#156 Gwyn ‘Alf’ Williams (Part 2)

#156 Gwyn ‘Alf’ Williams (Part 2)

Author: Pop! Pop! January 13, 2026 Duration: 29:00

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!


We’re back for 2026! And our first subject is the life story of one of the most prominent Welsh historians of the 20th century; Gwyn “Alf” Williams. We’ll trace his life from beginnings in South Wales to the beaches of Normandy in WWII, right through to his time at York University and rise to national prominence on TV.


Elsewhere, what are your great sleep walking or talking escapades? Can you beat anything we’ve shared in this episode? If yes, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.com


AND THIS THURSDAY 15TH JANUARY! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! 


The subject will be: the history of London. We’d love to see you there.


It’s Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s Soho. 


🎟 Tickets are on sale now and there’s only a few left: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/oh-what-a-time/


And if you want more from the show, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find:

•The full archive of bonus episodes

•Brand new bonus episodes each month

•OWAT subscriber group chats

•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show

•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone else


Join us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatime


And as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.


You can also follow us on: 

X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepod

And Instagram at @ohwhatatimepod


Aaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?

Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).


Chris, Elis and Tom x


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


Ever wondered if people in the 18th century had worse holidays than you do, or if being a child in Victorian times was genuinely as grim as it sounds? That’s the kind of territory explored in Oh What A Time..., a podcast where history is less about dusty dates and more about the bizarre, often terrible, human experiences across the ages. Each episode, comedians Elis James and Tom Craine join award-winning podcaster Chris Scull to take a deep, funny dive into a new theme-whether it’s marriage, life at sea, or countless other facets of existence. They sift through the strangest and most surprising stories from our collective past, all while trying to settle a central, burning query: just how awful was it back then? The tone is conversational and packed with curiosity, blending genuine historical insight with the hosts’ comedic perspectives. You’ll find yourself learning about the peculiar realities of daily life in different eras, all delivered with a warmth and humor that makes the past feel immediately relevant. This isn’t a lecture; it’s a lively discussion between friends who are equally fascinated and horrified by what they uncover. For anyone who enjoys a good story, a laugh, and a fresh take on the people who came before us, this podcast offers a consistently entertaining and oddly comforting look at the shared struggles and absurdities of human history.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Oh What A Time...
Podcast Episodes
#128 Magic (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:17
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re talking about the great illusionists and conjurors of our times. We’ve got the man that pretty much invented the genre Jean-Eugene Robert, we’ve got the much-lov…
#128 Magic (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:08
This week we’re talking about the great illusionists and conjurors of our times. We’ve got the man that pretty much invented the genre Jean-Eugene Robert, we’ve got the much-loved icon of British children’s TV Sooty and…
#127 Revolting Peasants (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:39
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing some of history’s most revolting peasants! Now no episode like this would be complete without rumoured West Ham fan Wat Tyler, plus we’ll have the New…
#127 Revolting Peasants (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
This week we’re discussing some of history’s most revolting peasants! Now no episode like this would be complete without rumoured West Ham fan Wat Tyler, plus we’ll have the New York story of Dr Smith Azer Broughton, and…
#126 Journeys and Adventure (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!**PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded just before Leslie Lemon - the custard-loving WW2 hero that so many listeners emailed us about - died at the age of 106 years old, last…
#126 Journeys and Adventure (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:44
**PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded just before Leslie Lemon - the custard-loving WW2 hero that so many listeners emailed us about - died at the age of 106 years old, last week. In tribute to the great man, we’ve le…
#125 The Super Rich (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:29
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Let’s have a look at some of the most interesting self-made millionaires that history has to offer! This week we have Sarah Breedlove and her lucrative beauty revolution, Richar…
#125 The Super Rich (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:12
Let’s have a look at some of the most interesting self-made millionaires that history has to offer! This week we have Sarah Breedlove and her lucrative beauty revolution, Richard Crawshay’s Welsh ironmongery bonanza and,…
#123 Music in Unexpected Places (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing various tunes and music genres which popped up in surprising circumstances. We’ve got North Africa’s blues inspired Tuareg Rock, western music behind…
#123 Music in Unexpected Places (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:50
This week we’re discussing various tunes and music genres which popped up in surprising circumstances. We’ve got North Africa’s blues inspired Tuareg Rock, western music behind the iron curtain and modern attempts to rec…