Dame Kelly Holmes

[Crusoe]

I really enjoyed this edition of DID: Dame Kelly was so enthusiastic and spoke with such excited speed that they must have got twice as much information into the programme as they normally do. Even Ms Lawley seemed to get carried along by the excitement, forgetting, until the very end of the programme, that Dame Kelly was a Dame.

It was heartening to hear someone who has achieved success as a result of hard work, determination and passion and it was interesting to hear her plans for the future – the desire to help and encourage youngsters in her field (or should that be track?) Her personal story was also interesting and touching: I thought the story of her buying her Mum a tumble drier for Christmas was really touching and it would have been difficult not to like her after hearing that story. I can also appreciate that growing up as a child of mixed race in the environment she did must have been odd and, at times, quite odd.

The music wasn’t really to my taste (although the “Fame” song was quite enjoyable) but I thought it was an excellent choice. It was clear that this music that she actually listened to, enjoyed and was important to her. So much better than the Politicians who chose a piece of Romantic Classical music to prove how intellectual they are, a piece of Vaughn-Williams or Elgar to prove how British they are, a recent chart hit to prove how trendy and “down with the kids” they are…

An excellent programme.

[Lawrence Jones]

Ah yes she was a real sweetie! The introductory part of the programme was a slight turn-off when she gave the impression that patronage was important in her life ( comment about Lord Coe undoing her spikes). However, I think she was one of the most open (comments in respect of personal aspects of her life) guests that I’ve ever heard on DID. Equally, I understood her feelings when she did speak about keeping part of her life private.

Hopefully teaching will consume part of the next chapter of her career and I loved the positive and encouraging way she spoke in respect of a youngster who assumes they’re rubbish at sport because of excess weight.

Music choices wouldn’t be mine either, but contented people are hard to find these days, so I wish her continued happiness.

[rosalie]

She was wonderful wasn't she? I enjoyed this DID, like you two not for the music but for her lovely, bubbly personality. It's nice to hear people like Kelly now and again on DID to counter the tedious guests with their boring classical music or ones whose lives that seem to have no basis in reality.

[Lawrence Jones]

rosalie said:

It's nice to hear people like Kelly now and again on DID to counter the tedious guests with their boring classical music or ones whose lives that seem to have no basis in reality.

Hear Hear!

In the main, I suspect most guests on DID who choose classical pieces do so in an attempt to increase social standing amongst their mates. John Rutter’s choices were understandable, but how come blues/pop/folk/jazz passed him by? If one’s musical, then isn’t it important to investigate all avenues of music? The majority of classical/opera enthusiasts that I’ve ever heard on R4 are posh, obsessively class conscious, cold, snooty, unimaginative and establishment individuals who’ve never taken a risk in their lives. In a way, I think saturation Mozart on R4 over Christmas betrayed the true character of R4. Goodness me, I tried and tried and tried….. with Ms. Glover’s Mozart’s Women. I heard a supposed Classical/Vs other music debate on You and Yours over Christmas (think this was ‘best of’), but it was a dead loss, without one single reference to the class issue within music.

I recall not too long ago reading the biog. of a senior person within the BBC who’d recently been promoted. Now this guy was only in his 40’s, yet you can guess what he’d written when it came to musical tastes – opera. I’ve always been fascinated at the social sensitivity of senior (supposed) members of the BBC.

Thank goodness for Charlie Gillett – one of the friendliest voices on British radio.

[waves and curls]

Lawrence said:

rosalie said:

Thank goodness for Charlie Gillett – one of the friendliest voices on British radio.

Yes, he is indeed a pleasant fellow with a penchant for tuneful romantic/melancholy tunes, which don't seem to get too much airing and a disproportionate amount of Mariza's (whom he seems to be totally enamoured of) fado. I have never checked who Charlie Gillatt really is - when he appeared on the World Service he was a welcome addition, but I fear he is becoming a bit samey, perhaps soporific would describe the effect better.. Perhaps I am just not aware of other interesting programmes he presents.

In think Shaheera Asante plays the most wide-ranging and unusual choice of world music - none of the other presenters starting with Andy Kershaw, can remotely touch her. This maybe entirely due to the producer, but I can only be bothered with Late Junction when she gets an occasional week... the other two women on this programme I find deadly boring, so much so that I may forego a lot of interesting music to avoid these ladies.

[Crusoe]

Lawrence said:

Thank goodness for Charlie Gillett – one of the friendliest voices on British radio.

Oh yes, definitely. “Avuncular” is how I’d describe it. The fact that he plays a diverse and interesting selection of music is a bonus. I have just discovered that his Radio London show is available on “Listen Again”, which I’m delighted about.

waves said:

Yes, he is indeed a pleasant …but I fear he is becoming a bit samey, perhaps soporific would describe the effect better.

In think Shaheera Asante plays the most wide-ranging and unusual choice of world music… I can only be bothered with Late Junction when she gets an occasional week... the other two women on this programme I find deadly boring, so much so that I may forego a lot of interesting music to avoid these ladies.

Now that’s interesting: I think I might describe the other two Late Junction ladies as soporific but I rather like it – it sort of goes with the night-time territory

PS It was wonderful to hear “Hercules” on Charlie Gillett’s Radio 2 show, last night: I have heard it so many times before and yet still find it compelling listening.