Podcast appearances and mentions of junior choice

My guest this week is radio enthusiast Noel Tyrrel, founder of the David Hamilton's Hot Shots fan site and someone who has an encyclopaedic knowledge and collection of vintage radio shows. Noel grew up with radio, and we learn why the person who awakened his interest was David Hamilton. We talk about why Junior Choice was so special and whether the sort of radio presenting that Ed Stewart and David Hamilton epitomized is in ascendance any more. We also find out why David Hamilton is called ‘one take Hamilton'. Noel talks about what it was like to meet his radio heroes and we hear about the time Noel was at the supermarket checkout and who should ring to apologize for not playing ‘Paddy McKinty's Goat', which Noel had requested for his young daughter on the Christmas edition of Christmas Junior Choice, but Stewpot himself. He talks about what was so clever about the Jimmy Young show, and how we could never work out what JY's political sympathies were. We discuss JY's previous incarnation as a crooner and we learn what Noel thinks about JY's successor, Jeremy Vine. Both of Noel's parents were actors and through them he met many showbiz types. He talks about Simon Dee and we find out why Noel would categorize himself as a frustrated journalist. We learn why Noel so enjoys disseminating David Hamilton's BOOM Radio show on social media and writing a synopsis of each programme. He explains why he is a sounding board for David Hamilton and we find out whether Noel himself would be interested in doing a radio show of his own. He tells us why radio plays are better than their TV counterparts, why radio will far outlast TV, and why radio is so wonderful because one can listen to it while ‘on the move'. At the end of the interview we learn whether Noel is a looking back or looking forward type of person, what he thinks of Benny Hill and Talking Pictures TV and why he respects things for the period in which they were made. Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and Noel Tyrrel and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.

Its an imaginary train journey on my part. West to east across the USA, from San Francisco to Hagerstown in Washington County and this is some music to accompany the journey.  Two Choo, choo songs to start: The Merry Macs with Choo Choo Polka and a crazy track from Winifred Atwell, Choo Choo Samba. A double sided train record from Michael Holliday, 10 Thousand Miles and The Run Away Train. Remember the latter from Junior Choice, a BBC radio children's show in the 1960s.  Hutch sings Over the hill. Okay its not about trains but you'll understand the reason and it is Hutch! Trains in the title or train type music: Honky Tonk Train- Meade Lux Lewis(1935 recording), Munson Street Breakdown- Lionel Hampton, PDQ Blues- Fletcher Henderson and Red Nelson- Streamline Train. We take a break from the dusty travel to clean up. So its The Rhythm Maniacs and Singing in the bath tub. Back on the train and Sleepy Town Train from the Milt Herth Trio, some early Hammond Organ from 1942.  George Chisholm next and another non train song but the title says it all- Lets go!  Freight Train, Chas McDevitt and Nancy, excellent track and big hit from 1962. Wrongly credited and copyrighted to Williams and James for many years. It was in fact written by Elizabeth Cotton, around 1908. My favourite of the day, When the sun goes down. Lonnie Donegan at his best. Billed as Skiffle, its blues though. We finish with Ted Heath and his music and Grand Central Station. It's not even about the station or trains!

Capital moves from 539; Commons proceedings are to be broadcast; Moray Firth arrives; Trent makes its Derby debut; Ed Stewart begins on Junior Choice; Brian Matthew's last programme; Radio Humberside's official launch. Enjoy the last week in radio history, ending February 28th 2020.

Reluctant presenter changes programme; Moray Firth launches; talking to elderly folk; the start of the General Forces Programme; Simon Mayo starts at @BBCR1; Ed Stewart starts on Junior Choice; Jim Naughtie starts on Today and Sue MacGregor leaves - all on this week's Radiomoments review for the week ending March 1st 2019.

Professor April McMahon is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Education and Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Kent, and it was a great pleasure to meet her for this week’s interview. April was born in Edinburgh while a Beatles concert was taking place nearby and she recounts at the start of our conversation how her father was defined more by his absence than his presence during her childhood. She speaks candidly about how there weren’t many opportunities open to her as a child and how her mother had to work ‘hand to mouth’. As a child, reading books from the library van was April’s passion. She also talks about being into the New Romantics, such as Ultravox, as well as Clare Grogan and Altered Images, and being a sucker for musicals. April sings to this day in the university chorus, and we learn whether April is a ‘Braveheart’ or a ‘Gregory’s Girl’ type of person. April recounts what inspired her to go to university and she talks about her false start, having initially chosen to do English Literature rather than Language, and what happened during her first lecture. We then learn whether there were particular teachers who inspired her and how she learned the art of writing down sounds in a precise way.  April grew up at a time when there was constant friction between London and Scottish politics, and in her first job at Cambridge she recalls giving a lecture on the day Margaret Thatcher resigned and how the students then stood up and applauded. We learn that April has never been a party member and will make decisions on the basis of the issues. April also talks about how her personal, Christian faith came along later when she was in her mid-30s. Radio played a role in April’s growing up. In particular, she remembers listening to ‘Junior Choice’ on Saturday mornings and she did her school homework while Radio 1 was on in the background.   In the final part of the interview we talk about how her memories are mixed due to her mother dying suddenly while April was at university, and, in terms of whether she has fulfilled the dreams she had when she was young, April discusses how she managed to get out of her more limited environment and how she is still in touch with her university friends.  We also learn whether April tends to look forwards or backwards and why she believes that there is no point in dwelling on times that weren’t good but that it is important to enjoy the present.  Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and April McMahon and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.

Matthew Bannister on David Bowie, art expert, fashion icon and media manipulator. Alan Rickman, the actor most famous for playing villains from the Sheriff of Nottingham to Professor Snape. Olwyn Hughes, the sister of the poet Ted Hughes who fiercely guarded his literary legacy and that of his late wife Sylvia Plath. And Ed "Stewpot" Stewart, the Radio 1 and 2 DJ who presented Junior Choice.

The voice of this Devon boy was to become the voice of childhood for a generation. Ed Stewart began his radio career in Hong Kong, before moving to the most ‘professional’ of the pirate stations, Radio London, in 1965. His voice was heard as the station closed famously and tearfully in 67. Like many of the best pirates, he was signed up to Radio 1, hosting such modern shows as ‘Happening Sunday’ & ‘What’s New’. Then, in 1968, he grabbed ‘Junior Choice’ from Leslie Crowther and began a twelve year stint. It became famous for its theme tune Morningtown Ride, dedications sent it on wobbly bits of tape, and little Michael cheekily shouting ‘ello darling. As the eighties began, Ed moved to Radio 2, for Family Favourites and weekday afternoons until 1983. He was heard on Radio Mercury for a couple of years, before returning to Radio 2 and indeed to afternoons. After a spell on Sunday evenings, he waved farewell in 2006. He was a well-known TV face on Crackerjack - and was famously the male voice at the end of Lynsey de Paul's silky 70s hit 'Won't somebody dance with me'. Ed died in January 2016. His last programme was broadcast live - just days before - on Christmas Day 2015. In a piece of inspired scheduling, Ed revived ‘Junior Choice’ to remind us grown-ups of Christmases past, playing all the favourites from Nellie the Elephant to Sparky’s Magic Piano. His closing song was, fittingly, the vocal version of his theme, which he felt able to join in with. I think every disc jockey would like to carefully craft their final show, their last song and their last words. Ed almost seemed to. "I'll be with you - whenever".