Friday 15 February 1963
Harold Wilson is the new leader of the Labour Party. He was elected last night with a decisive majority of 41 over George Brown. Mr Wilson said that he would carry on the policies of Hugh Gaitskell, whose death last month caused the leadership election.
Big Tony Mella, 37 year old king of the Soho clip joints, was murdered by his best friend Alvin Melvin who put three bullets into him. Melvin then shot himself. It would appear that Melvin tired of Big Tony’s insults and abuse. His friendship turned to hatred.
Surgeons have taken a kidney from a dead body and transplanted it into a living man. The operation, which lasted six hours, is the first of its kind in the world. It took place in Leeds General Infirmary 67 days ago. The recipient is doing well, but surgeons say it is too early to say if the operation has been a complete success.
The Tower of London’s 38 Beefeaters threatened to go on strike unless the War Office makes a move to settle their pay claim. The Beefeaters want 1s 9d more a day for carrying out special duties. The War Office has offered 6d.
The Third Round FA Cup tie between Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City has been postponed for the tenth time. Watford and Rotherham’s third round tie was also postponed last night.
Television highlights: The Woodentops, Captain Pugwash, Tales of the Riverbank.
Radio highlights: Piano Party, My Favourite Husband.
Weather: bright with showers. Outlook – similar. Maximum temperature 2c or 3c, 36f.
Saturday 16 February 1963
Three girl tv announcers (see below) have been taken off news reading because they become emotionally involved when giving details of tragedies. Also, they get thousands of fan letters and requests for photographs. This indicates that they are a distraction and reduce the impact of news items.
A third plot to assassinate President de Gaulle has been foiled in three years. The alleged ringleader of the latest assassination plot is Georges-Marcel Watin, nicknamed Limpy because of an infirmity. He escaped the police dragnet by minutes.
When Leslie Hopkin’s car stalled outside his home he asked his wife Beatrice to sit in the driving seat while he pushed the car to restart it. Leslie shoved and the car shot down the street leaving him standing. Beatrice steered safely past twenty-three parked cars. But her car hit a twenty-fourth. She suffered a broken leg, had four teeth knocked out, and received cuts. Leslie was fined £1 for allowing his wife to drive uninsured.
In a pop poll in Holland, Cliff Richard was voted the World’s top singer, receiving 50.5% of the vote. His idols, Elvis Presley and Ray Charles, received 20% and 3.25% respectively.
Little change in the grim vegetable situation and the Covent Garden men refuse to forecast any improvement for several weeks. Potatoes are 5d lb, tomatoes 2s, cucumbers 2s 6d each, and oranges 1s 9d.
Television highlights: The Rag Trade – an American tycoon, Thick Wilson, has take-over thoughts. That Was The Week That Was. The Braden Beat.
Radio highlights: Stephane Grappelly. Polka Party.
Weather: sleet or snow. Temperatures near freezing. Outlook – little change.
Sunday 17 February 1963
Coming soon – canned cakes. You will be able to store them for two years. Handbags that grow as you let out the strap handles are all the rage in Paris. For £56 you will soon be able to have garage doors that open when car headlights shine on them.
Thousands of Frenchwomen took from their mailboxes this week plain wrapped packages containing large tubes simply marked “Soothing Cream”, apparently a beauty product. In the tubes was a contraceptive preparation. In France it is illegal to possess, sell, buy, advertise or advise on contraception and contraceptive materials.
A 1951 penny might be worth pounds. A coin collector in America has pointed out that the US catalogue prices for British 1951 pennies is as high as £3 8d, and market prices might be higher. The bulk of the 1951 issue went to Bermuda, where people are now afraid to spend a penny in case they lose a small fortune.
This week, only five people complained about the BBC’s satirical show That Was The Week That Was. Normally, hundreds of people complain every week.
Television highlights: His Soul Goes Marching On – discussion on race relations in America. Mr Magoo. Z Cars.
Radio highlights: Top Twenty. Let’s Put Out the Lights.
Only thirteen matches were played in the English and Scottish football leagues this weekend. The rest were postponed because of the weather.
Weather: very cold with snow.
Monday 18 February 1963
The president bends, breaks or ignores laws that stand in his way. People are arrested on a whim. Magistrates are corrupt. Radio and television are now propaganda instruments. This is the situation in France under dictator de Gaulle.
Railwaymen will join the fight for a 40 hour working week. Currently, they work 42 hours a week. Builders, plumbers and heating engineers will switch to a 40 hour working week in two years.
Real-life spacemen are catching up with the puppet stars of Fireball XL5. As every one of the 3,500,000 regular viewers knows, when the XL5 crew want to investigate some far-off planet, they first put Fireball XL5 into orbit around it. Then they make the final descent to the planet from the Mothership on a kind of space taxi, called Fireball Junior. And that is the way American astronauts will descend to the surface of the Moon sometime around the end of 1967.
Rector William Winfield has suggested that people should give up watching tv for Lent. Mr Winfield is giving up his favourites…boxing, travel films and Westerns.
Television highlights: World in Action – focus on supermarkets. The Plane Makers – factory series. Leave it to Beaver.
Radio highlights: Swoon Club. The Jazz Scene with Spike Milligan.
Classified Advertisement: Johnny D. Thanks for phone call. Arrange your pal visits us – Mam.
Weather: sunny spells, snow showers. Very cold. Outlook – similar. Maximum temperature 1c 34f.
Tuesday 19 February 1963
Motorists in London will soon be given “space flight” heart checks to measure the strain of rush-hour driving. Recorders will monitor heart rates as motorists fume in traffic jams, jockey for lane positions, and rage at other drivers.
A doctor died after using himself as a guinea pig for experiments with a drug, a coroner said yesterday. Dr Samuel Leff took LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide, a drug linked to hypnotism and exploration of the memory cells.
The widow of Big Tony Mella, the Soho club boss, sent a wreath to the funeral of the man who murdered him, and the widow of the killer, Alvin Melvin, sent a wreath to the graveside of Big Tony. The hostesses of the nightclub split into two groups and went to each funeral. “Both of the boys were good to us,” said one of the hostesses. “They were good to work for.”
Billy Cotton has been voted Show Business Personality of 1962. The Most Promising Newcomers are Sarah Miles and Tom Courtenay. Film Actor of the Year – Peter O’Toole. Film Actress of the Year – Leslie Caron. Stage Actress of the Year – Sheila Hancock. Stage Actor of the Year – Paul Scofield. BBC Television Personality of the Year – Harry Worth. ITV Personality of the Year – Violet Carson. Radio Personality of the Year – Eamonn Andrews.
Television highlights: The Sledge – Hungarian film. No Hiding Place. Emergency Ward Ten – Dick Moone assists in a crisis.
Radio highlights: Music While You Work. Casting Out Devils.
At the eleventh attempt, Charlton Athletic’s Third Round FA Cup tie with Cardiff City went ahead last night. Len Glover’s goal in the eightieth minute sent Charlton through to meet Chelsea in the next round.
Weather: cold easterly winds, snow. Outlook – unchanged. Maximum temperature 2c, 36f.
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