ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝

'This poem was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝ 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 “Hi Gang”. 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’s daughters.

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

There is no doubt that during the early war years the king of comedy was Tommy Handley. His show “It’s that man again” (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’s “I don’t mind if I do”. Mrs. Mopp with her “Can I do you now sir”, and Sam Scram’s “Gee, boss, something terrible’s happened”. “After you, Cecil. No, after you, Claude”, “Don’t forget the diver sir…I’m going down now sir”, “This is Funff speaking”, and the calamity-prone Mona Lott’s recipe for survival, “It’s being so cheerful that keeps me going.” 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’s talks on health, or be bored as my grandmother listened to Mr. Middleton in his garden. Most reassuring of all was the daily Children’s Hour, the ultimate proof that all was well. I can still hear Mr. Groucher telling Larry the Lamb “he ought to be ashamed of himself” in Toytown and Eeyore’s plaintiff “Oh dear” in Winnie the Pooh. Worzel Gummidge forever “going to sulk”, Norman and Henry Bones, the boy detectives, and Mole’s excited “Oh my!”, 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, “Goodnight, children, everywhere.”

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’s 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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