Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Parry Jones, tenor, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the audience at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith.

Parry was born in Blaina, South Wales, and grew up singing with the chapel choir at Eisteddfods, the Bryn Mawr Choir and the famous Gwent Choir. In the Autumn of 1913, he was chosen to accompany the Royal Gwent Singers on an American tour, but the outbreak of the First World War the following year meant the tour was cut short. Parry returned home in May 1915 aboard the RMS Lusitania, which was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat; Parry was one of 761 survivors.

The following year, Parry studied at London's Royal Academy of Music, after which he played with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for a season and later became a founder member of the British National Opera Company. He later toured the world's most famous opera houses and concert halls as a successful and celebrated tenor.

programme details...

• Edition No: 31
• Subject No: 31
• Broadcast live: Mon 15 Apr 1957
• Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
• Venue: King's Theatre, Hammersmith
• Series: 2
• Edition: 16

on the guest list...

• Hugh Robert Johnston
• Mrs Davis
• T L Davis
• Jack Williams
• John Risca Williams
• Bryn - brother
• Emlyn - brother
• Dorothy - wife
• Alan Herbert
• The London Welsh Choir
• Morgan Jones

production team...

• Researchers: Peter Moore, Nigel Ward
• Writer: Gale Pedrick
• Director: unknown
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

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a review of the second series

Alan Herbert