What decision did you make today that had implications on the rest of your life?

For Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland star player John White a simple choice to play golf made a devastating difference to the lives of his family when a freak accident saw him killed by lightning.

John White was by all accounts a footballing genius. His nickname, "the ghost of white hart lane" gained due to both his speed on the pitch and his slight appearance lends itself to the book and play of the same name about him.

Today we talk to John's son, Rob, who co-authored his father's biography, Martin Murphy, writer and director of the play and Callum Lewis-Newman who has been playing john, Rob and a host of other characters in the one man play that debuted at White Hart Lane, took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm and is about to return.

Further reading & Info:

The Ghost of White Hart Lane: In Search of My Father the Football Legend, by Julie Welch and Rob White

https://stanchionbooks.com/products/the-ghost-in-search-of-my-father-the-football-legend

Scotland in the 60's by Ronnie McDevitt

Flower of Scotland? by Archie Macpherson

Guests: Rob White, Martin Murphy, Callum Lewis Newman

Host: Lottie Walker

Readings by: Steve Taylor & Luke Taylor

Production & Editing: Jacob Taylor

Get social:

https://www.bruisedskyproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BruisedSkyProductions

https://www.instagram.com/bruised_sky/

https://www.instagram.com/robawhite/

https://www.instagram.com/callumlewisnewman/

https://www.instagram.com/themartinmurphy/

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
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“In any civilised community the arts... must occupy a central place. Their enjoyment should not be regarded as something remote from everyday life” ⁠
⁠
What a quote - what a woman!⁠
⁠
Jennie Lee was an MP before she was old enough to vote. She was the first Minister for the Arts and the main drive behind the formation of the Open University. ⁠ She was also married to Nye Bevan, father of the NHS.

We think we'd have liked Jennie. How could you not like someone who said:⁠
⁠
“Better to enjoy and suffer than sit around with folded arms. You know the only true prayer? Please God, lead me into temptation.”⁠
⁠

Marianne McNamara is Artistic Director of Mikron Theatre Company, currently touring with "Operation Beach Hut" and "Hush, Hush" (the latter about the women of Bletchley Park) and are on the road river until October 2025.

Dr Daniel Weinbren is a lecturer in history at the Open University and is the author of the history of the Open University

Further reading:

Jennie Lee: a Life - by Patricia Hollis

The Open University: A History - by Daniel Weinbren

My Life with Nye - by Jennie Lee

NYE: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan - by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Before the Arts Council: campaigns for state funding of the arts in Britain 1934-1944 - by Howard Webber

Social media and website links:

https://profiles.open.ac.uk/daniel-weinbren

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-weinbren-2b257521a

https://mikron.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/mikrontheatre/

https://www.facebook.com/mikrontheatre

https://www.youtube.com/MikronTheatre

Guest: Marianne McNamara & Dan Weinbren

Host: Lottie Walker

Editing & Production: Jacob Taylor

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos