of Trump's anti-democratic actions since he took office for the second term last year in 2025. First of all, it's the attack on immigrants who have probably lived for decades in the United States by the ICE, heavily armed troopers right throughout the USA. Then we have the threat to make Canada the 51st state of the USA, which was resoundingly batted off by the excellent Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. But it goes on with Trump threatening to take over Greenland, the illegal regime change in Venezuela, even though that country operated a virtual dictatorship under Maduro. Trump may boast he has brought peace to the Gaza Strip, but what about the more than one million people who are left homeless and the almost total destruction of all buildings and homes in Gaza? Then as like a bolt out of the blue, Trump decides to initiate a war with Iran, which has left many hundreds of people dead or possibly even thousands. And now we hear he is blockading Cuba, preventing oil supplies from getting through. This now is making the situation desperate for millions of civilians in Cuba.Visit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan MailWelcome to Episode 2 of Adventures with my Brother George in the Swinging Sixties. In our very first episode, I shared the magical fascination of George’s bold new venture — a transformation that felt, to me, like watching an elegant old Georgian grand hotel come alive again, reborn into with dazzling events set against the backcloth of classic grandeur of another age colliding with the wild, carefree energy of the Swinging Sixties.If you haven’t yet heard that story, it’s waiting for you on my podcast website. That spirit of reinvention, of discovery, of why not? — defined the era. The Sixties were buzzing with change and possibility, and this episode carries that same electric energy forward.Because in that time, and in this story, one thing was certain: anything was possible... and anything goes!Today, I'm joined by my niece, Dee.  She was brought up in Weymouth. She is the first of George and June's talented and interesting girls. Dee has a wealth of knowledge about the history of the family in the Wyke House Hotel and Weymouth, handed down to her from her mum, June, and her aunties, including Liz, Angela, and Anne, as well as Anne's husband, Dennis. All of these people and more, you will find featured in this series.Enjoy! Visit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan MailI’m delighted you’re joining me for the very first episode of this podcast series, where I take a look back at some of the twists, turns, and unexpected adventures from a life spent in business. This episode is about my time as a project manager.In this series, I want to step away from the usual business talk — no endless discussions about methodology or business practice here! Instead, we’ll explore the human side of a working life: the challenges, the characters, the humour, and the sense of adventure that comes with navigating uncharted waters!In today’s episode, I’ll be reflecting on my time with Ericsson, the global telecoms and mobile network company. My six years there was exhilarating, fascinating, sometimes chaotic — and always full of challenges. I had the chance to spend time at Ericsson’s headquarters in Stockholm, and my work took me across Europe, to the United States, and even China. It was a whirlwind of learning, discovery, mixed with difficult and stressful times  — but above all, an unforgettable experience. A professional journey, after all, is rarely a straight path. It’s a voyage through uncharted waters — full of unexpected turns, hidden reefs, and, at times, moments of pure exhilaration.Today, I’m joined by my good friend Dr. Andrew Norris, a fellow IT professional and, like me, now enjoying the quieter pace of retirement. We’ve known each other for many years, and both call the charming Sussex town of Lewes home. Right now, we’re sitting in the welcoming buzz of the Depot, one of our favourite local spots — sipping coffee, reminiscing, and swapping stories.So, join us as we cast off on this first episode of Adventures of a Roving Project Manager. Enjoy the ride!Visit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan MailWelcome to the very first episode of my special series, Adventures with my Brother, George. Picture the very early 1960s in England—a time when rock and roll was just beginning to shake the airwaves, fashions were getting bolder, and the spirit of “anything goes” was just beginning to stir.Acker Bilk's 'Stranger On The Shore' was being played everywhere.  Cliff Richard had been in the charts from 1959. In 1962 his his included "The Young Ones.”  