JUST WILLIAM...

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 401, 28 February 1947, Page 34

JUST WILLIAM...

And Violet Klizsabeth

| | Written for "The Listener" |

by

UNA

LASCOT

well- ||

| known British writer ot Children’s Stories

HO would expect the most important moment in one’s life to occur in such an ordinary place as the top of a London bus? However, that is what happened to lucky 13-year-old John Clark, the clever young Engl.sh actor who has made such a name for himself on the radio, in the titlerole of Just William (the BBC feature being heard just now in the 1YA and 4YA Saturday evening children’s sessions). : Only a year or so ago a BBC producer happened to meet John on the top of a bus, and made it a great day in John’s life by arranging to give him an audition. The result of the audition was that John was given the part of one of the pupils, "D’Arcy Minor," in the humorous Will Hay radio programme. John proved his acting talents so conclusively that now thousands of gisteners in Britain, both young and old, eagerly await his weekly radio performances as William, whom he portrays so realistically. William, well-known character from stories by Richmal Crompton, is one of those lovable, cheery, blundering schoolboys, whose plans never quite turn out as he means them to, and who is always doing wrong when he means to do right, causing a lot of disturbance among his friends and-relatives in the process. Enjoys Adventures No doubt John finds this part well suited to him, for in private life he is just a typical English schoolboy himself, who takes a great interest in cricket and

football, plays the piano, and enjoys adventures as much as William. He has also appeared in several films, but, of course, all the school time that he misses by taking part in these exciting activities has to be made up at home with private lessons. This last also applies to the talented little girl who plays with John in the Just William radio series: Jacqueline Boyer, who is 14 years old. She takes the part of William’s little friend, Violet Elizabeth, and has made a great name for herself in this character. Violet Elizabeth is a great admirer of William. He pretends to be very superior to mere girls, and finds her rather a nuisance, but Violet Elizabeth doesn’t mind a bit. Jacqueline Boyer is quite an experienced actress, in spite of her age, for she has played title roles in several pantomimes, and appeared in her first film at the age of three. She has also appeared in a television programme. Strangely enough, her favourite lesson is art, not drama, and her favourite sports are riding and swimming. She is a great football fan, too, for her father is a director of Chelsea Football Club.