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Mrs Dale’s diary

(69 Posts)
Shinamae Sat 28-Aug-21 17:34:01

Everybody knows the Archers but does anybody remember Mrs Dale‘s diary?

BlueSapphire Sat 28-Aug-21 20:50:02

Oh yes, I remember DM listening to Mrs Dale's Diary back in the 50s. She used to sing along to the theme tune of Music While You Work, and then it was Mrs Dale worrying about Jim.

I also loved Paul Temple and was thrilled to discover it on Australian radio when we lived there around 1990ish.

Was also a fan of Journey into Space, Top of the Form, The Navy Lark (left hand down a bit!), and Kenneth Horne.

sodapop Sat 28-Aug-21 21:13:10

Anyone else remember Wilfred Pickles and Mabel ?

NanKate Sat 28-Aug-21 22:02:50

‘What’s on the table Mabel’ ?

Witzend Sat 28-Aug-21 22:08:51

BlueSapphire

Oh yes, I remember DM listening to Mrs Dale's Diary back in the 50s. She used to sing along to the theme tune of Music While You Work, and then it was Mrs Dale worrying about Jim.

I also loved Paul Temple and was thrilled to discover it on Australian radio when we lived there around 1990ish.

Was also a fan of Journey into Space, Top of the Form, The Navy Lark (left hand down a bit!), and Kenneth Horne.

I was trying to think of Paul Temple yesterday, when having lunch with an ex colleague who’s a fan of those old series.
So thanks!

annodomini Sat 28-Aug-21 22:19:37

All of the above! We were also allowed to listen to the evening comedy shows before we went to sleep as our dad had rigged up a speaker on the landing outside our bedrooms. My favourite was Take it From Here with Jimmy Edwards and the wonderful June Whitfield. Arthur Askey and Ted Ray also had their shows. Fellow Scots might remember The McFlannels and Jimmy Shand and his band which got me tapping my toes on Saturday nights.

Lexisgranny Sat 28-Aug-21 22:37:03

I remember when Dick Barton was replaced by the Archers in 1951. I listened to the former whilst getting ready for bed and found the “everyday story of country folk” a very poor substitute when it began, though I still listen to it from time to time. I did enjoy Journey into Space, Educating Archie, Life with the Lyons, Children’s Favourites and Top of the Form. (I think WaggonersWalk was substituted for Mrs Dales Diary in 1969.).

Callistemon Sat 28-Aug-21 22:48:14

Yes, my mother used to listen to Mrs Dale's Diary and my brothers listened to Dick Barton, Special Agent. I remember the music because I used to shout for my brothers to come and listen when I heard it from when I was about two.

Dad used to listen to the football scores on Saturday which were read in a funny singsong voice. I was in my twenties before I realised that there wasn't a team called Hulkingston Rovers...
My Dad used to get me to write down the football scores in the newspaper and you could always tell if it was going to be a win, lose or draw.

Round the Horne, the Navy Lark, Educating Archie, Life with the Lyons, Much Bindin in the Marsh at

I think we all used our imaginations more in those days

Callistemon Sat 28-Aug-21 22:48:57

Etc not at

Hellogirl1 Sat 28-Aug-21 22:57:30

I loved Mrs Dale`s Diary, even though it was aimed at an older audience. Waggoners Walk was another big favourite, but I listened to it in the mornings. I remember most of the programmes mentioned, although I didn`t listen to them all. Someone in The Navy Lark was always going on about his picture of Lillian Gish, who was she? I absolutely loved Have a Go with Wilfred Pickles and Mabel, also Barney, who I believe was also the producer. I loved the way Wilfred always asked young women "Are you coorting?" The prizes on the table would be sneered at nowadays, but were joyfully received then.

Callistemon Sat 28-Aug-21 23:01:01

Lillian Gish was an American actress, writer and director. She appeared in silent movies then in films up until the 1980s.

pinkprincess Sat 28-Aug-21 23:01:54

I remember my mother having Mrs Dale's diary on the radio when I came home from school. I got very much into the Archers when I got older so when I got married I still carried on listening to them, but my DH could not stand them so I found myself listening them when he was at work.
Waggoners Walk brings tears to my eyes.In 1969 when it first stared, I was expecting my first baby's when I left work I had plenty time to follow every episode, then carried on listening when he was born and his early baby days. Such a happy time.

Dinahmo Sat 28-Aug-21 23:11:32

Captain was Mrs Freeman's cat. My mum used to have the radio on and so I would have heard it in the school holidays.

In the 70's the actress who played Mrs Freeman was a client of a firm that I worked for. She was very old at that time and living in a home in north London for aging actors and had a small income. I can't remember her name.

Kate1949 Sat 28-Aug-21 23:17:17

My mum loved it.

Elrel Sat 28-Aug-21 23:28:05

So that’s why my mother insisted upon referring to the friendly woman who helped her with the housework as ‘my treasure’! I wondered where she got it from!!

Chestnut Sat 28-Aug-21 23:31:44

The music from many of those old radio programmes is on a CD called The Great British Experience which features a music genre you rarely hear these days 'British light music'.

The Great British Experience

Many of the tracks are pretty lively and designed to be played whilst working. They are all a nostalgia-fest!!

Rosycheeks Sun 29-Aug-21 05:45:27

I have heard of all of these radio shows but cant remember listerning to them.
I remember childrens favorites with uncle Max and loved Round The Horn with Kenneth Williams it still makes me laugh when its on radio 4.

NanKate Sun 29-Aug-21 06:02:55

Has anyone mentioned ‘Meet the Huggets’ with Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison ?

Mamie Sun 29-Aug-21 07:39:58

I vaguely remember a competition for the plot of the last episode of Mrs Dale's Diary. I think one entry said that the characters should all be forced to sit in a room listening to a continuous loop of previous episodes until they died of boredom!

Daisytwoshoes Sun 29-Aug-21 08:06:00

My mum loved all those
Also Sing Something Simple on a Sunday eve .

Megs36 Sun 29-Aug-21 09:42:50

Jessie Matthews wasMrs Dale, always worried about Jim ,I think the program was on about 11am and repeated early afternoon.
Later at 7 after tea Dick Barton Special Agent……..

Megs36 Sun 29-Aug-21 09:46:05

So many memories here ?

Shinamae Sun 29-Aug-21 09:49:23

Mamie

I vaguely remember a competition for the plot of the last episode of Mrs Dale's Diary. I think one entry said that the characters should all be forced to sit in a room listening to a continuous loop of previous episodes until they died of boredom!

?????

Callistemon Sun 29-Aug-21 09:49:54

The Billy Cotton Band Show and Forces Favourites.

Shinamae Sun 29-Aug-21 09:50:56

Yes, two-way family favourites on a Sunday lunchtime if I remember rightly

annsixty Sun 29-Aug-21 09:54:08

I thought it was so romantic that Jean Metcalfe and Cliff Mitchelmore , the two presenters from here and Germany fell in love when they eventually met and they married.