The Beatles released their first single, ‘Love Me Do’ in October 1962 and it marked the beginning of the pop culture revolution. Radio Luxembourg was the rebellious alternative young people tuned into. Our backdrop is the seaside town of Weymouth, with its bustling promenade, the nearby village of Wyke Regis, and the Wyke House Hotel—names that will soon feel as familiar as old friends.At the heart of it all is my brother George, the main character in these tales—mischievous, unpredictable, and always ready to turn the ordinary into the unforgettable. And in this first episode, I’m joined by my son, Adrian, to help bring these memories to life.So settle in, and let’s step back into the world of the swinging sixties for a humorous, and I hope entertaining, first adventure with George.Visit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan MailIn the 1960s, hitchhiking was part of the spirit of the age — carefree, adventurous, and wide open. With a thumb raised and a rucksack slung over your shoulder, the road itself became an invitation. Cars pulled over with a wave or a smile, and soon you’d be sharing stories with a lorry driver, a family off on holiday, or fellow travellers chasing the same horizon. The air was alive with change then — pop music was the heartbeat of this change — raw, thrilling, and utterly alive, the hum of new ideas, the scent of freedom — and hitchhiking wove us into it all. Every journey felt like possibility: laughter in the front seat, music drifting from the radio, and the simple joy of being young in a world that seemed endless and welcoming.I was part of that age and that's  why I wrote the story of hitchhiking to Weymouth for the first time.  Here in this podcast my son James has recorded my words which I hope will give you the feeling of the adventure and the spirit of the times.  Enjoy! Visit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan MailThis podcast takes a light-hearted look at my epic 1000-mile cycle journey through France from the Mediterranean coast to the English Channel at Dieppe. Well, it was great fun even though at times I felt I'd overstretched myself. In this podcast I am assisted by my very good friends Lorna and Robert. Many thanks to them. On 20th May 2025 I began my attempt to cycle over 900 miles (actually it ended up as 1000 miles) from the South of France to Dieppe and then back to Lewes in Sussex via the ferry. Whilst I was on my ride, I raised funds for medical and other civilian aid to be sent to Ukraine. June 10th was the last day. I cycled for 20 days in total, plus two days of rest. The distance covered was 1000 miles. The ascent was over 14,276 m, that’s 46,837 ft ! !It’s been a fascinating trip. I’ve enjoyed meeting people on the way and cycled with other cyclists at times. It has been an epic journey in often stunning scenery.After getting off the night train from Paris at Nice I cycled a short distance along the Côte d’Azur to the place where Napoléon landed in 1815 after his escape from Elba. Then I followed the Route Napoléon, a 325-kilometer (200-mile) historical route from the French Riviera at Golfe-Juan, near Cannes through the Alpes-Maritime and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to Grenoble. Beautiful crystal clear views of breath-taking scenery and some very steep climbs through the mountains! From Grenoble I cycled into the Massif Central, but first following the River Isère cycle path and then the River Rhône (Via Rhôna). Then turning up into the hills, firstly on an old railway track, followed by very steep climbs to the source of the River Loire (1,350 m.  4,430 ft) in the Cévennes range at the foot of Mont Gerbier de Jonc. The route then follows the Loire River from a tiny stream to a large river, at Orleans. This River Loire route is a journey of about 603 km (375 miles).  The book by Mike Wells ‘River Loire Cycle Route’ was of immense help guiding me through all of the twists and turns at the initial stages of the route. I then joined the EuroVelo 6 (EV6) at Nevers which takes you onto long stretches of canal path and on top of river ‘levees’. I had travelled from beautiful mountainous landscapes and scenery through to alluvial plains.My route now left the River Loire at Orléans, and I cycled to the cathedral city of Chartres following the River L’Eure valley to the River Seine and up over the hills to Forges-les-Eaux where I joined the Avenue Verte to Dieppe. I'm immensely pleased to have completed this cycle ride at the age of 78. It spurs me on to do other epic cycle rides! I used an electrically assisted bike.For more information go to: https://ient.me.uk/2025/04/11/france-south-to-north-cycle-ride-2025/ Visit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan Mail An amazing 1960s adventure across Europe trip  This podcast is dedicated to my great friends Graham Brooks and Pete Jeffries who sadly now passed away. My adventures with them will always live in my memory,In 1967, three young friends—Pete, Graham, and me, (narrator of this podcast) — set off on an adventurous road trip from England to the Italian Riviera. Graham, mechanically gifted, owned a striking Sunbeam Rapier, cream and red with dual carburettors, which became our chariot across Europe. For me, a working-class lad from Aldershot, such a journey was almost unheard of; foreign holidays were still a luxury reserved for the wealthy or the “jet set.” Our plan, hatched over a few pints in a Guildford pub, was to drive from Dover, through France and Switzerland, across the Alps and into Italy, ending at Alassio on the Italian Riviera.In the Summer with eager anticipation, we boarded the Dover–Calais ferry and began their trek along France’s straight, tree-lined ‘Routes Nationales’ roads. Our first stop was a small village café thick with smoke and the scent of Gauloises. A ham sandwich, cognac, and a primitive ‘toillette’ behind the back wall of the café set the tone for rustic encounters to come.Mechanical trouble struck near Dijon when the car’s dynamo failed. Fearing disaster, we were rescued by friendly locals in berets who led us across town to a parts shop which was like an “Aladdin’s cave.” After lunch and