To Serve Them All My Days
- Author RF Delderfield
- Narrator Oliver Milburn, John Wood, John Rowe, Alison Pettitt, Full Cast
- Publisher BBC Audio
- Publish Date 22 May 2025
- Run Time 3 hours and 39 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Classic fiction, First World War fiction, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Social issues, Romance: wholesome, Second World War fiction.
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What to expect
A stunning full-cast dramatisation of R.F. Delderfield's classic novel of life between the wars
Listen now to this epic story of tragedy, love and betrayal set during the inter-war period as soldier Davy Powlett-Jones, invalided out of the trenches, must face a new start in life…
A coal miner's son, Davy has risen from the ranks of the South Wales Borderers and been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after serving three years in the front-line trenches in the First World War. The story begins in 1918, when injured and shell-shocked Davy leaves the war behind him to face new challenges and begin a new life teaching history at Bamfylde School in North Devon. Over the following decade Davy’s life reflects the turmoil, tragedy and hope of the men and women who fought in the Great War and how they come to terms with peaceful life in Britain which inexorably ruptures as the Second World War looms.
In this beautiful full-cast BBC Radio adaptation, the General Strike, socialism, the development of the Labour Party and the formation of the National Government all play out through the story of a humble teacher.
To Serve Them All My Days was first published in 1972 and swiftly became a modern classic. The book was adapted into a hugely popular TV show and continues to be loved by fans of J.L. Carr and L.P. Hartley. Listen now to this stunning adaptation that takes a microscope to the lives of ordinary people during extraordinary times and brings to life a bygone era of British existence facing the moral perplexities and harsh economic realities of emerging modern times.
Cast and credits
Written by R.F. Deldefield
Adapted by Shaun McKenna
Directed by Marc Beeby
Davy Powlett-Jones - Oliver Milburn
Algy Herries - John Wood
Howarth - John Rowe
Carter - Anthony Calf
Beth/Grace - Alison Pettit
The Guard/Stratton/Gage - Delroy Brown
"Nipper" Shawe/Skidmore/Featherstone - Josh Freeborn
"Chad" Boyer/Dobson/Stoker Monk - Steven Williams
Briarley/Lowther - Steven Roberts
Julia - Juliet Aubrey
Keith/Alderman Blunt/McNaughton - John Cummins
Spats/Hislop - Anthony Glennon
Brigadier Cooper/Barnaby/Rigby - Gerard McDermott
Bristow - Harry Francis
Alcock - Clive Merrison
Christine - Kate Buffery
Ewart - Nick Sayce
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23rd - 27th Jan 2006
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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