Historical Stories

WW1 Stories

 The Kilted Tommy

These Historical Interpretations are based on the life and times of Harry Kay (Simon’s maternal grandfather), and his family.

He was a volunteer in Kitchener’s Army during the First World War.

They can be performed separately or mixed to suit.

More information can be found HERE

 The Kilted Tommy

The dramatized monologue is the story of an ordinary Englishman who joined a Highland Regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders, and, surprisingly joined thousands of other Englishmen who fought in kilts for their country.
Spoken and acted in a way to include the audience in his reminiscence, we hear about why Harry joined up, his training, his first battle at Loos, his other battles, the nature of comradeship, and how his experiences influenced his life in the aftermath of the Great War.

• It is suitable for all ages

• • • The story lasts 50mins
    • It is done in costume

 Other WW1 Stories About The Kilted Tommy

• These can be performed separately or part of a bigger whole

Downton Abbey 

The TV series made famous Highclere House’ role in WW1 as a hospital for wounded officers. Find out what it was like to be wounded and treated in the army. Find out through the eyes of Harry Kay what it was like for the officers sent to Highclere House.

 Kipling

Jack Kipling, the son of writer Rudyard Kipling was famously killed in 1915 at the Battle of Loos

The Kilted Tommy fought close to where Jack Kipling was killed at the battle of Loos. Hear how 2 young soldiers became friends and how, at the end of the war, the Kilted Tommy visited Rudyard Kipling at Batemans and told him of his friendship with his son.

• Both are suitable for all ages

• • • The stories each lasts 30mins
    • They are done in costume

Meet Harry Hawker

Meet this daredevil Australian who set several flying records before WW1

Listen to his stories about these exciting record attempts

Listen to him explaining how he became chief designer and tester of the Sopwith aeroplanes that became such a stalwart of the English WW1 Flying Corps.

Listen to him talking about setting up the Hawker Aircraft company that went on to build the famous Hawker RAF planes of WW2

World War 2

The Defense of England

Have you heard of the Ironside Line or Tonbridge Fortress?

Do you know what the British governments version of the Seigfreid Line was?

Well Tonbridge, Rochester and Chatham were key defenses against a German Invasion.

Listen to a local ARP man recounting his memories of the war, the preparations, the defense plan, the reality of the air raids and the local defiance to Hitler.

• Ti is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 45 mins.
• It is done in costume with show and tell items.

D-Day

How would the retired from active service Kilted Tommy react to finding out D-Day had arrived and that his son was in the thick of the fighting. Listen to his reminisces on D-day, the events leading up to it and how he and his family experienced the day, and of his hopes for the future. Hear about home front life in WW2 in the eyes of Simon’s maternal grandparents.

• It is suitable for all ages
  • The story lasts 30 mins
  • It is done in costume

V-E Day

How would the retired from active service Kilted Tommy and his family manage during WW2. How the time from D-Day was littered with false promised for the end of the war and how they coped. How they finally found out it was V-E Day. How they felt about it and how they celebrated and planned for a new life after the war. Hear about home front life in WW2 in the eyes of Simon’s maternal grandparents.

• It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 30 mins

• • • • It is done in costume

More information can be found HERE

Juno Beach

Jeff Kay, Harry’s son, joined the Royal Marines at 18. Meet him and hear his tales about his initial training, and the preparations leading up to D-Day. Experience with him his embarkation onto a landing craft from Gosport as commander of a Centaur tank. Experience the terrifying landings onto Juno Beach on the first day of D-Day. Find out what he did on that day that won him the Military Medal at only 20 years old.

• It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 50mins

• • • • It is done in costume

More information can be found HERE

Medieval history

St George and dragons

I tell stories including

• The Christian story of St George
• A well known folk tale about St George and the Dragon
• A story about what a dragon hunt was really like in medieval times
• Stories of real dragons that lived on our island of Britain

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 50mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

 ST Tysilio

The story of a 6th Century Welsh preacher setting up as a hermit on an island in North Wales and ending up a Welsh Saint as told by a follower. Listen to the story of his upbringing, his travels, his setting up home on a small island off Anglesey and his preaching to the local peoples. What was it like to live as a hermit?

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 50mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

 Mercia

Paganism, Christianity, superstition and war in northern Mercia in the C7 as seen through the eyes of a young travelling monk

• It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 30mins
• Done in costume

Magna Carta

Listen to the story of a Baron mixed up in the chaos of the Magna Carta through the eyes and voice of his senchal. How did the Charter come about and what were the consequences?

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 30mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

William Marshal. England’s Greatest Knight

Meet William Marshal, one of the most powerful kingmakers the country has ever seen. Listen to his life story and make your mind up about how great he actually was in terms both of Chivalry and his service to the Crown.

• The story lasts for 30 minutes
• It is done in costume.
• It is suitable for all ages

More information can be found HERE

The Agincourt Archer

 A Fourteenth Century Archer tells his story. Hear him talk about his joining the army hundreds of miles from where he lived, his voyage across the Channel, his time in France, including his part in the famous battle. Hear how he returned to his family a rich but changed man.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 50mins
      • It is done in costume

More information can be found HERE

The Weymouth Pilgrim

A Pilgrim during the period of the Black Death tells the story of his battles in France and his brush with The Black Death and its effect on him, his family and the country. Listen to the story about his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella he makes in penance of his perceived crimes.

• It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 50mins
• Done in costume

More information can be found  HERE

A Medieval mason

How were castles built and altered in medieval times? Listen to the story of one mason. 

 There are two different stories.

• Sudeley Castle
  • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 30mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

• The medieval master stone mason.

Meet a master mason preparing to work on an Abbey.

