Syd

Arthur Smith's hit Edinburgh Festival show about his father Syd - an ordinary man in extraordinary times.

Just 17 when he signed up, he fought at El Alamein, was captured and then imprisoned in Colditz and, after the war, joined the Metropolitan Police.

He spent the rest of his working life patrolling the streets of London and had possibly the worst arrest rate in the force - having been a prisoner of war he had no desire to subject anyone else to suffer a loss of liberty.

In this funny and tender evocation of post-war Britain, Arthur brings us Syd's diary entries and conjures up the spirit of his father, a man of great integrity and humour.

Recorded in front of a live, socially distanced audience.

With assistance from his brother Nick and music from Kirsty Newton.

Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith

A Yada-Yada Audio production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2021.