Web Page 1074
8th September 2012

Top Picture: Jimmy Saville presents the very first Top of the Pops

Bottom Picture: Staff in the first Habitat Store

The Olympics

During our school life we lived through four sessions of Summer Olympic Games, ( I was only 2 when the 1948 Games were held). Probably the best remembered were the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, which were held in Melbourne. The 1956 Games were the first to be staged in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as the first to be held outside Europe and North America.

Melbourne was selected, in 1949, to host the 1956 Olympics by a one-vote margin. The first sign of trouble was the revelation that Australian equine quarantine would prevent the country from hosting the equestrian events. Stockholm was selected as the alternative site, so equestrian competition began on 10 June, five and a half months before the rest of the Olympic games were to open, half the world away.

The problems of the Melbourne Games were compounded by bickering over financing among Australian politicians. Faced with a housing shortage, the Premier of Victoria refused to allocate money for the Olympic Village and the country's Prime Minister barred the use of federal funds. At one point, IOC President Avery Brundage suggested that Rome, which was to host the 1960 Games, was so far ahead of Melbourne in preparations that it might be ready as a replacement site in 1956. As late as April 1955, he was still doubtful about Melbourne, and was not satisfied by an inspection trip to the city. Construction was well underway by then, thanks to a $4.5 million federal loan to Victoria, but it was behind schedule. He still held out the possibility that Rome might have to step in.By the beginning of 1956, though, it was obvious that Melbourne would be ready for the Olympics.

Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon announced that they would not participate in the Olympics in response to the Suez Crisis. Meanwhile, in 1956 the Soviet Union crushed the Hungarian Revolution, and the Soviet presence at the Games led to the withdrawal of the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Less than two weeks before the 22 November opening ceremony, the People's Republic of China chose to boycott the event because the Republic of China had been allowed to compete under the name "Formosa". Although the number of countries participating (67) was almost the same as in 1952 (69), the number of athletes competing dropped sharply, from 4,925 to 3,342.

But how did the UK fair at these Games? Here are a few names from the past, how many do you remember?

 Gold

Chris Brasher — Athletics, Men's 3.000m Steeplechase                                             Terry Spinks — Boxing, Men's Flyweight                                                             Richard McTaggart — Boxing, Men's Lightweight                                                        Bertie Hill, Laurence Rook, and Frank Weldon — Equestrian, Three-Day Event Team                                                                                                                       Gillian Sheen — Fencing, Women's Foil Individual                                                 Judy Grinham — Swimming, Women's 100m Backstroke

Silver

Derek Johnson — Athletics, Men's 800m                                                     Gordon Pirie — Athletics, Men's 5.000m                                                             Jean Scrivens, Heather Armitage, June Foulds, and Anne Pashley — Athletics, Women's 4x100m Relay                                                                  Thelma Hopkins — Athletics, Women's High Jump                                      Thomas Nicholls — Boxing, Men's Featherweight                                          Arthur Brittain, William Holmes, and Alan Jackson — Cycling, Men's Team Road Race                                                                                                Robert Perry, David Bowker, John Dillon, and Neil Kennedy-Cochran — Sailing, Men's 5½ Meter Class

 

Bronze

Derek Ibbotson — Athletics, Men's 5.000m                                                         Michael Wheeler, Peter Higgins, Derek Johnson, and John Salisbury — Athletics, Men's 4x400m Relay                                                                               Nicholas Gargano — Boxing, Men's Welterweight                                                    John McCormack — Boxing, Men's Light Middleweight                         Thomas Simpson, Donald Burgess, Michael Gambrill, and John Geddes — Cycling, Men's 4.000m Team Pursuit                                                                   Alan Jackson — Cycling, Men's Individual Road Race                                     Frank Weldon — Equestrian, Three-Day Event Individual                              Peter Robeson, Pat Smythe, and Wilf White — Equestrian, Jumping Team                                                                        Margaret Edwards — Swimming, Women's 100m Backstroke                          Terrence Smith and Jasper Blackall — Sailing, Men's Sharpie 12m²                                                                                            Graham Mann, Ronald Backus, and Jonathan Janson — Sailing, Men's Dragon Class.

