Genealogy Chat

Can anyone suggest who I should contact to find if a recording of a BBC radio programme from 1945 still exists?

I have a letter to my mother from Broadcasting House, London asking her to agree to their distributing records of her performance in "Navy Mixture" to broadcasting companies overseas. Mum was a singer and the prog. was broadcast on 5th July 1945. She was serving as a WREN at the time. She signed over the rights for £2 12s 6d (equivalent to about £85 today!)

I have emailed the BBC several times, but have had no reply and I haven't found any specific contact for radio archives from this time.

I only found this letter after Mum's death, and I would love to have a recording of the programme, should it still exist.

Any help and ideas gratefully received, as always.

Many thanks, Penny

You could try this website -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/

There is a contact Us at the bottom of the screen

Thanks Lynne

Yes, I've looked here before, but the archive collections are very specific and (I think) are available to view online. I suspect my Mum's recording will be in a dusty box on a shelf in a warehouse somewhere. Surely all these old recordings/programmes must be housed somewhere?

Unfortunately, the 'contact' link just leads to the general BBC contact page which is the one I've tried emailing several times with no reply.

Any other suggestions?

Thank you, Penny

Just for interest

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_General_Forces_Programme

Thanks, Barbara.

I've checked out the site. Mum was obviously mixing with the stars of the time, given the other well known names linked with 'Navy Mixture'.

as a looong shot. can you try to email a local radio station presenter?
with luck you might find a sympathetic ear?
especially if you choose a music one......

their name is of the format..for example............. [email protected]

(she is a radio cambridgeshire presenter)

Bob

According to:-

http://www.britishcomedy.org.uk/comedy/tifh.htm

" Navy Mixture
25 Editions introduced by Joy Nicholls, and featuring 'Professor'
Jimmy Edwards, Vic Oliver, Leslie Welsh, The Song Pedlars, and the BBC Revue Orchestra. Guests included Benny Lee, The Western Brothers, Ted Ray, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, Jack Warner, Cardew Robinson, and Dick Bentley. The show was broadcast on the Light Programme between the 5th of July and the 22nd of December 1947, with the exception of programme 4 that went out on the Home Service.
I believe that there is one edition of this show preserved in the BBC archives, although I haven't been able to confirm this. "

here might be worth a try:-


http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/atyourdesk/servdeliv.html

Sheila

'Worth a try, Bob. Thanks.

You tube have one episode (apparently the only surviving one) from1948

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT7oeAWS1jE
..although it seems to be called 'Up the Pole!!'