Craig Fees, “Christmas Mumming in a North Cotswold Town: With Special Reference to Tourism, Urbanisation and Immigration-Related Social Change“, PhD., Institute of Dialect and Folklife Studies, School of English, University of Leeds, England (1988).

Note: Articles with @ following the date were kindly supplied by BBC Written Archives.

News Chronicle 29.9.1934.7.

R.A. TO DIRECT A BROADCAST RADIO TALK BY WOMAN OF 94

The B.B.C. has chosen Chipping Campden, near Moreton-ln-the-Marsh, as the next small country town "to be put on the map" (writes Geoffrey Edwards).

Mr. F.L. Griggs, R.A., who lives at Chipping Campden, has taken charge of the broadcasting plans, and, in conjunction will Mr. Owen Reed, of the B.B.C., will be master of ceremonies on October 17. when both Midland Regional and London Regional will broadcast sing-song and talks from the market town.

Every "turn" in the programme will be by one or more of the townsfolk. One of the most interesting talks should be that of 94-year-old Polly Wayne, whose father fought at Waterloo. Two other old inhabitants - George Groves, a walling expert, and Harry Keeley, a thatcher - will also take part.

*

News Chronicle 1.10.1934, 3.

WOMAN OF 93 IN NEXT VILLAGE RADIO

FATHER FOUGHT AT WATERLOO CURFEW TO BE HEARD

From Our Special Correspondent

CHIPPING CAMPDEN,
Sunday.

This beautiful Gloucestershire village, once the "woollen mart of England," will be "on the air" on October 17, when the reminiscences of three of its oldest inhabitants will be. broadcast in the London Regional and Midland Regional programmes.

The arrangements are in the hands of Mr. F.L. Griggs, R.A., the famous artist, who has done as much as anyone to preserve and foster the traditions of the village.

The broadcast will probably be introduced by the ringing of the famous Campden curfew, which every night at dusk peals one note for each day of the month that has passed.

"STAR" OF THE BROADCAST

The "star" of the evening will be 93~ye&**-old Polly Waine, whose father fought at Waterloo, and who still has his discharge certificate in her drawer at the Almshouses.

White-haired but full of energy - for Polly Waine walks the best part of four miles most days - she will probably tell of the Dover's Hill Games, which date back to Elizabethan times and were last held about 1850, with such junketing that thereafter the Games were stopped.

She isn't a bit nervous about the broadcast. "I expect I can answer a few questions," she declared confidently. "I can talk all right." And so she can.

Mr. George Grove, a mere septuagenarian, is another artist. Boy and man, he has worked as a mason on the Campden stone which he loves.

Mr. Harry Keeley, another of the old inhabitants, began his working life at the age of eight, 69 years ago. He started thatching at 16 and thatched thereafter for 58 years.

He also is looking forward to becoming a radio star. "I can keep talking ever so long," he assured me.

A vocal, as well as a versatile village.

<Caption on accompanying photograph:>
The village of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, is shortly to be put "on the air" by the B.B.C. Here are some of the ancient thatched cottages and the church, from which curfew is still sounded. Inset, left: Mrs. Polly Waine, aged 94, and (right), Mr. George Grove, both of whom will broadcast.

*

Manchester Guardian 17.10,1934,10.

CHIPPING CAMPDEN AT THE MICROPHONE

VILLAGE BROADCAST FROM THE COTSWOLDS

By "Listener"

The Midland staff have taken a microphone down to Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds. There it has been Installed in the house of Mr. F.L. Griggs, artist and author, who lives on the main street, and there will gather tonight a number of village residents to talk to listeners of their daily life and work and to sing old Cotswold songs.

Some of the Characters.

All the characters will be genuine. The man who is to speak of that interesting art walling is one who has earned his living by it for many years. Mr. Harry Keeley when talking of thatching and chaff-cutting in the old days will be describing something he has done. There lives in Chipping Campden Polly Wayne, who is 94 and whose father, it is said, fought at Waterloo. She, too, will broadcast and may be expected to say something of village customs in her girlhood.

This programme, which is similar to the former Midland Regional features "Our Village", but an improvement on them, has been arranged by Owen Reed, who will present it. London, Midland, and the North will hear it; it begins at 8 o'clock.

*

News Chronicle 17.10.1934,19.

"WORDS AND MUSIC"

by Geoffrey Edwards

Chief interest in tonight's programme will probably centre upon "The Microphone at Large" in the village of Chipping Campden at 8 o'clock.

The B.B.C. does not find it easy to persuade oldest inhabitants, retired colonels, village postmasters and so on to broadcast, but when they do get them to the microphone there is usually plenty of entertainment for listeners.

The next "village broadcast" will be from Oakham.

*

News Chronicle 18.10.1934,11

HILARIOUS BROADCAST

B.B.C. TAKES "MIKE" TO COUNTRY INN

AN OLD LADY WHO BACKED OUT

One of the most hilarious programmes ever broadcast by the B.B.C. came from Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds last night.

The Microphone was taken into an inn and B.B.C. officials joined with the oldest inhabitants and other townsmen to provide a programme of reminiscences, music and Morris dancing.

With drinks all round repeated a number of times the entertainment quickly warmed up and by the end of the programme none of those taking part needed prompting.

Clink of Tankards

The clinking of tankards and the splash of soda water could be clearly heard together with the stamping of feet and the general hum of conversation at the back of the bar.

On one occasion there came over very clearly a strong expression given with a rustic candour which would have been censored had it not been impromptu.

One performer, Mrs. Polly Waine, 94 the oldest inhabitant, backed out at the last moment. She was at Tuesday's rehearsal, but without a word of explanation she simply refused to appear last night.

Mrs. Waine, whose father fought at Waterloo, just turned out the light in the old almshouse in which she has lived alone for many years and went to bed.

*

Manchester Guardian 18.10.1934, 10 @.

THE PROGRAMME FROM CHIPPING CAMPDEN

The reglonals last night broadcast the first of a series of programmes "The Microphone at Large". This broadcast gave a picture of life in the lovely and famous old town of Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds. There was no attempt at formal presentation, but many of the inhabitants were gathered in an (imaginary) public-house and the interviewer, coming to the town as a stranger, was told by them about their work and pastimes in Chipping Campden.

Such broadcasts have a value out of all proportion to the time that they occupy. Here we have the Gloucestershire people with their soft, drawling accents, and their interest in the work of town and country, whether it is thatching, building, or making cider. They are entirely unaffected and genuine; when the speaker was shy he could not be persuaded to say more than a few murmured words, when he was voluble he could hardly be stopped, and when the subject caused general amusement and interest we heard many voices uplifted in general talk.

Mr. Owen Reed, who arranged and presented the programme, must be congratulated on the tact and readiness with which he held it in hand. An amusing Interlude was the extract from the Mummer's Play, in which there were several breakdowns and some kindly prompting from friends. Two delightful episodes at the end were the Morris dancing, in which the piping music, thumping feet, clapping hands, bells, whistling, and humming made a most attractive sound picture for the listener; and the song in which everyone joined in for the chorus. This series of broadcasts should give great pleasure to listeners.

*

The Daily Mall 18.10.1934,8 @.

WOMAN OF 94 DEFIES B.B.C.

BROADCAST REFUSED

From Our Special Correspondent

Chipping Campden,
Wednesday.

Mrs. "Polly" Waine, aged 94 and oldest inhabitant of the ancient Cotswold town of Chipping Campden, has little respect for the B.B.C.
She was to have been one of the star turns in a broadcast from Chipping Campden to-night in the first of the "Microphone at Large" series in the Midland Regional programme.

Mrs. Waine took part in the rehearsals last night, but when it came to the test she declined to appear before the microphone to-night. All the eloquent speeches of the B.B.C. officials failed to move her and she went to bed.

*

Evening Standard 18.10.1934,1 @.

SOMEBODY WHO SAID ----- ON THE RADIO

There were hurried conferences of B.B.C. officials to-day.

They had had many telephone calls from listeners, most of them ironic, a few indignant, about a dreadful word that went out over the air last night.
It happened during the first of the "Microphone at Large" series from the ancient and respectable Cotswold town of Chipping Campden.

The performers were Chipping Campden folk. The broadcast was designed to provide a programme of revelry - reminiscences, music and Morris dancing. Enthusiasm warmed up the players, until unrehearsed incidents crept in to the dismay of the B.B.C. officials who were there to prompt.

WHO SAID IT?

Suddenly, in the midst of stamping feet and the rumble of conversation, came that shocking word.

"You," said one performer to another, "shut thee  -------- mouth!"

Anyone who had read "Pygmalion" could not fail to recognise the word. It came crystal clear from London Regional.

Who said it? Chipping Campden will not tell.

The "Evening Standard " sought out Mr. Barnet [sic] Keyte, who was present at the function.

Mr. Barnet Keyte disclosed that the broadcast came from a private house, and not an inn, as listeners believed.

"BOUND TO CREEP IN"

"What can you expect," said Mr. Keyte, "when you have a lot of men enjoying themselves? Something of the sort is bound to creep in.

"There were about 20 of us. So far as I know the broadcast was not rehearsed. They brought me in at the last minute because they wanted a bright chap.

"The incident occurred towards the end of the programme when things were getting lively.

"I think the man who said it was annoyed because someone else was making too much noise."

*

Daily Sketch 18.10.1934,3.

POLLY AT 94 IS SO SHY

CHIPPING CAMPDEN "STAR" DID NOT BROADCAST

<with photograph of Polly Waine>

*

The Daily Mail 19.10.193, 7 @

B.B.C. SWEAR-WORD

INQUIRY INTO BROADCAST

A swear-word in the phrase "You shut thee ------ mouth," broadcast from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, in the "Microphone at Large" feature on Wednesday night, is to be the subject of a B.B.C. inquiry, following complaints.

A Midland Regional official told a Daily Mall reporter last night: "The broadcast was meant to convey the impression of an inn, and though much of the programme was arranged beforehand some of the conversation had to be impromptu."

This is the second time the feature has caused complaint.

*

News Chronicle 19.10.1934,13.

CHIPPING CAMPDEN'S SILENCE

ABOUT ITS BAD LAD

A Bad Lad at Chipping Campden used a Bad Word on Wednesday night.

While the first "Microphone at Large" broadcast was being made from Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds. one of the performers, a Campden man, said:

"You shut thee ------ mouth."

No prizes are offered for supplying the missing word.

The B.B.C. heard about the word yesterday from their subscribers. Generally they were amused. Some were not amused. They all wanted to know who said it.

The scene, intended to be an inn, actually took place in a private house. The company enjoyed themselves. That is how it happened.

But there is a conspiracy of silence as to who said it.

The "News Chronicle" on the trail of the criminal, rang up the local policeman.

"Do you know who said it?"

"One moment, please." A weighty moment as the law cogitated. Then, "I don't know."

"Are the police taking any steps to find out?" Apparently not.

The next inquiry was at a local inn - a real inn.

"Do you know who said it, madam?"

"I'm afraid not." "Could you find out?" "Well, I might." A short interval for inquiries, probably in the bar parlour. "I'm afraid we can't tell you."

Campden has suddenly become a silent zone.

*

Evesham Standard 20.10.1934,2.

AGED POLLY’S WAY

REFUSED TO BROADCAST.

Mrs. "Polly" Waine, aged 94, oldest inhabitant of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, who was to have broadcast on Wednesday from Midland Regional, declined to appear before the microphone and, despite appeals by officials, went to bed.

*

Evesham Journal 20.10.1934,16.

CHIPPING CAMPDEN TELLS ITS STORY

BUT OLDEST INHABITANT REFUSES TO BROADCAST

Chipping Campden, ancient town of the Cotswolds, is chuckling to itself about how Polly Waine, its ninety-three-years-old senior inhabitant, showed scant courtesy to the Midland Regional Station of the B.B.C. when they sought to present a word-picture of life to-day among its rural populace.

Polly was to have been one of the "star" turns in the broadcast on Wednesday evening, and although she took part in the rehearsal on Tuesday, for some reason best known to herself - it may have been shyness or obstinacy - she emphatically refused to make her bow before the microphone.

A "Journal" representative learnt at Campden on the night of the broadcast that apparently Mrs. Waine greatly enjoyed her experience at the rehearsal, but at the appointed hour on Wednesday she locked the door of the almshouse cottage in which she has lived alone for many years, and went to bed!

All the other local celebrities turned up, however, successfully related in their picturesque dialect the reminiscences of their long lives, and told of a variety of Cotswold customs and recreations.

Campdonlans were thus honoured inasmuch as their town was the first to be chosen in the "Microphone at Large" series, which is being arranged by Mr. Owen Reed, who is in charge of the Feature Programme Department at the Midland Regional Station.

