S10EP09 - 'The Captured' with Natalie Mayhew and Prof. Walter Busuttil

This is a special episode released as part of Podcasthon - an annual event for podcasters to produce an episode to raise awareness of a charitable cause. This year we have chosen to support the veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress. This episode contains references to trauma.

In this special Season Ten episode, host Andrew Martin meets family historian Natalie Mayhew who has spent more than 2 decades researching her family tree, has found a connection between her family and Charles Booth (of the poverty maps), and she shares her love of newspapers.

THE LIFE STORY - TED MAYHEW

Natalie has chosen to tell the life story of her Great Uncle, Ted Mayhew,  who fought in World War Two but was captured by the Germans after Dunkirk. He was sent to a Prisoner of War camp where he lived for almost 5 years. 

Whilst Ted survived, the horrific effects of war affecting him for long after - with him suffering from what we'd likely recognise now as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To help us navigate this part of the episode, we're joined by Professor Walter Busuttil - the Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Advisor to the Board at Combat Stress.

If you're able to support Combat Stress' work, you can donate here. For those of you outside of the UK, there's a list of support organisations in other countries.

THE BRICK WALL - MARY ANN COOPER

Natalie's 3x Great Grandmother Mary Ann Cooper, baptised in Portsea, Hampshire, UK in 1820 is puzzling her.

By 1840, a George Cooper is baptised in Portsea, but surprisingly born at Stamshaw House - an asylum. 

This puzzle leaves Natalie with a few questions:

1. Where was Mary Ann Cooper in 1841? 
2. Why was George born at Stamshaw House in 1840? 
3. Was Mary Ann a patient, employed there (whilst pregnant) or just a visitor?

If you think you can help Natalie answer these with a research clue or idea, then you can contact her via her website Funny Where Life Takes You or via Bluesky. Alternatively, you can send us a message and we'll pass it along to her.

In the meantime, host Andrew offers his help, but Natalie appears to know more than he expected… 

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Episode Credits:

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Natalie Mayhew - Guest
• Prof. Walter Busuttil - Guest
• Conor Walsh - PR Lead (Combat Stress)