WEB PAGE NO 2772 3RD APRIL 2021 THE WINTER OF 1962-63

1ST PICTURE: SNOW IN LANCASHIRE, JANUARY 1963

2ND PICTURE: THE WEIGHT OF SNOW AND ICE STRETCHED THE COPPER TELEPHONE WIRES UNTIL THEY REACHED THE GROUND. EAST DUNDRY LANE, SOMERSET, JANUARY 1963

3RD PICTURE: SNOWED IN PUB IN PORTSMOUTH

4TH PICTURE: THE SNOW HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE!

DO YOU REMEMBER THE WINTER OF 1962–63 WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME KNOWN AS THE BIG FREEZE OF 1963? IT WAS ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS ON RECORD IN THE UK. TEMPERATURES PLUMMETED AND LAKES AND RIVERS BEGAN TO FREEZE OVER. IN THE CENTRAL ENGLAND TEMPERATURE RECORDS EXTENDING BACK TO 1659, ONLY THE WINTERS OF 1683–84 AND 1739–40 WERE COLDER THAN 1962–63. THE WINTER OF 1962–63 REMAINS THE COLDEST SINCE AT LEAST 1895 IN ALL METEOROLOGICAL DISTRICTS OF THE UK EXCEPT SCOTLAND NORTH, WHERE THE TWO WINTERS OF 1978–79 AND 2009–10 WERE COLDER. IT ALL BEGAN IN DECEMBER. THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH WAS FOGGY AND LONDON SUFFERED ITS LAST GREAT SMOG BEFORE CLEAN AIR ACT AND THE REDUCTION IN THE USE OF COAL FIRES HAD THEIR FULL EFFECT. A WINTRY OUTBREAK BROUGHT SNOW TO THE COUNTRY ON 12–13 DECEMBER. A COLD EASTERLY SET IN ON 22ND DECEMBER FROM SCANDINAVIA, DRAWING COLD CONTINENTAL WINDS FROM RUSSIA. THROUGHOUT THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD A NEW HIGH PRESSURE FORMED NEAR ICELAND, BRINGING NORTHERLY WINDS. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OCCURRED AS THE AIR MASS MOVED SOUTH, AND PARTS OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND HAD HEAVY SNOW LATE ON 26–27 DECEMBER. THE COLD AIR BECAME FIRMLY ESTABLISHED. ON 29TH AND 30TH DECEMBER 1962 A BLIZZARD SWEPT ACROSS SOUTH WEST ENGLAND AND WALES. SNOW DRIFTED TO MORE THAN 20 FEET DEEP IN PLACES, DRIVEN BY GALE FORCE EASTERLY WINDS, BLOCKING ROADS AND RAILWAYS. THE SNOW STRANDED VILLAGERS AND BROUGHT DOWN POWER LINES. THE NEAR-FREEZING TEMPERATURES MEANT THAT THE SNOW COVER LASTED FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS IN SOME AREAS. SNOW WAS 6 INCHES DEEP IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE, 9 INCHES IN WYTHENSHAWE, AND ABOUT 18 INCHES AT KEELE UNIVERSITY . BY THE END OF THE MONTH, THERE WERE SNOW DRIFTS 8 FEET DEEP IN KENT AND 15 FEET DEEP IN THE WEST. JANUARY 1963[EDIT] WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 28.2 °F JANUARY 1963 REMAINS THE COLDEST MONTH SINCE JANUARY 1814 IN CENTRAL ENGLAND. MUCH OF ENGLAND AND WALES WAS COVERED IN SNOW THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. IN JANUARY 1963, THE SEA FROZE FOR ONE MILE FROM SHORE AT HERNE BAY. THE SEA FROZE INSHORE IN MANY PLACES, REMOVING MANY BRITISH INLAND WATERBIRDS' USUAL LAST RESORT OF FINDING FOOD IN ESTUARIES AND SHALLOW SEA. THE SEA FROZE 4 MILES OUT TO SEA FROM DUNKIRK. THE UPPER REACHES OF THE RIVER THAMES FROZE OVER, ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT FREEZE IN CENTRAL LONDON, PARTLY DUE