BBC: Books, Barnsley and a Constable (murdered)

18th February 2025

A thoroughly enjoyable, and packed, Barnsley Book Festival event (https://visitbarnsley.co.uk/barnsleybookfestival). We discussed Hilary Robinson’s new book ‘The Murder of PC Austwick of Lumby and Dodworth’ with her and Dodworth historian Steve Wyatt.

The killing of PC Alfred Austwick in 1886, with a criminal then on the run and a widowed wife, became a national sensation in those distant times. Well done to Jemma Conway from Barnsley Libraries for arranging such an excellent afternoon.

Hilary and I first worked together about 30 years ago on a weekly local history programme on BBC Radio Leeds - she as producer, me presenting. It was lovely to be back together again, this time in front of a live audience.

The book is gripping, living history which Hilary has compiled mainly from the wonderfully vivid, and thorough, newspaper reports of the time. For all the proliferation of information online today, we both wondered whether the decline in reporting of courts and local councils would make a similar recreation of history impossible for those following us in 2164 (ie 139 years from now, looking back to 2025?)

Whether it’s hosting a live event like this one, with interviewing and audience questions thrown in, training, recording a voiceover, giving a talk about dementia or chatting on your podcast (or something entirely different), do please get in touch. https://www.theandrewedwards.com/contact