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Does anyone remember two way family favourites?

(128 Posts)
polomint Sat 07-Mar-26 16:26:58

Jean metcalf and cliff michelmore on a sunday morning playing song requests for British forces abroad. I used to love listening to it. Pat boone was a favourite request for the song " I'll be home my darling". Beverly sisters, alma cogan, Vera Lynn among many others

Oreo Sat 07-Mar-26 16:34:34

No, before my time I guess but it sounds a nice idea.

Astitchintime Sat 07-Mar-26 16:41:37

I remember it……..Mum always had the radio on Sunday mornings. I was curious to know the name places they spoke of and remember asking her what BFPO meant.

grumppa Sat 07-Mar-26 16:41:39

Yes. A comforting programme for families in that situation, I imagine.

shysal Sat 07-Mar-26 16:52:08

Yes, we listened every Sunday morning. The radio volume was turned down if the Beverley Sisters came on as my mother hated them!
Am I right in thinking Children's Favourites was also on on Sundays, presented by Archie Andrews - a ventriloquist's dummy?

Hunros Sat 07-Mar-26 16:57:04

Sunday morning
Back from church, Radio on, last bit of homework done, the smell of Sunday roast drifting up the stairs, Dad in the garden. Mum singing along to the music.
Lovely memories

silverlining48 Sat 07-Mar-26 16:57:50

Yes I remember forces favourites, followed by the Bills Cotton band show…round the horn, a bit risquee for the times. We didn’t have a tv then so it was the only entertainment other than the cinema that we had.

silverlining48 Sat 07-Mar-26 16:58:04

Billy not bills

Usedtobeblonde Sat 07-Mar-26 17:00:09

I believe that after presenting the programme they met and married.
We listened every Sunday.

polomint Sat 07-Mar-26 17:00:50

Oh yes, I remember too Billy cottons band show. Lovely memories of listening to the radio. Jean was in the UK and cliff was in Europe. They eventually met up and married

mum2three Sat 07-Mar-26 17:02:29

I spent several years living abroad and we relied on the radio for entertainment. Letters From Home was a regular, as well as the one with Cliff Michelmore.

mokryna Sat 07-Mar-26 17:08:12

I remember my parents always listened forces favourites.
Jean Metcalf and Cliff Michelmore lived in my home town, Reigate, and I used to deliver their newspapers, there were a lot.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:08:31

Wakey wakeeeeey. The Billy Cotton Band Show.

Which show were The Glums on? Ron and Eth. Eth the wonderful June Whitfield.

Then later in the afternoon was it Pick of the Pops?

Clawdy Sat 07-Mar-26 17:09:44

Children's Favourites was hosted by "Uncle Mac"! He would say "Hello, children - everywhere."

ferry23 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:09:51

Oh yes, and Round the Horn. My Mum & Dad loved Sing Something Simple - I thought it was old fashioned grin.
And who could ever forget Billy Cotton and his Wakey Wakey!

And the Glums.

ferry23 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:14:44

Clawdy

Children's Favourites was hosted by "Uncle Mac"! He would say "Hello, children - everywhere."

My Dad sent in a reqest to Uncle Mac for Hi Ho from The Seven Dwarfs after he took me to see it at the cinema. It actually came on and I was the school star for one day on the Monday!

I can remember my Dad rushing into the lounge almost shaking with excitement when it came on.

Ah, am I just imagining it or was life really so much simpler back then? Perhaps it always seems simple when you're a child.

Ziplok Sat 07-Mar-26 17:15:21

Yes, I remember Family Favourites on the radio. My parents always had it on every Sunday morning.

M0nica Sat 07-Mar-26 17:21:01

used to listen to them at boarding school, hoping they would mention the place or BFPO address where my father was stationed and the family was based.

sparkly1000 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:23:55

Always on our little radio on a Sunday morning when Mum was cooking the roast.
I thought that Bee-Eff -Po was an actual country

J52 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:25:51

I remember those Sundays listening to the Home Service as the BBC radio Chanel was called then. Later on in the afternoon was Movie Go Round, describing the recent films, which we sometimes heard.
We had a TV, but I dint think much was on at those times, except an old B&W film in the afternoon.

J52 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:26:29

Didn’t sorry autocorrect

Sieska Sat 07-Mar-26 17:34:11

I used to listen to the American Forces Network radio broadcasts in the early '50s. Blossom Dearie was my favourite with her little girls voice. Well, I was only about 13! Glen Miller was well-liked too as was Count Basie.
"Music for the Middle Mind" was the name of one programme, around 10 or so in the evening. A lovely mixture of popular classics, easy listening jazz, and pleasant pops.
Children's' Hour at 5 p.m. daily was a must with "Auntie Vi" who was, I think, Violet Carsons of Coronation Street fame. We all loved "Dick Barton, Special Agent" at 6.45 p.m. "Quick, Jock, Snowy, to me!"
[Posted by Sieska's husband Kevin]

polomint Sat 07-Mar-26 17:39:07

Aden and Gibraltar were mentioned frequently but I can't remember what places were mentioned in the Far East, maybe Singapore

Moth62 Sat 07-Mar-26 17:42:15

I can remember sitting on the back doorstep shelling peas (and eating them…) whilst listening to Two-way Family Favourites on a radio in the kitchen. Later, we would eat Sunday dinner (as we called lunch in those days) at the table in the front room listening to Jimmy Clitheroe or The Navy Lark on a big old wireless set in the corner that you had to switch on to warm up. Lovely innocent days.

Thorntrees Sat 07-Mar-26 17:56:06

This brings back lovely memories.
Home from church and the radio on for family favourites.
Later in the afternoon I seem to recall a programme - Down Your Way - I think it was called., and Sing something Simple.
Friday night was hair washing and listening to The Palm Court Orchestra.
Happy days,we never had a tv at home so the radio was always on..