"Closure of the Forth Road Bridge" and "Flooding results in no trains from England to Scotland". These two items of news today reminded me of my Scots friend Joanne. She came from Leith where her father was a policeman. She had two brothers who were also policemen but in London. She also had twin sisters. In due course all three girls came to work in Government departments in Whitehall during the 1940s, as I did.
The five siblings shared a flat in Primrose Hill in North London. The three girls being tall and blonde were almost identical and derived great fun from being mistaken for one another. The train fare to Edinburgh they found exorbitant so when it was time to go home for their vacation they would travel overnight on a coastal vessel that went all the way up the east coast from London to Leith on a very choppy North Sea.
Sunday 6 December 2015
Saturday 5 December 2015
Richard Baker
They say "a prophet is often without honour in his own country."
A well-known face on TV was that of the announcer and newsreader Richard Baker. Millions tuned in every evening at 6pm to see and hear him read the News. His small daughter was getting in her mother's way in the kitchen, so she was told to go in the sitting room and see what was on the television. She was soon back saying to her mother "It's only Daddy".
A well-known face on TV was that of the announcer and newsreader Richard Baker. Millions tuned in every evening at 6pm to see and hear him read the News. His small daughter was getting in her mother's way in the kitchen, so she was told to go in the sitting room and see what was on the television. She was soon back saying to her mother "It's only Daddy".
Sunday 25 October 2015
Dressed for Radio
I listen regularly to a digest of articles from the Daily Telegraph on audio. There was a recent piece about what newsreaders should wear on the very early morning "Today" programme. Listeners may still be in their pyjamas but who knows what the broadcasters are wearing.
In the early days of radio newsreaders were required to wear a dinner jacket when they read the evening news out of respect for any guests they might have to interview. Jack de Manio (of sainted memory) said he could not afford a DJ so he and a colleague bought one between them and wore it turn and turn about. Later on he bought the DJ from his colleague and having sole ownership was able to rent it out at ten shillings a time. He reckoned to make quite a profit on the deal!
In the early days of radio newsreaders were required to wear a dinner jacket when they read the evening news out of respect for any guests they might have to interview. Jack de Manio (of sainted memory) said he could not afford a DJ so he and a colleague bought one between them and wore it turn and turn about. Later on he bought the DJ from his colleague and having sole ownership was able to rent it out at ten shillings a time. He reckoned to make quite a profit on the deal!
Monday 19 October 2015
A day at the seaside in the 1940s
The first week I met my husband Don at the Farm Camp six of us decided at the weekend to go in Don's car to Littlehampton. We went first to the funfair - Don and me, Ken and Irene (one of the cooks) and my friend Marion and Don's friend Arthur. Arthur was on the small side whereas Marion was what is known as "a fine figure of a girl". We all went on the Caterpillar Ride. This consisted of a circle of very small cars each holding two people. Arthur and Marion shared a car. During the very fast ride the cars moved up and down and tilted from side to side tipping the riders against one another and a green roof came down over the cars. We all got off rather breathlessly, and Ken said "shall we have another go". "No thanks," said Arthur forcefully. "Let's try something else."
During the War King Haakon of Norway took refuge in Britain. He was invited to speak to his people at Bush House on the World Service radio. A programme was drawn up with notes to the sound engineer to start the programme with a fanfare. Imagine everyone's surprise (including the King's) to hear music and a raucous voice calling "Roll up, roll up, sixpence to see the fat lady". The sound engineer said "I thought it said 'FUNFAIR'".
During the War King Haakon of Norway took refuge in Britain. He was invited to speak to his people at Bush House on the World Service radio. A programme was drawn up with notes to the sound engineer to start the programme with a fanfare. Imagine everyone's surprise (including the King's) to hear music and a raucous voice calling "Roll up, roll up, sixpence to see the fat lady". The sound engineer said "I thought it said 'FUNFAIR'".
Sunday 18 October 2015
Unpublished letters
I am greatly enjoying my latest audio book. It was published in 2012 and is a collection of letters from readers of the Daily Telegraph which were not published in the newspaper. They are either witty, erudite or thought-provoking - in some cases all three.
