大象传媒

'This poem was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV 大象传媒 Coventry and Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of M. R. Spurgeon and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions'.

One show, which had a long run on the wireless, was 鈥淗i Gang鈥�. It starred Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels who were greatly respected because, although American, they chose to remain in London during the blitz. The third star in Hi Gang was Vic Oliver, a violinist turned comedian, who caused a scandal by marrying one of Churchill鈥檚 daughters.

The many workers in munitions factories were not overlooked. Music While You Work and Workers鈥� Playtime were created with them in mind. If I was home I often enjoyed Workers鈥� Playtime, which was a variety show broadcast regularly from factories all over the country as live entertainment during the lunch break. A favourite was 鈥渢wo ton Tessie O鈥� Shea鈥� with her banjo or ukulele.

There is no doubt that during the early war years the king of comedy was Tommy Handley. His show 鈥淚t鈥檚 that man again鈥� (ITMA) was a weekly tonic and I was allowed to stay up to hear it. It was topical, sending up Hitler and the war. Each of its 12 or more characters had a distinctive catch-phrase, which we and many others loved to imitate. Colonel Chinstrap鈥檚 鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind if I do鈥�. Mrs. Mopp with her 鈥淐an I do you now sir鈥�, and Sam Scram鈥檚 鈥淕ee, boss, something terrible鈥檚 happened鈥�. 鈥淎fter you, Cecil. No, after you, Claude鈥�, 鈥淒on鈥檛 forget the diver sir鈥鈥檓 going down now sir鈥�, 鈥淭his is Funff speaking鈥�, and the calamity-prone Mona Lott鈥檚 recipe for survival, 鈥淚t鈥檚 being so cheerful that keeps me going.鈥� Some of these sayings could still be heard many years after the war.

I found that the wireless gave me a sense of stability. It was always there with Big Ben, the calm voices of presenters, and the regular programmes, in spite of air-raids and the disruptions of wartime. I could always be amused by the throaty mumbling of the Radio Doctor鈥檚 talks on health, or be bored as my grandmother listened to Mr. Middleton in his garden. Most reassuring of all was the daily Children鈥檚 Hour, the ultimate proof that all was well. I can still hear Mr. Groucher telling Larry the Lamb 鈥渉e ought to be ashamed of himself鈥� in Toytown and Eeyore鈥檚 plaintiff 鈥淥h dear鈥� in Winnie the Pooh. Worzel Gummidge forever 鈥済oing to sulk鈥�, Norman and Henry Bones, the boy detectives, and Mole鈥檚 excited 鈥淥h my!鈥�, are just a few of the voices that still linger. Most of all, I remember the rich, expressive voice of David Davies bringing a story to life and the benediction which Uncle Mac always bestowed with his closing words, 鈥淕oodnight, children, everywhere.鈥�

For me the wireless in wartime did not convey the horror and sufferings of the conflict but enabled me to keep in touch with humour, courage and those qualities, which make childhood a wonderful experience.

This poem was donated to the People鈥檚 War website by M. R. Spurgeon, of the Leam Writers. If you would like to find out more about Leam Writers call 0845 900 5 300.

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