TO THE HOT EFFLUENT FROM TWO POWER STATIONS, BATTERSEA AND BANKSIDE. ON 20TH JANUARY 283 WORKERS HAD TO BE RESCUED BY RAF HELICOPTERS FROM FYLINGDALES, WHERE THEY HAD BEEN SNOWBOUND FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE ICE WAS THICK ENOUGH IN SOME PLACES THAT PEOPLE WERE SKATING ON IT, AND ON 22ND JANUARY A CAR WAS DRIVEN ACROSS THE FROZEN THAMES AT OXFORD. ICICLES HUNG FROM MANY ROOF GUTTERINGS, SOME AS LONG AS 3 FEET. ON 25 JANUARY THERE WAS A BRIEF THAW THAT LASTED THREE DAYS. SNOW CONTINUED TO FALL IN FEBRUARY 1963, WHICH WAS STORMY WITH WINDS REACHING FORCE 8. A 36-HOUR BLIZZARD CAUSED HEAVY DRIFTING SNOW IN MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. DRIFTS REACHED 20 FEET IN SOME AREAS AND GALE-FORCE WINDS REACHED UP TO 81 MILES PER HOUR. ON THE ISLE OF MAN, WIND SPEEDS WERE RECORDED AT 119 MILES PER HOUR . THE 6TH OF MARCH WAS THE FIRST MORNING OF THE YEAR WITHOUT FROST IN BRITAIN. TEMPERATURES ROSE TO 17 °C (62.6 °F) AND THE REMAINING SNOW DISAPPEARED. SPORTS WERE DISRUPTED IN THE WINTER OF 1962–63 IN THE UK. FOOTBALL MATCHES IN THE ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH LEAGUES SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE EFFECTS OF THE WINTER WEATHER. SOME MATCHES IN THE 1962–63 FA CUP WITH TIE SCORES WERE RESCHEDULED 10 OR MORE TIMES. MATCHES IN THE 5TH AND 6TH ROUNDS SCHEDULED FOR 16 FEBRUARY AND 9 MARCH WERE PLAYED ON 16 AND 30 MARCH. FROM 8 DECEMBER TO 16 FEBRUARY, BOLTON WANDERERS PLAYED NO COMPETITIVE MATCHES. WHEN THE THAW ARRIVED, A BACKLOG OF FIXTURES HAD TO BE HASTILY DETERMINED. THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE SEASON WAS EXTENDED BY FOUR WEEKS. THE FINAL LEAGUE FIXTURES TOOK PLACE ONE DAY BEFORE THE RESCHEDULED FA CUP FINAL. NATIONAL HUNT HORSE RACING WAS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE WEATHER. NINETY-FOUR MEETINGS WERE CANCELLED. THERE WAS NO RACING IN ENGLAND BETWEEN 23 DECEMBER AND 7 MARCH, ALTHOUGH A MEETING AT AYR IN SCOTLAND OCCURRED ON 5 JANUARY. SEVERAL EPISODES OF THE TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES THE EDGAR WALLACE MYSTERIES WERE FILMED DURING THE 1962–63 WINTER, AND THE EFFECTS OF THE BIG FREEZE ON BOTH URBAN AND RURAL LOCATIONS WERE CAPTURED ON FILM. THIS PERIOD BECAME KNOWN AS THE PARAFFIN WINTER. MOST HOUSES ONLY HAD OPEN COAL FIRES FOR HEATING WHICH MEANT THAT THE ONLY ROOM IN THE HOUSE WAS THE ONE WITH THE FIRE IN IT. TO TAKE THE CHILL OF THE HOUSE MANY OF OUR PARENTS, MINE INCLUDED BOUGHT PARAFFIN STOVES AND PLACED THE AROUND THE HOUSE AT STRATEGIC POINTS. BY THE FRONT DOOR AND IN THE BATHROOM AND IT WAS A COMMON SIGHT TO SEE ONE OF OUR PARENTS MARCHING OFF WITH A CAN IN THEIR HANDS TO BUY EITHER THE PINK PARAFFIN OR ESSO BLUE. BUT FOR US IT WAS ALL FUN. SNOWBALL FIGHTS, SLEDGING ON HOMEMADE SLEDGES AND BEST OF ALL NO SCHOOL BECAUSE THE TOILETS FROZE AND THE BOILER WOULD NOT WORK. BUT IT REALLY WAS COLD AS WE FOUND OUT WHEN WE TRIED TO SNUGGLE DOWN UNDER THE SHEETS AND SEARCHED FOR THE HOT WATER BOTTLE.

