On one side was a "vocal selection" from Sir Edward German's 1902 comic
opera Merrie England. On the other side were recordings of his two most
popular sets of dances drawn from incidental music to Shakespeare's Henry
VIII Sir Henry Irving's 1892 production and Edward Rose's 1900 play English
Rose. Better known as Nell Gwyn and based on the novel by Anthony Hope.
The New Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Decca's producer Victor Olof
(1898 – 1974). But it was the four singers, and one of them in particular, who interested me:
 |
Patricia in 1951 |
The contralto Marjorie Thomas (1923–2008), tenor Alexander Young (1920–2000) and bass-baritone John Cameron (1918–2002) were all well-known to
me. But who was the soprano, Patricia Baird? She was clearly good enough to
be chosen to record with Thomas, Young and Cameron, but what happened to her
subsequently? And where did she come from?
A quick Internet search - back in 2006 - revealed very little, but posting
to a mailing list produced a response from one of Patricia Baird's cousins
in Australia. She was able to tell me that Patricia was still alive and
living in Sydney, New South Wales, and that her husband, Fred, was in a nursing
home suffering from dementia.
Pat (as she quickly became) was feeling isolated from anyone who knew about
the sort of music she had performed. So, with her cousin acting as a
go-between, I established a one-way conversation with Pat, sending her my
transfer of the recording and getting (via her cousin) her positive feedback
and thanks.
That was fourteen years ago. Since then both Pat and her husband have died, and
online resources for finding out about Pat's early career have become
available. Notably the National Library of Australia's Trove, the
British Newspaper Archive and the BBC's
Genome project.
Ancestry
Patricia was the daughter of John Nicol Baird (1878-1952) and his second
wife Edith Lydia Marguerite (née Crowe). John Nicol Baird, born in Geelong,
Victoria, was a farrier and later a commercial traveller. He had been in
South Africa for the Boer War, working as a "shoeing-smith" (a farrier). He
enlisted because he was deeply patriotic and had heard that the army
(heavily dependent on horses) was short of farriers.
When John returned to Australia he married his first wife, Camellia Barnard,
in 1902. They had three children, two died in infancy, but John Maxwell
Baird (known as Max) was born in 1904 and died in 1949.
John remarried on
27th December 1921 at Holy Trinity Church, Dulwich Hill, Sydney. His second
wife was Edith Lydia Marguerite Crowe and their wedding was impressive
enough to be covered in some detail in the local newspaper. They moved to
Melbourne immediately afterwards for work.
Edith, the pianist
Edith had grown up in Goonellabah, an eastern suburb of the city of Lismore
in north-eastern New South Wales. In 1913 she entered the Lismore Musical
Festival's piano Sight Reading Test and the open Piano Champion Soloist
class. This required her to play Rachmaninov's C sharp minor Prelude,
Mendelssohn's Andante and Rondo capriccioso (her own choice) and
to sight read a piece of "moderate difficulty".
In March the following year
Edith entered the Champion Piano Solo class of the Maclean Musical Festival,
and in June she entered the same class in the Casino Eisteddfod.
[Eisteddfods (Australian plural) have also been adopted into Australian
culture. Much like the Welsh original, eisteddfods are competitions that
involve testing individuals in singing, dancing, acting and musicianship.]
Finally, in September 1914, she won First Prize in the Champion Piano Solo
class of the Lismore Musical Festival with 93 points.
John supported his wife and children in their musical endeavours. In 1936 he
became a committee member of the Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod.
Early years in Lismore
Patricia's elder brother, Keith Nicol Baird, was born ten months after his
parents' wedding, on 1st November 1922.
1926
John and Edith Baird's daughter was born on 8th March 1926, either in
Lismore, New South Wales or Ormond, Victoria. Her father registered her
birth and named his daughter after her mother - Edith Lillian Baird. Her
name was soon changed to Patricia Fairlie Baird. A year later six-year-old
Keith broke his leg in a car accident at Brunswick Heads.
He spent six weeks in St Vincent's Hospital and then returned home.
|
Geraldine Spring, 1938
|
As Edith was a talented pianist it would have been her idea for her
children, Keith and Patricia, to have music lessons. Miss Geraldine Spring
taught violin to children small and large, and both Keith and Patricia were
her pupils.
1929
|
Patricia Baird, aged three
|
In September 1929 Miss Spring successfully entered Keith for the Trinity
College London "First Steps" violin examination. Patricia must have started
violin lessons around this time because in December that year Miss Spring
set up a
Christmas event for her pupils and their parents but Keith and Patricia did not
attend.
