Yes indeed - tough times - tough people - heroes all of them. MWYW went on for years - well into the mid-60s and even I remember hearing it regularly myself.
@silverstartrucker The Light Programme did not exist until 1946. Its predecessor was The National Forces Programme which ran throughout the wartime years. Music While You Work ran for many years after the war and in its later years there was also an afternoon edition at 3-45pm such was its popularity. Signature tune 'Calling All Workers' by Eric Coates will always remembered because of Music While You Work.
@Wnoronz - Of course, I would have been too young at age 4 to remember that. Trying to think back I now think I was much older before we actually got our first Rediffusion radio set at home.
@silverstartrucker Thank you! On second thoughts I think the wartime BBC Station was called The GENERAL Forces programme. I remember I was listening to MWYW during my mid-term school holiday on February 6th 1952 when the programme was faded out to announce the death of King George VI. I think I might also be right to say that the 10-30 am broadcasts were on the BBC Home Service. The afternoon broadcast was on The Light Programme.
@Wnoronz Thanks for the informative and technical info. I always remember (or think I do) of hearing the BBC announcers say something like "...this is the BBC Home Service..." Do you know if that was that a different channel or part of the Light Programme or something else?
@wordsmith52 Thank you Wordsmith. The BBC Home Service was brought in at the beginning of World War 2 and replaced the earlier National Programme. The Home Service lasted right up until 1967 when it was replaced by Radio 4 which was/is broadly similar in its style of broadcasting. Same programmes for the whole country but with a percentage of regional variations. Just as Radio 4 is now!
@Wnoronz I am obliged to you for that helpful information Whoronz. It explains why I was still hearing the dulcet Queen's English tones of the BBC Home Service announcers well into the late 60s - and that my memory was not playing tricks on me! How times change.
@wordsmith52 Yes; Thw Queens English, sometimes called Received Pronunciation was de rigeur in the BBC right from the corporation's inception up until the mid 60s. Regarding the various BBC stations I almost forgot to mention The Third Programme brought into service at the end of the 1940s. This was for the serious and classical stuff only. For a brief period it became known as Network Three before becoming Radio Three in 1967. Radio One was brand new when it came in 1967.
@Wnoronz I've heard it condemned as being elitist, chauvenistic, imperialist and generally politically incorrect etc etc since - just as many had learned to speak with at least an fairly educated accent!
@Wnoronz I agree entirely of course - the "condemnation" I alluded to was (like most "politically correct" ideologies of today) based on ignorance, stupidity and inane attempts at state sponsored brain washing. Regards!
Eric Coate's theme tune must be one of the most played tunes on Radio. It conjours up memories of some description for all of us of a 'certain' age.
IVORIESMAN 2 months ago
@IVORIESMAN Yes I agree thanks. "Down Your Way" was another one I particularly remember - afternoon teas and pink coloured evening newspapers.
wordsmith52 2 months ago
Yes indeed - tough times - tough people - heroes all of them. MWYW went on for years - well into the mid-60s and even I remember hearing it regularly myself.
wordsmith52 2 months ago
How I remember...Music while you work...1030am on the BBC Light Programme, I was four year old then :-)
silverstartrucker 2 months ago
@silverstartrucker The Light Programme did not exist until 1946. Its predecessor was The National Forces Programme which ran throughout the wartime years. Music While You Work ran for many years after the war and in its later years there was also an afternoon edition at 3-45pm such was its popularity. Signature tune 'Calling All Workers' by Eric Coates will always remembered because of Music While You Work.
Wnoronz 2 months ago
@Wnoronz - Of course, I would have been too young at age 4 to remember that. Trying to think back I now think I was much older before we actually got our first Rediffusion radio set at home.
silverstartrucker 2 months ago
@silverstartrucker Thank you! On second thoughts I think the wartime BBC Station was called The GENERAL Forces programme. I remember I was listening to MWYW during my mid-term school holiday on February 6th 1952 when the programme was faded out to announce the death of King George VI. I think I might also be right to say that the 10-30 am broadcasts were on the BBC Home Service. The afternoon broadcast was on The Light Programme.
Wnoronz 2 months ago
@Wnoronz Thanks for the informative and technical info. I always remember (or think I do) of hearing the BBC announcers say something like "...this is the BBC Home Service..." Do you know if that was that a different channel or part of the Light Programme or something else?
wordsmith52 2 months ago
@wordsmith52 Thank you Wordsmith. The BBC Home Service was brought in at the beginning of World War 2 and replaced the earlier National Programme. The Home Service lasted right up until 1967 when it was replaced by Radio 4 which was/is broadly similar in its style of broadcasting. Same programmes for the whole country but with a percentage of regional variations. Just as Radio 4 is now!
Wnoronz 2 months ago
@Wnoronz I am obliged to you for that helpful information Whoronz. It explains why I was still hearing the dulcet Queen's English tones of the BBC Home Service announcers well into the late 60s - and that my memory was not playing tricks on me! How times change.
wordsmith52 2 months ago
@wordsmith52 Yes; Thw Queens English, sometimes called Received Pronunciation was de rigeur in the BBC right from the corporation's inception up until the mid 60s. Regarding the various BBC stations I almost forgot to mention The Third Programme brought into service at the end of the 1940s. This was for the serious and classical stuff only. For a brief period it became known as Network Three before becoming Radio Three in 1967. Radio One was brand new when it came in 1967.
Wnoronz 2 months ago
@Wnoronz I've heard it condemned as being elitist, chauvenistic, imperialist and generally politically incorrect etc etc since - just as many had learned to speak with at least an fairly educated accent!
wordsmith52 2 months ago
@wordsmith52 Nevertheless it was a lovely programme to listen to. Always cheerful and uplifting. - even on the dreariest of days!
Wnoronz 2 months ago
@Wnoronz I agree entirely of course - the "condemnation" I alluded to was (like most "politically correct" ideologies of today) based on ignorance, stupidity and inane attempts at state sponsored brain washing. Regards!
wordsmith52 2 months ago