Well we may have been a bit light on guests this week, but made up for this with a whole sackful of Christmas favourites past and present. One of the oldest songs played was a number one hit at Christmas time in 1956 – MARY’s BOY CHILD by HARRY BELAFONTE. The sad truth is that not only do I remember the song well, I even remember buying it – on a 78 RPM record! We couldn’t let Christmas pass without playing some classics off the Phil Spector Christmas album as well as songs from the likes of Jona Lewie, Bruce Springsteen, The Backstreet Boys, Cliff Richard plus a duet by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, to list but a few. I hope this selection will have really helped to put you in the mood for Christmas.
For the final time this year, FRANCES CLAMP joined me for our BRENTWOOD & BILLERICAY BYGONES FEATURE. Her chosen subject this week was linked closely with Christmases of old and in particular medieval times when the a lord of the manor might have passed on the lesser parts of a deer to the poor. These parts might have included the heart, liver, tongue, feet, ears and brains. These were known as the deer’s “umbles”. Mixed with whatever else a cook could lay her hands on, they would be made into a pie. The poor would thus eat “UMBLE PIE” which is almost certainly why anyone down on their luck today may be reported as having to eat “HUMBLE PIE”.
You can listen again to Frances telling us all about UMBLE PIE, here: -[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bygones-20th-December.mp3|titles=Bygones 20th December]
We are giving Frances a week off but all being well, she will be back on 3rd January when she will be giving us the historical lowdown on St Mary Magdalene Church of Great Burstead.
I’ll be back on Bank Holiday Tuesday from 2pm right through until 6. No more Christmas songs, rather we’ll be playing some of the songs that made it onto PHOENIX FM’s “A” List during 2011. If you can’t make it on Tuesday, I look forward to your company next Saturday – NEW YEAR’s EVE. No big long breaks for us radio presenters!
In the meantime have a fabulous Christmas. Try not to eat or drink too much and don’t leave all the work to poor old mum, it’s her Christmas too!
See you next week.
Scott
