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Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

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Food Programme

Sheila Dillon

Polly Russell

Barley Blyton

Clare Salisbury

The Food Programme: An Archive for Food

An Archive for Food

05/06/2016

BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme, An Archive for Food

Historian Polly Russell and an archive with a century-long story to tell about UK food.

From pike to production lines, cruets to chop suey. Historian Polly Russell presents a guide to the highlights of a unique food archive of life stories held at the British Library.

In the British Library there is an archive of life story sound recordings which tells the true story of how our food has changed over the past century. Until now, this collection has been accessible only by visiting the British Library. Now, for the first time, the 'National Life Stories project' is being made public online. Featuring hundreds of voices, and thousands of hours of interviews, it is one of the most comprehensive and revealing resources we have on food in the UK. Contributors range from chefs like Shaun Hill and Albert Roux, to biscuit factory managers, from butchers to apple growers.

In this edition, The Food Programme is collaborating with the British Library to bring you highlights from the 'National Life Stories' archive. Historian Polly Russell picks voices which shed light on hidden parts of the food industry, from restaurant kitchens to the high street. And in recounting these histories to today's chefs, restaurateurs and shop owners, she finds how working in British food has changed.

Presented by Sheila Dillon with Polly Russell & Barley Blyton
Produced in Bristol by Clare Salisbury.

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