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Elves have needs too - will there be a pheasants' revolt? Discuss The Archers here

976 replies

PseudoBadger · 25/05/2016 15:09

I've just browsed Lowfield for the first time - they really don't like Pat do they!

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 27/05/2016 21:02

Can anyone explain the culvert thing as it keeps coming up and I am not sure what its significance is?

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:07

Rob was witnessed blocking a culvert to protect Barrow Farm during the floods. The witness, a polish farm worker, disappeared back to Poland rather mysteriously. Charlie Thomas nearly drowned unblocking the culvert and Adam saved him.

Rob denied any knowledge of what had happened.

IggyPopsicle · 27/05/2016 21:08

I have to say though, when Helen said "My son is going to have the names of three good men" I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't Huey Dewey Louie Archer Sad

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:10

I hope that Rob doesn't take out his rage with the naming of the baby on poor Henry. He is a kind of hostage.

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:13

Boffin, should also add that Rob's action meant that the flooding was much worse in Ambridge and probably cost some people their homes.

BoffinMum · 27/05/2016 21:15

Thanks - did anyone discover it had been blocked apart from the Polish man? Are we thinking the Polish man was bumped off by Knob then?

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:18

Adam and, I think, David and Jennifer know. The Pole seemed to have suffered some family trouble back home but Charlie couldn't track him down before he left.

DadDadDad · 27/05/2016 21:20

I think it's more plausible that Rob fired Stefan (on some trumped up excuse) so he left Ambridge and then we heard Rob give Charlie a story about Stefan attending a sick relative so couldn't be contacted.

And now i'll hit post to find someone's just explained that a lot better...

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:22

Yes, Finding Stefan is a kind of spin-off potential radio 4 drama.

I shouldn't say that. They'll do it.

Gumpendorf · 27/05/2016 21:29

Wasn't Ed employed to clear the hedges and noticed the blocked culvert. I can't remember the detail but didn't Rob warn him to keep quiet or risk losing his job. Or am I making that up?

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:31

Well remembered!

DadDadDad · 27/05/2016 21:37

Except, wasn't it Charlie who insisted on confidentiality from Ed?

Abraid2 · 27/05/2016 21:41

I think you're right. I wonder whether this storyline will ever be completed?

CuttedUpPear · 27/05/2016 21:55

I'm off abroad again, glad not to be able to listen. Relying on the thread to keep me in the loop.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 27/05/2016 21:55

Does Adam know about the blocked culvert? I'm a bit hazy about all of this, but Stefan spoke to either Jennifer or David in a very cloak and dagger way, and whichever one it was then spoke to the other one. They met him somewhere in Borchester and then he disappeared. At that point their memories appear to have been wiped because neither of them has ever mentioned it since. Meanwhile, Charlie had his own suspicions about Rob, but I can't remember what he knew or suspected about the culvert. He wanted to speak to Stefan, but why? I don't think David or Jennifer had passed on their suspicions to him. Can anyone else cast light on this?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 27/05/2016 22:13

Lowfield is helpful here. Their summaries for last May include:

Sunday 17/5/15: Jennifer has been talking with her contacts about the flood and plenty of information is surfacing. She confides in David that something odd has come to light. One of the milkers at Berrow Farm, Stefan, witnessed something that he neither wishes to pass on over the phone, nor in person on either his or Jennifer's properties. He wants to meet her in a coffee shop. The secrecy and Stefan's apparent nervousness during their exchange, causes a disconcerted Jennifer to ask David to accompany her when she meets him on Tuesday.

Tues 19/5/15: Jennifer and David are on their secret assignation at a coffee shop to meet Stefan. He needs their word that his name will not be mentioned in connection with what he is about to tell them. Stefan goes on to say he wasn't on duty the night of the flood and took a walk, when he observed Rob Titchener. It was dark and raining but Stefan is almost certain that Rob was blocking up one of the culverts with corrugated iron sheets and black plastic. Stefan wanted to remain unseen so Rob went unchallenged. At the time Stefan didn't want to get involved, as he enjoys his job, but since has realised that someone could have died in the flood.

