A new series of true crime talks at The Hive will shine a light on some of Worcestershire’s most fascinating, and often overlooked, historic cases, using real evidence preserved in the county’s archive collections.
The first talk, now sold out, focusses on the famous mystery of Bella and the Witch Elm. Drawing on original police files, the session will look beyond the myths surrounding the case, with policing experts explaining how a similar investigation would be handled today.
On 22nd April, the second event turns to the lesser-known but equally tragic story of Florrie Porter, a 31-year-old accounts clerk at Longbridge who was last seen in a Bromsgrove pub with an unidentified American soldier in 1944.
Her murder was investigated by both local officers and US military police, yet despite extensive efforts, the perpetrator was never found.
Colleagues from the University of Worcester’s Professional Policing Degree will speak at both events.
Charley Barnes, University of Worcester lecturer and true-crime specialist, will appear at the event focussed on Florie Porter.
She said: “True crime is a significant genre on a sociocultural level these days, and I think studying it and bringing to light the cases it typically involves is incredibly important. It’s also important to bring light to lesser-known cases though, like the Florrie Porter example.”
Charley continued: “I’m really struck by the ways in which we so often remember the scandalous cases, or the cases that can be ‘Hollywood-ised” for want of a better term, while letting the less ‘glamorous’ stories fall out of memory.”
“Regardless of the killer or the sensational aspects of a story though,” she added, “the actual victims of true crime were and still are real people, which is why I think talks like this one are so essential, because they make sure that their memories don’t disappear altogether. This gives them a chance, after all this time, of still being known.”
The final talk, on 4th June, looks at crime in the 1700s, when the Church acted as the main justice system.
Paige Joy, a Doctoral Researcher, will explain what people could be punished for, from serious offences to everyday behaviour that wouldn’t be considered a crime now.
She’ll also share stories of individuals and the crimes that they committed, including, violence, theft and profanity.
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund Resilience Programme, the series is organised by Explore the Past, the archive advice and information service for Worcestershire.
Carol Wood, Archive Assistant, said: “These talks are about looking past the myths and remembering the real people at the heart of these cases.”
“Historical documents let us connect with real people from the past,” she added. “In Florrie’s case, seeing her photograph and even her handwriting brings home that these were real lives and real tragedies, not just stories in a file.”
To book for Unsolved Murders of WWII- Florrie Porter, follow this link.
To book for Crime and Punishment of the 18th Century, follow this link.