Episode 4

Epitaphs and Graveyards with Rina Tillinger

Guest Rina Tillinger talking about her love of Graveyards and Inscriptions and book "Tiptoe Through the Tombstones" with Tim Prevett, originally broadcast in 2013, the interview is edited for RedShift Online's podcasts in March 2020.

"Tiptoe Through the Tombstones explores the churchyards of Cheshire in search of unusual and unforgettable inscriptions and epitaphs carved on gravestones. Two enthusiasts, Rina Tillinger and Di Hanning-Lee meet the dead who are as interesting as the living. The Thelma and Louise of gravestoning search each Cheshire churchyard for quirky and poignant inscriptions and epitaphs with curiosity, grit (literally!) and humour. The book is a mesmerizing blend of history, mystery, poetry, tragedy and comedy. With humour, curiosity and enthusiasm, two amateur sleuths a tall brunette Yank and a small blonde Brit search the churchyards and cemeteries of Cheshire for dead interesting gravestone inscriptions and epitaphs. Each chapter describes a graveyard where they stumble literally upon local, general and military history and characters including a medieval martyr, a mother of 33 children and an actress s cuckolded husband. Tiptoe Through the Tombstones records inscriptions, epitaphs and poems that are highly imaginative, heart-warming and even inspiring. Carved in stone for posterity, the descriptions of death by scarlet fever, consumption, shipwreck, rail accident, lightning strike, drowning, falling, and gunshot (but rarely old age!) are touching, amusing and always compelling. The book combines travel writing with history, mystery, poetry and comedy."

00:16 Introduction to the Podcast Series

01:47 Introduction to the episode

03:15 Introducing Rina Tillinger

05:37 Why Graveyards? Why Epitaphs?

11:37 Some Epitaphs from Cheshire

17:35 What would be your epitaph - comments from Facebook

20:57 More Epitaphs from Cheshire and beyond

24:26 About Rina's book

25:05 Where can we get Rina's book?

26:00 More epitaphs

28:00 Epitaphs from murdered people

29:50 Graves which have been reoriented

36:18 A bride's grave and epitaph and others

39:30 Some comments from Twitter

39:56 Some epitaphs from Wales

41:00 Some epitaphs from New Zealand and around the World

49:50 Concluding comments

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About the Podcast

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About your hosts

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Tim Prevett

I've had the joy of producing and presenting a wide range of radio shows for RedShift Online, a local community podcasting network based in Nantwich, Cheshire, UK. Until December 2019 it was known as RedShift Radio.

Moving to the on-demand podcasting format has enabled fresh material to come to production, and re-purposing old material with new life and direction.

I'll be launching a number of podcasts via RedShift Online and Captivate on 1st April 2020, full details closer to the time.

One podcast will be V-for-Various; the first season will be edited shows with a wide variety of subjects and guests, originally broadcast for RedShift Radio on my former "Something Different" show. Some of those are available with music on the MixCloud link via the full profile.
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Nantwich Buddies

Nantwich Buddies is a volunteer organisation set up at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Formerly known as RedShift Radio, the online community radio station and podcast network closed during lockdown and Buddies ramped up their support of the community. Helping with shopping, befriending and supporting the mental health of Nantwich residents.
The podcasting continues as Nantwich Buddies and podcasters are welcome to join our network as long as they meet the criteria: Engaging, Uplifting or Inspiring and support the wellbeing or learning of our community.