Exploring with Linton
Finding the voices
What's the process of turning the idea of Writing The Century into a drama?
Hazel Wheeler's diaries
What do you look for in a person's writing? It's often the small things which reveal the most. Get an insight to the past by exploring with Hazel.
Related programme
Sir Linton Andrews' position as editor of the Yorkshire Post, means his diaries provide an invaluable insight to significant events in the 1950s, such as the Suez Crisis and the announcement by Princess Margaret that she would not marry Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorcee.
The diaries used in this series were mostly written at the end of the week and as such they do contain an element of retrospection.They provide a much fuller account of Linton's feelings regarding the events they describe rather than a daily jotting of brief notes. As a result, the length of his diary entries varies depending upon the events being described, consequently the printed dates do not always correspond. He was also not averse to utilising old diaries (for example the Suez Crisis events are written up in a 1954 diary, with the printed date crossed through and the actual date written in).
In addition to the diaries, some use has been made of his articles in the Yorkshire Post to augment details from the diaries.
Dam-age in the Middle East
Financing for the Aswan Dam causes tension and Britain's dependence upon oil supplies results in humiliation for Eden and Britain. Linton on the Suez Crisis.
![Crowd outside Buckingham Palace [Photographer: Michael Pead]](images/golden_jubiliee_crown_INDEX_8204.jpg)
Royal fascination
A unique insight from within the Press Council, into the clash between the Royal Family's desire for privacy and the public's fascination with royalty.
![Ration Book [The National Archives, BT131/40, Crown Copyright]](images/ration_book_flickr_INDEX_8203.jpg)
Change, but slowly
Women's role in society and the end of rationing: changes in attitudes and conditions were slow, but there was change and progress.
Find Out More
For more about this period of British history, consider The Open University course Total War and Social Change Europe 1914-1955 or to improve your writing skills, consider Creative Writing.
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