Big Charlie [Afternoon Reading]

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20081229

20100801 (R4)

Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams' amazing story of how, in the summer of 1957, the largest elephant in captivity - Big Charlie - was moved from Butlin's Holiday Camp in Ayr, Scotland, to Butlin's, Filey, Yorkshire.

In May 1957, an advertisement in The Times caught Elephant Bill's eye. Butlin's Ltd was offering £1,000 in cash for the immediate safe transport of the largest elephant in captivity from its camp in Ayr to its camp in Filey - a distance by road of 350 miles.

Colonel JH Williams had earned his sobriquet 'Elephant Bill' as a result of his experiences working with elephants in the jungles of Burma and, intrigued by the advertisement, he volunteered his services. As did 3,500 other people, for the problem of moving Big Charlie, a 5 and a half ton male elephant, and one of the finest tuskers in captivity, had captured the popular imagination.

Some of the suggestions for moving the elephant were eccentric in the extreme, but not long after the advertisement appeared, Elephant Bill found himself engaged as elephant consultant - with very ill-defined duties - to help Mr Willie Wilson of Glasgow transport Big Charlie.

Although Big Charlie was accompanied at all times on the journey by his gentle and devoted mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, the job was made much more hazardous by the fact that Big Charlie was on 'musth' - or in season - and that Billy Butlin's demands for constant publicity posed tricky problems for all concerned.

The story of this incredible journey begins today.

Written by J.H.Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

Butlins place an advertisement in The Times.

The story of this incredible journey begins today.

Written by J.H.Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

Butlins place an advertisement in The Times.

20081230

20100808 (R4)

The true story of the transportation of an elephant between two Butlins camps in the 1950s.

Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams arrives in Ayr and meets Big Charlie and his mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, for the first time.

Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

Story of how the largest elephant in captivity moved from Scotland to Yorkshire in 1957.

The true story of the transportation of an elephant between two Butlins camps in the 1950s.

Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams arrives in Ayr and meets Big Charlie and his mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, for the first time.

Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

Story of how the largest elephant in captivity moved from Scotland to Yorkshire in 1957.

20081231

Colonel Williams' amazing story of how in the summer of 1957 the largest elephant in captivity, Big Charlie, was moved from Butlin's in Scotland to Butlin's, Yorkshire.

The Colonel faces an obstacle as the 5-and-a-half ton elephant is reluctant to enter his crate.

Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

The five and a half ton elephant is reluctant to enter its crate.

20100815

Colonel Williams' amazing story of how in the summer of 1957 the largest elephant in captivity, Big Charlie, was moved from Butlin's in Scotland to Butlin's, Yorkshire.

The Colonel faces an obstacle as the 5-and-a-half ton elephant is reluctant to enter his crate.

Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

The five and a half ton elephant is reluctant to enter its crate.

20090101

20100822 (R4)

The true story of the transportation of an elephant between two Butlins camps in the 1950s.

Billy Butlin wants Charlie photographed for publicity purposes en route, but Elephant Bill has other ideas.

Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

Billy Butlin wants Charlie photographed for publicity, but Elephant Bill has other ideas.

20090102

20100829 (R4)

Colonel Williams' amazing story of how, in the summer of 1957, the largest elephant in captivity was moved from Butlin's in Scotland to Butlin's, Yorkshire.

The journey over, Big Charlie makes his triumphal entry to Filey.

Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington.

