At the out break of World War II, all persons eighteen years of age and older who were not in the armed forces or Land Army had to register at the labour exchange, or employment agency, as they are know known.
An ex-opera singer in her mid fifties dutifully registered and was sent to an institution for migrant children.
The children were the beneficiaries of her musical talents. This lady had a penchant for round singing, so much so, on occasions they even sang Grace in rounds. It must have sounded like the chorus of an Opera, though somewhat out of tune at times.
One day when the King of the Rifles, aka Mr Cannon, the Senior School Inspector, visited, Grades Five and Six were assembled and sang ‘Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree’. Mr Cannon was so impressed an encore was performed. The round was printed on the back of the next issue of the School Paper.
This lady also organized all the school concerts, which were really musicals.
One child loved listening to her singing, especially her Opera Arias.
Advance in time to the present. The child has now become elderly. One night she tuned in to a detective drama. The hero of the piece was playing a record of ‘One Fine Day’, an aria from Madame Butterfly she’d first heard sung by the opera singer remembered from her childhood.
Wonderful vibrations, not just good ones, she experienced.
Not only was the program a good “Who Done It”, it evoked memories, good and bad, of when she had heard it sung so many years ago.
Needless to say she waited eagerly for the next episode, and was not disappointed.
Shirley Roberts,
October 2017
An ex-opera singer in her mid fifties dutifully registered and was sent to an institution for migrant children.
The children were the beneficiaries of her musical talents. This lady had a penchant for round singing, so much so, on occasions they even sang Grace in rounds. It must have sounded like the chorus of an Opera, though somewhat out of tune at times.
One day when the King of the Rifles, aka Mr Cannon, the Senior School Inspector, visited, Grades Five and Six were assembled and sang ‘Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree’. Mr Cannon was so impressed an encore was performed. The round was printed on the back of the next issue of the School Paper.
This lady also organized all the school concerts, which were really musicals.
One child loved listening to her singing, especially her Opera Arias.
Advance in time to the present. The child has now become elderly. One night she tuned in to a detective drama. The hero of the piece was playing a record of ‘One Fine Day’, an aria from Madame Butterfly she’d first heard sung by the opera singer remembered from her childhood.
Wonderful vibrations, not just good ones, she experienced.
Not only was the program a good “Who Done It”, it evoked memories, good and bad, of when she had heard it sung so many years ago.
Needless to say she waited eagerly for the next episode, and was not disappointed.
Shirley Roberts,
October 2017
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