成人快手

Vikings!

"A Viking lady, for example, would be an equal to her husband in almost every sense, carrying enormous responsibility." Linda Raee

Read the Viking story

Think of the Vikings and you'll probably recall images from school history lessons of fearsome Scandinavian invaders who plundered and pillaged their way around Europe.

It's unlikely that you'd think of them as farmers or fishermen living peacefully in the North West of England.

Inside Out's Jacey Normand's meets a Viking re-enactment group from the Wirral who are determined to dispel the myths of their Norse ancestors.

Wirral's peaceful invaders

On the Wirral there's evidence the Vikings settled and lived, largely peacefully, alongside their Saxon neighbours.

The Vikings landed in the Wirral in 902 AD and settled in the area.

It's thought that they came ashore between Meols and West Kirby.

The traditional view of Vikings only tells part of the story. Image c/o PA Images

As a result many place names in the Wirral have Viking origins including Croxteth, which comes from Krok's Landing Place.

To celebrate this presence, the re-enactment group, Wirhalh Skip Felag, recreates Viking life for local school parties at locations across Merseyside, including Croxteth Hall.

They are keen to demonstrate the Vikings weren't just warriors, as Sonnie Raee explains:

"There are lots of myths on Vikings - that they raided and pillaged and then vanished. No they didn't. Some did for political reasons, but in this area they came in and they settled."

For Sonnie and Linda Raee the Viking group has become a way of life - they've even adopted Viking names - Sonji and Linden.

Linda is particularly interested in Viking women:

"Viking women are terrifically interesting. So many times in history women come across as owned or manipulated and very powerless.

"Viking women were very strong, cunning, brave women. They would often start the battles that the men would then have to take through to completion".

Read more about Viking women.

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Cunard's Commodore

Master and commander of the high seas - Ron Warwick, OBE

Inside Out follows a special voyage on the Queen Mary 2 which marks the end of an era for a remarkable man - Commodore Ron Warwick.

Commodore Warwick is a Liverpool lad who went to sea at 17, and has spent the last 36 years with the Cunard line.

But it's time for him to retire and this will be his final voyage in charge.

We join him and more than 2,000 passengers on board the liner for his final six day voyage back to the UK.

Queen of the seas

Cunard is clearly in Commodore Warwick's blood.

The company's ships have been sailing between Liverpool and America since 1840, and Ron's father Bil was Master of the original Queen Mary.

Commodore Warwick nearly missed out on the chance to captain the ship.

He was due to retire in the late 1990s when Cunard announced they were to build their first passenger liner for 30 years.

However, the company asked him if he would delay his retirement to take command of the vessel.

"It took me half a second to say yes," says Ron proudly.

Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 became the biggest - and most expensive - ocean liner in the world.

Queen of the seas - the Commodore's final voyage

It's a tough job being in command of this floating resort which boasts 1,600 cabins, a beauty spa, five swimming pools, a planetarium, theatre and even an on board brewery.

But Commodore Warwick is a commanding presence - and he's also viewed as something of a celebrity by his passengers.

But after a lifetime at sea, it's now time for Commodore Warwick to head for dry land... the end of an amazing era.

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Fear of flying

Fear of flying can make air travel a stressful experience

For some people, the idea of flying is so terrifying that they can't face going near a plane.

Inside Out investigates people who suffer from the fear of flying phobia.

We follow two people with a fear of flying as they try to conquer their fears.

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