The Story of Harry Constable – Characters on the Docks
Episode 12, the final episode in story of Harry Constable, looks at the inspirational people from Harry’s life.
Episode 12, the final episode in story of Harry Constable, looks at the inspirational people from Harry’s life.
In Episode 11 the fight for union democracy comes to a head as thousands of ‘White’ Transport & General Workers’ Union) members decamp to the ‘Blue’ (National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers Union).
In Episode 10 it’s 1951 and six dockers, including Harry, are arrested and charged with conspiring to incite workers to strike.
In Episode 9 Harry and other unofficial union organisers are instructed by union leaders not to coordinate unofficial strikes.
In Episode 8 it’s 1945 and Harry has become a registered docker. With the war in Europe finished, dock employers go on the attack. Dockers react by striking and the new Labour government sends in the troops.
In Episode 7 times are tough, Harry gets casual jobs on the docks before going ‘On the Road’ to find work and then joining the army as a sapper.
Episode 6, in October 1936 Mosley tried to march his men through the East End of London. The words on everyone’s lips were “enough is enough” and a quarter of million people gathered to block him.
Episode 5, with rats, lice and infestations and only one toilet, there was a constant danger of disease in the overcrowded house where the Constables lived.
In Episode 4 Harry suffers corporal punishment which adds to his sense of injustice and helps shape his outlook on life.
In Episode 3 Harry learns the history and culture of the East End, about the struggles for freedom of those who had sought asylum in the area.
Episode 2, getting employment on the docks was never easy and the work was often dangerous. In the family women, who were the main organisers, visibly aged long before their time.
Tracey Dunn reports from the Building a National Right to Food Movement event, held at the Black-E as part of The World Transformed festival.
Christopher Eccleston is the voice of Harry Constable. In this first episode of Harry’s life he speaks of his birth in the docklands of Wapping and his Irish republican family.
Coming soon a series of podcasts telling the story of Harry Constable, the unofficial dockers’ leader in the 1940s and 50s, read by Christopher Eccleston and Eithne Browne, and based on recordings compiled by Bill Hunter.
At a Stroke, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Dave Hayward (Bravid).
Nightingales, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Dave Hayward (Bravid)
Sounds like the Mersey, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Paul Cosgrove.
The Revolution Will be Televised, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Jerome Masssett.
Getting Fucked About, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Dave Hayward (Bravid).
Five Uncles, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Rita Fitzpatrick.
Rising Early, a poem by Arthur Adlen and read by Rita Fitzpatrick
Mike Ainscough reads the poem My Father by Arthur Adlen.
Sue Hunter reads the poem How the cat brought us closer together, by Arthur Adlen.
Maria McCann reads the poem We live in a Household of Books by Arthur Adlen.
Sue Hunter reads the poem Affairs of the Heart by Arthur Adlen.
Recording by Tracey Dunn of the talk by Jef Page about Annie Besant and the Bryant and May match girls strike of East London in 1888.
Janet McCusker reads the poem Sometimes a Song by Arthur Adlen.
Janet McCusker reads the poem Skelmersdale Graffiti by Arthur Adlen.
John Connolly reads the poem Ode to Winter by Arthur Adlen.
Mike Ainscough reads the poem Skjalmarsdale by Arthur Adlen.
Jo Vick reads the poem In Paradise by Arthur Adlen.
Jo Vick reads the poem Below Talacre’s Hill by Arthur Adlen.
Recording by Tracey Dunn of the Sacrifice Zones – Colonialism, Neoliberalism and Climate Change panel discussion held as part of The World Transformed Festival.
Recording by Tracey Dunn of the Black Women Transforming politics discussion held with Professor Cecile Wright, Zita Holbourne, Anna Rothery and Dr Sonya Robotham, part of The World Transformed Festival.
Recording by Tracey Dunn of the Regenerating Regeneration discussion held with Stephen Pritchard and Liam Kelly as part of The World Transformed Festival.
Recording by Tracey Dunn of the Floods and Forest Fires: Living the Climate Crisis panel discussion held at The Black-E as part of The World Transformed Festival.
Recording of the Justice4Grenfell panel discussion held at The Black-E as part of Writing on the Wall’s Crossing Borders Festival.
Natalie Romero went to the launch of Big Adventure Cinema who describe themselves as “a group of film fans on a journey to build a new community cinema for all Liverpudlians”.
Vicky Hodgskin and Ben Cronkshanklingly talk with Stewart Lee at the Manchester Lowry on his Much A-Stew About Nothing Tour in February 2014.
Recording of local historian John Harrison giving a talk about the history of Aigburth at Toxteth Town Hall’s Heritage Open Day.
Recording by Tracey Dunn of local historian Ken Pye who spoke at Toxteth Town Hall’s Heritage Open Day event about the history of the seven hills of Liverpool.
Recording of the talk at Next to Nowhere by Chris Robé, author of Breaking the Spell: A History of Anarchist Filmmakers, Videotape Guerrillas, and Digital Ninjas.
Recording of Turner prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller talking about his work at Metal at Edge Hill Station as part of Liverpool presents Sgt Pepper at 50.
Recording of Cosey Fanni Tutti talking about her controversial and creative life as an artist and musician at the Writing on the Wall event.
Recording of the Punk Survivors event held on Fri 12th May with Steve Ignorant, co-founder of anarcho-punk band Crass, Don Letts, dub-pioneer and video-chronicler of The Clash and Pauline Murray, the lead singer with punk band Penetration.
Recording of the talk by Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records about being inspired to open his shop after a trip to San Francisco’s City Lights book store.
Recording by Liam Physick
The Sound Agents Moira Kenny and John Campbell gave a talk at John Moore’s University Art School on their plans for a ‘Museum for Chinatown’.
Recording of a talk in the Small Cinema by Helen Steel after a viewing of the film McLibel – 2 people’s fight against the multi national corporation McDonalds and winning.
A documentary film celebrating thirty years since the miners strike of 1984/5 with personal narratives interwoven with footage iconic photos of that seminal strategic showdown with the Thatcher government.
John Owen interviews Ed Barrett, the director of the play SUS, originally penned by the long good Friday screenplay writer Barrie Keefe about the arrest and interrogation of an innocent black man before the 1979 election of Thatcher, depicting the changing times and new moral codes coming into play.
Robert Harrison and Tracey Dunn talk about their time as young punks in London and Liverpool. Tracey recalls a gig by the Sex Pistols in 77 and the outrageous clothes worn, while Rob talks of the alternative punk situation in Liverpool, the DIY “make do and mend” scene that was Liverpool before the real punk revolution hit with a vengeance!!
Way back in the spring of 2012, when Nerve Radio was still a twinkle in the magazines pants, Ben Cronkshanklingly and Tristan Brady-Jacobs spent 25 minutes with Paul Hartnoll from super-electronic-dance-anthem legends ORBITAL.
In 2001 i visited a friend in Linz, In Austria. Whilst there she took me to Mauthasen concentration camp.
Years later I recorded my experience.
This is an episode of Nerve Radio created by Stan Ambrose featuring local singer-songwriter and campaigner Jonny Walker, talking about buskers rights and playing live songs.