I think there have been two earlier books. Imagine one's chagrin if, not being published in the newspaper, one's letter was not considered worthy of being put in the book of unpublished letters and had been relegated to the slush pile!
I think there have been two earlier books. Imagine one's chagrin if, not being published in the newspaper, one's letter was not considered worthy of being put in the book of unpublished letters and had been relegated to the slush pile!
Monday 12 October 2015
Family news
I have been motivated to recommence writing my blog after an encounter with a lady at my nephew John's funeral - a great loss to us, his family and his enormously wide circle of friends. John made friends wherever he went and will be greatly missed. He faced his impending fate with humour and great courage as one would expect of him.
Karen and John had a long and happy marriage and were particularly close to his older brother Ian and Ian's wife Lyn. I have never known two brothers with such a close friendship.
One of John and Karen's close friends asked me "Are you Auntie Jessie?" She said John had recommended that she should read my blog and asked when I would start again, so I feel obliged to do so (with Amanda's help).
Apart from the dreadful sadness that John's passing has left in our family, there have been two other momentous events recently. My grandson Harry, and Sarah have a son, Beau, born in July, and my eldest grandson, Tom, and Lan have a son, Luc, born a fortnight ago. I already have one great grandson - aged one year - born to Holly and J. So now I have three great grandsons!
Karen and John had a long and happy marriage and were particularly close to his older brother Ian and Ian's wife Lyn. I have never known two brothers with such a close friendship.
One of John and Karen's close friends asked me "Are you Auntie Jessie?" She said John had recommended that she should read my blog and asked when I would start again, so I feel obliged to do so (with Amanda's help).
Apart from the dreadful sadness that John's passing has left in our family, there have been two other momentous events recently. My grandson Harry, and Sarah have a son, Beau, born in July, and my eldest grandson, Tom, and Lan have a son, Luc, born a fortnight ago. I already have one great grandson - aged one year - born to Holly and J. So now I have three great grandsons!
Thursday 16 April 2015
Saying Grace
Thinking about the sumptuous lunch Amanda had cooked on Sunday for my birthday I realised it was a lomn time since anyone had said grace. I suppose I left it to Don who liked to say grace before a festive meal I feel one ought to thank someone. Even if one does not have a deity to thank one should perhaps be glad of one's good fortune inliving in a country where food is plentiful. When I was small my mother's mantra was "Eat it all up. There is somme poor little boy in India who hasn't got any dinner and has to go hungry" Uf it was liver which I hated I would think - well he is welcome to mine.
My mother taught manners as well as grace. I had to say "Thank you God for my good dinner. Please Mummy may I get down?" I taught my small daughter to say and one day after watching me cook the meal she said, quite logically, "Thank you Mummy foe my good dinner/ Please God may I get down?"
We used to sing a grace at Girl Guides called Johnny Appleseed.
The Bishop's wife said "I think we will say thanks after the meal. I'm not sure how the pudding will turn out"
Three potatoes between the four of us
Thank the Lord there aren't any more of us.
My mother taught manners as well as grace. I had to say "Thank you God for my good dinner. Please Mummy may I get down?" I taught my small daughter to say and one day after watching me cook the meal she said, quite logically, "Thank you Mummy foe my good dinner/ Please God may I get down?"
We used to sing a grace at Girl Guides called Johnny Appleseed.
The Bishop's wife said "I think we will say thanks after the meal. I'm not sure how the pudding will turn out"
Three potatoes between the four of us
Thank the Lord there aren't any more of us.
Friday 27 March 2015
A historic week
This week I have been steeped in the story of Richard III.
Since reading Josephine Tey's book A Daughter of Time many years ago, I have always been convinced that Richard III was not the black-hearted villain painted by Shakespeare. Not that one can altogether blame Shakespeare. After all he was writing in Tudor times, when the Tudors were securely on the throne, and it would not have been prudent to show a Tudor enemy as a hero.
I have been following the story of the discovery of the skeleton for some time, as Amanda was involved with the launch of the new King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester. The tussle between Leicester and York in the High Court was exciting.