ON THIS DAY 3RD APRIL 1960 – 1965 ON 03/03/1960 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTMAN - LONNIE DONEGAN AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS SOUTH PACIFIC SOUNDTRACK. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS THE BUDGET (ALL CHANNELS) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS PSYCHO. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £13.68 AND BURNLEY WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. THE BIG NEWS STORY OF THE DAY WAS BUDGET INCREASES PRICE OF CIGARETTES BY 2D A PACK. YOU WRITE: NEWS AND VIEWS: ON THIS DAY 3RD APRIL 1960 – 1965 ON 03/03/1960 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTMAN - LONNIE DONEGAN AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS SOUTH PACIFIC SOUNDTRACK. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS THE BUDGET (ALL CHANNELS) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS PSYCHO. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £13.68 AND BURNLEY WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. THE BIG NEWS STORY OF THE DAY WAS BUDGET INCREASES PRICE OF CIGARETTES BY 2D A PACK.

ON 03/03/1961 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS WOODEN HEART - ELVIS PRESLEY AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS SOUTH PACIFIC SOUNDTRACK. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS NO HIDING PLACE (AR) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIONS. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £13.25 AND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS.

ON 03/03/1962 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS WONDERFUL LAND - THE SHADOWS AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS BLUE HAWAII - ELVIS PRESLEY. 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 IPSWICH TOWN WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. THE BIG NEWS STORY OF THE DAY WAS JAMES HANRATTY HANGED FOR A6 MURDER.

ON 03/03/1963 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS SUMMER HOLIDAY - CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS SUMMER HOLIDAY - CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS THE BUDGET (ALL CHANNELS) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS THE GREAT ESCAPE. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £12.64 AND EVERTON WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS.

ON 03/03/1964 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - THE BEATLES AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS WITH THE BEATLES - THE 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 LIVERPOOL WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. THE BIG NEWS STORY OF THE DAY WAS VIDEO RECORDER FIRST DEMONSTRATED.

ON 03/03/1965 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS THE LAST TIME - ROLLING STONES AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS ROLLING STONES NUMBER 2 - THE ROLLING STONES. 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 MANCHESTER UNITED WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS.

Web Page No 2770 27th March 2021

1st Picture: An Ideal Life

2nd Picture: Prefab Kitchen

3rd Picture: The Family at home

4th Picture: 1950 magazine for mother

Words

Several weeks ago wrote a page on phrases and saying that were used at home and in everyday life during our childhood, it proved very popular and I have had a few more sent in so here is part 2:- There were the threatening phrases:- “Just You Wait And See” or “It’ll All End In Tears “ Then there was the over exaggeration “I’ve Told You A Thousand Times”, “You Brought This On Yourself” , “You are asking for it” (I was never ever actually aware of asking for it!), “Talking To You Is Like Talking To A Brick Wall” “You’ll Understand When You’re A Parent” or get older, “Over my dead body!” (What an odd phrase), “I’m not asking, I’m telling”: “Respect your elders and betters”.” I have told you SO many times,” And the advice words :- “Don’t Sit That Close To The TV, You’ll end up with Square Eyes “ another one to do with eyes, was “You’ll Take Someone’s Eye Out With That” plus “Carrots help you see in the dark!” “Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees You Know”, “Never chew with your mouth open”. “If all of your friends jumped off a bridge, would you join them?” “Oh, Jen's mum lets her do (such and such)? Then go live with Jen's mum is she will have you. I'll help you pack.” “Shut the door, were you born in a barn?” “Your room looks like a cyclone ran through it.”, “I will have no dumb insolence from you”. Take your coat off when you get inside or you won’t feel the benefit when you go outside”, "No swimming for 30 minutes after you eat" There was advice on life:- “I Want, Never Gets” “There Is No Such Word As Can’t”, “We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come To It”, “Beggars can’t be choosers”, “If you can’t play nicely, you can’t play at all.” “There Are Children in Africa Who Are Starving They Would Eat That”, “Don’t stoop to their level”. “Well blow me down.” “This hurts me more than it hurts you”, The good old days:- “Back In My Day.” “When I was young I would never have done that” And the health thing:- “You’ll Live” Don't come running to me if you fall and break your leg. You can grow spuds in those ears ! At Home: Where’s my Woolie, Say Pardon not What, Who is she, the cats mother? I don’t care if your dying, you’re going to school. “These socks won’t pick up themselves.” “A little “birdy” told me!” Phrases you do not hear today:- “Put the big light on” “That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”, Always write thank you notes, even if you don’t like the gift. Now where did these phrases come from? Love a duck! I’ll go to the foot of our stairs And nobody, but nobody says Daddyo or Beatnik any more. However the most common one that most people agree on is this:- "We'll see" when ever I asked for permission to do something. Stay in touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com You Write: Hello Peter, I think the last time I ventured into Dead Mans Wood was to find my golf ball! Have many happy memories of playing wide games up on the hill with the 70th. Dead Mans Wood was a favourite place for the Ventures to set up some kind of base for us to attack or liberate!! Some years ago I thought I would stick it in google to see what I could find and it told me that it was planted by a group called The Men of the Trees. From this I also discovered the http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/ website, which I sure you will have seen.

