WELL-KNOWN AIR VOICES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 66, 27 September 1940, Page 3

WELL-KNOWN AIR VOICES

Pep-Talkers From The BBC

HE war has certainly brought the voices of many well-known British people into New Zealand homes, via the BBC talks. Now, instead of judging celebrities from their photographs, they are judged by their voices. Probably the ultimate result will be the same, but, no matter how interesting the subject matter of the talk, unless the voice has a certain appeal it is useless over the air. Take A. G. Macdonell, for example. No one imagined that the author of "England, Their England," and "Napoleon and His Marshals" could possess a voice which so belied a man of his years and attainments. A rather highpitched voice suggested a young man of no particular scholarship, though he is a man of 45 years, and a keen student of international affairs. Macdonell is only one of the BBC’s "pep-talkers." They are a mixed bunch, often chosen only a few hours before they are timed to speak. Those who get their voices and messages over to listeners are brought back week after week, others are dropped after their first talk. Listed among the most popular "peptalkers" are the following: The Hon. Harold Nicholson, a diplomat for 21 years, is now a National Labour member of the House of Commons and a popular journalist. He is married to the novelist, Victoria Sack-ville-West, who lives at Sissinghurst Castle, Kent. They see each other only at week-ends. Some listeners have complained that they find Mr. Nicholson too casual. "Red Ellen" Wilkinson Miss Ellen Wilkinson ("Red Ellen" because of her flaming hair), talks over the air in a confident and sharp voice which sometimes rises to a waspish buzz. She is Parliamentary Secretary to Sir Walter Womersley, Minister of Pensions. J. B. Priestley’s voice is rumbling Yorkshire. He had his first big success with "The Good Companions," and has never lacked admirers since the day it was published. He has a wife and six children, likes violent exercise, work and music, and believes that "nearly all great men have provincial voices." Leslie Howard’s voice was well enough known because of his work on the screen, but there was a noticeable difference between the two "voices." Most people seemed to prefer the "screen voice." Journalistic Diplomat George Slocombe, author and journalist; is an ardent admirer of the French and, until the war broke out, he lived in France with his Russian wife and their three children. His hobby is landscape painting. It was George Slocombe who initiated negotiations with Gandhi, when he was in gaol, which led to the Irwin-Gandhi Pact of Delhi and the appearance of Gandhi at the Second Round Table Conference. His voice is that of a serious man. "The Heart of France,"

"Paris in Profile," and "Henry of Navarre" are among his best books. Sir Robert Vansittart’s recent talk is still being discussed by listeners. Sir Robert has been Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the Foreign Secretary since 1938. After serving with the British Diplomatic Corps in Paris, Teheran, Cairo and Stockholm, he became secretary to Lord Curzon then, from 1928 to 1930 principal private secretary to the Prime Minister. For the next eight years he was Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs.