Postbag

Although broadcasting technology was once considered a threat to the theatre, it has, in many ways, proved to be its saviour. From its earliest days, radio programmes offered extracts of plays currently being staged, giving theatres wider exposure, and hopefully shifting some more tickets.

Continue reading »

I was raised by my grandmother as my mother died when I was born and my father was in the Army, training soldiers for WWII.

Continue reading »

When Match of the Day started on BBC television it was on BBC Two only and we only had BBC One at the time. As we lived in a flat over the top of a TV shop, I arranged with the shop manager to set his time switches to make sure the telly in the…

Continue reading »

It is well-known that bits and bobs used to ‘disappear’ from factories during the war, and the methods devised to […]

Continue reading »

After Empire Day in May, the next big event at school was Alexandra Rose Day, which took place in June. At Hearnville Road School in Balham, London, our rose queen was chosen by popular vote. Like Britannia, hers was a non-active role. Once she had made her entrance, and was crowned and gowned with her…

Continue reading »

In the autumn of 1938, I started work at ICI at Blackley, Manchester, for £1 a week. I was what is now known as a management trainee, but my initial job was as an office boy, delivering mail around the offices and wax cylinders to the typing pool.

Continue reading »