When we first arrived in Portsmouth back in 1970, Fort Purbrook was abandoned but still open. My father used to take me up there to explore. Amazing place and tunnels to take you down into the moat! A group of use from the scouts (The Haywards (there were three David, Jim and Bob) and Rik Brown) used to go down to the 6th hole to fish out golf balls from pond. It gave us enough for us to use when we played and occasionally we could sell some to the passing golfers. We used to get covered in rashes from insect bites. I suppose I hav'n't been inside Dead Mans Wood for 40 years or so Keep up the good work on your blog Best regards David News and Views:

On this day 27th March 1960 – 1965 On 27/03/1960 the number one single was Running Bear - Johnny Preston and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 27/03/1961 the number one single was Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was The Dickie Henderson Show (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 27/03/1962 the number one single was Wonderful Land - The Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. 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 Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 27/03/1963 the number one single was Foot Tapper - The Shadows and the number one album was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows. 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 Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.On 27/03/1964 the number one single was Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was With the Beatles - The 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 Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 27/03/1965 the number one single was The Last Time - Rolling Stones and the number one album was Rolling Stones Number 2 - The Rolling Stones. 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 Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

TAKEYOUR PICK AND DOUBLE YOUR MONEY

Web Page No 2768 20th March 2021

1st Picture: Bob Danvers-Walker, Michael Miles and Monica Rose

2nd Picture: Hughie Green with Double your Money

3rd Picture: Double your Money from Moscow

4th Picture: Hughie Green and Michael Miles

TAKE YOUR PICK AND DOUBLE YOUR MONEY THE TV RIVALRY BETWEEN MICHAL MILES AND TAKE YOUR PICK AND HUGHIE GREEN AND DOUBLE YOUR MONEY WAS LEGENDRY. MICHAEL JOHN MILES WAS BORN ON 1ST JUNE 1919 WAS A NEW ZEALAND-BORN TELEVISION PRESENTER BEST KNOWN FOR THE GAME SHOW TAKE YOUR PICK FROM 1955 TO 1968, PRODUCED BY ASSOCIATED REDIFFUSION AND LATER BY REDIFFUSION LONDON. HE WAS BORN IN WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALANDAND LEFT SCHOOL TO BECOME A BROADCASTER AFTER PERSUADING HIS LOCAL STATION TO HIRE HIM. HE THEN TRAVELLED TO AUSTRALIA, BEFORE MOVING ON TO SINGAPORE AS A NEWSREADER, LEAVING ONLY DAYS BEFORE THE ISLAND WAS INVADED BY THE JAPANESE ARMY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. ALTHOUGH HE PRODUCED RADIO SHOWS DURING THE WAR YEARS, IT WAS WITH THE TRANSFER OF HIS QUIZ SHOW TAKE YOUR PICK TO TELEVISION THAT HE MADE HIS NAME. THE PROGRAMME, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN HEARD ON RADIO LUXEMBOURG FOR THREE YEARS, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GAME SHOWS ON ITV WHEN THE CHANNEL STARTED IN 1955 (THE OTHER QUIZ SHOW THAT WAS POPULAR AT THE TIME WAS DOUBLE YOUR MONEY, PRESENTED BY HUGHIE GREEN). TAKE YOUR PICK, WHICH WAS MASTERMINDED BY MICHAEL MILES WHO WAS REPUTED TO EARN THE PHENOMENAL SUM OF £20,000 A YEAR. THE PROGRAMME RELIED VERY HEAVILY ON AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION. THE SHOW WAS CANCELLED IN 1968, WHEN PRODUCERS ASSOCIATED REDIFFUSION WERE FORCED