(11) J. F. Skedden, Station Manager, 4YZ Invercargill

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 30, 19 January 1940, Page 12

(11) J. F. Skedden, Station Manager, 4YZ Invercargill

Skedden, is another of those who claim long association with broadcasting. He is a firm believer in its future, and thinks that it will develop both rapidly and extensively. Born in Fiji, he went at an early age to Australia where he received his primary education, and later came to New Zealand where his training was continued at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and at Victoria University College, where he qualified for the legal profession. After being admitted as ] i anoth Station Manager, Jim

a solicitor, Mr. Skedden practised law m Wellington for some years, but later relinquished his practice to join the staff of the Public Trust Office. He remained in that department until he left to join the Broadcasting Board’s staff. Early Interest in Broadcasting He became interested in broadcasting in its early days, and frequently played piano solos and accompaniments from the original Wellington broadcasting station, 2YK, when it was situated in the old "Dominion" building, and later when the studio was moved to the Dominion Farmers’ Institute. Shortly after the opening of 2YA he began broadcasting from

that station, and continued to do so for a considerable time. Later he broadcast on many occasions from Station 2ZW, Wellington. Music His Hobby Although law was his work, music had always been his hobby, and at the age of. 17 he was appointed organist at St. Gerard’s Church, Hawker Street. He studied under Lawrence Watkins, recently retired from St.’ Mark’s in Wellington. Later on Mr. Skedden became organist at St. Joseph’s, Buckle Street, succeeding in that position Bernard Page, formerly the Wellington City Organist, and just prior to leaving Wellington for Invercargill, was organist at St. Anne’s Church. He has also acted as conductor of various choirs, and learned the violin for a period, but lately has not had time to keep up his practice of this instrument. From Classics to Swing Mr. Skedden’s love of music is a deep one, and his tastes are widespread, covering all branches of music from the classics to swing. He is a firm believer in the need for different kinds of music to fit different moods, and.

finds this one of the greatest gifts of broadcasting, as the listener can choose entertainment to fit his mood, at a trifling cost. Mr. Skedden is keenly interested in dance music and over a period of years, both led and played in leading dance bands in Wellington. During part of that time he was Vice-President, and later President, of the Wellington Musicians’ Union. Sidelines These interests would not seem to leave

very much spare time, but Mr. Skedden found leisure to devote to amateur photography, to tennis, and later to golf. He also found time to pick up some technical knowledge of broadcasting, and to study drama from the broadcasting point of view. He is an enthusiast on all matters pertaining to radio, and his particular hobby is presentation, with special emphasis on the feature and recording sides of broadcasting. As broadcasting has grown, his interest in it has increased. He recalls with amusement his first radio set, a very crude home-made crystal arrangement, with earphones. which were care-

fully placed in a basin to enable more than one person to hear the programme at the same time. No doubt other early listeners will remember similar experiences, and the thrill of getting overseas programmes on the primitive battery sets which were then the last word in receivers. So intense did his interest in broadcasting become that his ambition could only be satisfied by working at this new art, and he seized the earliest opportunity of joining the Broadcasting Service. As radio is his main hobby, he considets himself very fortunate in being able to earn his living at a task which he finds so absorbing. Keen Sportsman He is a keen motorist, and when his duties permit he asks nothing better than to be outof doors, particularly if there is any hunting or shooting available. The excellent deerstalking and shooting available in Southland enhances greatly that province’s appeal for him. Articles from Mr. Skedden’s pen have been published’ in several papers, but of late he has had no time to devote to writing, though he hopes tc return to it later on.