At Court Lane school of course the Olympic hero was Jim Fox who was just leaving when I joined the school. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of the Modern Pentathlon in Britain. He won the British title record ten times and is the only British pentathlete to have competed in four Olympic Games. His fourth place in the individual event at München in 1972 was the best placing by a Briton up to that time and has only subsequently been matched by Richard Phelps in 1984. He made his Olympic début in 1964, when he placed 29th in the individual event, and in his second Olympic appearance in 1968 he improved to finish eighth. After the 1968 Games, at that time he was a sergeant in the REME, announced his retirement but he was dissuaded by his coach, Ron Bright, and remained in the sport for another eight years. During that period he set a fine example his final individual effort was at the 1972 Olympics he won a gold medal in the 1972 Olympics he won a gold medal in the team event in 1976. Fox, who was later commission in the REME, was first awarded the MBE and subsequently the OBE for his services to the sport.

He now lives in Wiltshire and suffers from Parkinsons Disease.

Sport was never my thing at school although I did play twice for the school football team and came second in the cross country. Also Griff reminds me that he was Fleming team captain and he was awarded a Certificate of Merit for his discus throwing. See attached picture!

However isn’t it good to see how well we did in this Olympiad  

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Peter

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Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

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News and Views:

Scott McKenzie, best known for the "Summer of Love" anthem, "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)," died Saurday (August 18) in Los Angeles at the age of 73.

On this day 8th September 1960-1965

On 08/09/1960 the number one single was Apache - The Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Rawhide and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story was Grandma Moses is 100-years-old.

On 08/09/1961 the number one single was Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Sunday Night at the London Palladium and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was TUC votes against Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament

On 08/09/1962 the number one single was I Remember You - Frank Ifield and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street  and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 0809/1963 the number one single was Bad to Me - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Sussex win first One Day Cricket Tournament

On 08/09/1964 the number one single was Have I the Right? - Honeycombs and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/09/1965 the number one single was I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher and the number one album was Help - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1072
1^st September 2012

Top Picture: Charles Hawtrey

Bottom Picture: Carry On Poster

Charles Hawtrey

George Frederick Joffre Hartree known as Charles Hawtrey, was a boy soprano, who made several records before moving on to the radio. He wasb orn in Hounslow, in 1914, to William John Hartree and wife Alice Hartree He took his stage name from the theatrical knight, Sir Charles Hawtrey, and encouraged the suggestion that he was his son. However, his father was actually a car mechanic.

His career was to span almost 60 years. Following study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, he embarked on a career in the theatre as both actor and director and into the cinema where he regularly supported Will Hay in the 1930s and 40s in films through to the Carry On films and television work.

He acted in films from an early age, appearing in an impressive array of movies while still a boy, and as an adult his youthful appearance made him an excellent foil. He also took a hand at directing but became best known as a leading participant in the Carry On films series of films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, mostly playing characters that ranged from the wimpish through to the effeminate. His last film was Carry On Abroad (1972), after which he was dropped from the series because his growing alcohol consumption, was beginning to affect his work.

The last straw occurred in 1972 when, in a bid to finally gain higher billing, he withdrew from a Carry On Christmas television programme giving just a few days' despite appearing in promotional material. After he was stopped being used in Carry On roles ^he slipped into pantomime and provincial summer seasons, where he played heavily on his Carry On persona.

Little is known about his early years or later private life. He guarded his relationships very carefully, perhaps no surprise in an age when homosexual behaviour in Britain was illegal and punishable by a prison sentence. His outrageous drunken promiscuity however, did not portray him in a positive light to an unsympathetic world; nor did his general demeanour and increasing eccentricity earn him many friends.

He retired to deal where he owned a house full of old brass bedsteads which he had hoarded, believing that "one day he would make a great deal of money from them".

A lot of strain was put on him by his mother, who suffered senile dementia in later years. His mother would collect toilet rolls and on a visit to the studios blocked the women's' toilets with paper. Charles was also prone to such tendencies and would often gather up of the leftover sandwiches from a buffet for the Carry On cast.

Barbara Windsor recalls his alcoholism, and his outrageous flirting with footballer Georgie Best. While filming Carry On Spying she thought he had fainted from fright at a dramatic scene on a conveyor belt—in fact he had passed out because he was drunk. When he came on set with a crate of R. White's Lemonade, everyone knew that he had been on another heavy drinking binge. Nevertheless he was an integral face to the Carry On family, smoking Woodbines profusely between takes.

After retirement to an old smugglers cottage in Deal in the 1980s, where he devoted much time to drinking. He was well known for promenading along the seafront in extravagant attire, waving cheerfully to the fishermen, and his frequenting of establishments patronised by students of the Royal Marines School of Music. He caused a scandal in August 1984 when his house caught fire after he went to bed with a teenage boy and left a cigarette burning. Newspaper photos from the time show a fireman carrying an emotional, partially clothed Charles Hawtrey down a ladder to safety. This was the only picture ever taken without him wearing a wig.

In October 1988, he was taken to hospital after breaking his leg in a fall in front of a public house. He was discovered to be suffering from peripheral vascular disease, a condition of the arteries brought on by a lifetime of heavy smoking. He was told that in order to save his life, his legs would have to be amputated. He refused, allegedly saying he preferred to die with his boots on, and died almost a month later, aged 73. On his deathbed, he supposedly threw a vase at his nurse who asked for a final autograph - it was the last thing he did. His ashes were scattered in Mortlake Crematorium and no friends or family attended. He appears to have run out of both!

He once said of the ‘Carry On’ films; ‘ Those films haven't made me rich but they've given me a world wide identity. We worked for bread money. It is interesting to see his salary eturns for just four of his films. ‘Don't Lose Your Head’ (1966) £4,500, ‘Follow That Camel’ (1967) £4,000, ‘Carry on Doctor’ (1967) £1,500 and ‘Carry On... Up the Khyber’ (1968) £3,500

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Peter

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Christine writes about the booklet “The Time of our Lives”

 Particular memories for me were Friday nights at Manor Court Youth Club, I was there the night Kennedy died too. I recall two groups who played quite regularly I think. The Black Cats and The Sons of Man (Oriana's chap I think).

I also used to go to the Lido on sunny days  (they always were in our youth) and was brave enough to jump from the top board occasionally. I was disappointed when revisiting years later to see how it had deteriorated as you describe. It was a pretty basic pool and surrounds, lots of concrete but we used to enjoy cycling there from Kinross and having a swim.

AND, I too was at the live recording of Juke Box Jury and know that a very pregnant Marianne Faithfull was on the jury!

News and Views:

Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, has died aged 82. The Commander of the space ship Apollo 11 died after complications arising from a recent cardiac bypass.

On this day 1^st September 1960-1965

On 01/09/1960 the number one single was Apache - The Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Rawhide (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/09/1960 the number one single was Apache - The Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Rawhide (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/09/1962 the number one single was I Remember You - Frank Ifield and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/09/1963 the number one single was Bad to Me - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/09/1964 the number one single was Have I the Right? - Honeycombs and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 01/09/1965 the number one single was I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher and the number one album was Help - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1070
25^th August 2012

Top Picture: Joe Loss

Bottom Picture: Victor Sylvester

Two very different Bandleaders

1/ Joe Loss

Joe Loss was the doyen of big bandleaders. His name was synonymous with the best in dance band music.,He had a style and musical policy that kept him at the top of the big band world for 60 years.

He was born Joshua Alexander Loss ,the son of Israel (a skilled cabinet maker) and Ada Loss in London's East End on June 22nd, 1909. His interest in big band music was fostered by the syncopated music of the 1920's but it had to be largely self-taught, because classical music was the order of the day in the Loss household. Joe was trained as a classical violinist and was 10 when he gave his first solo concert in Toynbee Hall. Such was his talent that on his 13th birthday he gained a scholarship to the Trinity School of Music, where he studied for the four years. He was a talented violinist, but the classics were clearly not his forte and he developed a love for jazz and big band music.

In 1930, at 20 Joe became Britain's youngest named bandleader with a 'staff' of professional musicians, and an individual conducing style,, his energetic baton showmanship and his love for the music, soon earned him the No.2 spot at the Astoria Ballroom, London. Two years later, he was at the swish Kit-Kat restaurant and already making his debut on BBC Radio.

Joe became a star in his own right and his musical staff - always fiercely loyal to him - were a No.1 attraction both in London and nationally. By 1937 he had become the biggest name in the world of British big band music and in fact Vera Lynn gave her first broadcast with the band.

