A-Z: I Remember...Radio, Religion, Remembrance and Russia

I  Remember When.......
Recalling Memories of My Childhood 
 

The letter R proved a challenge for me.  so here is a hotch potch of memories. 

RADIO

Thes memories might strike a chord with British bloggers. There could only be one key memory of radio in my childhood- "Listen with Mother" with its phrase "Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin" - with 15 minutes of a story and rhyme, sitting on my mother's knee;  closely followed by Saturday morning's "Children's Favourites" with Uncle Mac - singing along to such music as:
 

• The Owl and the Pussy Cat, sung by Elton Hayes, 
• There was an Old Lady who swallowed a fly, and Big Rock Candy Mountain  sung by Burl Ives,
• The Animals went in Two by Two - The Elephant and the Kangaroo.  
• Nelly the Elephant, sung by Mandy Miller  (my favourite)
• Happy Wanderer (Fol de re..Fol de ra....)
• The Runaway Train went over the Hill
• The Laughing Policeman.
• Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

I remember sitting at  Saturday or Sunday lunch with Family Favourites (Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe) playing requests for soldiers  in BFBO  (I loved the sound of reciting those initials for British Forces Stationed Abroad).  Later years brought the comedy  programmes such as Hancock's Half Hour and The Navy Lark.  Friday Night was Music Night. whilst  Sunday was a favourite  radio evening for the family with popular classics on Melodies for You, Sunday Half Hour (hymns) and 100 Best Tunes.  

Pop culture passed me by.  I did not get my own transistor until I left home.  My radio listening varied from popular classics, middle of the road  popular music  and the news/discussion programmes.  Now it is Classic FM.  

RELIGION - as with so many children of that era, I grew up with a background of church going, beginning with Sunday School.  My father sang in the  choir, my mother was in the Mother's Union, and I later became a Sunday School teacher. Chritmas meant the traditional party and summer meant the Sunday School trip   the one I most remember involved us travelling through the tunnel that went under the River Mersey at Liverpool - great excitement as we went down into the darkness and pictured the waters above us. 

REMEMBRANCE - we were a family that always marked Remembrance Day, with my father in particular recalling his war service and that of his brother (a Japanese POW)   On the Saturday evening we watched the Festival from the Albert Hall in the presence of the Queen, and on Sunday attended our local war memorial.  One year I carried the flag for the Guides. 

RUSSIA  - this was the era of the Cold War and Russia was the bogey man.  My father got up during the night to hear President Kennedy's speech at the height of the Cuban crisis that threatened world peace. At High School I took part in a debate "I'd rather be dead than red".  However in a different light, we were to welcome two Russian teachers to our school and my class decided to decorate out pin boards round the classroom with pictures of the Royal Family.  Goodness knows  what they made of that!

ONTO S for "SPECCY FOUR EYES"  

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In Case You Missed

A-Z Challenge 2016 Theme Revealed:     
I Remember......Memories of Childhood

A - Autumn  

B - for Babies, Books, Birthdays & Brownies  

C - Clothes + Church, Chores, Christmas, Crafts & Cars 

D - Dolls + Dogs & Desserts  

E - Events + Eating Out & Easter  F - Food + Fads & Fashion and Freedom

G - Grandparents + Games 

H - Hairstyles + Hobbies, Houses & Halloween
I - Inspiring Teachers 

J -Journeys & Joining 

K - Kitchens & Knitting   

L - Libraries   M - Music + Movies   N - Needles  + Nativity and Names 

O - Occupations

P - Poulton - My Ancestral Home  
Q - The Queen's Coronation