Archers thread #187: Send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for Peggy. Discuss The Archers here.

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Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd like Harrison to hasten home, or other unusual views.

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For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Thanks to John Donne for the title inspiration. The funeral of the century beckons. How much of it do we think we will hear? Kate confirmed tonight that Shula, Debbie, Noli and Sipho are all coming. If we hear one peep from any of them I'll be amazed. Bets on Hazel turning up?

Over to you!

I think Kate may be the Grinch who killed Father Christmas.

Ted’s nemesis was Father Dick Byrne 🤣

🤣

Kate killed the vicar, so she had to use the village priest (eta to the tune if I shot the sheriff)

I’m not a fan of Alan tbh so actually quite liked the thought of him being in charge of the outside lot

🤔 Will Janet Fisher turn up for the funeral, d’you think?

She could give Alan a helping hand with the service …

(Today I thought of someone who wronged me, decades ago. The fact that they died earlier this century doesn’t necessarily make it easier to forgive and forget …

Of course Peggy was free to worship wherever and however she pleased - but (afair) she wounded two Ambridge vicars, and I can’t help wondering how they’ll each feel tomorrow.)

I doubt that Janet will care, or even know.

Yes, I have that association, too. I once wrote an essay on the rise of sports and public participation in Britain (can'trememberthe exzct title), and it featured in that. That essay got me the comment "interesting but irrelevant" for one point I included.

I did wonder whether they were going to resort to Shula for some emergency vicaring. That would have left Alan turned down twice.

Granny Kate! Well, I wasn't expecting that.

Good episode. Plenty of Archers and Aldridges.

November baybay= valentine's conception.

So she's about what 4months?

Phoebe? I'm not at home so I've missed today's.

Yes. Phoebe said she was glad Kate thought grandparents were important and she had something to give her - then handed over a scan picture. She's quite young by modern standards - 27 at the end of the month. Kate was, of course, a very bad mother. Maybe she will be a much better grandmother.

who is the father do we know?

Does this increase Phoebe’s chances of returning to Ambridge? Perhaps she and the bloke whose name I instantly forgot will help Borchester Land with Justin’s “grand vision”.

We don't, and Kate didn't ask any 'who?' 'how?' 'when?' questions, just went straight into 'oh how lovely I'm so happy for you' mode, which I admired greatly.

Well she’s living with her boyfriend so Kate must have assumed he was the dad!

Yeah we do - just re-listened to the 10 June episode, at 12:24 Jakub asks Phoebe how she is - 'good thanks, Brodie sends his apologies' - and it's going well, is it, with you and Brodie? 'very well, thank you'.

Presuming Brodie is indeed the father, of course!

It is an indication of how much I care about Phoebe that I did not know that.

Tbf Kate panicking as Fr Crispy was being carted into the ambulance was much funnier.

To be fair to me, Brodie sounds like a dog's name. Or a cat's, but a cat would be unlikely to send apologies.

Well, it’s a slight variation on ‘one in, one out’! (Remembering Nigel’s demise as Helen was rushed to hospital for Henry.)

I guess you can’t make a serious funeral exciting - even given 8 decades to prepare for it. There was nothing at all to indicate the presence of Debbie, Noli, Sipho - though we know they were apparently there. Would rather have heard of them, than of Hazel.

Oh well. RIP Peggy.

Invariably people behave inappropriately at funerals so tonight felt pretty tame with memories of a trip to Blackpool, a pregnancy announcement and a nice little chat off-air with Hazel. It ticked lots of boxes I suppose but it was all very safe

I am completely unmoved. I fast forwarded bits and all of Tony's eulogy.

I did enjoy the having to apologise and be grateful to Alan bits.

Oh and they went through the stupid taking Hilda to the service.

There was a lot more time spent celebrating her death than there was her life - no real
party and I don’t think I heard one mention of her 100 years today. Surely worth a mention. Otherwise it felt quite believable that a lot of now silent characters were there in the background. First thought re Phoebe was ‘I wonder if Roy will make a reappearance 😢’