Afternoons for Friday 9 September 2022

1.06 BBC's Rich Preston

Jesse speaks to the BBC's Rich Preston for the latest out of the UK, his memories of the Queen and the preparations for her funeral. 

1.17 Interview with former staff member of Balmoral Castle

Jo Worsley is a teacher at Avondale College, and in the early nineties she had an interesting job in the UK which led her to meet the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. 

She worked at Balmoral Castle as a humble dish-washer in the royal kitchen and met the monarch while dressed as a flower!

1.27 Ray Woolf remembers the Queen 

Legendary New Zealand entertainer Ray Woolf tells Jesse about his memory of singing for the queen at a royal variety performance. 

1:30 -Anything You Can Do (from Annie Get Your Gun) 

In 2016, BBC Radio 2 ran 'Our Queen: 90 Musical Years', a program celebrating Her Majesty's 90th birthday through some of her favourite musical moments.

The tracks played revealed her affinity for classic show tunes, wartime songs, and hymns.

Jesse plays these on the show today in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

The is from what was reportedly one of her favourite musicals, 'Annie Get Your Gun'.

This recording of 'Anything You Can Do' is her preferred version, performed by the original 1947 West End cast led by Dolores Gray and Bill Johnson.

Those close to the Queen revealed in that program that she had a real affinity for dancing, matched by impeccable rhythm. We imagine this might have been the song that got her foot tapping most.

1.34 Keith Hay remembers meeting the Queen in 1953

It was a sunny day leading up to Christmas 1953 when Keith Hay first caught a glimpse of the newly minted Monarch in Khyber Pass, Central Auckland.

the royal tour was big news then and many will recall lining the roadsides in pockets of New Zealand to wave little flags.

Keith Hay's honest days work was interrupted to make way for Her Majesty's entourage.

1.39 Peter Lange remembers being an official silver polisher

Peter Lange, the brother of the late former Prime Minister David Lange, worked at Buckingham Palace with his wife in the 1970s as one of the household's official silver polishers.

Peter is also an artist and teacher in the ceramic arts scene, and in 2016 he was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his decades of work. 

1.45 Kevin remembers the Queen's trip to Hornby

Kevin tells Jesse about when he presented the Queen with a bouquet as she passed through Hornby, Christchurch in 1953. 

1.48 Alison recalls the Queen's visit to Herne Bay

Alison tells Jesse of when the queen arrived at her neighbour's doorstep unannounced!

1:51 Cheek to Cheek – Fred Astaire

We're going from the stage to the screen with this next song.

The Queen wasn't shy about her love of classic musicals and dancing, so it comes as no surprise that she was an admirer of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, perhaps the finest song-and-dance duo to grace the big screen.

This song comes from their 1935 musical comedy 'Top Hat'. It's Astaire's original version of the classic number 'Cheek to Cheek'.

1.55 Gerald recalls his time in 1980s London

Jesse speaks to physiotherapist Gerald about when he was approached by police before getting to see the Queen in her Rolls Royce.

1:58 (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover (1942) – Vera Lynn

 This song is one of the most popular to emerge out of the Second World War, 'There'll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover'.

It was written by Walter Kent with lyrics by Nat Burton about a year after the Royal Air Force began fighting the Battle of Britain over Southern England, which of course included those famous white cliffs.

Fittingly, it is performed here by one of the most popular British wartime entertainers, Vera Lynn, who performed for the troops so frequently she was known as the 'Forces' Sweetheart'.

2.07 Owner of Te Aroha's famous Royal Museum speaks about The Queen

Te Aroha resident Angela Thompson has spent years turning her property into a Royal Museum, which now houses possibly the most exhaustive collection of royal memorabilia in New Zealand.

It includes of 8000 pieces, not including the thousands of books and newspaper clippings that also line the walls.

Jesse speaks to the passionate royalist about today’s news.

2.15 Voices from around the globe react to Queen Elizabeth II's death

The Queen’s death has sparked grief the world over, and many leaders have taken time to commiserate her passing.

RNZ’s Charlie Dreaver shares reactions from around the globe.

2.24 Listener shares their memories of meeting The Queen, twice!

One of our listeners was lucky enough to converse with Her Majesty The Queen twice in her life. First when she was 12, and again 25 years later while her husband was Commodore of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

2:35 The Lord is My Shepherd - Choir of Trinity College

As a dedicated Anglican and the head of the Church of England, it's only natural that the Queen included a number of hymns on her list of favourite songs, so we had to include at least one on today's show.

The two stand outs to her were apparently 'Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven' and the one we're going to play for you now, 'The Lord's My Shepherd'

This is a performance by the acclaimed Choir of Trinity College.

2.38 Son of former security officer remembers the moment King George VI died

Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, died in 1952. At the time, the soon-to-be Queen was visiting Treetops, one of the oldest safari lodges in Kenya.

She famously went up the tree a Princess and came down a Queen.

Jesse speaks to Phillip Jenkins, whose father was a security officer for Her Majesty at the time.

2:46 Sing – Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band with The Military Wives

 This song is the most modern edition from the Queen’s list of favourites.

'Sing' is a collaboration between Gary Barlow of Take That fame and  Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was written specifically for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

It was performed by the Military Wives, which is a network of British military women’s choirs, along with a huge ensemble of artists Barlow gathered from across the Commonwealth.

He travelled as far as the Caribbean, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and Australasia to find singers, and his efforts and the song itself clearly struck a nerve with Her Majesty.

2.51 Granddaughter of woman who created a cloak for The Queen’s 1953 visit recalls being “transfixed”

Ngahuia was just five years old when Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1953. She speaks to Jesse about the excitement that permeated through her village, and remembers the adrenaline she felt as 5000 Māori performers gathered to put on a show.

2:57 The Coldstream March (Milanollo) – Band of the Coldstream Guards

Of all the music The Queen heard over the years her life was always destined to be sound tracked by the British Army's Regimental Marches.

Of the many to grace her ears this was the one that stood out most of all, and it will likely be familiar to you too.

'Milanollo' was composed in honour of two young Italian violin prodigies, sisters Teresa and Maria Milanollo, who toured Europe extensively in the 1840s.

Here it is as performed by the British Army's Coldstream Guards.