Interview with Ken Brownjohn, Janet Beech and Peter Taylor on Radio I
Maker and role
Radio I, Other contributor
Alice Worsley, Presenter
Ken Brownjohn, Interviewee
Janet Beech, Interviewee
Peter Taylor, Interviewee
Production date
27 Apr 1990
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
05-788
Description
Abstract of a Radio I programme
File 1 (side 1) of 1
00.05” unknown radio announcer and applause
00.14” recording starts abruptly. Alice Worsley introducing programme
00.54” advertisement
00.58” Alice Worsley resumes introduction and participants – Ken Brownjohn, Janet Beech and Peter Taylor. Peter Taylor talks about introduction of commercial passenger air services in New Zealand after first Empire class flying boat arrived in 1939. First passenger flight was on 30 April 1940. Number of passengers – nineteen.
03.44” Ken Brownjohn flew for Union Airways from 1935. Into air force in 1939; then seconded to Tasman Airways – where stayed for 35 years. Length of first flight across Tasman Sea. No feathering propellers on Empire class flying boats. [Short] Sandringham flying boat was noted for engines over heating. Talks about [Short] S-30 (Empire class) flying boat. Gives opinion of Empire class flying boat.
05.34” Describes flight deck on S-30 flying boat. Quiet. Position of navigator and flight engineer. Took twelve hours for one flight across Tasman. Recalls how once took four days to fly across Tasman. Engine failure so turned around and landed at Lord Howe Island. Mentions how refuelled aircraft at Lord Howe Island. Return to Sydney and then to Auckland – four days. Friend’s comment about the length of the flight.
08.37” Feelings about flying S-30 flying boats. Aotearoa I was turned into tea rooms at Mission Bay. Taylor mentions that airline produced models of S-30 Empire class flying boat. Worsley mentions sock-type foot warmers provided for passengers.
10.34 music; advertisement; news bulletin
18.41” Programme resumes. Worsley talks about socks provided on board aircraft. Janet Beech talks about foot warmers provided on flying boats when she worked as a stewardess. Blankets were provided on board. Had to count cutlery at end of each flight.
20.42” Powder room for women on board flying boats. Most passengers were flying for first time. Reason flying boats could not fly higher than 10,000 feet. Reason often flew through bad weather. Sick bags.
22.22” Provision of food on board flying boats. Junior steward cooked food on board flying boats. Breakfast cooked on board. Describes food served. Janet reads copy of luncheon menu from 1940. Food was served cold in early days of flying boats.
24.42” Leather seats for passengers on Mark IV Solent flying boats. Food served on tables between passenger seats. No films. Mentions how passengers occupied themselves during flights. Brownjohn describes interior of S-30 flying boats.
26.37” Beech describes uniform which wore as stewardess. Mentions previous uniform. Continues to describe uniform. Mentions what wore during flights. Wore hats on board. Changed uniforms after met passengers boarding flying boat. One stewardess and two stewards on each Solent flight. Solents could carry 45 passengers; [Douglas] DC-6 could carry 56 passengers. Describes black winter uniform. Thinks that women were different shape in those days and uniforms were tailored for the, Maximum height of stewardess was 5 feet 6 inches; minimum height 5 feet 2 inches. Reason most stewardesses only worked for short period of time. Hair off the shoulder; no eye shadow; clear or pale pink nail varnish; no earrings.
29.42” Stewardesses not allowed to work after marriage. Talks about Eric Mullane, cabin services manager for TEAL. Recounts comments by Mullane about length of stewardesses’ engagement. Felt that belonged to the company. Being stewardess was very popular.
31.31” Peter Taylor mentions that Air New Zealand will be commemorating 50th anniversary during next year. Beech mentions Dior-designed hostess uniforms.
32.50” music; advertisements
37.24” Programme resumes; advertisements; music; advertisements
46.35” Recording ends
File 1 (side 1) of 1
00.05” unknown radio announcer and applause
00.14” recording starts abruptly. Alice Worsley introducing programme
00.54” advertisement
00.58” Alice Worsley resumes introduction and participants – Ken Brownjohn, Janet Beech and Peter Taylor. Peter Taylor talks about introduction of commercial passenger air services in New Zealand after first Empire class flying boat arrived in 1939. First passenger flight was on 30 April 1940. Number of passengers – nineteen.
03.44” Ken Brownjohn flew for Union Airways from 1935. Into air force in 1939; then seconded to Tasman Airways – where stayed for 35 years. Length of first flight across Tasman Sea. No feathering propellers on Empire class flying boats. [Short] Sandringham flying boat was noted for engines over heating. Talks about [Short] S-30 (Empire class) flying boat. Gives opinion of Empire class flying boat.
05.34” Describes flight deck on S-30 flying boat. Quiet. Position of navigator and flight engineer. Took twelve hours for one flight across Tasman. Recalls how once took four days to fly across Tasman. Engine failure so turned around and landed at Lord Howe Island. Mentions how refuelled aircraft at Lord Howe Island. Return to Sydney and then to Auckland – four days. Friend’s comment about the length of the flight.
08.37” Feelings about flying S-30 flying boats. Aotearoa I was turned into tea rooms at Mission Bay. Taylor mentions that airline produced models of S-30 Empire class flying boat. Worsley mentions sock-type foot warmers provided for passengers.
10.34 music; advertisement; news bulletin
18.41” Programme resumes. Worsley talks about socks provided on board aircraft. Janet Beech talks about foot warmers provided on flying boats when she worked as a stewardess. Blankets were provided on board. Had to count cutlery at end of each flight.
20.42” Powder room for women on board flying boats. Most passengers were flying for first time. Reason flying boats could not fly higher than 10,000 feet. Reason often flew through bad weather. Sick bags.
22.22” Provision of food on board flying boats. Junior steward cooked food on board flying boats. Breakfast cooked on board. Describes food served. Janet reads copy of luncheon menu from 1940. Food was served cold in early days of flying boats.
24.42” Leather seats for passengers on Mark IV Solent flying boats. Food served on tables between passenger seats. No films. Mentions how passengers occupied themselves during flights. Brownjohn describes interior of S-30 flying boats.
26.37” Beech describes uniform which wore as stewardess. Mentions previous uniform. Continues to describe uniform. Mentions what wore during flights. Wore hats on board. Changed uniforms after met passengers boarding flying boat. One stewardess and two stewards on each Solent flight. Solents could carry 45 passengers; [Douglas] DC-6 could carry 56 passengers. Describes black winter uniform. Thinks that women were different shape in those days and uniforms were tailored for the, Maximum height of stewardess was 5 feet 6 inches; minimum height 5 feet 2 inches. Reason most stewardesses only worked for short period of time. Hair off the shoulder; no eye shadow; clear or pale pink nail varnish; no earrings.
29.42” Stewardesses not allowed to work after marriage. Talks about Eric Mullane, cabin services manager for TEAL. Recounts comments by Mullane about length of stewardesses’ engagement. Felt that belonged to the company. Being stewardess was very popular.
31.31” Peter Taylor mentions that Air New Zealand will be commemorating 50th anniversary during next year. Beech mentions Dior-designed hostess uniforms.
32.50” music; advertisements
37.24” Programme resumes; advertisements; music; advertisements
46.35” Recording ends
Media/Materials
Physical description
1 sound cassette (approximately 47 minutes)
Other title
Ken Brownjohn, Janet Beech, Peter Taylor Interview(interviewed) by Alice Worsley. 27-4-90.
Credit line
Radio I et al. 27 Apr 1990. Interview with Ken Brownjohn, Janet Beech and Peter Taylor on Radio I, 05-788. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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