TO BECOME THAMES TELEVISION IN THE ITV FRANCHISE RESHUFFLE. THE SHOW ALWAYS FEATURED THE INFAMOUS YES NO INTERLUDE WITH BOB DANVERS-WALKER ALWAYS ON HAND TO GONG OUT THE UNWARY CONTESTANTS. MICHAEL MILES THEN HOSTED A SIMILAR SHOW CALLED WHEEL OF FORTUNE, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE LATER GAME SHOW OF THE SAME NAME, FOR SOUTHERN TELEVISION. RUMOURS OF AN ALCOHOL PROBLEM WERE UNFOUNDED; HE IN FACT HAD EPILEPSY AND OFTEN LOCKED HIMSELF IN HIS DRESSING ROOM, ASHAMED OF HIS CONDITION. HE DIED IN 1971 AGED 51, WHILE ON BUSINESS IN SPAIN. HE WAS MARRIED WITH ONE SON AND A DAUGHTER. HE AND TAKE YOUR PICK WERE PARODIED IN A MONTY PYTHON SKETCH (TITLED "SPOT THE BRAIN CELL" IN ITS LP VERSION), IN WHICH JOHN CLEESE AS A QUIZMASTER CALLED MICHAEL CHEERFULLY MOCKS THE STUPIDITY OF A FEMALE CONTESTANT PLAYED BY TERRY JONES. THE ORIGINAL SHOW WAS REVIVED FOR A SHORT TIME IN THE 1990S, WITH DES O'CONNOR AS THE HOST.

DOUBLE YOUR MONEY DOUBLE YOUR MONEY WAS THE RIVAL SHOW IN THE EARLY DAYS OF TELEVISION WHICH WAS HOSTED BY HUGHIE GREEN. ORIGINALLY BROADCAST ON RADIO LUXEMBOURG SINCE 1950 AND BASED ON AMERICAN RADIO QUIZ TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT IN 1940–1947, IT TRANSFERRED TO ITV IN 1955, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE COMMERCIAL CHANNEL BEGAN BROADCASTING. IT WAS PRODUCED BY ASSOCIATED-REDIFFUSION UNTIL 1964 AND THEN BY REDIFFUSION LONDON AND IT FINISHED IN 1968 WHEN THE COMPANY LOST ITS FRANCHISE. THERE WERE 260 THIRTY-MINUTE EPISODES. THROUGHOUT ITS RUN THE SHOW WAS ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENTLY POPULAR PROGRAMMES ON BRITISH TELEVISION. THE QUIZ FORMAT WAS SIMILAR TO THE 64,000 DOLLAR QUESTION, AND WHEN CONTESTANTS CORRECTLY ANSWERED A THREE-PART QUESTION TO REACH THE £1,000 TREASURE TRAIL, THEY WERE PLACED IN SOUND-PROOFED 'ISOLATION BOOTHS', WHERE THE FANS WERE TURNED OFF AND THE TEMPERATURE GREW, MAKING CONTESTANTS SWEAT AND LOOK NERVOUS. THE 8TH NOVEMBER 1966 SHOW CAME FROM THE HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP IN MOSCOW, WHERE MONICA ROSE AND NATASHA VASYLYEVA WERE BOTH HOSTESSES AND, BECAUSE THE COMMUNIST PARTY WOULD NOT ALLOW MONEY TO BE GIVEN AWAY, THE BIG PRIZE WAS A TELEVISION SET. FEMALE HOSTESSES ON THE SHOW INCLUDED 18-YEAR-OLD VALERIE DREW AND AN ELDERLY CLEANER NAMED ALICE EARLEY WHO WAS TAKEN ON BY HUGHIE GREEN AFTER FIRST APPEARING AS A CONTESTANT. NANCY ROBERTS (1961–1965), JULIE DE MARCO (1963–1965) AND MONICA ROSE (1963–1968), A FORMER ACCOUNTS CLERK FROM WHITE CITY, LONDON, WAS A CHIRPY AND POPULAR TEENAGE CONTESTANT WHO WAS ALSO RECRUITED BY HIM. SHE WENT ON TO HOST HIS NEXT SHOW THE SKY'S THE LIMIT. DOUBLE YOUR MONEY HAD A FANTASTIC BROAD CASTING RECORD • 1960, SHOWN 7.30PM ON FRIDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 15 WEEKS. • 1961, SHOWN 7.30PM ON THURSDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 23 WEEKS. • 1962, SHOWN 7.30PM ON THURSDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 40 WEEKS. • 1963, SHOWN 7PM ON THURSDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 37 WEEKS. • 1964, SHOWN 7PM ON THURSDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 38 WEEKS. • 1965, SHOWN 7PM ON THURSDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 32 WEEKS • 1966, SHOWN 7PM ON TUESDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 37 WEEKS. • 1967, SHOWN 7PM ON TUESDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 18 WEEKS. • 1968, SHOWN 7PM ON WEDNESDAY, THE SHOW RAN FOR 29 WEEKS. BUT WHICH SHOW WAS THE BEST PICK OR MONEY, THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THAT ONE!!! STAY IN TOUCH PETER GSSEDITOR@GMAIL.COM YOU WRITE: NEWS AND VIEWS:

ON THIS DAY 20TH MARCH 1960 – 1965 ON 20/03/1960 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS RUNNING BEAR - JOHNNY PRESTON AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS SOUTH PACIFIC SOUNDTRACK. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS WAGON TRAIN (ITV) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS PSYCHO. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £13.68 AND BURNLEY WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. THE BIG NEWS STORY OF THE DAY WAS VENEREAL DISEASE RISING IN TEENS. ON 20/03/1961 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS WOODEN HEART - ELVIS PRESLEY AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS GI BLUES - ELVIS PRESLEY. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS NO HIDING PLACE (AR) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIONS. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £13.25 AND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS.THE BIG NEWS STORY OF THE DAY WAS EXPLOSION DEVASTATES PARIS'S PALAIS BOURBON. ON 22/03/1962 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS WONDERFUL LAND - THE SHADOWS AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS BLUE HAWAII - ELVIS PRESLEY. 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 IPSWICH TOWN WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. ON 20/03/1963 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS SUMMER HOLIDAY - CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS SUMMER HOLIDAY - CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS. THE TOP RATED TV SHOW WAS CONSERVATIVE PARTY POLITICAL BROADCAST (ALL CHANNELS) AND THE BOX OFFICE SMASH WAS THE GREAT ESCAPE. A POUND OF TODAY'S MONEY WAS WORTH £12.64 AND EVERTON WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. ON 20/03/1964 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS LITTLE CHILDREN - BILLY J KRAMER AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS WITH THE BEATLES - THE 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 LIVERPOOL WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. ON 20/03/1965 THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE WAS THE LAST TIME - ROLLING STONES AND THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM WAS ROLLING STONES NUMBER 2 - THE ROLLING STONES. 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 MANCHESTER UNITED WERE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SEASON'S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS.

