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Words by Angela Scullin Music by Andrew Scullin
Key:
(blue) = Play sound effect
(red) = removed and will not be acted

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CHARACTER LIST
RACHEL AND SIMON – NEWS PRESENTERS (Elisha +Alex/Elli + Alec)
TOM HARRUP – REPORTER IN HASTINGS (Tom)
NORMAN NORMAN (Lewis G)
SAMUEL PEPYS (Henry)
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (Lily)
PATIENT (Sofia)
POLICEMEN (1 AND 2) (Arwen+Jasmine)
LUCY THE WEATHERGIRL ( Lia)
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL (Serena)
HATTIE (THE WRIGHT BROTHERS REPORTER)(Millie)
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS (Lewis P+ James R)
CHARLESTON DANCERS
RADIO VOICES (1,2,3 AND 4)(Oliver, Ben, Luke,)
EVACUEES
EVACUEE WITH DIARY (Lauren)
VERY BRITISH REPORTERS 1 AND 2 (Beth +Darci)
CHORUS
Please note:
The presenter roles can be shared out.
Solo songs can be supported by a chorus where necessary.

3
BLACKOUT
Pre- recorded (best impression of Moira Stewart): And now we go over to
Simon Matthews and Rachel Heidebacker for an update on the last 1000 years.
This is Old News.
MUSIC PLAYS
Tight spot on news desk (downstage right) with two reporters. They are shuffling papers and 'talking' to each other.
They turn to audience sharply as music plays underneath.
Simon: Good Evening. I am Simon Matthews....
Rachel: I am Rachel Heidebacker and this is...
Both: Old News.
Simon: On tonight's programme.... Scenes of violence on the streets of
Hastings as news comes in of a battle over the English throne. Our outside reporter Tom Harrup is at the scene.
Tight spot up on Tom downstage left. He is at the front of a crowd of angry men.
He shouts above the noise.
Medieval battle
Tom: Yes. You find me in the year 1066 and it is all getting very lively here in
Hastings as William and Harold battle it out to win the throne. Join me later on when I hope to be interviewing the men to find out why a good old fashioned conversation can't sort this out. This is Tom Harrup reporting on the battle of arrrgggghhhh. (Tom ducks as an arrow flies past and the light

4
snaps to blackout).
Snap back to tight spot on news desk:
Rachel: 1492 now and news is coming in of an interesting discovery. Explorer
Christopher Columbus claims to have made history by making contact with the Americas. Rumour has it Columbus was actually looking for Asia but his co-ordinates were a bit out and he found himself in America instead.
Simon: Still, impressive stuff though. I can't even find my way to the bathroom in the dark. Also in 1542 Henry the eighth has beheaded his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Henry is on the look-out for a new bride.
Rachel: Probably best to steer clear of that one, he has a bit of a track record.
Also in tonight's programme we hear extracts from Samuel Pepys diary,
Charles Dickens releases a new book and Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen.
Simon: But first let's go back to Tom Harrup on the battlefield. Tom, what can you tell us?
Lights up downstage left. Tom is whispering and squatting down. He has a bandage around his head. Sound of battle.
Tom: It has been a dramatic afternoon. I have found a place to hide and I am going to keep a low profile for a while. Joining me now is one of the men involved in the battle. Hello, thank you for taking the time to speak to me,
Norman: Hello.
Medieval battle sound effect - infantry - YouTube2.mp3
Tom: Can you tell me anything about this battle today? Why are you all here?
Norman: Well Edward the confessor died and he passed the crown to Harold
(he spits on the floor) and he did so without the permission of the Pope. So
Harold (he spits) became heir to the throne and he only has a very weak blood link. William wants the throne, he too has a blood link and so we do battle!