Jennifer and David reflect on what they have been told and wonder if Charlie Thomas may have been aware if anything untoward took place on the night of the flood. David thinks the next logical step is to speak to Charlie, as previous conversations with Rob about the matter were abruptly closed down by Rob.

Wed 20/5/15: David, in his capacity as Flood Warden, approaches Charlie who reassures David that he can expect complete cooperation from all Damara Capital staff. Charlie feels he was lucky that his dairy was unaffected. David tells Charlie that he and Jennifer have been gathering information to form an overview of what happened that night, including eye witness accounts. David reveals the facts of Stefan's report whilst maintaining his anonymity: that the culvert was blocked to prevent Berrow Farm from flooding. Charlie confirms that it indeed was blocked, as he was trapped in it. Without a named source, Charlie is sceptical. Could the report have been an employee with a grudge against another employee or even management? But David hasn't mentioned that the informant is an employee and he has another independent source who in the aftermath observed by the side of the road, the pile of debris removed from the culvert - far too large a quantity to have been washed in.
Charlie informs Rob of the accusation and in typical style, Rob plays it down, minimising the risks and severity of the flood. He passes off the accusation as village gossip and rumour and wonders why Charlie is wasting his time on it? Charlie does not regard it as a waste of time, particularly as he himself almost died. He will interview all staff. Rob later relays to Helen his conversation with Charlie. She is incredulous that anyone could think such a thing of Rob. Besides, who would be so stupid as to put the whole village at risk?

Mon 25/5/15: Charlie investigates the rumours of the deliberately blocked ditch. He interviews all employees and grills Rob about the inclusion of every worker.

Charlie finds that no one knows about the deliberately blocked culvert. Rob has let one of the Polish workers go before Charlie could interview him. Rob thought it best to act fast because this worker had pressing family issues. Rob continues to belittle any truth behind the rumours but Charlie is determined to get to the bottom of the issue.

Rob is the Single Wicket champion.
Adam and Charlie discuss Rob's character briefly; neither man is particularly positive about Rob. Adam leaves before the celebrations but Rob is encouraged by the crowd to drink out of the winner's cup. Rob seems to be the hero of the moment and all seems bright for him in the village.

I'll see if there's anything else, but that seems to be that. A year ago and all completely forgotten since. Hmm

SaraTheFairy · 27/05/2016 22:26

John Anthony ARCHER. Surely anyone's first blurted out question would be Why Archer not Titchener? But not her idiotic self obsessedfamily.

BertrandRussell · 27/05/2016 22:35

Well, to be fair, they've probably worked out she doesn't like Rob very much any more- what with the stabbing and all....

JessieMcJessie · 27/05/2016 22:45

From the Lowfield synopses above one thing seems to be missing- how did Rob know that Stefan knew about the culvert?

KittiesInsane · 27/05/2016 23:04

Maybe he'd read the script?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 27/05/2016 23:10
Grin
EsmesBees · 27/05/2016 23:18

I found my old, tired and cynical eyes tearing up at that last scene. Nice name and finally a turning point. Let's hope this is when things start to get better.

EBearhug · 27/05/2016 23:44

If Stefan observed Rob when he was out for a walk, maybe Rob observed Stefan taking a walk.

Adam knows the culvert was blocked. He saved Charlie from drowning in it on the night of the flood.

AugustaFinkNottle · 28/05/2016 07:11

John Anthony ARCHER. Surely anyone's first blurted out question would be Why Archer not Titchener? But not her idiotic self obsessedfamily.

Well, it was right at the very end of the episode. For all we know that was the next bit of the conversation.

selsigfach · 28/05/2016 08:07

I think even Pat and Tony will have realised that Helen's marriage is over, given that she stabbed him, so she isn't going to be a Titchener for much longer. You can give your child any surname you like - she could have picked Jones if she wanted.

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