So, who remembers this

whi district? Who didn't!!

"Torchy, Torchy, the battery boy-I'm a clever walkie-talkie toy!"
Loved Uncle Mac and all the music/songs already mentioned but apparently Uncle Mac was an irascible old bloke whi district didn't actually like children!!

Me too jane10. my heart used to sink when Sing Something simple came on.

Ooh I always felt depressed when 'Sing something simple' was on as it meant school the next day!

Oh memories ... Sunday evening, sing something simple. "When father painted the parlour" was our favourite. We used to love the radio - tuning in to the home or light service, dancing in the kitchen on my fathers feet. Never listen to it now.

Shock horror BBbevan ! I'd only heard Abdul Abulbul Amir sung by a group of squaddies after a few beers Had to go to wikipedia where I found both versions. Well they do say you learn something new everyday!

Torch you, Torchy the battery boy
He's a walking, talking toy...

Sparky scared the living day lights out of me!

Sad to think that Radio 2 DJ Ed "Stewpot" Stewart is no longer with us. We used to listen to his programme on Xmas morning where he played all the old childrens favourites. This Xmas will not be the same.

Tubby The Tuba- & Frankie Howerd's Little Duck song for me.I was scared of Sparky too.I liked the monologues by Bob Newhart too- Walter Raleigh & The Driving Instructor.They still make me laugh.
I loved it when Uncle Mac played In the Hall of the Mountain King (which I now know is part of Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg) & used to dance like a whirling dervish to it up & down the hall.I still love the music but the dancing has slowed down a bit!

I also liked Abdul Abulbul AAmir. I always imagined a big , fat, Arabian man in flowing trousers.

I had absolutely no idea this would "Spark" off such lively discussions and memories - I had forgotten half of those mentioned here, but the memories of an accumulator wireless, and tuning it in,
then sitting quietly and LISTENING, sometimes in a chilly room, but always seeming to be cosy.

Oh yes, I had completely forgotten that. It was a bit scary! I remember it from 'Children's Favourites'.

I loved Sparky which was often on the children's request show, but it was always just the first side that was played, I longed to hear the rest of it but, to this day, have no idea how it ended.

I was frightened by Sparky too.
I can remember the disapproval in Uncle Mac's voice when he was forced to play something a bit more modern and seem to recall him playing 'Apache' by the Shadows and his pronouncing it Apash. Can that be right?

Sparky the magic piano used to scare the life out of me. It was slightly strange and odd and I distinctly remember something about the sky falling on someone's head. Used to freak me out and depress me.

Are you confusing this with "Torchy" the battery boy?

Couldn't bear the Clitheroe Kid, though!

I still have tapes and CDs of Round the Horne. When DS comes down we put them on and have a good giggle at Rambling Sid Rumpo, Daphne Whitethighs and Jules and Sandy!

You can still hear some of those old radio series on Radio 4 Extra.

I loved 'Life with the Lyons' and the amazing Mollie Weir with her lovely accent.

I see that no-one has mentioned "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" Sung by Burl Ives I think. I was disappointed if that wasn't played here it is sung by the author.

Thanks for that pensionpat, I remember now. I loved Round The Horn.

I couldn't remember Little Blue Man so just looked on You Tube. Thanks big bird1 and numberplease , I do remember it, very sad tale,

Two-way Family Favourites was Cliff Mitchelmore in Germany and Jean Metcalf in UK playing requests to and from families and servicemen. Cliff and Jean were married. Think it was followed by Round the Horne and The Clitheroe Kid.

We had a wind up gramophone at the grammar school and we had country dancing music on 78 records - we had country dancing when it was too wet to go out on the hockey field - I prayed for rain those days!!! The only drawback to the dancing was that we did it in a loft which the boys used as a changing room at times and it had a whiff of socks!