5
Tom: Right, so in a nutshell, what is happening out there?
Norman: There are 1500 of us and only 500 of Harold's (spits) men. They do not stand a chance. We set fire to everything and Harold (spits) was forced to come here to rescue his people and now, we do battle.
Tom: And you support William in his quest to be King?
Norman: Of course I do.
Tom: And you are willing to give your life?
Norman: What?
Tom: Are you happy to die here today, on this battlefield so that William can be crowned?
Norman: I hadn't really thought about it.
Tom: But that is what might happen.
Norman: Well, when you put it like that.
Norman sings:
I'm just a man
A man like any other
Just doing what I thought was right
I'm just a man
A fellow with a Mother, a Father
And a brother and I don't want to fight
I'm just an ordinary chap
With an ordinary life
A wife
A dog

6
A home
I'm just a man
One of 1500 others
And yet I feel so alone
Just Norman
Norman Norman from Normandy
Just Norman
Not a hero
Not a soldier
These are things I don't want to be
The horses and the shouting
The arrows and the bows
I'm just going to stay in here
‘til everybody goes
I'm just Norman
Norman Norman the Norman that's me.
I'm just a man
A man like any other
Just doing what I thought was right
I'm just a man
A fellow with a Mother, a Father
And a brother and I don't want to fight
I'm just an ordinary chap
With an ordinary life
A wife
A dog
A home
I'm just a man
One of 1500 others
And yet I feel so alone
Just Norman
Norman Norman from Normandy
Just Norman
Not a hero

7
Not a soldier
These are things I don't want to be
The horses and the shouting
The arrows and the bows
I'm just going to stay in here
‘til everybody goes
I'm just Norman
Norman Norman the Norman that's me.
Tom: Well, Norman and I are going to stay hidden and please do come back to find out more later. This is Tom Harrup, live at the Battle of Hastings. Back to the studio.
Simon: Thank you Tom. Emotional scenes there in Sussex. (Puts finger to
ear) Ah, news is just coming in....Harold has taken an arrow to the eye and has been trampled by the enemy on horseback.
Rachel: Oh dear. Is he alright?
Simon: No Rachel, I can say, quite confidently, that he is not alright.
Rachel: We move on from 1066 now and over to events in 1542 on Tower
Green. We have an eyewitness to the rather gruesome execution of Kathryn
Howard, wife of King Henry Eighth.
Simon: We go now to our royal correspondant Susan Marchant. Hello Susan, what can you tell us about today's activities?
Susan: Well, it has been a sad day here in 1542 at the Tower of London and
Kathryn Howard has been beheaded at the request of her husband King Henry
VIII. This is of course the second wife to be executed and Henry is getting a reputation for being a bit of a meanie. With me now is Kathryn’s handmaid and she can offer us a bit of an insight into what went on here. Hello and thank you for joining us.
Handmaid: (in a West Country accent) It is my pleasure.

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Susan: Can you shed any light on the events here today?
Handmaid: Well, it's not my place to say. I heard a few rumours flying about the castle but I just keep my head down and get my work done. It's none of my business.
Susan: Can you describe what you saw today?
Handmaid: Goodness, No! I closed my eyes tight. I came here out of respect but I didn't want to see anything. I'll give myself nightmares.
Susan: So am I right in thinking that King Henry has had 5 wives in all and is likely to marry a sixth?
Handmaid: Oh, I don't know about that. I struggle to keep up with things. I made up a little song to help me remember who is who and save myself embarrassment.
Susan: How fascinating.
Handmaid: Do you want to hear it?
Susan: Well, I am afraid we are running out of time and.....
Handmaid bursts into song:
Ding Dong
Bells will chime
Not once not twice
But many a time
Henry loves a wedding
Yet another taking place
There's confetti in his turn-ups
And rice marks on his face
Wife number one

Catharine of Aragon
Married for the longest time
Did not bear a son
Wife number two
Was Anne Boleyn it's true
Head chopped off in London
There was nothing she could do
Wife number three
Jane Seymour you see
She bore a son
Didn’t live long
Henry was unhappy
Wife number four
Anne of Cleves of course
Queen for six months
Resulted in divorce
Wife number five
No longer alive
Things soured
With Kathryn Howard
She would not survive
Ding Dong
Bells will chime
Not once not twice
But many a time
Henry loves a wedding
Yet another taking place
There's confetti in his turn-ups
And rice marks on his face
Repeat with dancing chorus
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Susan: Thank you so much for joining us today. This is Susan reporting from
Tudor London. Back to the studio.
Rachel: Thank you Susan. There really have been some interesting characters in history haven't there?
Simon: Yes Susan, there have, I am Simon Matthews and this is old news.
Rachel: Stay with us now as we go over to our weekly spot 'Pepys into the past'.
Music Plays. Lights down on reporters and up on Samuel Pepys. He is relaxing in a chair with a diary on his lap. Our Samuel Pepys is vain.
Jackanory - Opening titles.mp3
Samuel Pepys: Good afternoon. Welcome to 'Pepys into the past'. Tonight I am recalling the first time I heard news of a fire in London. Later to be known as the ‘Great Fire’. There was nothing great about it I can tell you. Enormous detail is recorded in my wonderful diaries but alas we do not have time to hear all of the stories. So for now.....
Reading from his diary:
Sunday 2 September 1666
…...and there I did see the houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge. So down, with my heart full of trouble, to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells me that it begun this morning in the king baker's house in Pudding-Lane, and that it hath burned St.Magnus' Church and most part of Fish-street already. So I down to the water-side, and there got a boat and through bridge, and there saw a lamentable fire. Everybody endeavouring to remove their goods, and flinging into the river or bringing them into lighters that layoff; poor people staying in their houses as long as till the very fire touched them, and then running into boats, or clambering from one pair of stairs by the water-side to another. So I was called for, and did tell the King and Duke of Yorke what I saw, and that

