Radio 2's late night extra and night ride

[bhowells]

These two shows from the late sixties and early seventies were required listening for me as a kid. These two programmes sparked off my love of radio as a nine year old. Prior to that I didnt give radio serious consideration although I was brought up on a diet of the light programme, Housewives Choice and the like.



I remember Bob Holness being a regular on Late Night Extra and also Simon Bates it was the only time I ever liked the latter when he joined Radio One he drove me to despair for years.



I only listened to Night Ride when I was on school holidays in those days, Bruce Wyndyan continuity man and newsreader was a regular. Later on in the seventies I remember a lonely hearts feature on Night Ride with Julie Dawn presiding.



Night Ride like many Radio Two shows of that vintage had regular sessions from musicains, one such act I recall were Dorita and Pepe.



In the late seventies I was a passionate fan of Brian Matthews nightly arts programme Round Midnight, which ran for man years. His coverage from the Edinburgh Festival was always a favourtie.

[kelp]

I feel that I was part of that era, and in particular Brian Mathew. I bought a car from him, it was his Volvo P 1800 "S". Well, at least I can say I knew the great man back in his heyday.

Now the BBC have stopped the late night radio shows broadcasting from The Mailbox in Birmingham, I fear for the future of such programmes. I totaly agree they were terrific radio years. By the way, I read that radio's Paul Temple has died the great Peter Coke, perhaps someone has already listed his passing elsewhere.

[CC1]

name='bhowells']These two shows from the late sixties and early seventies were required listening for me as a kid. These two programmes sparked off my love of radio as a nine year old. Prior to that I didnt give radio serious consideration although I was brought up on a diet of the light programme, Housewives Choice and the like.



I remember Bob Holness being a regular on Late Night Extra and also Simon Bates it was the only time I ever liked the latter when he joined Radio One he drove me to despair for years.



I only listened to Night Ride when I was on school holidays in those days, Bruce Wyndyan continuity man and newsreader was a regular. Later on in the seventies I remember a lonely hearts feature on Night Ride with Julie Dawn presiding.



Night Ride like many Radio Two shows of that vintage had regular sessions from musicains, one such act I recall were Dorita and Pepe.



In the late seventies I was a passionate fan of Brian Matthews nightly arts programme Round Midnight, which ran for man years. His coverage from the Edinburgh Festival was always a favourtie.

I remember this too - especially Julie Dawn's piece as it used John Williams playing 'Cavatina' to open her part of the show. I seem to remember Terry Wogan presenting one of the shows for some time.



I also think that John Dunn used to to late night extra before he took over the 6pm slot on Radio 2. As you say they were good listening.

[cornershop15]

Good evening, CC1. I remember Julie Dawn! She was formerly an actress (not to be confused with Julie Dawn Cole) and, years after her Radio 2 contributions ended, I was sad to read of her death. I saved the obituary but it will take ages to find, assuming I still have it.



There was some connection with Italy, wasn't there? At the end of each broadcast, she would say 'Ciao' and it's slowly coming back to me that she went to live there. Julie sent me a signed autograph where she is lovingly holding her dog, but one night listeners were told the heartbreaking news that "the dog you see in my picture" had died. A sad moment I still recall. Thanks for mentioning her. One of the many people who made a brief but memorable impact on Radio 2 listeners.



By the way, Julie Dawn's five minute (or so) broadcasts were part of Liz Allen's show, circa 1982-83. Peter Dickson, who is the deep-voiced announcer we've heard on Des and Mel and also Paul O'Grady's chat shows, was either Liz's replacement or contemporary at weekends. He had a similar quirky style to Steve Madden, who came along a few years later. Listening to Radio 2 in the 1980s was a very happy experience for me and I'd love to recapture those times again. Newsreaders Colin Berry and Tim Gudgin were also regulars. The latter still reads the football results on Saturday afternoons.

[CC1]

name='cornershop15']Good evening, CC1. I remember Julie Dawn! She was formerly an actress (not to be confused with Julie Dawn Cole) and, years after her Radio 2 contributions ended, I was sad to read of her death. I saved the obituary but it will take ages to find, assuming I still have it.



There was some connection with Italy, wasn't there? At the end of each broadcast, she would say 'Ciao' and it's slowly coming back to me that she went to live there. Julie sent me a signed autograph where she is lovingly holding her dog, but one night listeners were told the heartbreaking news that "the dog you see in my picture" had died. A sad moment I still recall. Thanks for mentioning her. One of the many people who made a brief but memorable impact on Radio 2 listeners.



By the way, Julie Dawn's five minute (or so) broadcasts were part of Liz Allen's show, circa 1982-83. Peter Dickson, who is the deep-voiced announcer we've heard on Des and Mel and also Paul O'Grady's chat shows, was either Liz's replacement or contemporary at weekends. He had a similar quirky style to Steve Madden, who came along a few years later. Listening to Radio 2 in the 1980s was a very happy experience for me and I'd love to recapture those times again. Newsreaders Colin Berry and Tim Gudgin were also regulars. The latter still reads the football results on Saturday afternoons.

It's amazing how different posts can trigger different memories. She used to call herself "Your voice in the night girl" What's frightening is that this has to be about 35 years ago now!!!!

[Brigger]

Hello to Cornershop and CC1, I also remember Julies soothing; even sexy voice on late night radio in the late 70s, wasn`t there also a programme called You & the Night & the Music or YATNAM for short; I seem to remember this very well. Could this be the obituary you are talking off Cornershop, I didn`t find out about her passing for a few years after the sad event, and was greatly shocked and saddened on hearing.



Julie Dawn - Telegraph

[cornershop15]

Good evening, Brigger (and CC1). Thank you for that link. That's definitely the first time I've read the article as I was unaware Julie originally found fame as a singer. Either the obituary I remember seeing is from a different broadsheet, or I never bothered to read the one I saved. Fascinating to discover her father was Head Waiter at the Savoy once upon a time, where she also sang. This is mentioned in her entry for Who's Who on Radio (1983 edition), "compiled by Sheila Tracy", another Radio 2 favourite, who used to present a programme for 'truckers', I remember.



Among the revelations about Julie Dawn are that she was asked by Charlie Chaplin to sing his classic song Smile for him. What a moment for her! I'll present that profile later in the week, if you like (always a bit stressful using the scanner), and maybe some of the other Nightride/You & the Night & the Music presenters. Chris Aldred, who I think had something to do with Kenny Everett's departure from Radio 2, is the first entry in the book. She was another 'YATNAM' presenter.

[CC1]

name='cornershop15']Good evening, Brigger (and CC1). Thank you for that link. That's definitely the first time I've read the article as I was unaware Julie originally found fame as a singer. Either the obituary I remember seeing is from a different broadsheet, or I never bothered to read the one I saved. Fascinating to discover her father was Head Waiter at the Savoy once upon a time, where she also sang. This is mentioned in her entry for Who's Who on Radio (1983 edition), "compiled by Sheila Tracy", another Radio 2 favourite, who used to present a programme for 'truckers', I remember.



Among the revelations about Julie Dawn are that she was asked by Charlie Chaplin to sing his classic song Smile for him. What a moment for her! I'll present that profile later in the week, if you like (always a bit stressful using the scanner), and maybe some of the other Nightride/You & the Night & the Music presenters. Chris Aldred, who I think had something to do with Kenny Everett's departure from Radio 2, is the first entry in the book. She was another 'YATNAM' presenter.

Good Evening Brigger and Cornershop .... The piece from the Telegraph was interesting thanks. Sheila Tracy ..... she used to work for BBC South as a continuity announcer and newsreader and then went on to do "Trucker's Hour" which was a programme which went out in the early 80s when CB Radios were all the rage.



She used to read out messages from truckers (on the road) to their loved ones and vice-versa. A lot of them were in code or CB speak and I remember one night (I used to listen in sometimes when I was working night shift) that she had to make an apology as she read out a message in all good faith that turned out to be something that was quite rude - I think I laughed for about 10 minutes as I couldn't believe that it had been read out in the first place.



I always thought that Sheila was the most unlikely person to present Truckers Hour as she was very BBC, but have just read up on her to discover that before being a journalist and broadcaster she had been a musician studying at the Royal Accademy and then becoming a trombonist in the Ivy Benson band!!



[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Tracy[/ame]

[cornershop15]

Hello again, CC1. I seem to recall something about that incident with Sheila Tracy, possibly the apology, but I was never a regular listener to her Trucker's Hour. I can still remember her voice, mainly as an announcer and newsreader, but sadly can't say the same for Julie Dawn. If only those halcyon days could return.

This is the Who's Who on Radio entry from 1983 I mentioned last time:





Rest In Peace, Julie

[CC1]

Thanks Cornershop15 - very interesting - funny after all of these years that's the first time that I have seen a photograph of Juie Dawn - yes they were good days!

[cornershop15]

Hello again, CC1. I can tell you, posi-tively, that is the photograph used for the elusive obituary. I am equally certain it was The Independent.