A fortnightly celebration of the folk history of the Olympic boroughs, in story and song.
This week, the final tale from the borough of Waltham Forest.
"In a few short weeks many will join together to enjoy watching others groan, grunt and sweat for their viewing pleasure. I'm not talking about the annual meet of the Rotherham Swingers Alliance; of course, I'm referring to the London 2012 Olympics. But one Borough who won't be getting too carried away is Waltham Forest. Because they've seen it all before..."
Click play to hear about Waltham Forest's surprising Olympic heritage, and a song inspired by the tale.
More London songs free to download from Songs From The Howling Sea. Lyrics are here.
Previous in Waltham Forest
- Pestilence, Plague and the Pits of Waltham Forest
- Motors and Muddy Marshes in Walthamstow
- The Cursed pool of Epping Forest.
Previously in Hackney
- William Lyttle: Mole Man of Hackney
- Mrs Basil Holmes: saviour of London’s graveyards
- Horatio Bottomley: Hackney MP and scoundrel
- Deerfoot: the native American who ran in Hackney
Previously in Greenwich
- Joseph Druce: mudlark and Maori Chief
- Anne Boleyn: Marriage and May Madness
- General James Wolfe: Battles, Brothels and Broken Hearts
- Martial Bourdin, The Exploding Anarchist Of Greenwich
Previously in Tower Hamlets
- Charlie Brown: Uncrowned King of Limehouse
- Angela Burdett-Coutts, Queen Of The East End Poor
- Jamrach’s Menagerie, Rhinos & the Ratcliffe Highway
- Moris ‘Two-guns’ Cohen
- Emmanuel Swedenborg, Veruca Socks and Heavenly Secrets
- John Newton, Goebbels, Star Trek & The Slave Trade
- Eliza Marchpane, Mozart, Vol Au Vents And The Wapping Streets
- Isambard Kingdon Brunel, Ships, Bones And Bad Breath