Listen to him telling his story of himself, his family, his lodge, and his work.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 30mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

 The Medieval History of Rochester told in 3 hats

Rochester has a history going back many centuries with all sorts of stories attached.

Listen to the stories of the people and the times.

In one hat I tell the story of a boy caught up in the 13th century siege of the castle by King John.

In another hat I tell the story of Rochester during the Black Death.

In the last hat I describe the castle’s part in the Peasants Revolt.

• .It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 50mins
• Done in costume

More information can be found  HERE

A Medieval village 

Who lived in these villages? What was daily life like? Why did some disappear leaving only the outlines of their foundations for us to see? Listen to such an inhabitant describing his life in one such west country village

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 30mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

 Adgor’s Farmhouse

Listen to a medieval farmer telling his story about his rise in medieval society and the building his own farmhouse which still stands in Suffolk to this day.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 50mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

The Stony Stratford Kidnapping 

A medieval innkeeper enjoying a quiet comfortable time is swept into national politics when he witnesses the kidnapping of a king in his Inn. The kidnapper was the future Richard III, and the child, one of the so called ‘babes in the Tower’.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 30mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

Tintern Abbey and the Dissolution 

What actually happened during the Dissolution? Why did it happen and what happened to the treasures and people who resided in the Great Abbeys? Listen to the Abbot describing what happened to him and his monks.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 30mins
      • Done in costume 

More information can be found HERE

Georgian and Later stories

 The Pass of Killikrankie 

A ghost story adapted from an old Scottish tale about the Jacobite wars in Scotland.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 20mins
      • Done in costume

 William Wordsworth, Tintern Abbey and the Romantics

What made Wordsworth write his poem relating to the Abbey. What did he see and what did he experience. What made this place a location for pilgrimage for the Romantics? Meet Wordsworth and hear him talk about his visits to the Abby and his writing of his famous poem ‘A few lines written..’ Wordsworth will also read the poem on request.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 40mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

The Tolpuddle Martyrs

The story of the famous martyrs as told through the eyes of George Loveless one of the so called leaders. Listen to him talk about the conditions he lived in, about the church and his principles. Hear how he was arrested and deported. Listen to him talk about his return and the start of the Trade Union movement. Hear how he and his family finally prospered in an unusual place.

• It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 40 minutes.
• Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

An Audience with Mr Charles Dickens

Meet Mr Dickens and listen to the story of his childhood. Hear about his family, his childhood in Kent, his experiences of school, and of factory work aged 12, and of his family’s stay in the Marshalsea Prison. Find out how he got inspiration for his stories and his characters.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 50mins
      • Done in costume

More information can be found HERE

The Davies Brothers

A history of a family that created a shipping empire in Victorian North Wales from very humble beginnings.

From grocers to multimillionaires and MPs, and Lords Lieutenants of Anglesey.

The family created an empire that stretched around the world from a very small seaport.

• • • • It is suitable for all ages
      • The story lasts 50mins
      • Done in costume

Joseph Banks

Meet one of the most industrious men in the reign of George III.

In his 20s he sailed around the world with Capt. James Cook leading a group of scientists to collect plant specimens never before seen by the white man.

He sailed on a voyage of discovery to Newfoundland and the frozen shores of Canada.

He became a friend of the King and was instrumental in turning Kew Gardens into what it is today.

In the King’s name he sent professional plant hunters all over the world.

He advised the King on many matters of foreign policy.

Listen to him telling tales of his fascinating life.

Perhaps you have plant specimens in your garden originally found and recorded by him for the first time?

More information can be found here

• It is suitable for all ages
• The story lasts 60 mins
• Done in costume

Cancer and Men’s wellness stories

If you have an interest in health or wellness themes, I have three talks about my relationship to Prostate cancer and to my health.

More information can be found HERE

Ripples in Still Water

After three brushes with cancer, I put my thoughts on paper. This book of short stories is a rambling collection of thoughts and moods put together over the last 3 years.

The book is available in paperback and as an eBook off Amazon.

I am now taking these stories on the road.

I have taken my book to The Brighton Fringe Festival, The Wandsworth Fringe Festival, the Ludlow Fringe Festival and the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival in 2021.

The show will consist of me reading some of my stories and looking to engage with the audiences on how cancer affects the mind and emotions and how to manage the fear and uncertainty it brings, and to let you know they are not alone in having these feelings.

I want to increase awareness of all cancers and in particular the mental issues that surround it.

A Beginners guide to Prostate Cancer

I talk to my audience about my history with the cancer, how it was diagnosed, the tests, the operation, the further therapies required, the side effects and how I tried to deal with them.

I talk about how it affected my family and friends and work and my mindfulness.

I don’t talk about other treatments and don’t give medical advice of any sort.

I just talk about my experiences and talk about how they might be coped with.

I hope to engage with audiences of both sexes.

I want to increase awareness of all cancers.

Men’s Health

My experiences with Prostate Cancer and the on-going fight with that and its side effects have opened my eyes to the attitude of men to doctors, and to communication in general when it comes to personal matters. My experience as a Macmillan Buddy, talking to other people with cancer, has reinforced my thoughts.

My talks explore how men need to talk to their doctors, friends, family and partners.

Illness just doesn’t go away, and men need help in coping with all the troubles serious illnesses bring.

The subject is explored with humour and sensitivity.

I would add I have no medical qualifications. I talk from my personal experience.

I have given talks to Rotary clubs, and talks to companies about wellness on zoom and video.

 Some comments received

“The video was perfect, nothing needs changing or altering just perfect the way it is.

You understood the brief and gave me exactly what I’m after. Good length, good content & good delivery.  

Many thanks “