I suppose the most iconic UK Radio 'soap' of all time must be The Archers; a simply story of country folk. I believe that it is also the world's 'oldest soap'.
The action takes place in the village of Ambridge, where the Archer family run a farm; 'Brookfield'. As with all UK 'soaps', much of the activity is centred around the village Pub'; The Bull.
The BBC programme's mythical Pub', is based on a real one; The Old Bull in Inkberrow, Worcs. England at its finest!
Sadly, like so many Pub's in this 'New England' of ours, The Old Bull is about to CLOSE. This lovely old 17th Century Public House will close its doors thanks to excessive taxation having made it uneconomical. New taxes imposed on businesses everywhere have forced unimaginable chaos, and closures, and The Old Bull is one of the latest victims. Pubs are closing by the dozen all over the country, and no-one in government seems to mind. Let's just hope that its closure is only temporary, and that it will re-open when we have a more realistic government; otherwise it would make the most wonderful house (I do hope not).
It is a strange inditement of government policy that these days, the more a Pub' stays open, the more it loses money. Most only survive by providing 'Pub Grub'.
The Archers radio programme started on 1st January 1951, but The Old Bull had been serving beer since the early 1600's. Its closure is a GENUINE national tragedy.
High Taxation is a vicious circle. Increased unemployment has to be paid for. To pay for it we have to increase taxes. The increased taxes causes more unemployment; and so it goes on. The enormous ensuing 'Benefits bill' is said to be rising by an extra £18 Billion this year alone! Dreadful.
Quad erat demonstrandum. RIP The Old Bull.
6 comments:
I can remember the Archers from my childhood. My parents loved it and often copied the accents or quoted the characters. EEE by gum!
That's a beautiful old pub, and pubs are such an English tradition. I can remember being taken to a few in the 70s by my cousins who lived in quaint little villages. Cosy and cheerful with huge fireplaces, and warm beer. And they would take home a large jug of beer for our meal.
Such a pity these traditions are disappearing
Especially out in the countryside, village Pubs are an essential institution. It's where everything happens. It's such a shame to see so many taxed out of existence.
That's a shame. Our friends used to live in Inkberrow, just around the corner from that pub. It is a lovely old place.
I'd never heard of Inkberrow before this news. The old Pub' is beautiful.
I read somewhere a while ago, that as well as the taxation problems, the younger generations don't use pubs as much as we older folk did and still do. Not sure how true that is.
They do, but they go to the cheaper 'chain pubs'; Wetherspoons, etc. Beer is almost half the price (so I'm told), and the food is cheap and good.
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