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01Episode 1: Villaging20191223

The daily life of a Victorian country curate.

Francis Kilvert was a young English clergyman and diarist, whose parish was the border country of England and Wales in the 1870s. During his time as curate in Clyro he kept a detailed diary of his daily life in the hope that it might be of interest "to those who come after me". Kilvert's love of nature, and compassion for his parishioners, shines from every page.

In this episode, he officiates at the wedding of a very reluctant bride, struggles to carve an enormous cow's tongue with a blunt knife at a tea party, and comes to regret agreeing to inspect a neighbour's bee hives.

Cast:
Francis Kilvert ..... Alastair James Murden
Richard Venables, Bellringer, Barber ..... Matthew Gravelle
Mrs Chaloner, Eliza Pring, Mrs Bridge ..... Eiry Thomas
Mrs Venables, Miss Llewelyn ..... Bethan Rose Young

Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire.

All Things Bright And Beautiful sung by children from Ysgol Maenclochog. Other music by Crasdant.

Adapted and directed by Kate McAll
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

The daily life of a young curate in the border country of England and Wales in the 1870s.

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembr

02Episode 2: Meeting Daisy20191224

The daily life of a Victorian country curate.

Francis Kilvert was a young English clergyman and diarist, whose parish was the border country of England and Wales in the 1870s. During his time as curate in Clyro he kept a detailed diary of his daily life in the hope that it might be of interest "to those who come after me". Kilvert's love of nature, and compassion for his parishioners, shines from every page.

In this episode, after a night of toothache and laudanum-induced dreams, Kilvert goes on his rounds visiting parishioners, including the Old Soldier who entertains him with tales from the Peninsula war. But the day takes an unexpected turn when he goes to a party in Clyro Court and instantly falls in love with Daisy Thomas, the youngest daughter of a local clergyman.

Cast:
Francis Kilvert ..... Alastair James Murden
Richard Venables, Mr Thomas, Old Soldier ..... Matthew Gravelle
Mrs Chaloner ..... Eiry Thomas
Mrs Venables, Daisy Thomas ..... Bethan Rose Young

Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire.

All Things Bright And Beautiful sung by children from Ysgol Maenclochog. Other music by Crasdant.

Adapted and directed by Kate McAll
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Kilvert has toothache and nightmares - but all is forgotten when he falls in love.

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembr

03Episode 3: Christmas Cheer20191225

The daily life of a Victorian country curate.

Christmas Day, 1870. It's so cold that when Kilvert takes his customary bath in the morning, he has to break the ice before he can sit down in it. After a four-mile walk to Bettws Chapel for a christening, his beard is frozen firmly to his mackintosh. But life is even harder for one poor family in the parish who can't afford to buy a blanket, until the Curate comes to their aid.

Cast:
Francis Kilvert ..... Alastair James Murden
Richard Venables, Mr Evans ..... Matthew Gravelle
Mrs Chaloner, Mrs Watkins, Mrs Evans ..... Eiry Thomas
Mrs Venables, Miss Child ..... Bethan Rose Young

Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire.

All Things Bright And Beautiful sung by children from Ysgol Maenclochog. Other music by Crasdant.

Adapted and directed by Kate McAll
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Kilvert begins Christmas Day by sitting down in a bath full of ice.

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembr

04Episode 4: Spring Fever20191226

The daily life of a Victorian country curate.

Francis Kilvert was a young English clergyman and diarist, whose parish was the border country of England and Wales in the 1870s. During his time as curate in Clyro he kept a detailed diary of his daily life in the hope that it might be of interest "to those who come after me". Kilvert's love of nature, and compassion for his parishioners, shines from every page.

In this episode, it's Spring and the young curate is restless. But this is no Spring fever. Kilvert is love-sick for Daisy Thomas and can wait no longer. He decides to ask Daisy's father for permission to marry. The conversation doesn't go exactly as he hoped.

Cast:
Francis Kilvert ..... Alastair James Murden
Richard Venables, Mr Pritchard, Mr Thomas ..... Matthew Gravelle
Mrs Chaloner, Anne Evans ..... Eiry Thomas
Mrs Venables ..... Bethan Rose Young

Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire.

All Things Bright And Beautiful sung by children from Ysgol Maenclochog. Other music by Crasdant.

Adapted and directed by Kate McAll
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. It's Spring and the young Curate is in love.

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembr

05Episode 5: Leaving Clyro20191227

The daily life of a Victorian country curate.

Kilvert spends his last day as curate at Clyro saying goodbye to the parishioners. First he visits the Old Soldier to give him good news about his pension, then comforts Mrs Prosser, a young mother who is dying of consumption, and escorts the new curate on the four-mile walk to the Chapel. On the train journey from Hay he is mesmerised by a young Irish girl with dark eyes and a beautiful singing voice.

Cast:
Francis Kilvert ..... Alastair James Murden
Richard Venables, Mr Irvine ..... Matthew Gravelle
Mrs Chaloner ..... Eiry Thomas
Mrs Prosser, Irish girl ..... Bethan Rose Young

Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire.

All Things Bright And Beautiful sung by children from Ysgol Maenclochog. Other music by Crasdant.

Adapted and directed by Kate McAll
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Kilvert bids farewell to his beloved Clyro.

The daily life of a Victorian country curate. Recorded on location at Rhosygilwen in Pembr