Tuesday 12 March 1963
Britain’s secret service agents – the real James Bonds – are costing the nation more money. The budget for the next financial year will increase from £7,000,000 to £8,000,000.
A startling new look for Wales with seven counties instead of the present thirteen is proposed by the Local Government Commission for Wales. The proposed new counties would be Mid-Wales, Anglesey, Gwynedd, Flint and Denbigh, West Wales, Glamorgan, and Gwent.
Mr Peter Hunt, director of a London employment agency that supplies butlers: “Our national characteristics produce good butlers. If the house is on fire no British butler will rush into the dining room shouting Fire! Fire! He will enter quietly and whisper in his master’s ear.”
Stirling Moss, racing driver, has designed his ideal car – a high-performance four-seater, which will be completed in a few months. He also has plans for an all-electric house, a revolutionary bicycle and a ball-point pen that writes “up-hill”.
Mr Sidney Bernstein, Chairman of Granada Television: “What nonsense is talked about television. From the way people go on you would think it was a social disease. Some people won’t even have a television set in their home for fear of being infected. Why not live dangerously? Watch Coronation Street.”
Television highlights: The Cosmologists – the nature and origin of the universe. Racing from Cheltenham – four races. Tuesday Rendezvous with Bert Weedon.
Radio highlights: Conservative Party Political Broadcast. Time For Laughter.
Weather: sunny spells and showers. Outlook – changeable. 10c, 50f.
Wednesday 13 March 1963
The cold eyes of gunman George Frederick Thatcher blinked only once when Mr Justice Roskill told a hushed court, “You shot Hurden fatally and without pity, and for that crime the law prescribes only one sentence.” Placing a black cap on his head, the judge said, “The sentence of this court is that you suffer death in the manner authorised by the law. May God have mercy on your soul.”
A complete British-built Telstar space satellite is to be ordered by the government. It will be fired into orbit by a rocket being developed by Britain, Australia and a group of European nations, and should be operational in four or five years.
An American dairy process is now catching on in Britain. It’s called homogenised milk. However, housewives are angry. “I thought it had something to do with the bad weather,” a Kent housewife said. “The milk had no cream on top and a different taste. It just isn’t as fresh and farm-like as the old type. You can’t smack your lips and taste the cream.”
Psychiatrist Dr Joshua Bierer, a Harley Street specialist, has been called in by the Tories to help their candidates at the next General Election.
Television highlights: The Flowerpot Men. The Big Stride – building a bridge across the River Severn. Sportscast – sprinting, rugby and women’s cricket.
Radio highlights: On Your Farm. Get With It.
Summer Soccer: First Division Blackpool have suggested that next season should start on 6 July and end on 14 March with the FA Cup Final on 21 March. The 1964 season should start on 17 April and end on 27 November, the matches played on Friday and Monday evenings, or on Saturdays.
Weather: mainly dry with sunny intervals. Outlook – occasional rain. 10c, 50f.
Thursday 14 March 1963
Scotland Yard detectives investigating the shooting of a gambling club doorman are hunting for a mystery man known as The Watcher. They believe that he is behind the violence that has hit the gambling clubs in the West End. The Watcher goes into gambling clubs, stays long enough to spot the big winners, then phones a gang of gunmen. When the winners leave the club, members of the gang are waiting to beat them up and rob them.
The outlook for Britain’s shipbuilders is bleak, says the annual report of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. The report adds that many British shipyards only have enough orders to last them until the end of this year – and some of them may have to close.
Milk with cost 1/2d a pint more as a result of this year’s government farm price review. The winter price of milk will be 8 1/2d a pint for eight months of the year instead of seven. The summer price of milk, 8d, will commence in June and last for four months.
The Tornados get in the groove again with Robot, another Joe Meek song. He wrote Telstar and Globetrotter, and it sounds like an automatic hit.
Two members of Top Thirty’s the Beatles wrote Misery, Kenny Lynch’s new single. And it sounds much happier than its title.
Screenwriters’ Guild Awards: Alan Simpson and Ray Galton for Steptoe and Son.
John Hopkins, Troy Kennedy Martin and Alan Prior for Z Cars.
Ken Russell’s profile of Sir Edward Elgar.
David Mercer for A Suitable Case for Treatment.
Television highlights: Roving Report – the strength of France. The White Heather Club with Andy Stewart. This Week – the gift stamp boom.
Radio highlights: Concert – Top of the Pops. German Cabaret.
Weather: dull, rain, drizzle, windy. Outlook – changeable. 10c, 50f.
Friday 15 March 1963
Model Christine Keeler, pictured, was being sought by police last night. Miss Keeler, 20, was wanted as chief prosecution witness in the Old Bailey trial of a man who is accused of shooting at her with intent to commit murder. But the jury heard from the prosecution that Miss Keeler had disappeared.
Salesman John Edgecombe, accused of shooting at twenty-year-old model Christine Keeler, told an Old Bailey jury yesterday that he fired half-a-dozen pistol shots at the door of a flat where Miss Keeler was visiting her actress friend eighteen-year-old Marilyn Davies. But, Edgecombe said, he did not mean to hit Miss Keeler, only frighten her. The trial was adjourned. The police are still trying to find Miss Keeler.
Independent television companies are to have as much freedom as the BBC in screening satirical sketches. So, from next year, they will be able to broadcast programmes like That Was The Week That Was. Tory MP Arthur Tiley was not happy. He said, “These beatniks do not appreciate what is offensive to all of us.”
Mr Justice Cairns yesterday refused a husband’s plea for a blood test on his wife and her baby – whose paternity he disputes. The judge believed that this was the first time that such a plea had been made in an English court. He added that the court had no power to order tests.
Champagne flooded into Britain last year. We were France’s best champagne customer, taking nearly 4,300,000 bottles, or 28% of French export sales.
Television highlights: Indoor Athletics. Still Life – play about a nightclub vocalist and a pop singer. Comedy Playhouse – Impasse with Bernard Cribbins and Leslie Phillips.
Radio highlights: Go Man Go. Lena Horne.
Weather: sunny intervals and showers. Outlook – little change. 11c, 52f.
Saturday 16 March 1963
Rejected lover John Edgecombe, who went after red-haired model Christine Keeler with a loaded gun, was jailed for seven years yesterday. And last night 21-year-old Miss Keeler, who should have been the prosecution’s main witness at the two-day Old Bailey trial, was still missing.
Miss Keeler, friend of millionaires, film stars and other well known people, disappeared before the trial. During the incident, she was visiting her blonde model friend Marilyn Davies in a flat owned by high society osteopath Stephen Ward.
The mystery remains – where is Miss Keeler? Miss Davies said last night, “I have no idea where she is. Christine likes a gay time. She has very influential friends who mix in diplomatic and political circles in European capitals.”
In Parliament, MPs discussed the possibility of putting their debates on television. Many spoke in favour, some against. Those in favour agreed that only highlights should be broadcast – they were against continuous coverage.
The Rev Christopher Courtauld has decided to give most of his £500,000 inheritance to charity. He said, “I want to put the money to constructive use.” Mr Courtauld’s first gift will go to the Freedom From Hunger campaign.
Television highlights: Dixon of Dock Green – 200th edition. Boxing – Cassius Clay v Doug Jones. Ice Hockey – Sweden v Canada.
Radio highlights: Saturday Club with Susan Maughan and the Beatles. Honey Hit Parade.
Weather: bright and showery. Outlook – chance of showers increasing. 11c, 52f.
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Hannah Howe 