Listeners who were expecting a description of the history and architectural features of the town were disappointed for this was not the object of the relay; what was really attempted was to present genuine Campden natives gossiping about their old town and their own lives in an informal manner.

To accomplish this, the scene of the broadcast was laid in the room of a private house in the town, the atmosphere of which was, as far as possible, that of an old-fashioned bar parlour.

The programme opened with the ringing of the centuries-old curfew bell after which the company, delightfully compered by Mr. Owen Reed, who takes the part of a touring undergraduate from Oxford, told of cider making, home-brewed beer, the famous Dover's games, thatching and Cotswold stonemasonry.

A mumming play and Morris dance tunes were also included in the programme.

Principal characters were Harry G. Ellis, aged 78, a basket maker; George Groves, aged 78, a stone-mason still working; Henry Keeley, aged 76, a retired thatcher; Thomas Benfield, George Greenall and Fred Farman, members of the old Campden Mummers; Garnet Keyte and P.S. Dewey, the latter the genial "landlord”; and the Campden Morris dancers, F. Hathaway, A. Hathaway, O. Plested. L. Ellis, D. Ellis, H. Hart, J. Harris,
B. Benfield and P. Newman.

From a local point of view the event had caused a great deal of interest, and had been the chief topic of conversation for days past.

It is likely, too, that Polly Waine's non-appearance in Campden's broadcast will make her more famous than had she "put over" her story.

*

Sunday Dispatch 21.10.1934,18 @.

WHY I DIDN'T BROADCAST

BY THE WOMAN WHO DIDN’T

Mrs. Polly Waine, aged 94, senior inhabitant of Chipping Campden, was to have "starred" in the first of the "Microphone at Large" series broadcast from Midland Regional.

"I just didn't feel up to it," she said to the "Sunday Dispatch" with direct candour yesterday. "So I didn't go. Maybe if they had called for me a bit earlier I might have thought more of it."

Had she fulfilled her "contract", Mrs. Waine intended to tell the world of the old games which used to take place annually at Whitsuntide on Dover's Hill, Campden.

*

Everyman 26.10.1934,50 @

ARE WE HYPOCRITES?

The hive which was set buzzing by the escape of a minor oath in the B.B.C.'s broadcast from Chipping Campden last week has been quietened by the promise of an official inquiry. More than ever we are reminded of our queerness in these matters, compared with our more sophisticated neighbours. The broadcast was meant to convey the impression of an inn, and it is difficult to understand why anybody who is averse to the atmosphere of taverns, or to the conversation they must know goes on in them, was listening to it. The word was no more forced upon them than if it had been in a book which they could close at will if they did not like its subject-matter.

Incidentally, it is one which has been of common use in the theatre ever since Mr. Shaw boldly introduced it into "Pygmalion".

* * *

Does it follow that the intelligent and cultured people who form the public for plays of the Shaw standard are deeper sunk in vice than the host of wireless listeners? Or, if they are not, that the disembodied word is more sinister than when it is uttered in the flesh? Is the B.B.C. microphone a pulpit?

However these questions may be decided, there is little doubt that to the majority the parade of an inquiry into such a footling incident will seem a prurient farce, a weak concession to those who have not taken to heart a modern prophet's declaration that if people are shocked, it shows that they needed shocking.

*

News Chronicle 26.10.1934,19.

"WORDS AND MUSIC"

by Geoffrey Edwards

PLAYING FOR SAFETY

The bad word beginning with B which was uttered by an anonymous broadcaster in an inn at Chipping Campden during the last
"Microphone at Large" relay has decided the B.B.C. to play for safety next time.

So when the microphone is "At Large" again on November 16, the relay will not be from a pub, even an imaginary one; it will be from Tewkesbury Abbey, and the programme will be run by an authority on Midland Cathedrals.

The broadcasting of the bad word did not really upset the B.B.C., but it showed them once again how easy it is for anyone to put out an unauthorised sentence or two. Moreover, it brought a lot of criticism (quite unmerited) upon the chiefs at Broadcasting House.

Therefore an abbey for the next relay, with church bells and a choir instead of clinking tankards and soda-water syphons.

<Caption to accompanying photograph of town band leading Whit Monday parade:>
"Celebration in Chipping Campden. Is it for the man who put the ’B' in B.B.C.?