Like the cavalry to the rescue, Frances Clamp returned from her holidays to present our Bygones feature today which was all about the the workhouses of old, and especially the workhouses that were located in Brentwood and Billericay.

But before all that, in spite of the plethora of music we were enjoying, we still managed to look atone item of oddball news.

Now this is the time of year that you might be looking to book up to jet off to try to get some sunshine, however you would have reason to be concerned if it later transpired that the pilot of your plane was a conman who had forged his pilot’s licence and medical certificates. And it seems that this is exactly what has been discovered had happened recently. An American citizen who settled in Hampshire spent 8-months piloting an Airbus A320, repeatedly landing at Gatwick. the deception only came to light after another pilot became suspicious whilst talking to him on an internet forum. The conman was due to appear in Winchester Crown Court on May 3rd but has absconded. Perhaps he is now working for another airline under an assumed name. But provided your pilot does not have an American accent, hopefully there shouldn’t be too much to worry about!

During our BRENTWOOD & BILLERICAY Bygones feature, Frances Clamp examined what life was like in the workhouses of the 18th and 19th century. Judging by some recent reports, some of today’s care homes are little better! Listen again to what Frances had to say right here:- [audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Bygones-14th-May.mp3|titles=Bygones 14th May]

Right see you again next week, when hopefully the weather will be a little better.

Scott