On Sunday, the cortege, the simple coffin (made by the direct descendant of Richard III), the black horses and the outriders dressed as mounted medieval knights in armour processing through the streets of Leicester was a sight to behold. The service which followed the handing over of the remains from Leicester University to the Cathedral clergy was long and impressive. The sermon by Roman Catholic Cardinal Nicholls was well said, as at the time of Richard's death all England was Roman Catholic.
Yesterday I watched the ceremony of reinterment at Leicester Cathedral. It was a very moving service. The Bishop of Leicester and the Archbishop of Canterbury officiated, and a poem written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate was beautifully read by Benedict Cumberbatch. There were interviews with all the people who had been instrumental in bringing about this momentous event.
Over 20,000 people had queued up to see the coffin in the Cathedral during the week, and once again crowds of people had lined the streets to watch yesterday morning's proceedings. We really do ceremonies well in Britain.
There have always been power struggles over the Monarchy. Even in my lifetime, there was the abdication of Edward VIII, the talk of conspiracy theory over the death of Princess Diana, and now whether Prince Charles should be King on his mother's demise. I suppose there always will be contentious opinions around people in power.
Since reading Josephine Tey's book A Daughter of Time many years ago, I have always been convinced that Richard III was not the black-hearted villain painted by Shakespeare. Not that one can altogether blame Shakespeare. After all he was writing in Tudor times, when the Tudors were securely on the throne, and it would not have been prudent to show a Tudor enemy as a hero.
I have been following the story of the discovery of the skeleton for some time, as Amanda was involved with the launch of the new King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester. The tussle between Leicester and York in the High Court was exciting.
On Sunday, the cortege, the simple coffin (made by the direct descendant of Richard III), the black horses and the outriders dressed as mounted medieval knights in armour processing through the streets of Leicester was a sight to behold. The service which followed the handing over of the remains from Leicester University to the Cathedral clergy was long and impressive. The sermon by Roman Catholic Cardinal Nicholls was well said, as at the time of Richard's death all England was Roman Catholic.
Yesterday I watched the ceremony of reinterment at Leicester Cathedral. It was a very moving service. The Bishop of Leicester and the Archbishop of Canterbury officiated, and a poem written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate was beautifully read by Benedict Cumberbatch. There were interviews with all the people who had been instrumental in bringing about this momentous event.
Over 20,000 people had queued up to see the coffin in the Cathedral during the week, and once again crowds of people had lined the streets to watch yesterday morning's proceedings. We really do ceremonies well in Britain.
There have always been power struggles over the Monarchy. Even in my lifetime, there was the abdication of Edward VIII, the talk of conspiracy theory over the death of Princess Diana, and now whether Prince Charles should be King on his mother's demise. I suppose there always will be contentious opinions around people in power.
Sunday 15 March 2015
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
An item on the radio programme "Today" held my attention this morning. Alison Skilbeck was interviewed about her One Woman show about Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the former president of the United States. The actress talked of Mrs. Roosevelt's visit to London in 1942.
During the Second World War, I worked as a Clerical Officer on shift duties in a small room in the basement of the Home Office in Whitehall. This was the hub of Civil Defence for the U.K. There were seven people on each shift, three C.O.s and a shorthand-typist (all girls) and three male Officers of the Watch.
We had many important visitors. King George VI, Winston Churchill, John Winant, the U.S. ambassador and Chiefs of Staff, who came to discuss the bombing with the O.O.W.s. I particularly remember Mrs. Roosevelt as she made a point of coming round to talk to me and to the other girls to ask us about our work and how we travelled to work in the air raids. Nobody had asked us this before. We were just expected to turn up regardless. I thought she was a most kind and gracious lady.
During the Second World War, I worked as a Clerical Officer on shift duties in a small room in the basement of the Home Office in Whitehall. This was the hub of Civil Defence for the U.K. There were seven people on each shift, three C.O.s and a shorthand-typist (all girls) and three male Officers of the Watch.
