Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
'Dapper' CHANNON (1887-1964)
- In the first known example of its kind, the cover of the This Is Your Life book was decorated
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Henry James 'Dapper' Channon, retired schoolmaster, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while attending a concert in the school hall of Queen's College, Taunton - from where the programme was then broadcast - and having been led to believe the television cameras were there to film a sequence for a BBC play.
Dapper, the son of the Highbridge Postmaster in Somerset, first entered Queen's College in 1901 and spent four years there as a student. After studying at London University, he was invited back to Queen's by the headmaster in 1906 to take up the position of Assistant Master. He taught History, English and Scripture to generations of families until 1949, then worked part-time until retiring in 1953.
As a keen sportsman, he was also the sports master at the college for over 40 years. His primary game was cricket, and he wrote about his love of the sport in his book, A Sportman's Parables. He also wrote a weekly article for the Somerset County Herald on the county's scenery and geology, local dialects, traditions and mythology and published his History of Queen's College in 1957.
The This Is Your Life book was decorated in the school colours: white, black and old gold in honour of 'Dapper'.
programme details...
- Edition No: 56
- Subject No: 56
- Broadcast live: Mon 24 Feb 1958
- Broadcast time: 8.15-8.45pm
- Venue: Queen's College, Taunton
- Series: 3
- Edition: 22
on the guest list...
- Rev Walter Floyd
- C S Haslam
- Col J H Williams
- Sister Dorothy Laker
- John Hortop
- Rev Roderick H Foster
- Richard Gliddon
- Mrs Channon - wife
- Marcia Phillips - daughter
- Jimmy Phillips - son-in-law Filmed tribute:
- A M Akiwumi
production team...
- Researcher: Ray Marler
- Writer: Peter Moore
- Director: unknown
- Producer: T Leslie Jackson
- with thanks to Geoff Bisson of Queen's College for his contribution to this page
from domestic cleaner to teacher
the show's fifty year history
the programme's icon
This Is Your Life by Eamonn Andrews
Weekend Magazine reports from behind-the-scenes
Photographs of 'Dapper' Channon This Is Your Life - and a photograph of 'Dapper' Channon's big red book
Bristol Evening Post 25 February 1958
THE BBC television camera last night showed a touching reunion, after a separation of 12 years, between a father and mother at Taunton and their daughter from California.
It was brought about by the This Is Your Life programme, coming from Queen's College, Taunton, and where the subject was Mr H J Channon ("Dapper"), now living in retirement.
"Our 'Mr Chips,'" said commentator Eamonn Andrews after he had led Mr Channon ("I was overwhelmed") from the floor of the hall to the platform to meet several of the figures with whom he had been associated during his long scholastic career.
CLIMBED THE TOWER
A long career indeed, for "Dapper" climbed the school tower 58 years ago - on Mafeking Night.
How the nickname came to be attached to the beloved and revered schoolmaster was explained by another Old Boy of Queen's, Col J H ("Elephant Bill") Williams.
"I feel sure it was those extremely high collars he used to wear - a fresh one every day."
A link with Ghana was provided with a filmed message from the Speaker of the Ghana Parliament, an Old Boy of Queen's, who spoke of his memories of a visit with Mr Channon to Highbridge in 1913.
SON THERE NOW
Screens showed the flash from Ghana back to Taunton and the speaker's son, now a pupil at the school, and who was himself watching the proceedings.
How many boys had passed through Mr Channon's hands during his years at Queen's?
Some 4,500, which included the present Minister of Transport, Mr Arthur Henderson, the present Lord Mayor of Plymouth, the current president of the Law Society, and the editor of the Daily Mail.
A grateful tribute to "Dapper" was paid by Sister Laker, who had charge of the sick room for many years: "He became the spirit of Queen's."
Viewers then saw Johnny Hortop, the Queen's groundsman, and R H ("Bunny") Foster, who recalled cricketing exploits when he made 40 and Mr Chapman 72 in 35 minutes against Bridgwater in 1927.
MOVING SCENE
Richard Gliddow, head of the school, called for cheers for "Dapper," who then resumed his seat on the floor of the hall as Eamonn Andrews prepared the piece de resistance.
When "Mr Chips" Channon retired he said a presentation had been considered, but had unfortunately not been possible at the time. That was to give him a ticket to California, so that he could see his only child, the daughter he had not seen for 12 years.
But with the staging of This Is Your Life in Somerset there came, too, the rabbit-out-of-the-hat qualities of the programme.
For down the hall, brought from California, walked Mr Channon's daughter. As parents and daughter greeted one another it was a moving scene.
On some occasions This Is Your Life has been accused of pandering to sentimentalism. The programme from Taunton was dignified and free from over-emotionalism. In every way it was a splendid tribute to an outstanding schoolmaster.
Unknown source 25 February 1958
THE TV programme This Is Your Life came West last night – to Taunton.
To pay tribute to "Mr Chips."
He was Mr H J "Dapper" Channon, who spent over 50 years teaching at Queen's College, Taunton.
It was a well-kept secret. "Dapper" Channon had been invited to a gathering in the College assembly hall.
He was picked out by Eamonn Andrews as he sat in the front row listening to the pupils singing.
As he was taken on to the stage he muttered, "It's overwhelming."
A much bigger shock came at the end of the programme. His daughter Marcia greeted him after being flown specially from California for the programme.
In between there were many moving tributes to Taunton's "Mr Chips."
They included a filmed greeting from one old pupil, now Speaker of the Ghana Assembly, and tributes from Col H J Williams ("Elephant Bill") and the school groundsman and matron.
The Birmingham Post and Gazette 25 February 1958
The boys of Queen's College, Taunton, were given a new experience last night when the programme This Is Your Life, on BBC television, took as its subject the "Mr Chips" of the school, Mr H J Channon, who was at the school as a pupil in 1900 and, except for an interval of two years, stayed there until his retirement. Former pupils who gave lively recollections of him included Col Williams (Elephant Bill) and the Speaker of the Ghana Parliament, who was seen on film.
Central Somerset Gazette 28 February 1958
Many local viewers were delighted on Monday evening to see Mr H J Channon, the "Mr Chips" of Queen's College, Taunton, as the central figure in the BBC's programme This Is Your Life. Mr Channon, a master at Queen's for half a century and a well-known Somerset historian and writer, was often at Glastonbury in former years playing for Queen's when they had annual cricket fixtures with Morlands. I came across a report of this 1926 fixture in our files, and found Mr Channon opened the innings for Queen's and made 23 runs.
Morlands won the game, their most successful batsman that day being Ald Scott Stokes, with 50, followed by Mr G W Gough with 40, Mr Reg Toogood with 31 and Mr Arthur Kemp with 27.
I asked Mr Toogood if he saw Monday's programme. "I certainly did," he said. "It was a great pleasure to see our old friend's wonderful career featured."
Somerset County Herald 1 March 1958
Close Secret For Six Weeks
It is estimated that about ten million people saw Mr H J Channon, the "Mr Chips" of Queens's College, Taunton, on BBC television, on Monday evening, in the popular programme, This Is Your Life.
The programme was televised from the school hall, and it was only the third time that a broadcast in the series has come from outside a BBC studio [Bigredbook.info editor: it was the programme's seventh outside broadcast].
Mr and Mrs Channon were taken completely by surprise, and the surprise reached its apogee at the end of the programme when, from the back of the hall, appeared Marcia, Mr and Mrs Channon's only daughter, who, with her husband, Mr Jimmy Phillips, had been flown by the BBC especially from California for the occasion.
Her parents had not seen Marcia since she went to the United States 12 years ago, and this was their first meeting with their son-in-law, who is an American. It was a highly dramatic moment when Mrs Phillips came down the hall and was embraced by her speechless mother and father.
Mr and Mrs Phillips reached this country on Sunday night and were carefully "hidden" in the Castle Hotel until the start of the programme. They are spending a fortnight touring Europe before returning home.
EAMONN ANDREWS HIDDEN
Complete secrecy, especially so far as the "subject" of the programme is concerned, is vital to success. That is why elaborate precautions were taken to make sure that Eamonn Andrews, who would be easily recognised, was kept out of the sight of Taunton people.
He travelled to Bristol by train on Monday morning. From there he was taken by car to a spot near Bridgwater and concealed by a roadside haystack until he was picked up by a car from Taunton and smuggled into the Castle Hotel, where he was hidden and fed in a remote part of the building.
Mr Channon, who can tell the most entertaining stories of school hoaxes over 60 years, was, in a way, the victim of one on himself.
Towards the end of the last year the producer of This Is Your Life, Mr T Leslie Jackson, and the script writer responsible for the Taunton programme, Mr Peter Moore, and his collaborator, Mr Ray Marler, felt it was time that a contribution to the series came from the West Country.
BEGINNING OF THE PLOT
Early in January Mr Moore asked, among other people in the West of England, the editor of the Somerset County Herald, for suggestions. Mr Moore was told that Taunton could produce a "Mr Chips", an incarnation, so to speak, of that most lovable character in public school fiction.
No name was mentioned over the telephone, but Mr Moore was told that, as pupil and master, the Taunton "Mr Chips" had been associated with Queen's College for nearly 60 years; that, like the fictitious character, the school had been his life; and that the affection in which he was held by old boys was shown by the fact that he received each year, on an average, 1500 letters from former pupils all over the world, and, in his own hand, wrote about 1500 letters a year.
"CHANCE" MEETING
The following week a "chance" meeting was arranged in Taunton between Mr Moore and Mr Channon, and a similar one took place a few weeks afterwards between Mr Marler and Mr Channon.
Mr Channon never once suspected who these "chance" acquaintances were. When he was introduced to them, talk was carefully steered towards his life at the school, and Mr Moore was convinced that here indeed was a "Mr Chips" who could fit well into the programme.
From material supplied, partly from Mr Channon's own articles which have appeared every week in the Somerset County Herald for 19 years, and from other sources, at the school and elsewhere, his story was built up. The conspiracy came off completely: "Mr Chips" had not the remotest idea what was being prepared for him by February 24th.
"SECURITY" MEASURES
The Headmaster of Queen's College, Mr S J Haynes, was taken into confidence from the start, and after giving the matter some consideration, agreed to co-operate and place the school hall at the disposal of the producer. The cameras and other BBC equipment moved into the grounds on Sunday. Measures were taken to establish "security" among the boys at the school, and although there were one or two "alarms" during Monday the secret of the evening's programme was well kept, especially as to who the "subject" was.
The Headmaster fetched Mr and Mrs Channon in his car for an evening meal, and they were then taken casually to the school for what looked like a school concert. As a matter of fact, there had been rehearsals of the programme during the afternoon of those taking part (except Mr Channon), with Mr Eamonn Andrews, Mr Leslie Jackson, Mr Moore and Mr Marler.
"DAPPER"
The Rev Walter Floyd, a retired Methodist minister at Minehead, who appeared in the programme, was a big boy at Queen's – he is 76 – when Mr Channon was a small boy, and is now one of the very few contemporaries of those years.
Others who paid their warm tributes to "Dapper" were "Elephant Bill" (Col "Jim" Williams) who came up from West Cornwall and told viewers how Mr Channon came by the nickname "Dapper", by which he is affectionately known to all old boys; Mr C S Haslam, son of a former Headmaster, Mr A S Haslam; Sister Laker, who was the nurse at the school for 30 years, and came from Hove especially; Mr Johnny Hortop, groundsman at Queen's for about 35 years; the Rev Roderick Foster, of Bideford, an old boy and later chaplain of the school; and the present head boy, Richard Gliddon, of Williton, third generation of the family to be educated at Queen's.
There was a filmed message of greeting to "Dapper" from the Speaker of the Ghana Parliament, Mr A M Akiwumi, who is an old Queenian, and in the hall to hear his father's message and see the film was the Speaker's son, who is a pupil there now.
HAS NO TV SET
Mr Channon has done six sound broadcasts, but this was his first appearance on television. As a matter of fact, he sees little television (he enjoys particularly the sport) and does not own a set. His composure during the broadcast was impressive, and the BBC people concerned with the programme, who have a high standard for it, expressed themselves as satisfied. Since then Mr Channon has received hundreds of messages from many parts of the country, all praising the programme, and there has been the same reaction in West Somerset.
After the broadcast the BBC entertained all who had taken part and other guests, numbering 40 altogether, at the Castle Hotel. At the end of the party Mr Haynes thanked the "cast" and the BBC, and especially Mr Moore, who, he said, had been so gracious and considerate to him and the school. If the BBC could be thanked, he thanked them for the great happiness they had given to the reunited Channon family and for the pleasure he had no doubt they had given to millions of viewers.
The Wyvern March 1958
In early January I received a telephone call from Mr J F Tigg (Chairman of the Governors), saying that the BBC would like to meet me and him concerning a Mr Channon whom they believed we knew particularly well.
At this preliminary meeting we were told that he had been selected for the programme This Is Your Life, and that the keynote of the programme was secrecy. We were asked our opinion as to who should appear on this programme, although Mr Peter Moore, the Producer, had already received a few names from Mr Haynes, the Head Master. Mr Moore's idea was to produce a person on stage who had actually entered Queen's with "Dapper" and then to continue up to the present day with Old Boys and Staff.
We had great difficulty in finding one of "Dapper's" year, but as most people will know, this was done, and eventually seven persons appeared, namely, the Rev Walter Floyd, "Elephant Bill", Stuart Haslam, Sister Laker, Johnny Hortop, the Rev R H Foster, and the Head Prefect, Richard Gliddon. Also, there was a message from A M Akiwumi, which had been screened in Ghana. These people were asked to submit to Mr Moore a script of what they intended to say, and at our second meeting he had the programme well in hand and had trimmed the edges into shape. On this occasion we were asked who would "Dapper" most like to see on the programme, and our immediate reply was his daughter Marcia, who was in California. Without hesitation Mr Moore said this could be arranged. This all led up to a very successful appearance at 8.15pm on February 24th of "Dapper" and his associates with the unexpected appearance of his daughter at the conclusion.
As a happy climax to a most successful programme a party was held at the Castle Hotel, which was attended by the Head Master and Mrs Haynes, "Dapper" and Mrs "Dapper", Sister Laker, "Elephant Bill", Marcia and her husband "Jimmy" Phillips, Rev R H Foster, Mr C Stuart Haslam, Rev Walter Floyd, several masters and their wives, Old Boys, Mr W C Stacey (Editor of the Somerset County Herald) and his wife, Johnny Hortop and his wife, and other friends of the School, and, of course, the cast – Eamonn Andrews, Mr Moore, Mr Ray Marler, Mr Leslie Jackson, BBC cameramen, and a host of local newspaper reporters.
In conclusion, really Queen's were fortunate to be selected for such a programme, and the writer would like to add his own congratulations to "Dapper" to the many received from all over England on his most successful appearance.
RALPH H FIELDING
"Dapper" and Mrs "Dapper" thank profoundly all of you who sent us kind letters and telegrams, and gave us 'phone calls after the programme. So many came that it is impossible to write to you all individually, but, be certain, these lovely messages were deeply appreciated. They showed how dearly Old Boys loved the Old School.
The lasting impression of that memorable evening will be one of delight that the School was so greatly honoured and will benefit by the programme. One Old Boy wrote to say that friend of his was so impressed that he asked for a prospectus of the School to be sent to him.
Somerset County Herald 15 March 1958
Eamonn Andrews' Timely Word of Encouragement
By H J Channon
THE Editor has asked me to give some impressions of my being the very surprised subject of the television programme, This Is Your Life, on February 24th.
About two weeks before that date Mr S J Haynes, the headmaster of Queen's College, gave my wife and me an invitation to dinner at his house on the evening of the broadcast. Mr Haynes said we might be interested to see a film made at the school. We accepted the invitation. On February 22nd he telephoned to say he would be at our house at 6.30pm on the 24th to motor us up to dinner.
During the meal he was called away several times by telephone calls and the ringing of the front door bell. I remember remarking that I hoped their evening meal was not interrupted every day in that way.
Clever Hoax
About 8pm the headmaster's little party assembled in his study at the school, and it surprised me with what care he allotted our places in the Great Hall. In the front seat I was to sit next to the headmaster and my wife next to me. When we entered the boys were rehearsing the song "Gaudeamus igitur," ("Let us rejoice, therefore"), which I thought was a part of the film to be made.
Then, at 8.15 pm, Mr Eamonn Andrews walked up to me and held up the script book with the jacket in the Old Queenians' colours and a drawing of the school's coat of arms. The title: "This Is Your Life 'Dapper' Channon" reminded me that I had seen one This Is Your Life programme on television. I recognised the voice of Eamonn Andrews and his charming smile. As he helped me up the steps of the stage, seeing I was somewhat overwhelmed, he whispered a kind word of encouragement.
Very Puzzled
Thanks goodness at that moment I was not conscious of the fact that ten million people were looking on. What fascinated me and kept me composed was the very friendly tone of Eamonn's voice and the lovely smile that put me at my ease. I was still puzzled as to what it was all about. For the life of me I could not imagine what I had done to be placed in the seat of honour.
The world outside the Great Hall was forgotten when old friends began to walk in one by one from the back of the stage.
First arrived the Rev Walter Floyd, with whom I played cricket and soccer over 50 years ago. Then another lovely surprise was the appearance of "Elephant Bill," whose friendship I have treasured for over 40 years. More old friends - C Stuart Haslem, the son of the late beloved Mr A S Haslem, who, when headmaster, invited me to join the teaching staff; Sister Laker, affectionately remembered by Old Boys; Johnny Horton, who has given us wonderfully good wickets for many years; and the Rev Roderick Foster, my partner in many innings when we ran many short cheeky singles.
Biggest Surprise
Then almost unbelievable: a filmed message from A M Akiwumi, Speaker of the Ghana Parliament, whom I consider the finest "point" I have ever seen on the cricket field. His gracious smile on the screen was the same I knew 40 years ago. And how I admired the way the head prefect, Richard Gliddon, stood up to the trying ordeal!
But the biggest surprise of all for my wife and me: up the aisle walked our dear daughter, Marcia, to greet us, the first reunion for 12 years. The BBC had very kindly brought her and her husband, whom we had not previously seen, all the way from Altadena, in California.
As the pages of the story of my life at Queen's College were turned, my joy was complete at the thought that the school I have dearly loved for nearly 60 years, and where I have made several thousands of good friends, was being seen by millions of people.
Many Letters
Immediately after the programme telegrams began to arrive. And for the next fortnight bundles of letters came daily, and many phone calls. Old Boys were naturally thrilled by the programme.
"Bessie," a maid at Queen's over 40 years ago, wrote to say how it all brought back happy memories. There were many letters from people who had in no way been connected with the school. Henry Toller, over 80 years of age, Taunton's button manufacturer, sent a set of hand-made buttons, with the sweet note: "I wonder if your daughter would care to have them."
An old boy of Taunton School wrote to say he had thoroughly enjoyed the programme. As I opened our gates one afternoon a little lad of nine, a stranger to me, on his way home from school, called out: "Were you the man on television the other night? I saw you in This Is Your Life." A very touching incident!
NOTE – Many people who saw the programme are not clear about how Mr Channon came by the nickname "Dapper." "The fact is (he says) that when I was a boy I was very keen on the game 'Fives,' played with a soft ball. I usually carried one of these balls, and the boys often saw me 'dapping' it - making it bounce."
Unknown publication and date
TELEVISION'S This is Your Life programme is now a slick, star-studded show for the well-knowns, but back in 1958 there were surprises for people who had led inspiring lives away from the public eye.
On one occasion the BBC broadcast a tribute from Queen's College, Taunton, to the town's very own "Mr Chips," H. J. (Dapper) Channon, who was both a pupil and master there. He taught geography, history, scripture and English and was keenly involved in many activities, especially cricket. He also compiled the college history.
Our picture shows a young Eamonn Andrews - then 34 - listening to an anecdote from Sister Dorothy Laker, formerly college matron. She was among the many to salute Dapper's half-century association with Queen's. The guests also included Old boy Col J. H. Williams, who won world fame as the author of "Elephant Bill." Another former pupil, Mr Akiwumi, who became speaker of the Ghana Parliament, spoke on film. The climax of the programme was when daughter Marcia flew in from Los Angeles to meet her father - and mother - for the first time in 12 years and introduce her husband, Jimmy.
One thing remained a mystery - how Mr Channon came to be nicknamed Dapper. Two theories were put forward: he wore high collars; he displayed great agility on the sports field and fives court.
Mr Channon has since died, but his This is Your Life book is kept under lock and key in the archives at Queen's.
Chard and Ilminster News 25 November 2022
By Phil Hill
THE day a much-loved TV broadcaster was smuggled into Taunton under great secrecy has been recounted by a former County Gazette reporter.
Irishman Eamonn Andrews, who would have turned 100 on December 19, hosted 730 editions of television's This is Your Life.
And he brought the show of surprises to Somerset twice some 60 years ago.
In February 1958, 10 million people watched the edition featuring H. J. (Dapper) Channon, the 'Mr Chips' of Queen's College, Taunton.
He first entered Queen's as a schoolboy in 1901, and later returned to teach English, history, geography, and scripture.
He was also a sports master who loved cricket and wrote a book, A Sportsman's Parables, as well as the college history.
Old boys from all over the world kept in touch with him.
One of them, the speaker of the Ghana Parliament, paid tribute on film.
Producers flew over Mr Channon's daughter, Marcia, from Los Angeles, to meet him for the first time in 12 years.
One-time Gazette reporter Mike Ford said: "Such was the secrecy of the programme that Eamonn travelled to Bristol by train, was driven to a roadside haystack near Bridgwater where he waited in hiding for another car to smuggle him into Taunton's Castle Hotel, before heading to Queen's."
Three years later, Eamonn returned to the county to present the book to Dr Robert Fawcus, a GP at Chard's Fore Street practice.
Riding his famous round tank motorcycle, Dr Fawcus was noted for reaching every emergency whatever the time or weather.
He supported people through the unemployment of the 1930s and was a founding member of Toc H, the international Christian movement.
The show was recorded at Dillington House, Ilminster, and transmitted in February 1961.
Mike Ford has been liaising with Eamonn's family and friends, including Sir Michael Parkinson, to honour the TV presenter in a series of centenary features.
"Eamonn was the reason I went into broadcasting," said Mike.
"I first wrote to him when I was 15, later worked with him, and stayed in touch until he died in 1987."
"A devout Catholic, Eamonn was a man of immense kindness, compassion and integrity."
"Away from the screen, you'd find him generously and quietly helping other people, even writing to prisoners to offer hope and friendship."
Series 3 subjects
Albert Whelan | Colin Hodgkinson | Vera Lynn | Arthur Christiansen | John Logie Baird | Richard Carr-Gomm | Jack TrainEdith Powell | Anne Brusselmans | Norman Wisdom | Victor Silvester | Jack Petersen | Lucy Jane Dobson
David Bell | Matt Busby | Minnie Barnard | Gordon Steele | Louie Ramsay | Tubby Clayton | Daniel Angel
Anna Neagle | 'Dapper' Channon | Frederick Stone | Paul Field | Noel Purcell | Barbara Cartland
Harry Secombe | Archie Rowe | Humphrey Lyttelton | Francis Cammaerts | A E Matthews