I've just listened to an excellent programme on Radio 2. The first in the new Radio Ballads series - The Song of Steel. All about steel making in Sheffield and Rotherham. Some great interviews, music etc. You can listen to it again here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/radioballads/2006/steel/index.shtml

I'd recommend it.

Thanks for this.

Am listening to it now - very good!

Nomme

Glad you're enjoying it Nomme. I particularly liked the interview with the women who drove the cranes in the steel works during the war. Rather them than me!

the women who drove the cranes in the steel works

I loved the image of sitting in the crane at the end of the 'shop', getting on with your knitting, until the crane was needed.

The programme didn't skimp on the harshness and danger of life in the steelworks, but the people came over as very strong characters, and able to use humour and cheerfulness to deal with sometimes very grim conditions.

Incidently, Radio 2 tonight (Tue 28/2/06 8:30pm) has a programme about the miner's strike which may also be of interest.

Good stuff, and the classic comment of "I should have got a job as an MP, and sat on my ar se for five years" :thumbsup:

Incidently, Radio 2 tonight (Tue 28/2/06 8:30pm) has a programme about the miner's strike which may also be of interest.

I have just turned it on, and there's some bloke playing with his organ :o

Correction to my previous posting there is a bigger bloke who played with his organ....that get who Thatcher employed to defeat the miners.

Radio 2 tonight (Tue 28/2/06 8:30pm) has a programme about the miner's strike

It's available for the next week at Brassed Off : The miners' strike and beyond (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio2_aod.shtml?radio2/r2_miners)


and (for the benefit of owdlad and innuendo), you can hear the Grimethorpe Colliery Band playing with their horns.

Song of Steel - the radio ballad is being repeated on Radio Sheffield at 1pm and 6pm today