By the time the Second World War broke out, his working week consisted of up to nine BBC broadcasts, five afternoon concerts and six evening dances - often during the height of the Blitz. His records have sold millions all over the world; he's introduced countless dance crazes to the country with records like 'Wheels Cha-Cha', the theme from 'Maigret' and 'March Of The Mods'.

He was made a Freeman of the City of London and was proud of his LVO, OBE and HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. Even after 60 years on the bandstand, Joe Loss still got immeasurable pleasure from playing his He was the doyen of British bandleaders and undisputed maestro of the bandstand. He died in 1990.

2/ Victor Silvester

Victor Marlborough Silvester was born on 25th February 1900^[was an author, musician and dance band leader and a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half of the 20th century, and his records sold 75 million copies from the 1930s through to the 1980s.

He was born the second son of a vicar in Wembley and educated at Ardingly College, St. John's School, Leatherhead and John Lyon School, Harrow, from all of which he absconded. In September 1916 he enlisted in the Army during the First World War and served as a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He lied about his age to the recruiting authorities, saying he was 20 when in fact he was only 16. He took part in the Batte of Arras and also was a member of five execution squads, where deserters were shot. Once his age was discovered, he signed up with the First Aid Service and served in France until June 1917. At the age of 18, he re-joined the Army though he did not serve overseas again. After the war he studied at Worcester College, Oxford and decided to resume a military career when he was offered a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, but he quickly decided it was not for him. He also studied music at Trinity College, London, having already had private piano lessons as a child.

His interests had turned to dancing and won the first World Ballroom Dancing Championship in 1922 with Phyllis Clarke as his partner. He married Dorothy Newton a few days later. He competed again in 1924, coming second. He went on to open a dancing academy in London, which developed into a chain of 23 dance studios. His teaching had become famous and he had taught some of the top celebrities of the day. By the 1950’s he had his own BBC television show called BBC Dancing Club.

He had formed his own five-piece band in 1935 and later enlarged it to his Ballroom Orchestra whose first record, "You're Dancing on My Heart" sold 17,000 copies and was to become his signature tune. He insisted his recordings conform precisely to the beats per minute recommended a concept termed "strict tempo" so in British eyes he became indelibly associated with the catch-phrase "slow, slow, quick-quick-slow" – a rhythm that occurs in the foxtrot and quickstep.

The Silvester band always had a distinctive sound, achieved by an unusual line-up with not one but two pianos.

His record sales were so huge that competition was inevitable. Other dancers were attracted to the idea, and set up their own strict-tempo bands; there were other bands led by musicians who were capable of recording in strict time. The best for ballroom competition was probably Joe Loss

By 1958, when he published his autobiography, he was the most successful dance band leader in British musical history, and a major star on British radio and television. His BBC Television show Dancing Club lasted 17 years. He also presented a weekly request programme on the BBC Overseas Service (later World Service) which ran from 1948 to 1975. His obituary in The Times noted, "Turn on a radio in Famagusta, Cape Town or Peking and one would be likely to hear his music issuing from the speakers"

Victor Silvester was appointed an OBE in 1961. He died while on holiday in the south of France at the age of 78. The orchestra remained in existence under his son's direction until the 1990s. Victor, his wife, and son are memorialised at Golders Green Crematorium.

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Peter

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I had this sent to me anonymously:-

Office life in the late 1950s

I don't remember there being a break between leaving College and commencing work during the Summer of 1952. The College pointed pupils in the direction of their first jobs by agreement, no doubt, with the companies involved. With little preamble, I soon found myself being introduced to staff members in the office. Once settled at a desk, it didn't feel so different from school, at first, but in no time at all,  I was confronted by an eight-leaf invoice system. It became apparent that this was an integral part of my varied duties, which came as a surprise, particularly as my only maths were rated as being Fair". My job was to calculate the invoices before typing them. Before completion, however, these were checked by the Chief Clerk.

At first, his visits to my desk were quite frequent due to my mistakes. I would hear the

sound of his crepe-soled shoes as he hurried down the corridor bearing the incorrect calculation. "Rubbish, girl" he would declare loudly. His bark was worse than his bite, fortunately, and with the invaluable aid of the office Ready Reckoner I learnt to invoice in tons, cwts, qtrs, lbs and ozs. I always welcomed the diversion of being summoned to take down shorthand and type letters, which I usually enjoyed. I looked forward to excuses to venture into the works.