Producer: David Blount

Charlie makes his triumphal entry into Butlins, Filey.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20081229	20100801 (R4)	Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams' amazing story of how, in the summer of 1957, the largest elephant in captivity - Big Charlie - was moved from Butlin's Holiday Camp in Ayr, Scotland, to Butlin's, Filey, Yorkshire. In May 1957, an advertisement in The Times caught Elephant Bill's eye. Butlin's Ltd was offering £1,000 in cash for the immediate safe transport of the largest elephant in captivity from its camp in Ayr to its camp in Filey - a distance by road of 350 miles. Colonel JH Williams had earned his sobriquet 'Elephant Bill' as a result of his experiences working with elephants in the jungles of Burma and, intrigued by the advertisement, he volunteered his services. As did 3,500 other people, for the problem of moving Big Charlie, a 5 and a half ton male elephant, and one of the finest tuskers in captivity, had captured the popular imagination. Some of the suggestions for moving the elephant were eccentric in the extreme, but not long after the advertisement appeared, Elephant Bill found himself engaged as elephant consultant - with very ill-defined duties - to help Mr Willie Wilson of Glasgow transport Big Charlie. Although Big Charlie was accompanied at all times on the journey by his gentle and devoted mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, the job was made much more hazardous by the fact that Big Charlie was on 'musth' - or in season - and that Billy Butlin's demands for constant publicity posed tricky problems for all concerned. The story of this incredible journey begins today. Written by J.H.Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount Butlins place an advertisement in The Times. Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams' amazing story of how, in the summer of 1957, the largest elephant in captivity - Big Charlie - was moved from Butlin's Holiday Camp in Ayr, Scotland, to Butlin's, Filey, Yorkshire. In May 1957, an advertisement in The Times caught Elephant Bill's eye. Butlin's Ltd was offering £1,000 in cash for the immediate safe transport of the largest elephant in captivity from its camp in Ayr to its camp in Filey - a distance by road of 350 miles. Colonel JH Williams had earned his sobriquet 'Elephant Bill' as a result of his experiences working with elephants in the jungles of Burma and, intrigued by the advertisement, he volunteered his services. As did 3,500 other people, for the problem of moving Big Charlie, a 5 and a half ton male elephant, and one of the finest tuskers in captivity, had captured the popular imagination. Some of the suggestions for moving the elephant were eccentric in the extreme, but not long after the advertisement appeared, Elephant Bill found himself engaged as elephant consultant - with very ill-defined duties - to help Mr Willie Wilson of Glasgow transport Big Charlie. Although Big Charlie was accompanied at all times on the journey by his gentle and devoted mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, the job was made much more hazardous by the fact that Big Charlie was on 'musth' - or in season - and that Billy Butlin's demands for constant publicity posed tricky problems for all concerned. The story of this incredible journey begins today. Written by J.H.Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount Butlins place an advertisement in The Times.
02	20081230	20100808 (R4)	The true story of the transportation of an elephant between two Butlins camps in the 1950s. Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams arrives in Ayr and meets Big Charlie and his mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, for the first time. Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount Story of how the largest elephant in captivity moved from Scotland to Yorkshire in 1957. The true story of the transportation of an elephant between two Butlins camps in the 1950s. Colonel 'Elephant Bill' Williams arrives in Ayr and meets Big Charlie and his mahout, Shaik Ibrahim, for the first time. Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount Story of how the largest elephant in captivity moved from Scotland to Yorkshire in 1957.
03	20081231		Colonel Williams' amazing story of how in the summer of 1957 the largest elephant in captivity, Big Charlie, was moved from Butlin's in Scotland to Butlin's, Yorkshire. The Colonel faces an obstacle as the 5-and-a-half ton elephant is reluctant to enter his crate. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount The five and a half ton elephant is reluctant to enter its crate.
03	20100815		Colonel Williams' amazing story of how in the summer of 1957 the largest elephant in captivity, Big Charlie, was moved from Butlin's in Scotland to Butlin's, Yorkshire. The Colonel faces an obstacle as the 5-and-a-half ton elephant is reluctant to enter his crate. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount The five and a half ton elephant is reluctant to enter its crate.
04	20090101	20100822 (R4)	The true story of the transportation of an elephant between two Butlins camps in the 1950s. Billy Butlin wants Charlie photographed for publicity purposes en route, but Elephant Bill has other ideas. Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount Billy Butlin wants Charlie photographed for publicity, but Elephant Bill has other ideas.
05	20090102	20100829 (R4)	Colonel Williams' amazing story of how, in the summer of 1957, the largest elephant in captivity was moved from Butlin's in Scotland to Butlin's, Yorkshire. The journey over, Big Charlie makes his triumphal entry to Filey. Written by JH Williams. Abridged and read by Tony Lidington. Producer: David Blount Charlie makes his triumphal entry into Butlins, Filey.