11 unless his Majesty did command houses to be pulled down nothing could stop the fire.
He slowly and dramatically closes the book. He sings
What a haunting account of history
Such dramatic events
Told in beautiful language
With fact and no pretence
Didn't I do a wonderful job?
Recording history past?
Many years later
Sharing with you
Memories that will last
Aren't you very lucky
To be able to look in my head
And know so much more about me
Just by the things you have read?
It's all here in my diary
Facts and figures and dates
Life in the 1660's
Handed to you on a plate
I will share my diary
The world will know my name
They won't always know how to say it
Not everyone says it the same

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Didn't I do a wonderful job
Recording history past?
Many years later
Sharing with you
Memories that will last
Aren't you very lucky
To be able to look in my head
And know so much more about me
Just by the things you have read?
Samuel: This has been 'Pepys into the past' with me Samuel Pepys. Aren't I fascinating?
Lights down on Pepys. Lights up on desk.
Rachel: Thank you Samuel. Well, Pepys would certainly give Victorian writer
Charles Dickens a run for his money. At least Pepys wrote about real life.
Dickens just makes up silly names like Mr Bumble, Alfred Jingle, Kit Nubbles,
Seth Pecksniff and Augustus Snodgrass.
Simon: Yes Rachel Heidebecker. They are ridiculous names but Charles
Dickens was one of the greatest Victorian. News just in from the Victorian era.
A woman is causing quite a stir in a Turkish hospital.
Rachel: Yes, Nurse Florence Nightingale arrived in Turkey in 1854. Along with other Nurses, Florence has worked 20 hours a day to improve the conditions in the hospital, ensuring there is fresh food, clean kitchens and unblocked drains. She is said to walk the wards at night with a lantern, comforting dying soldiers and writing letters home for patients who are not able.
Simon: She sounds like a delightful woman. We are going over now to the hospital where Florence is nursing one of her patients.

13
Casualty Season 28 Episode 27 FULL - Martch 2014.mp3
Lights up on a patient in bed, covered in bandages. Nurse
Nightingale sits on a chair beside the bed.
Casualty music
Patient: (gasping for air) Thank you Nurse Nightingale. I am sure I will be up about in the next few weeks.
Florence: You will be on the mend sooner than that.
Patient: But I....
Florence: No 'buts'. You will be up and out of this bed in 3 days at the most. I will have the sheets stripped and washed and back on ready for the next patient before you can say 'Thank You'.
Patient: But I did have a terrible injury.
Florence: Which I have seen to. What's the matter man? Don't you want to get better?
Patient: Well, yes of course I do. It's just that when I was poorly as a little boy, my Mum used to let me stay in bed with ice-cream and...
Florence: Mothers can be quite ridiculous at times and do not always know what is best for their children. No, there will be no such nonsense here. Now get some rest.
Patient: You know, it is awfully lonely here at night; perhaps you might stay and talk a while.
Florence: You are not the only soldier on my ward.
Patient: I know but could you spare me a few more minutes of your time? It would mean an awful lot to me.
Patient sings:
Could you spend a little time
And sit upon my bed
Help me to forget

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The thoughts buzzing round my head?
Comfort me
And soothe me
Wish me sweetest dreams
Help me to believe
Life is not as bad as it seems
Can you spare a little time
To sit with me tonight?
My mind is full of memories
As day turns into night
Florence: I can sit with you
You know I could
We could talk the night away
Chatting, swapping stories as night turn into day
You could tell me all your worries
Talk of battles you have won
But you must know
If I don't go then nothing will get done
There are many other men here
All needing my time
I have beds to change
Hurdles to jump
Ladders I must climb