Web Page No 2766 13th March 2021 1st Picture: Harold Wilson

- 2nd Picture: The Pill

3rd Picture. 11 + Tests

4th Picture: Ban the Bomb Marches

1960's Britain What was it like to live in Britain in the sixties? Certainly, many of the technological advances we enjoy today were unheard of then. There were no mobile phones or the Internet. There were limited opportunities for travel; for many, the most adventurous thing they could do was fly to Spain for their holidays. Looking back, we tend to look through rose tinted glasses so here are a few things from the 1960’s we may have forgotten The 60s - Issues of the day The big issue of the sixties was Dr Beeching's pruning of under-used of branch lines. So far other issues and newsworthy items were: CND - "Ban the Bomb" Marches The Profumo Scandal The death President John F Kennedy The death of Sir Winston Churchill Harold Wilson's Labour Government Sinking of the Torrey Canyon disaster Princess Margaret's Wedding The Rhodesian Crisis Apartheid in South Africa Biafra The Iron Curtain The Cuban Missile Crisis 11+ and selective state education Rising interest rates Winning the World Cup Manned space flight and landing on the moon What was better in the 60s than today? Many people remember a slower pace of life. There was less pressure to succeed and lower expectations. Although the sixties was, in many respects, a modern, forward looking decade, it was very different from today. I often wonder if every generation looks back on the previous one and sees a simpler, less complicated life. Less traffic and quieter roads. There were far fewer cars on the roads in the sixties. However, this did not stop some horrendous traffic jams in the holiday season. People were prepared to travel through the night to avoid traffic black spots on their way to the West Country and were often found sleeping in their cars in the early hours of the following morning. Respect . There was greater trust and neighbourliness in the sixties. Families did more together and there was a greater sense of family values. Religion was also more important than today (although even in the fifties less than ten percent of people went to church regularly). Freedom from crime, or perceived freedom from crime. In the sixties, in some areas, you could leave your house unlocked: "Children could play outside without too much worry" There was "freedom to walk around without fear" you "could trust people. Let children out to play without worrying" Less crowded was frequently mentioned. There was more open space and green belt in the sixties than today. Many people missed open parks and common land. There is much greater pressure to build on land today than in the sixties. Britain was cleaner in the sixties, there was less pollution and less noise. What is better today... there were four clear areas: better healthcare, more travel opportunities, technological advances and a freer, more equal society. Although there were many medical advances in the sixties people today have access to much better healthcare, in spite of the NHS waiting lists. Many people felt that this was a significant improvement in their lives. Travel opportunities and cheaper air travel in particular were mentioned by most of the responses. In the sixties, travel abroad was felt to be for the privileged classes only. Most people had to make do with a holiday in the UK. Technology has improved considerably since the sixties. There were no mobile phones or internet access then. Although for many people most of the labour-saving devices, we use in the home today were available in the sixties, they were luxuries rather than everyday products. Automatic washing machines and dishwashers were for the few, rather than for the majority. Today most people can afford them. Many of the social changes that began in the sixties were not carried out to their full course or universally accepted then. There is greater tolerance of different racial groups now than in the sixties and a greater recognition of women's rights. Overall, do you think life was better in the 60s than today? For some the sixties was better, but only because they were younger. For others it was a case of "Yes and No". Technological change and greater social freedoms balanced the loss of community and a simpler life. These are some of the commonest answers: Yes, but only because I was younger Life was not so complicated but more physical there were not so many household gadgets Safer, cleaner and children could be disciplined Less crowded Work culture different Better? Not sure! Possibly life was slower In a way, yes Prefer 2021 - travel - equality TV, information, computers Yes, but I had little or no responsibility then Here are three further responses. We need to re-evaluate post-war Britain. The 50s and 60s became more in touch with the spiritual and natural side of life. Life is far too commercial and 'consumer' now. The sixties were not so swinging just a reaction to the War and Victorian values. On the whole the sixties were happier times as it took so little to provide entertainment. Whereas today people have, so much and yet seem no happier and certainly don't seem to have the love of life we had. Maybe its because 1960 was only 5 years after all rationing ceased. " No the sixties were better. I think the teenagers of the sixties had the best of everything. War baby boomer's parents had nothing as children and wanted to shower their children with the best they could afford. The parents had broken the back of music resistance with Rock’n’roll leaving the 60s wide open for a world change in music. And change it did, also along came the pill. What more could you ask for, great music - free love and no really nasty diseases that could not be cured. These days it's not worrying about getting a girl pregnant - more are you going to die in ten years from aids? There is no contest - now can you turn me back to 16 please! How do you feel? I know That I grew up in the 1960’s and loved it. Peter gsseditor@gmail.com You Write: News and Views: ON THIS DAY 13th March 1960 – 1965 On 13/03/1560 the number one single was Running Bear - Johnny Preston and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Larkins (ATV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 13/03/1561 the number one single was Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 13/03/1562 the number one single was Rock-a-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. 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 Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Skull found buried in Downing Street. On 13/03/1563 the number one single was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champion. On 13/03/1564 the number one single was Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was With the Beatles - The 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 Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 13/03/1565 the number one single was The Last Time - Rolling Stones and the number one album was Rolling Stones Number 2 - The Rolling Stones. 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 Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page No 2762 6th March 2021 1st Picture: Esma as a young actress

