Essex people talk about being young, going out and having fun. We hear about dance halls, big bands, jiving, teddy boys, bikers, mods and rockers, 70s disco, the electronic 80s and nightclubbing in the 90s. We also take a journey to the seaside with descriptions of playtime at Southend-on-Sea, holiday camps at Clacton and beach huts at St. Osyth.

Produced by Anton Jarvis for BBC Essex and originally broadcast in 1999. Researcher: Elaine Tribley.

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Essex people talk about money and their struggles when they had little cash. They speak of poverty and being out of work before welfare benefits were universal. There are descriptions of being well-off in the 1920s, and the arrival of the Co-ops, hire purchase and credit cards. Modern marketing and materialism are also discussed.

Produced by Anton Jarvis for BBC Essex and first broadcast in 1999.

Original title: Making Ends Meet.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Promoting a 16-part social history series which explores how everyday life changed during the 20th Century, described by the people of Essex.

Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essex people talk about their experiences of food and drink in the 20th century. The flavour of a changing diet is described from the same pattern of meals every week and the grocer selling foodstuffs loose, to the huge variation of the modern supermarket.

There is also a taste of the impact of rationing during and after the Second World War and how farming methods have changed is discussed.

The programme also features the increased choice of places to eat out, with the introduction of Chinese, Indian and other cuisine.

Produced and broadcast by BBC Essex in 1999.

Original title: A Square Meal.

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Essex people talk about the effect of changes in technology on their home and working lives.

There are examples from the shop floor at Marconi, the Ford car assembly line and the printing and publishing industries. Contributors describe their offices from the strict regime of the 1950s typing pool to the first huge computers.

People also speak about the introduction of home computing, video recorders and automated telephone answering.

Produced for BBC Essex and originally broadcast in 1999.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essex people talk about positive and negative aspects of old age. They describe the experience of alzheimer's disease and express views on euthanasia. Contributors share their energy and enjoyment of retirement and the twilight years. There are also thoughts about grandparents.

Produced for BBC Essex and broadcast in 1999.

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Essex people talk about their childhood and teenage experiences, from carefree days of roaming free outside, playing sports and games to helping with household chores and the work on a farm. They also describe the pressures of being a teenager, sexual awakening and first relationships.

Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essex people compare the days of the bobby on the beat to modern car-based policing. The programme includes the views of those who have been to court and those of a magistrate and a judge. Experiences of crime are described and the media's portrayal of safety on the streets.

Part of a 16-part series which explores how everyday life changed during the 20th Century, described by the people of Essex, in collaboration with the British Library.

Produced and first broadcast on BBC Essex in 1999.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.