Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 125, 14 November 1941, Page 24

Around The Nationals

ITH the NBS String OrchesW/ quartered in Wellington, 2YA listeners have had an advantage over listeners elsewhere in studio broadcasts by this combination. Auckland, however, now has a _ string group of its own-the Auckland String Players-and this small orchestra is to make its first appearance at the 1LYA microphone on November 19. Formed about a year ago by Owen Jensen, official accompanist at 1YA, the group was. founded with the object of bridging the gap between the symphony orchestra proper and the smaller chamber groups, and at the present time consists of twelve players, in addition to Mr. Jensen who acts as conductor. The members are: Violins, Mary Martin (leader), George Lyttleton, Blanche Adams, Moya Cooper-Smith, Otto Hubscher, Gwen Morris, and Marjorie Dixon; violas, Amy Stevenson, Freda Wallis; ‘cello, Victor LePetit; bass, Keith Rappe. * eae ‘ADAPTED for radio, and with each episode suitably introduced, the Australian classic, The Sentimental Bloke, may now be heard each Friday from 2YD at 9.16 pm. To older listeners, The Sentimental Bloke will need no _ introduction, It was written by C. J. Dennis in the early years of the last war, and, running through The Bulletin, brightened up those dark days for many an out-back reader. E. V. Lucas, reviewing it in the London Star, described it as "a study in human nature, an exercise in Australian slang, and a work of art." a * % IMM ISS Cecil Hull, whose series of talks, A Schoolmarm Looks Back, will open from 2YA on November 15, is well-known in scholastic circles in Auckland. She was for six years a scholar of the old Grammar School in Lower Symonds Street, in the days of hard straw-hats, and horse-trams bumping along Khyber Pass. After a University Course terminating in a degree, and ‘an interval of nine years pleasantly spent in sport and travel, she joined the staff of Auckland Girls’ Grammar School in 1915, and was for several years Senior Latin Mistress. Now, from a pleasant haven in a house surrounded by an old. garden, Miss Hull looks back with affection and forward with hope for the future. * ba cS iT HE first South Island broadcast in the Air Training Corps Recruiting Campaign will be heard on Monday, November 17, when an officer of the R.N.Z.A.F. will speak from 3YA at 7.5 p.m. The Air ‘Training Corps is intended as a preliminary training organisation for prospective Air Force persomnel. Boys not less than 1614 years of age and not more than 18 years on June 30 in the year of enlistment will be eligible for training in subjects relating to the duties of air crews, flight mechanics, riggers, radio mechanics, and operators,