"Who Do You Think You Are" Series 13, Episode 5 Ricky Tomlinson

[Blue70]

I didn't like the assumption that RT's ancestors were likely bigoted because of where they lived. I don't like folk narratives where some people try to attach a believed view of history to real people's lives. Too simplistic.


Blue

[jan57]

Also, the fact that near the beginning the lady he was with said that they couldn't get back further because "civil registration began in 1837" - yes they did but surely there would be parish and other records to get back further.

 I found myself  yelling ' What  about  Parish records   '   at  the   TV at that  point !!  lol      Interesting  episode ,  as  my  maternal grandfathers   side  came from Ireland to  Liverpool ,  and eventually   settled in Coventry,
 
   Like RT    I have 2 ancestors ( father and son ) who  died     due to    accidents,  rail   though not   horse/ carts ,   one was a driver  of a  train  that crashed , though he  was the  only   fatality,  ( and  after  a lengthy  inquest    was  found to have  been   at  fault  for the accident,   his son died   35  years  later  in a goods  yard  accident   

[andrewalston]

The programme pretended that sectarianism in Liverpool had all faded away by the start of the Great War.

Not many years ago I worked with a chap from Liverpool who supported Liverpool FC. His father refused to speak to him, because Liverpool are the "Catholic" club, while Everton are the "Protestants". My workmate explained "He's in the Orange Lodge and everything".

Maybe it was not obvious to RT or those making the programme, but there are still those in Liverpool who will treat him as a traitor for marrying who he did.

As for the "class struggle" in Liverpool, there are those who have still not forgiven the dockers there for going on strike in 1943.

[dawnsh]

I expect the interviews with the 'experts' went on for much longer then the few minutes of each that were shown and a lot of information we didn't see but RT might have, hit the editing room floor.

[andrewalston]

I found myself  yelling ' What  about  Parish records   '   at  the   TV at that  point !!

But when William was baptised in 1816, his father Richard was described as a Labourer and not a Carter, so that would have spoiled the narrative.

[LizzieW]

Not many years ago I worked with a chap from Liverpool who supported Liverpool FC. His father refused to speak to him, because Liverpool are the "Catholic" club, while Everton are the "Protestants"

It used to be like that in Manchester, United was considered a "Catholic" club probably because many of its players were Irish and City was the "Protestant" club.  That seems to have been forgotten now by most people probably because the two religions were not "at war" with each other in the Manchester area.  Isn't Glasgow the same with Celtic and Rangers.  It's all a bit daft if you ask me - although no-one is.

[BumbleB]

Perhaps yet another thread for the Moderators to "kill"   

I thought it was supposed to be the season of goodwill?   

[Andrew Tarr]

As for the "class struggle" in Liverpool, there are those who have still not forgiven the dockers there for going on strike in 1943.

Without wishing to go off topic, I would suggest that one Liverpool characteristic is a terrier-like ability to keep grudges going.  I suspect it may have Irish origins.  And as well as my Liverpool roots, I also have Irish connections .... 

[LizzieW]

BumbleB - I was just posting that as I started the thread and it has got out of hand I was going to ask a moderator to lock it - which I've now done.
Lizzie