My word what a night we just went through. I got woken at about half past two by the thunder and heat but anyway here we are 12 hours later still awake on a Tuesday afternoon – and it’s still lovely and warm!
In the first hour of today’s programme we looked at one of the odder items of news. This one concerned a somewhat unsuccessful burglar who’s undoing was caused by his taking his pet chihuahua along when he broke into a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas to steal money from a jukebox. Police arrived on the scene whilst the raid was in progress and the intruder and his dog fled empty handed and tried to hide in the bushes. They might have got away with it had it not been for the chihuahua growling and yapping at the pursuing police officers. Well the man might not have got any money out of the jukebox but now he certainly has a record!
Being a Tuesday I was delighted to welcome back FRANCES CLAMP. Well I would have been had it not been that she wanted
to send me back to the workhouse from which I’d already escaped twice in both May and June. Well in fairness it wasn’t the workhouse proper that featured in today’s programme, but rather just possibly an adjunct – THE FOXCROFT CHILDRENS’ HOME – which might have been established in Billericay by the BILLERICAY POOR UNION which was itself established in October 1835. In fact it seems more likely that it was actually a product of Essex County Council in 1932. The building itself dates back to 1740 and now houses a solicitors office. In fact it turns out that this was indeed a very happy place and children who stayed there recall the times with much affection. From 1932 until the mid 1970’s it was run by the Essex County Council.
Listen again here to what France told me: – Bygones 23rd July
Right that’s it for another week. See you next time.
Scott