pétanque in the square, several smoking mechanics successfully fitted a new dynamo, sending us boys gratefully on our way.Crossing into Switzerland, we paused on the edge of Lake Geneva where I had the best omelette for breakfast I have ever had sitting outside with a view of the famous Jet d’Eau fountain. Then a picnic in the foothills of the Alps of bread, cheese, and wine—continental flavours new to me. Taking the old Great St Bernard Passup over the mountain rather than the recently opened tunnel, we marvelled at alpine peaks, snow, and perilous hairpin bends before entering Italy.In the fertile Po Valley, a field of fragrant tomatoes provided an impromptu snack before we wound our way into the Alpi Marittime. A smoky mountain bar introduced us to local farmers who revealed themselves as former WWII partisans—men who had fought Nazis in those very hills. That night, thousands of fireflies lit up the darkness around our parked car, creating a magical memory.At last we reached Alassio, though I succumbed briefly to sunstroke. Soon recovered, I joined Pete and Graham, who had befriended three beautiful girls from an Italian-speaking canton in Switzerland. With them, we lads enjoyed a midnight swim, seafood feasts on a pier, and a glamorous cliff-top nightclub—though drinks cost a fortune compared to English beer. Our adventure continued west along the Ligurian coast to Monte Carlo, where belle époque splendour and luxury yachts dazzled us. A chance meeting with an East End chef in a very posh café provided the comic surprise of a “full English breakfast” overlooking the casino. While Pete and Graham tried their luck inside, I swam at the harbour and socialised with the glitterati. The girls were gorgeous! With moVisit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present. 

Send us Fan MailThe ‘Swinging Sixties’ mixed with ‘apprentice antics’! ….Welcome to my first podcast! It’s about the beginning of my working career in the early 1960s, – recounting some, mostly amusing, experiences from my apprenticeship with the Post Office Telephones.It’s about the beginning of my working career in the early 1960s, – recounting some, mostly amusing, experiences from my apprenticeship with the Post Office Telephones (forerunner to BT). My thanks to my good friend Jonathan Gilburt for joining me at the microphone. It has made the session most enjoyable.  When I became an apprentice we were entering the ‘Swinging Sixties’. It was a youth-driven culture but I didn’t know what a massive revolution was taking place around me. Morris Mini car sales exceeded one million in 1961…… It became the iconic young person’s car throughout the ’60s and ‘70……The Rolling Stones were formed in 1962…….. The Beatles got to number one in 1964…….. Mary Quant launched her miniskirt in 1966…… Carnaby Street became the place to be seen……. The Ban the Bomb campaign grew in strength with numbers being swelled by young people……  Sexual liberation was on its way. But I joined the boring old Post Office Telephones!  However, it turned out to be the beginning of a fascinating, enjoyable and challenging career. It set me fair for a great 45 year career during which I travelled the world!  At the start, the mix of outdoor life and technology suited me. My first job was with a labouring gang erecting tall telegraph poles in the countryside. Working in the beautiful countryside in places like Frensham, Bentley and Crondall was just up my street………… My initiation started ‘pranks up a telegraph pole’!After leaving the gang I worked with a guy who had spent much of his time as an area telecoms engineer in various remote parts of Africa. He took things very steady, –  at one point in a lazy sunny summer I found him asleep under a tree! He often left me working whilst he popped up to the country pub – it was ‘happy valley’! My second initiation was climbing giant radio masts – once was enough for me! I met some great guys, – one was a former paratrooper who fought at Arnhem in WWII. If you have seen the film ‘A Bridge Too Far’ you will know what I mean.  Then there was the Post Office technician who everyone thought was an ex Guards officer. He spoke with a very posh accent. He had actually been a corporal in the Army! He sold fresh fruit and veg from his van in the works yard! I breakfasted in style with him at his girlfriend’s apartment on more than occasion! Cool! I was embarrassed on one visit to a customer by an old lady who fixing her own phone! But I got a lovely cup of tea!  It was ‘the case of the kettle of water’! Later on in this podcast I relate the story of ‘apprentice antics’ at Bletchley Park Training centre! We all know this as the WWII spy centre now, but we didn’t know that at the time in the 1960s. A game of card brought me into conflict with the infamous Post Office Special Investigation Branch who, in recent years, have been linked with the Post Office Horizon scandal.  On a more serious note you might be interested in an online article I wrote abVisit my website for more podcasts and articles - a space where the past meets the present, and where I try to use my experience and travels to bring history, places to life. Enjoy my travels by train and bicycle on trips through England, France and beyond. Check out my thoughts on current affairs and climate change, - some serious and some I hope you will find informative. Join me in these conversations across time and place; past and present.