Aberdeen: After the Black Goldrush
How did a small city in the North East of Scotland become the 鈥淥il Capital of Europe鈥? And what is the legacy of an oil bonanza turned bust? Michael Gove investigates
Michael Gove was born and raised into a changing Aberdeen. Where the city had once relied on traditional industries such as fishing, farming, and granite quarrying, by the 1970鈥檚, life dramatically changed with the discovery of oil 110 miles off the coast of the Granite City.
Using first person testimony from the University of Aberdeen 鈥淟ives in the Oil Industry鈥 oral history project, Michael delves into exactly how Aberdeen changed with its newfound wealth. From large scale social and economic changes, to how families and individual adapted to a very different way of life. Plus, how the story of Aberdeen had a major impact on the wider UK economy.
Charting over 50 years of the oil industry, Michael examines the rise and fall of this corner of Scotland, as it battled boom and bust, and how a shift towards green energy might impact the future of his home city.
Presented by Michael Gove
Produced by Emily Esson
Audio mixing by Murray Collier
With thanks to The University of Aberdeen, and their 鈥淟ives in the Oil Industry鈥 oral history project.
Featuring 麻豆社 archive from:
Around Scotland 鈥 Aberdeen (1959)
Man Alive: Aberdeen: The New Texas? (1972)
The Energy File 鈥 The New Frontier (1977)
Panorama (1986)
Question Time 鈥 Aberdeen (2024)
On radio
Broadcast
- Sat 19 Sep 2026 20:00麻豆社 Radio 4