Office girls socialized a little in the small kitchen making tea and coffee. No instant coffee, mind you, the usual practice was to heat milk and water in a huge pan with real coffee grains - and then strain it into jugs. The aroma was really delicious.

We all got together on an Annual Picnic which included a meal never mind that it poured all day:

News and Views:

Eric Burdon underwent back surgery at the end of July to alleviate pain. The 71 year-old will take the next 3 to 6 months off to recover, pushing his next album back to early 2013.

On this day 25th August 1960-1965

On 25/07/1960 the number one single was Please Don't Tease - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Rawhide  and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Plastic carrier bags introduced.

On 25/07/1961 the number one single was You Don't Know - Helen Shapiro and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Berlin Wall erected.

On 25/07/1962 the number one single was I Remember You - Frank Ifield and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street  and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division

On 25/07/1963 the number one single was Sweets For My Sweet - Searchers and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coro nation Street  and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 20/07/1964 the number one single was Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Portabl e TVs launched.

On 25/07/1965 the number one single was Help - The Beatles and the number one album was Liverpool. The top rated TV show was "Coronation Street ( and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £not very interesting and 11.69 were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Riviera Police.

Web Page 1068
18^th August 2012

Top Picture: Typical Aprons of the 1950’s

Bottom Picture: A 1950’s dream Kitchen

At Home

This week we are staying at home and looking at the lives of our mothers. For many of us when we got home, whatever the time of day, mother was almost always there but have you ever thought what did she do all day? Well there was the house to clean and polish, the lunch to cook, the mending to do, the carpets to Hoover and the washing to do on Mondays and the ironing on Tuesdays. These were mainly morning jobs and as the day progressed it was the accepted thing that come the afternoon our mothers went off to their bedrooms and changed clothes for the afternoon putting aside their morning cleaning clothes.

What were their cleaning clothes I hear you ask ? Definitely not the best that McIlroys, Handleys or the local Mail Order Catalogue had to offer. But whatever the clothes these were, they were always covered, in part at least, by an apron. So let’s look at that strange item of clothing the apron.

Firstly the normal waist fastening apron which most mothers had. Many of these were homemade or they were given as inexpensive and practical gifts by the children of the family for Christmas and Birthdays. I think my mother always bought hers but I know that Pam still has one that her mother made over 60 years ago and it is still going strong. These aprons were not only practical as they covered most of the skirt but useful as well as most of them had pockets for putting handkerchiefs or pegs in! 

A step up from this basic apron was the invention, in the early 1960’s of the hooped waist sprung apron with a springy plastic insert which simply clipped around the waist, ie no more knots to get into a tangle. But these were aimed at the smart young wives who lived mainly in the modern suburbs.

Some ladies preferred to wear a complete House Coat with three quarter length sleeves. This garment had the advantage of covering most of the wearers clothing, they buttoned up at the front to keep things clean and like the other two ‘Pinneys’ had pockets for useful odds and ends.

The final type of apron worn in the mornings can only be described as the Norah Batty type, the wrap round apron. These always seemed to be floral and favoured mostly by women in the north but I have no doubt they were in use in the south as well. In fact I know they were as my Aunty Gladys used to wear one. But only in the mornings.

The mornings were for cleaning, as I have said, and then it was up to change for the afternoon. At home my grandmother lived with us for many years and I can vividly remember both her and my mother going up to change their dresses for the afternoon. What happened in the afternoons? Well in our house for at least three afternoons a week it was off to the Whist Drive for a couple of hours, either in the Drayton Institute or the Scout Hut in Farlington both on the Havant Road or the Carlton Club situated in Portsdown Avenue and that was both my mother and grandmother. I wonder do such things as Whist Drive still exist?

The other two weekday afternoons, not counting the weekends because the man of the house was home and the routine changed dramatically, were spent in either putting on your coat and hat, bag and gloves and going to visit a friend for tea and cake; or, conversely inviting them to your house for tea and cake. This scenario was a little more complicated as it meant not only doing the cleaning and preparing the meals in the morning it also meant making fancy cakes or a Victoria Sponge for the afternoon visitors (no Mary Baker or Greens Sponge Mix in our house!). Now on these days the protocol was slightly different mother changed her clothes but when it came to serving the tea and cakes out came the fancy, lace trimmed apron, to fasten around the waist to impress the visitors. This apron was always kept in the same drawer as the lace tray cloth and the lace napkins in their special rings.

