June 2nd 1952, London, England. Coronation day of Elizabeth the second, who would at the age of twenty seven become Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth Nations, but that morning much of the United Kingdom was already celebrating. News had broken that four and a half thousand miles away Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay had finally become the first individuals in history to conquer Mount Everest. The person breaking this historic news, via coded message and two runners, was none other than Jan Morris, intrepid reporter for The Times. Jan Morris would go on to become a world famous journalist, writer, and historian, known for her works on Venice, Trieste, the British Empire, and her beloved home country of Wales - as well as her book covering her transition, Conundrum.
Episode Credits: This episode was produced by Al Worth and Beyond Binary Productions. Mastering and executive production by Amber Devereux, with additional executive production by Jamie Wareham. With thanks to guests Twm Morys, Paul Clements, and Sara Wheeler for their valuable insights. Clips: ‘Jan Morris: Writing a Life’, BBC Wales, 2021. ‘Talk-in To Day’, BBC Two, 1974. This episode was produced as part of QueerAF's Trans+ History Week mentoring programme with thanks to Trans+ History Week's Creative Talent Sponsor, Publicis Groupe UK.
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