Seven extraordinary stories of animals in Britain. From performing pigs, to hero pigeons. From war elephants to bears who appeared in Shakespeare plays. From a runaway goose to the ravens in the Tower of London – all in our British History Podcast
Tom the gander ran away from Calais to follow his goosy girlfriend to London. When he found himself in a poultry market, it looked like he would end up on the table. What followed is series of escapes that turned him into a legend.
Bears disappeared from Britain centuries ago. We tell the stories of bears who arrived in England in the last 500 years. Including a bear who lived in the Tower of London and fished in the Thames and the famous Sackerson, obliged to fight in the bear pits, he became so famous he appears in Shakespeare’s plays. Hear how an American president gave us the Teddy Bear, that inspired to Rupert Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear.
The PDSA Diken medal is the most prestigious award for animal bravery in Britain. Find out how Winkie the pigeon saved the lives of a drowning WW2 air crew.
The first elephants arrived in Britain with Julius Ceaser. Later Emperor Claudius paraded though Colchester with a herd of elephants. There was an elephant in the manangery in the Tower of London. Then there were the travelling shows, including at Bartholemew Fair an elephant that fired a gun – witnessed by no less than Robert Hook.
The Duke of Wellington’s horse Copenhagen is Britain’s most famous war horse. Hear about Wellington and his horse, how they rode at the battle of Waterloo and then to Downing Street. And how a statue of the horse at St Pauls Cathedral caused a controversy.
We tell the story of performing pigs. They would spell out names of members of the public. Of the eccentric Emma Gilbert countess of Mount Edgcumbe and her pet pig called Cupid. The pet porker would eat his meals at the family table and join his mistress in her coach when she travelled to London.
And finally the story of the Tamworth two. Pigs who escaped the abattoir and went on the run in January 1998
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