WHO KNOWS?

Tyne Tees Television Quiz 1962

  By

Brenda Smith and Joan Waggott

Brenda Smith Remembers

The process:

Each class was given a set of general knowledge questions and a certain length of time to complete them. From the results, two teams were chosen from each year to compete against each other. The final round consisted of two teams, each made up of one person from each year, competing in the school hall in front of the assembled masses. After that, Joan Waggott, Andrew Cordner, Rankin Trotter, and I were selected to represent the school.

The recording:

On the day of the recording we were allowed to go home at lunchtime to dress (in clean school uniform, of course). Then we were collected by limousine and taken to the Tyne Tees Studios. We were given a tour of the studios and introduced to the Question Master, MacDonald Hobley. It was a close run thing but we were just pipped at the post and I'm sorry to say I cannot remember the name of the team who beat us.

After the recording we were each presented with an engraved Parker Pen and Pencil Set which I still have. We were also given a slap up tea and introduced to other Tyne Tees notables, like "Wacky Jacky" Haig. Actually, I couldn't stand the man but was forced to accept his autograph as it was only good manners to do so. We were shown the recording on close circuit T.V. and then delivered home, again in the limousine.

The aftermath:

The only question that I failed to answer correctly was, "How do you spell fulfil". I had several goes - all wrong but I've never forgotten how to spell it since. For a long time people used to ask me to spell it and the joke wore thin. After I put my name on the Friends Reunited site I had an E-mail from a guy who had been in my class and who I had not seen for 38 years. In his E-mail he gently teased me by asking if I could remember how to spell a certain word and I thought to myself, "well at least I'm remembered for something".

All very exciting for a little "Jarra Lass".

*************************************

Joan Waggott Remembers

I was the youngest member of the team and I remember all the tests and quizzes we had to take part in before we became “the chosen few”.

Before the big occasion Miss Pattie gave us the once over to make sure we were dressed correctly, and behaved ourselves!

I had a wide striped tie and I was asked to borrow a thin striped tie from my friend so that we all represented the school uniform correctly (this was before we customised the uniform with mini-skirts and patterned stockings in 1963 when the Beatles arrived on the scene).

We were collected from our homes and taken to Newcastle by taxi to the TTT recording studios, chaperoned by Mr. Storey, the geography teacher.

Once in our places, we had our make-up done (a powder puff on our noses) and the crew made little cards with our names on, which we turned around when we were given a spelling question (the correct spelling appeared on the screen for the folks at home).

My name was spelt wrongly so I had to wait until they redid it, then I had to wait until it dried! (They were hand painted - this was before computers!)

We lost! However, our opponents went on to win the contest!

We got everyone’s autograph - I didn’t know who Macdonald Hobley (the quiz- master) was, but he was very nice and seemed to be famous!

We were taken to see ourselves on a television in another room and watched a replay of the programme with drinks and things to eat. It was a great experience.

My consolation prize was a Parker pen and pencil presentation set inscribed with “Who Knows? 1962”. My dad had my name engraved on it.

When the programme was televised all the family and neighbours gathered at my Nana’s house. They all thought that I was wonderful even though we lost, because I was on the telly. I couldn’t go out of the house for weeks without someone saying “I saw you on the telly!”

It epitomised the times- not everyone had a television and everyone was touched by the fact that I had been on television and wanted to share in my experience. Television was still in black and white and was as novel then as computers are today.

I hope that Mr Storey reads my contribution as I know that he has fond memories of us taking part in it. He taught my son at Springfield Comprehensive and when I went on parent’s night about 15 years ago his first words to me were “Ah hello Joan do you remember “Who Knows?””

Yes I do!

(Thanks to Brenda Plant, nee Smith and Joan Jackson, nee Waggott)

Sadly one of the team members, Andrew Cordney, was later killed on his 21st birthday.)

June 2004