This is all a world away now and if friends are invited in these days for tea and cake. Most of the cakes come out of packets and as likely as not the hostess will be wearing jeans of slacks items which would have been totally unsuitable back in the 1950’s.

Maybe soon I will have to look at the average day of father in the days after the Coronation. I will put my mind to it. But it is very strange writing about aprons as in my professional life I wore one as a Chef for over 35 years!  

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Peter

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Juke Box Jury

I write:

After years of searching and with a little help from Christine, I have at long last discovered the episode of  Juke Box Jury I attended at the Guildhall was on 31st October 1964 and the Jury consisted of a very pregnant Marianne faithfull, Petula Clark, Stubby Kaye and also Gene Pitney  

Steve Writes:-

Hi Peter.

Enjoyed this weeks update and it did jog my memory on a few things.

I was in the 70th Portsmouth Wolf cub pack and pretty sure that the Akela was a Mr or Mrs Wilson and their two Sons were also there. Of course being 3 years younger than yourself they might have taken over from Mrs Chambers? I seemed to remember they lived up Gilman Lane opposite the Sunshine Inn, the Father was a builder and he had a board outside their house with Wilson and Sons Builders painted on it.

Perhaps some of your readers of my age might verify or disprove my hazy memory here.

Dr Cheyne was our doctor from when we moved up from Southsea, I found him a good old Family doctor.

Streets the Butcher rang a bell and probably my Mother used the shop, but can't place where it was in Drayton? 

And yes, good old Fishy Francis where we had many a fish supper from, or a carton of milk from the machine. In 2011 when we visited we bought fish & chips there and ate them on top of Portsdown hill, that brought back memories. Sadly no milk machine any more and now run by Chinese?

Regards Teachers Christian names, we only knew them by their Surnames and I only learned their forenames since reading your updates. And back in our day they were always addressed as Miss or Sir, we had respect for our Mentors and Elders, something today's youth seem to have lost!

An older friend of ours (John Huggins) back in later school days was the delivery boy for Nappers and drove the little Morris van for them. Sometimes he had the van on a Sunday and I remember once he took our little crowd of friends out to Harting hill for a treat.

The first time I ever witnessed the ultra-violet lights was in a pub between Widley and Purbrook on the London road, where they had a disco fairly regular. So white shirts and anything else was the order of the evenings and definitely nothing black! 

Keep up the splendid work, Regards Steve.

Malcolm Writes:-

Hi Pete, reading Christophers memories about the Odeon Cosham, the crafty ones amongst used to wait outside until one daring boy went inside, straight to the loo and opened the fire door to let those waiting in!!!!!

Keep them coming.......Malcolm 

Griff Writes:-

Now who remembers the Akela of the Monday evening Wolf Cub Pack at the 70^th Portsmouth 1^st Drayton Scout Troop? I think her name was Mrs Chambers and she had two sons Phillip and Marcus. Am I right?

Yes.......Phillip Chambers was in my class at Solent Rd. Not sure about Court Lane / Manor Court though.......did he move on to private education?

I have a photo of me in my 1st Drayton Cub uniform which is embarrassing . Mrs. Chambers also ran the Cubs.

Ken Wells had a Hookey nose and thin'ish featured face  so I guess he must have got the name Vulcan from the Eagle comics. I don't recall him ever being called Vulcan though in my time in his class.

News and Views:

Tom Jones tweets that he has come down with a chest infection and bronchitis and his doctors have ordered him to cancel concerts scheduled for London and the Isle of Wight.

On this day 11th August 1960-1965

On 11/08/1960 the number one single was Please Don't Tease - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Rawhide (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 11/08/1961 the number one single was You Don't Know - Helen Shapiro and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Harpers West One (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 11/08/1962 the number one single was I Remember You - Frank Ifield and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was the Mont Blanc tunnel was completed

On 11/08/1963 the number one single was Sweets For My Sweet - Searchers and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was the Great Train Robbery.

On 11/08/1964 the number one single was Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 11/08/1965 the number one single was Help - The Beatles and the number one album was Help - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Riviera Police (AR) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.