Pieces of History Colum McGrath

Welcome to the first episode of the second season of Pieces of History! This week, I will be looking at the Gang of Nivelles, a group of three men who terrorised Belgium from 1982 – 1985 in what became the country’s most notorious unsolved crime spree.

Join me as I continue the story of the Gang of Nivelles. This episode picks up in September 1983 and follows the gang to their final act in November 1985. I also look at the possible motives of the group, who they might have been and the conspiracy theories that swirl around the three men.

Joining me this week to discuss the Story of 1066 is Alex Dymond. Alex specialises in England and France from the 9th to the 12th centuries and is currently completing a doctoral thesis on the estates of the dukes of Normandy and the kings of England, 911 - 1135 at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Alex joins me again to continue the Story of 1066. In this episode we look at the The Kingdom of Wessex and King Alfred; Alex explains who The Witan are; The Danegeld; Æthelred and the Kingdom of England as well as the early years of Edward the Confessors reign.

Alex joins me again to conclude the Story of 1066. In this episode, we look at the reign of Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror's preparations to invade England, and finally the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Joining me this week is Professor James Olson. Professor Olson served for over thirty years in the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, mostly overseas in clandestine operations. He was very kind to discuss his entry into the organisation, the current threats that the United States face, his love of the Russian language, what it takes to become a spy, and the relationship between the CIA, the FBI and the NSA.