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You must think
I've nothing better
To do all through the night
Than make idle chit chat
With the men who came to fight
There are many people I must be
To every Mother's son
An Agony Aunt with time to spare
Really isn't one
(Florence leaves)
Patient: That Nurse Nightingale is one in a million.
Lights fade on a sad looking patient and come up on the news desk.
Simon: News in from 1829 and we go over to Scotland Yard where Robert
Peel has established a Metropolitan Police Force with 1,000 constables, soon to be affectionately known as ‘Bobbies’.
Rachel: And soon to be less affectionately known as ‘Peelers’. The police constables are expected to follow the ‘Peelian Principles’ and will each have an
ID number so they can be held accountable for their actions.
Simon: The police force will be recognisable in the streets of London by the blue tailcoats and top hats they will be wearing. They will be armed with a wooden truncheon, handcuffs and a rattle.

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Rachel: These strapping young men are a minimum of six feet tall and will be paid an astonishing £1 a week. I believe we can go over to Scotland Yard now and meet some of the men in Robert Peel’s police force.
Siren-SoundBible.com-1094437108.mp3
Simon: Good afternoon gentlemen.
Policeman 1: ‘Allo
Policeman 2: ‘Allo
Rachel: This is an exciting development in London; can you tell us more about the purpose of the Metropolitan Police Force?
Policeman 2: Well, it is our responsibility to reduce the numbers of crimes.
Policeman 1: That’s right. The focus for us will not be on the number of arrests we make but on reducing the number of crimes taking place.
Simon: It must be a huge privilege to be invited to join the police force; do you have any concerns about mixing with criminals and unsavoury characters?
Policeman 2: No, we are armed with a truncheon and a rattle.
Simon: Is the rattle to be used in the arrest of criminal babies?
Policeman 1: No, the rattle will be used to alert fellow officers should we need assistance.
Rachel: We know that candidates for the police force must be at least six feet tall but is that the only requirement?
Policeman 1: Good heavens, no! There is much more to it than just being tall.
We all have to stick to the Peelian principles.
Simon: And what are these principles?

17
Policemen 2: Well, since you’ve asked……
A chorus of policemen enter and they all rap.....
Listen to the rhyme
We’re here to stamp out crime
Don’t come on with the robberies
We’ll catch you every time
We do it for the public
The public want us here
Bring down the crime rate
Reduce it every year
Gotta keep the order
Gotta keep the peace
Can’t be using violence
Patrolling on the streets
We’re Bobbies on the beat
Bobbies on the beat
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b bobbies on the beat

Beatbox
(boots and cats and boots and cats….)
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It’s not about prison
It’s not about arrests
Stop the nickers nicking
That’s the way that’s best
Gotta keep the order
Gotta keep the peace
Can’t be using violence
Patrolling on the streets
We’re Bobbies on the beat
Bobbies on the beat
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b bobbies on the beat
We’re Bobbies on the beat
Bobbies on the beat
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b bobbies on the beat

Beatbox
(boots and cats and boots and cats….)
19
Keep ‘em peeled.
Simon: Now we go over to the weather.
Tight light DS on weathergirl stood in front of weather map. She has big hair,
long red nails and a smart shoulder padded suit.
News_Intro-Maximilie n_-1801238420.mp3
Lucy: Yes, Thank you Simon. It is October 1859 and it you are watching from home I hope you are planning on staying in and keeping warm this afternoon.
We can confirm that the storm we have been hearing about over the last couple of days has wrecked a ship on the coast of Anglesey. The 'Royal
Charter' has been caught up in a disaster which has resulted in the loss of 500 lives and some gold bullion. This will now lead to the introduction of gale warnings by means of hoisting signals around the British & Irish coastlines. It looks as if this windy weather is set to stay with us for a few more days so wrap up warm and avoid sailing until this settle down. Back to the studio.
News desk in tight spot.
Simon: Thank you for the update on the weather Lucy, tragic events there.
Rachel: Indeed. Now it is time to move on to the news in 1876 and........(a phone rings)
She pauses and looks around. The phone is still ringing.
Phone
Ringing-SoundBible.com-1579776269.mp3
Rachel: What is that noise?

20
Simon: (lifting a phone from under the desk and placing it in front of Rachel).
It's for you.
Rachel inspects the phone and looks around before picking up the receiver and reluctantly saying...
Rachel: Hello?
Alexander Graham Bell (pops up in a spotlight downstage)
Alexander: Ah! Wonderful! It works.
Rachel: I'm sorry?
Alexander: Don't be sorry dear this is marvellous. Truly stupendous.
Rachel: Who is this?
Alexander: Put it down on record that I, Alexander Graham Bell have invented the telephone.
Rachel: The what?
Alexander: The telephone! This marvellous invention allows you to talk to anyone, anywhere in the world and one day you will have your very own telephone that can be carried in your pocket and eventually another clever soul will allow you to send messages to friends and family via ‘text’ and you too can learn a whole new language with peculiar spelling and abbreviations.
Lol!
Rachel: Well, on behalf of everyone may I take this opportunity to say 'thank you' Mr Bell.
Alexander: Not at all. The pleasure has been all mine.
Rachel: While I have you on the...telephone, may I ask you what inspired this remarkable invention?
Alexander: Well......as you have asked......
(He sings)

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As a boy
I was interested in sound
Click, click,
As wheels go round and round
The ding of a bell
The bang of a gun
Clip clop
Horses hooves upon the ground
How I loved the way
My Father used his voice
The way it sounded
Was a matter of choice
Be it loud
Be it quiet
Telling secrets
Starting riots
How I loved the way my father used his voice
There had to be a way to make you hear
To transmit noise through the air
To your ear
What could the answer be?
Ah electricity!
So I started over there
And now I'm here
Ring, ring can you hear me?
Although you're nowhere near me
This is really rather wonderful you see

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Brrring, brrring I won't bore you
But I surely must implore you
To always think of me
When you use the telephone
The rather magical telephone
Speak to Gran in Kent
Auntie Jan just North of Gwent
From now on this is how it’s going to be.
Repeat from top with a chorus.
Rachel: It really has been a pleasure talking to you Mr Bell.
Alexander: Good bye now.
Rachel: Goodbye! (she hangs up the telephone). Well that was quite a special moment.
Simon: World changing stuff. News just in from 1903 and two brothers have just taken the first ever flight in an aircraft flying under its own power.
Rachel: The first ever flight of an airplane?
Simon: Yes Rachel. Our outside reporter Hattie Ramsbottom is with them now. Hello Hattie, what can you tell us?
Lights up on a reporter and the Wright brothers who both have huge moustaches, goggles, flying jackets and scarves that appear to be blowing in the wind.
Hattie: Well, I am standing with Orville and Wilbur Wright who claim to have flown the world's first airplane. Hello gentlemen.
Wright brothers: Hello.
Hattie: This is absolutely fascinating can you tell us more?
Orville: Well, we were very interested in the workings of a toy helicopter as children.

23
Wilbur: Since then we have worked on bicycles and printing presses and learned invaluable skills.
Orville: We started researching aeronautical engineering and birds in flight.
Wilbur: We then created a kite to test our theories and we built our first glider in 1900.
Orville: In order to test our glider we constructed a wind tunnel.
Hattie: You have been busy.
Wilbur: Then we moved on to the engine.
Orville: At 10.35am we took a test run of our airplane and it worked. We are overjoyed.
Hattie: That is incredible, how far did you travel?
Wilbur: 120 feet.
Hattie: 120 feet?
Orville: The plane stayed in the air for 12 seconds.
Hattie: 12 seconds? That's not going to get me to Alicante is it?
Wilbur: It would if you were 12 seconds from Alicante.
Orville: We are in the early stages of development, you will thank us one day when you are sunning yourself in Greece.
Wilbur: If it was not for our hard work the world would be a very different place.
Wilbur starts to sing:
Wilbur:
Hard work
Has got us where we are
Reaching far off places
That you can't get to by car
Orville:
Hard work

24
Has made me who I am
I struggled with my schooling
I never had a plan
Both:
But now we stand
With pride and joy
At what we have achieved
It's better than we thought
Greater than we could believe
We've taken flight
Worked day and night
Read every book
Kept up the fight
We looked to nature
To show the way
This is a new beginning
Today
Hattie: This is Hattie Ramsbottom in 1903 reporting form the USA with two very happy inventors. Back to the studio.
Rachel: Thank you Hattie. Devastating news in from 1912 as we have heard that a ship called 'The Titanic' has sunk. The ship had embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton on the 10th April and I can confirm that it did sink after hitting an iceberg just four days later. I am saddened to have to report that almost 1500 passengers have lost their lives in this tragedy at sea.
Simon: Sad news indeed Rachel more on that story later. But now let’s find out more about the latest dance craze.

25
Rachel: Is it gangnam?
Simon: No
Rachel: The macarena?
Simon: No
Rachel: The locomotion? The twist? The mashed potato?
Simon: No. This is 1923 and everybody is doing the Charleston.
Rachel: How does one 'do the Charleston' Simon?
Simon: It's only as hard as you wanna make it....
Simon sings (he is soon joined by a chorus of dancers)
Step
Step
Step on the right
Kick the left forward
Let's dance all night
Step
Step
On the left this time
Flick the right back
You're doing fine
Step
Step
Step on the right
Kick the left forward
Let's dance all night

26
Step
Step
On the left this time
Flick the right back
You're doing fine
Let's Charleston
Charleston
Charleston
Like they do in Harlem
Let's Charleston
Charleston
Charleston the night away
A huge dance number takes place and the whole cast are really swinging….suddenly the lights go out and we hear an air raid siren.
Tornado_Siren_II-De lilah-747233690.mp3
O/S VOICE: We interrupt this broadcast to bring you an important announcement from 1939.
Voice of Chamberlain: Neville Chamberlain -
Britain's declaration of war 1939 - YouTube.mp3
I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10, Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11.00 a.m. that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.
Music Plays
Radio reports are heard as the air raid siren continues underneath. Lights circle.

27
We'll Meet Again 1940s Vera Lynn song with Lyrics.mp3
Radio 1: Children are to be evacuated form the city to the country where they will be safer. Families across the country will be separated for an unknown period of time as.....
Radio 2: The evacuation of British children is going on smoothly and efficiently. The Ministry of Health says that great progress has been made with the first part of the government's arrangements. The railways, the road transport organisations, the local authorities and teachers, the voluntary workers and, not least, the householders in the reception areas, are all playing their part splendidly.
Radio 3: We're on Number 12 platform, the train's in and the children are just arriving...coming along in their school groups...with a banner in front saying what school they are from...the tiny tots in front, leading up to the bigger ones, the 12/13 year olds behind.....
Lights up on a line of evacuees leaving the train and walking along the platform.
Evacuees sing.
This doesn’t look like London
There’s nothing here but green
It’s like something from a storybook
A place I’ve never seen
They’ve told us we’ll be safe
They’ve said it will be fine
Nothing here is anything like
The things I can call mine
It might be far from danger

I may be free to roam
Suppose it’s best for all of us
But this just isn’t home
That lady will take care of me
It’s kind of her to come
She might be very kind and all
But she is not my Mum
This doesn’t look like London
There’s nothing here but green
It’s like something from a storybook
A place I’ve never seen
They’ve told us we’ll be safe
They’ve said it will be fine
Nothing here is anything like
The things I can call mine
That lady will take care of me
It’s kind of her to come
She might be very kind and all
But she is not my Mum
It might be far from danger
I may be free to roam
But now I know for certain
There is no place like home
28

29
The evacuees leave the stage in small groups in different directions.
Lights come up on an evacuee sat in a tight spotlight. She writes in her diary.
The evacuee music continues to play.
Evacuee: as she writes
Dear Diary
We have been very lucky and have found ourselves in the home of a Doctor and his wife. Although the Doctor is very strict this is a nice home and we are very well cared for. Our dear friend Lucy has received a telegram to say her
Mother and Father have both been killed. Her Mother was caught in an air raid and her Father was killed in battle. Lucy is an orphan. Just like that.
There was little we could do to comfort her and although she is well looked after I can’t sleep at night for thinking about her and for thinking about my own family. What if the same were to happen to us? I cannot bear to imagine what life would be like or if life would continue at all. I hate this stupid war and I just want to see Mother and Father again. When will it end?
Music fades and lights go down.
Radio 4: The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, has officially announced the end of the war with Germany. Crowds have gathered outside Buckingham
Palace and people are flooding to London’s monuments to join the celebrations. Mr Churchill was met by cheering crowds as he made his way to
Whitehall and appeared on the balcony of the Ministry of Health. “God Bless
You All” he said over the loud speaker and the crowd responded with a round of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’.
We hear a group singing… “for he’s a jolly good fellow and so say all of us”
Slowly the lights come up on the news desk.

30
Simon: It is 1953 and we go over live to our reporters at the scene of the
Queen’s Coronation.
Rachel: Good Afternoon ladies, what can you tell us about the events taking place at Westminster Abbey?
Lights up on two reporters DS.
Reporter 1: Well, it is the 2 nd of June 1953 and the Queen will be the 39 th sovereign to be crowned here at Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace housemaids, chefs and gardeners all gathered in the Grand Hall of Buckingham
Palace to see Princess Elizabeth leave for Westminster Abbey. The ceremony will start at 11.15pm and is expected to last approximately 3 hours.
Reporter 2: The Sovereign’s procession will include church leaders, members of the Royal household, military leaders and Yeoman of the Guard. The coronation service will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the service will be witnessed by Prince Charles and he is the first child of a sovereign to be present at a coronation. Princess Anne has been considered too young to attend the service. This is truly a splendid British celebration.
Reporter 1: We do these things so well.
Reporters and chorus sing...
Some say it is unnecessary
Some call it ‘pomp’ and laugh
Whatever they think, it’s fair to say
We don’t do things by half
Roll out the carpet
Get the fireworks and light ‘em
Bring out the honours
Get celebrities and Knight ‘em

31
A right Royal occasion
With the family round the telly
Get the regal trumpets out
And let’s give it some welly
Some say it is unnecessary
Some call it ‘pomp’ and laugh
Whatever they think, it’s fair to say
We don’t do things by half
Reporter 1: Did you know that at 9.53 every night a chap gets all dressed up in Tudor uniform and meets another fella who is all dressed up as a Beefeater?
Reporter 2: And what do they do?
Reporter 1: They perform the ‘ceremony of the keys’.
Reporter 2: Ah! And it goes like this: ‘Who goes there?’
Reporter 1: ‘The keys’
Reporter 2: ‘Whose keys?’
Reporter 1: ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Keys’
Reporter 2: ‘Pass Queen Elizabeth’s keys. All’s Well.
Reporter 1: A trumpeter sounds the last post and the keys are secured in the
Queen’s house.

32
Reporter 2: A little OTT don’t you think?
Reporter 1: Heavens no! We’re British
They sing again.
Some say it is unnecessary
Some call it ‘pomp’ and laugh
Whatever they think, it’s fair to say
We don’t do things by half
Reporter 2: You know those swans on the River Thames?
Reporter 1: I have seen them yes.
Reporter 2: Well every July the Queen’s swan keeper sails up the river and marks swans that belong to the Queen.
Reporter 1: Yes, and have you seen that every day 30 guards march to
Buckingham Palace to replace the ‘old guard’, a tradition that dates back to
1660?
Reporter 2: Spectacular!
Some say it is unnecessary
Some call it ‘pomp’ and laugh
Whatever they think, it’s fair to say
We don’t do things by half
Reporter 1: They won’t be laughing when they reach their 100 th Birthday and

33 get a telegram from the Queen.
Reporter 2: And I bet they all love a bit of ‘Coronation Chicken’.
Roll out the carpet
Get the fireworks and light ‘em
Bring out the honours
Get celebrities and Knight ‘em
A right Royal occasion
With the family round the telly
Get the regal trumpets out
And let’s give it some welly.
Reporters: Back to the studio.
Simon: That’s all from us tonight but join us again tomorrow where we will be speaking to Neil Armstrong who claims to be the first man on the moon and we will be live in 1979 as Margaret Thatcher enters Downing Street to become the first female Prime Minister.
Rachel: Don’t miss our report on the latest Christmas craze the ‘Cabbage
Patch Doll’ and just why has the world gone mad for ‘Dolly The Sheep’?
Simon: More from us tomorrow night at Nine.
Rachel: In the meantime visit our website for constant updates and follow us on Twitter.
Simon: This has been Old News.
Rachel: Good Night
Simon: Good Night.
Music Plays as they shuffle their papers.

34
Slow blackout.
Bows to the Charleston……..
News_Intro-Maximilie n_-1801238420.mp3