From a famous Anglo-Saxon rebel fighter, to slippery eels and a dancing bear,there’s plenty to explore along Greater Anglia’s Hereward Line.

In the first episode of Lives on the Lines, the adventure begins with a railway journey across the Cambridgeshire fens. Starting in historic Peterborough, local history buff Trevor explains how generations worked to build the epic cathedral here, and what it means to be a true Peterborian.

Travelling along the Hereward Line we stop at Whittlesea to meet Geoff, a passionate fenland runner, former maths teacher and station adopter, before Brian Kell BEM explains how he revived a lost folk tradition that sees thousands of people take to the streets here every year.

We chat to Steve, a born and bred Manea man about life in this fenland village, and explore the epic engineering history that crafted this incredible landscape and wildlife hotspot.

Our journey concludes in the cathedral city of Ely where local guide Nora Gardner takes us on a journey through time with her favourite local spots. She explains the weird and wonderful uses eels have had for people here through time and the city’s connection to Hereward the Wake – a rebel leader who held out against William the Conqueror long after the Norman Conquest!

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.

Presented and produced by Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Production.

You can explore travel along the Hereward Line and find out more about the Hereward Community Rail Partnership at https://herewardcrp.org

And explore travel with Greater Anglia at https://www.greateranglia.co.uk

@greateranglia

Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival http://www.strawbear.org.uk

@StrawBearFest

Peterborough Local History Society https://peterboroughlocalhistorysociety.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/discoveringlocalhistory

Ely Tourist Information https://www.visitely.org.uk

@visitely