Magazine #19: 40th Anniversary

🎵 Congratulations

A love letter to a community; Grateful heart shares joy after feeling alone; Celebrates finding love and companionship.

Hello and Welcome

The Witney Talking News celebrated its 40th anniversary; Over 80 attendees joined the festivities; Local MP Robert Court’s delayed arrival due to Brexit discussions.

Ceremonial Cake Cutting

A special cake cutting ceremony took place today. The occasion was marked with a ceremonial cut by the reader. Samples were distributed among attendees.

Interviews

Long-time listener’s rep of Witney Talking News reflects on 26 years with the service; Guide Dog enthusiast shares journey of his 10th German Shepherd, Chilli; Three original presenters reunite, reminisce, and praise volunteers’ dedication.

Peter Brading Interview

The Witney Talking News celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking the milestone with an interview of its founding chairman, Peter Reading. Peter recalls how he introduced the talking news service to Witney after meeting someone from the Oxfordshire Association for the Blind at a party. The service began with 32 visually impaired listeners and has grown to over 1000 in total, moving from cassette tapes to digital recordings.

Ruby Anniversary

❓ Quiz - Questions

A general knowledge quiz for listeners to enjoy at home.

1979

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the UK after a significant Conservative party victory. Her election followed the Winter of Discontent, marked by public sector strikes. Thatcher’s 11-year reign saw privatization, the Falklands War, and rising unemployment. The Three Mile Island nuclear accident highlighted safety concerns, while Idi Amin was deposed in Uganda after a year of dictatorship. Irish Republican bombings killed prominent figures like Lord Mountbatten and Airey Neave. Popular culture events included the launches of Trivial Pursuit and the Walkman, along with Pink Floyd’s album ‘The Wall’.

Stately as a Galleon

British comedian and actress Joyce Grenville passed away in 1979, famous for her monologues and one-woman shows. A monologue entitled ‘Stately as a galleon’ was read about Mrs. Fanshaw, an elderly lady who joins an old time dance club but struggles to find dance partners due to the lack of gentlemen. She dances with other ladies but finds it disappointing.

Deaths

1979 saw the deaths of famous figures like John Wayne, Joyce Grenfell, and Gracie Fields. Nazi war criminal Joseph Mengele passed away, as did Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. Prominent politicians Nelson Rockefeller and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto also died.

Births

Leo Varadkar, Irish PM born in 1979, is the son of an Indian father and Irish mother. Coming out as gay in 2015, he successfully campaigned for same-sex marriage in Ireland.

Leo Varadkar

Witney Workhouse demolished in 1979 for housing; Coach Manor Farm converted into successful living museum in 1979; Mother Teresa awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for work with the poor.

❓ Quiz - Answers

Here are the answers to this week’s quiz — how did you do?

75th D-Day Anniversary

The 75th anniversary of D Day commemorated on June 6th. Over 150,000 Allied troops launched an invasion of Normandy, caught the Germans off guard. After 11 months of fighting, the war in Europe ended.

80th World War II Anniversary

The 80th anniversary of WWII’s start was marked; Germany’s aggressive conquests in Europe occurred between 1937-1939; British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.

The Day War Broke Out

A hilarious monologue about a man bickering with his wife about his military service during WWII.

RSPB Garden Watch

The Big Garden Bird Watch celebrates its 40th anniversary. Initially for children only, it began in 1979 by the RSPB to monitor top garden birds. Now, over one million participants help track bird species decline and recovery.

👋 Goodbye!

The closing sign-off, including volunteer credits and listener information.

🎵 Squeeze Box Music