2nd Picture: In Carry On Constable

3rd Picture: In Carry On Cruising

4th Picture: Her grave stone

5th Picture: With her son Michael

So many of the actors and actresses who appeared in the Carry On films are well known to us. Their lives have been well documented both on screen and off. Today I want to look at a diminutive actress who brought memorable comedic turns to four early Carry On films. Esma Cannon. Esma Cannon first appearance in a Carry On film was as a deaf, dotty old lady in Carry On Constable at the of the 1950s. On location in Ealing, Constable Kenneth Williams attempts to help her cross the road and ends up being whacked with Esma's big handbag! Obviously catching the eye of the directors, she was back with a more substantial supporting role in the next film Carry On Regardless. In Regardless she played Miss Cooling, assistant to Bert Handy, owner of The Helping Hands Agency. Sid James and Esma Cannon formed a delightful double act in this film with their scenes acting as bookends between the likes of Kenneth Williams, Liz Fraser and Joan Sims. She shares a memorable scene with Kenneth Connor which leads into his famous send up of The Thirty-nine Steps. In early 1962 Esma Cannon reunited with a smaller cast for Carry On Cruising. This is probably her most effective and substantial contribution to the series. As Bridget Madderley she has a difficult task as most of her scenes are on her own with nobody to play off. It is a delightfully twittery performance, particularly the scene she shares with Dilys Laye where both characters proceed to get rather drunk, rather quickly! Her timing and presence on screen are brilliant. Esma Cannon returned for one final Carry On film, Carry On Cabby, shot in the Spring of 1963. This is a different role to her previous contributions. She is much more worldly and streetwise as Flo Sims, a lady who helps Hattie Jacques' character Peggy Hawkins set up the wonderful Glam Cabs firm in direct competition with husband Charlie's Speedee Cabs. Esma plays this one very down to earth and straight forward but it is a terrific part for her. As usual there is a real twinkle in her eye throughout. The combined forces of Hattie Jacques, Esme Cannon, Liz Fraser and Amanda Barrie bring Sid and the lads to their knees! Sadly that was Esma's last appearance in a Carry On film and pretty much her last film role. She retired not long afterwards at a time when offers of work must have been pouring in. So, what other film and television appearances is Esma Cannon well known for? On television her main role was in The Rag Trade. She played Lil in that series opposite Sheila Hancock, Barbara Windsor, Peter Jones and Miriam Karlin, between 1961-1963. Her career dates back to 1936. Over the next three decades she appeared in a wide variety of classic British films such as: Here Come the Huggetts (1948); Simon and Laura (1955); Further Up The Creek (1958); I'm All Right Jack (1959); Raising The Wind (1961); The Fast Lady (1962), On The Beat (1962) and Nurse On Wheels (1963). So what else do we know about Esma Cannon? Well, we know she was born in Australia in 1905. After early experience at Minnie Everett's School of Dancing in Sydney, she began acting on the stage at the age of four. For whatever reason, she decided to travel to Britain in the early 1930s, slowly building up a list of acting credits and achieving notable success up until the early 1960s when she decided to leave the acting profession. And that's almost all we know about her. She was most certainly married and apparently had children, or at least a son. Apparently every year on their son's birthday Esma and her husband would give each other gifts too in celebration of all they had achieved together. Esma Cannon passed away at the age of just 66 in 1972. This news was apparently not reported in the press as many of her colleagues were unaware of her passing until years later. At the time of her death, Esma was allegedly living in Camden, North London although records show she is buried in France at Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt. Again, I have no idea what was behind this. I guess we will never know much more about this elusive yet wonderful comic actress. Who knows if any of her family are still alive today? While it is a shame we do not know more about Esma Cannon, at least we can still enjoy her wonderful acting talents not only in those early Carry Ons but also a wide variety of classic British films of the 40s, 50s and early 60s. Stay in touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com You Write: News and Views: On this day 6th March 1960 – 1965 On 07/03/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Larkins (ATV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 07/03/1961 the number one single was Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 07/03/1962 the number one single was Rock-a-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. 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 Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 07/03/1963 the number one single was The Wayward Wind - Frank Ifield and the number one album was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows. 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 Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 07/03/1964 the number one single was Anyone Who Had a Heart -Cilla Black and the number one album was With the Beatles - The 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 Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 07/03/1965 the number one single was I'll Never Find Another You - Seekers and the number one album was Rolling Stones Number 2 - The Rolling Stones. 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 Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was First public talking computer.