We had many important visitors. King George VI, Winston Churchill, John Winant, the U.S. ambassador and Chiefs of Staff, who came to discuss the bombing with the O.O.W.s. I particularly remember Mrs. Roosevelt as she made a point of coming round to talk to me and to the other girls to ask us about our work and how we travelled to work in the air raids. Nobody had asked us this before. We were just expected to turn up regardless. I thought she was a most kind and gracious lady.
Wednesday 4 March 2015
Baby Jack and his two Uncles
Today is a bright Spring morning with a promise of warmer weather to come. We have seen the end of February Filldyke, as my mother used to call it!
Saturday 21 February 2015
I was listening to a man talking about the people he had met while travelling across America and finding, as we did, that not everybody is like the Americans as portrayed by Hollywood.
We had been invited by friends who lived on Vancouver Island to spend some weeks with them on a sailing holiday. After a fortnight of mixed joys sailing round the many islands and inlets there was a family crisis. A grandchild arrived prematurely and mother was called on to help so we decided to take ourselves off .
Don and I flew to San Francisco. A bustling city with all sorts of exciting things happening on the Waterfront.To my disappointment the famous streetcars were off the road as they were all being refurbished or something. After a few days we decided to make our way back to Vancouver by Greyhound bus. Funds were running low so we spent all one night on the bus saving on hotel . We made friends with fellow passengers. At one stop a small boy aged about five was put on the bus . He was on his way to his Grandmom he said and had a large label pinned to his coat with an address printed on it in large red letters. The driver talked to him all the way and waited when he got off to make sure he was met. I got the impression he was a regular traveller. We thought we would look for a place to rent for a week and a lady recommended a place called Seaside and we got off the bus with her and she helped os find a flat over a grocery shop. A bit ramshackle but O.K/
We spent a lovely week, walking along the broad sandy beach and watching the birds. A huge flock of pelicans nested at one end of the be ach We found everyone very friendly and interested in us We were off the usual tourist route for English visitors. One young girl rushed off saying "I'm going to tell my mum I've met some English people"
We got the bus back to Vancouver after staying a night in Portland, Oregan and resumed our sailing holiday, crisis being over.
We had been invited by friends who lived on Vancouver Island to spend some weeks with them on a sailing holiday. After a fortnight of mixed joys sailing round the many islands and inlets there was a family crisis. A grandchild arrived prematurely and mother was called on to help so we decided to take ourselves off .
Don and I flew to San Francisco. A bustling city with all sorts of exciting things happening on the Waterfront.To my disappointment the famous streetcars were off the road as they were all being refurbished or something. After a few days we decided to make our way back to Vancouver by Greyhound bus. Funds were running low so we spent all one night on the bus saving on hotel . We made friends with fellow passengers. At one stop a small boy aged about five was put on the bus . He was on his way to his Grandmom he said and had a large label pinned to his coat with an address printed on it in large red letters. The driver talked to him all the way and waited when he got off to make sure he was met. I got the impression he was a regular traveller. We thought we would look for a place to rent for a week and a lady recommended a place called Seaside and we got off the bus with her and she helped os find a flat over a grocery shop. A bit ramshackle but O.K/
We spent a lovely week, walking along the broad sandy beach and watching the birds. A huge flock of pelicans nested at one end of the be ach We found everyone very friendly and interested in us We were off the usual tourist route for English visitors. One young girl rushed off saying "I'm going to tell my mum I've met some English people"
We got the bus back to Vancouver after staying a night in Portland, Oregan and resumed our sailing holiday, crisis being over.
Monday 2 February 2015
Sorry about the breakdown in communications. Normal service will, I hope be resumed shortly.
In have been proper poorly since before Christmas with a cold and persistent cough but am much better now. My failng sight is making it difficult read and write even with the computer but with Amamda's help I shall endeavour to rad and reply to e mails.
A belated Happy New Year to you all.
In have been proper poorly since before Christmas with a cold and persistent cough but am much better now. My failng sight is making it difficult read and write even with the computer but with Amamda's help I shall endeavour to rad and reply to e mails.
A belated Happy New Year to you all.
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