Godfrey Talbot

> Godfrey Talbot: includes inventory and audio clip.

"You are about our favourite broadcaster"

Inventory of the Donation

	General experience and audio clip.
	This page: includes inventory and audio clip.

Entry into Tripoli, 1943

Large collection of original photographs
Original diaries (including North Africa and Italy)
Newspaper cuttings (about or written by Talbot)
Radio copies of his broadcasts for the BBC radio, London
Collection of letters and airgraphs sent by radio listeners
French newspaper, Le progres Egyptian, dated Samedi, 7 November 1942
Tape-recorded
Obituary notice and tributes to Talbot written after his death and order of service book from funeral

Godfrey Talbot broadcasts in front of a large crowd from Rome on 5.6.44

Radio Times report of June 1944 relating to Godfrey Talbot's broadcast from liberated Rome on 5 June 1944.

One of the many letters Godfrey received from people at home who anxiously listened to his broadcasts to hear about progress of the battle and news of their loved ones
(Transcript on left)

Croydon 15th IV 1943

Dear Godfrey Talbot,

I listened to you a short while ago when you asked wives and relatives to write to their men as they did enjoy having letters. Well, if it makes them happy, you may like to know how happy you make people feel, and how they listen to your lovely broadcasts. You would probably be very surprised.

You cannot imagine how many people say to me, "Have you heard Godfrey Talbot?" or "Do you listen to Godfrey Talbot?" And the many lovely things they say about you. I have a friend who's (sic) boy is with the 8th Army, and who is now in hospital. She said I feel very happy and do not worry about him because of Godfrey Talbot's broadcasts. So you see, we all think of you too - no doubt thousands of mothers, wives and sweethearts feel like we do.

I am not putting my address. I do not want you to write. But I do want you to know what we think of you, and every night and morning I pray that God will keep you safe, and now Goodnight and God Bless.

Yours sincerely,
DBW 'A Red Cross Nurse'.

Godfrey Talbot being presented to the King in Italy, July 1944.

David Talbot working on his father's diaries

Godfrey Talbot Audio Clip:
When King George VI visited Italy

Transcript of Audio Clip

About four of us war correspondents were brought back so that the King could meet war correspondents, experienced war correspondents in the field. I was one of the people brought back and lined up (in one of my books there is a picture of my, being, shaking hands with by the King) and when the King saw me, and I was introduced as Godfrey Talbot, the King said "G, G, G" (he didn't stutter very much in private conversations at all, his stutter was alright unless he had to make a speech and without the Queen being there), he said, "Talbot, Talbot never seen him before, BBC does make 'em tall, don't they? But by golly I've heard you a lot, say something else, I've heard you a lot, back at home, at Windsor, in the Palace, and mostly, mostly at Windsor in the evenings, mostly we heard, the Queen and I listened to Godfrey Talbot and now I see you" and then he paused and smiled just a little, and he said "Do you know, as a matter of fact I think Talbot, you, I shouldn't say this, you are about our favourite broadcaster. You broadcast very frequently in the news bulletins. I think you are our favourite, and then he paused and he said, You and Tommy Handley. . ."!

	General experience and audio clip.
	This page: includes inventory and audio clip.