When Antony Easton's enigmatic father passes away, he begins sorting through a suitcase filled with cryptic family clues. Neatly stacked German money, a family tree stretching back generations, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father's birth certificate, but bearing a different name.
Confronting his dad's double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family's dark history. Large numbers of his relatives were murdered by the Nazis and a vast fortune was stolen from his grandparents - factories, property and art - which now lie scattered across Germany.
Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family's assets and continue to live off their wealth today. He sets out to meet them face to face.
When Antony Easton's enigmatic father passes away, he begins sorting through a suitcase filled with cryptic family clues. Neatly stacked German money, a family tree stretching back generations, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father's birth certificate, but bearing a different name.
Confronting his dad's double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family's dark history. Large numbers of his relatives were murdered by the Nazis and a vast fortune was stolen from his grandparents - factories, property and art - which now lie scattered across Germany.
Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family's assets and continue to live off their wealth today. He sets out to meet them face to face.
In order to unspool a family saga that has lasted over 80 years, Ragnar heads back to where it all began. He starts with the story of his mum, Nemone Lethbridge.
Her younger years were spent watching The Battle of Britain over the skies of Kent, and visiting the bunker where Hitler took his own life. This extraordinary childhood gave way to an extraordinary career as Nemone is one of the UK’s first female barristers. From defending the Kray Twins, to Winston Silcott, she’s made an incredible name for herself in her legal career.
And yet it was a chance meeting in a London pub in 1958 that changed the course of her life forever.
Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White Original Music: Lomond Campbell Theme Music: Barry Jackson Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White Script Editor: Graham Russell Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4
Archive: The Russell Harty Show, ITV, April 1976
Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams