All this talk of The Archers set me thinking back to my early memories of TV and radio programmes. My mother bought our first television for the coronation in 1953. One programme sticks in my memory is The Grove Family. it was really a forerunner of all the soaps. Google it sometime, an amazing cast list these. It lists every actor that took even the smallest parts. The eagled eyed amongst you may notice one Ian Fleming playing very minor part in one or two episodes.

I remember one episode quite well. The son, Lennie, and daughter, Daphne, had been in some sort of serious mischief. They are about 11/12 years old. Their parents tell them off and then Mr. Groves sends Lennie (played by Christopher Benny) upstairs and follows him. Daphne says something to her mother like “Lennie is going to get it” or similar. Mrs Groves then says something like “You’re in the same trouble too, go into the kitchen”. Nothing is actually said to definitely imply corporal punishment but considering the era it seemed likely. To me at about 8 years old I certainly thought they were going to be spanked. It was something I knew all about at home then myself!

WWT wrote:  “A_L, I’m sure that Alan Turing and other tram enthusiasts will enjoy this trip down memory lane. Old fogies like yours truly, who remember BBC radio programmes from the 1950s such as Dick Barton and Paul Temple will also enjoy the backing music.”

I have only just got round to looking through the entire clip, which evokes many happy memories. Thank you so much for posting it.  It is interesting to see that a clean form of transport was scrapped in favour of buses with diesel engines and asbestos brake shoes!

When I was ten years old, being told ‘You’re in trouble – go to your room” meant only one thing.  I would undress, put on a dressing gown and await my fate – a stern lecture, dressing gown off, over the end of my bed and the strap.  The only thing that varied was the number of strokes, which depended on the seriousness of my offence.

Negasman wrote: When I was ten years old, being told ‘You’re in trouble – go to your room” meant only one thing.  I would undress, put on a dressing gown and await my fate – a stern lecture, dressing gown off, over the end of my bed and the strap.  The only thing that varied was the number of strokes, which depended on the seriousness of my offence.

Who strapped you? A proper spanking strap? An only child?

This was Father, who took over from Mother when I was ten.  Yes, it was a proper spanking strap, made for me by my grandfather who was a skilled leather worker as a sideline – his main profession was being a village policeman..  There was nothing brutal about it, and I’m sure in those early years it was not applied with much force. I remember looking at my bottom in the mirror and seeing it scarlet but not cut or bruised.    No, I wasn’t an only child – I had a twin brother who seemed to be in trouble a lot less often than me!  He was always made to watch me being punished, as a warning of what awaited him if he did the same as I had.

negasman  good job you where not identical twins could of caused an issue the wrong one would get the spanking

iankenrick wrote: negasman  good job you where not identical twins could of caused an issue the wrong one would get the spanking

We have twin daughters however I’m sure my wife always knew which was which!

As little boys we were very similar, but Father always knew which bottom was which!

negasman right how then

Not truly identical – he has a birthmark I don’t have. Behaviourally différent too.