1930
Patricia's first public recital took place in the studio of
Paling's musical instrument store in Lismore, a few days before her fourth birthday in March
1930. Miss Spring predicted "a wonderful future for this little
prodigy". The family were living at 18 Elton Street, Lismore. Lessons with
Miss Spring continued, and so did the routine of taking music exams,
entering competitions and playing in concerts:
-
March 1930 - Irish Musical Festival, Lismore - Keith Baird, Violin Solo
(under 10 years) - Dare: June Days - 85 marks
-
April 1930 - Australian Music Examinations Board (A.M.E.B) examinations,
Lismore - Keith Baird, Violin Grade VI, credit
-
September 1930 - Lismore Musical Festival - Patsy and Keith Baird, Violin
(under 8 years)
-
October 1930 - A.M.E.B. examinations, Lismore - Keith Baird, Violin Grade
V [Why Keith took Grade V having already taken Grade VI isn't clear.
Perhaps this is an error on the part of the newspaper], pass - Pat Baird,
Violin Grade VI, credit
-
May 1930 - Newrybar-Bangalow [34km (21 miles) from Lismore] Young People's
Guild competitive concert - Master Keith Baird, violin solo (his father
also attended and gave a recitation)
-
August 1930 - Masonic Hall, Bangalow - Violin solos, Pat Baird and Keith
Baird - recitations, Mr Baird
Keith and Patricia's artistic endeavours weren't just limited to playing the
violin. By September 1930 they were also taking dancing lessons from Miss
Estelle de Boshier in Lismore and entering fancy dress competitions:
-
September 1930 - Dancing Time Review, Lismore -
Minuet in G danced by Pat and Keith Baird - "Rounds of
applause greeted the dance".
-
October 1930 - Lismore Ladies Hospital Committee Linen Tea - "Little Pat
and Keith Baird in a duo dance"
-
October 1930 - Richmond Hall, Lismore (in aid of the Methodist Sunday
School) - "Keith and Pat Baird danced a minuet"
-
November 1930 - Miss Spring's Concert, Apollo Hall, Lismore (in aid of the
Returned Soldiers League) - Violin solo, Pat Baird ("tiny tot") - Violin
solo, Keith Baird - "Mr Baird gave his rendition of
The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe"
-
December 1930 - Babes in the Wood, Federal Hall, Lismore - Keith
Baird as one of the two Babes and Pat Baird dancing
1931
-
May 1931 - Fancy Dress Ball, Apollo Hall, Lismore (Parents' and Citizens'
Association of the Lismore District Rural School) - Five years and under -
"Bride and Bridegroom" - Patty Baird and Stan Dent
-
June 1931 - Juvenile Ball, Apollo Hall, Lismore (in aid of the Memorial
Baths) - Best pair ("Rule Britannia" and "John Bull") - Peggy Parkins and
Keith Baird
-
June 1931 - Juvenile Ball, Apollo Hall, Lismore (in aid of the
establishment of a children's ward in Lismore Hospital) - Bridal costume
(Bride), Pat Baird - Early Victorians II, Keith Baird
Growing up in Wagga Wagga
At some point between August 1931 and August 1932 the Baird family moved to
Wagga Wagga, a town equidistant between Australia's two largest cities,
Melbourne and Sydney. Patricia's father worked as a commercial traveller,
and they lived at 30 Best Street.
1932
The round of competitive festivals, examinations and concerts continued:
-
August 1932 - Oxford Theatre, Wagga Wagga - Gurwood Street School Ball -
Prize for fancy costume, boys - Keith Baird as a page
-
August 1932 - Oxford Theatre, Wagga Wagga - Gurwood Street School Ball -
Prize for fancy costume, girls - Patsy Baird as a Victorian
1933
-
June 1933 - London College of Music examinations, Wagga Wagga - Elocution,
primary first class pass - Patsy Baird
-
September 1933 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Under-12s Violin -
L'Extase by Lardelli [Guglielmo Lardelli (1850-1908),
published in Sydney in 1912 in an arrangement by Cyril Monk.
A score is online on Trove]. Keith came second; Patricia came third, with 82 points
-
September 1933 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Recitation -
Vespers by A.A. Milne - Patsy Baird, third with 79 points
-
September 1933 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Vocal solo, boys or girls, under
10 years - Little Bo Peep by Felix White - Patsy Baird, joint
second with 82 points
-
November 1933 - Gurwood Street Public School, Wagga Wagga - "Patsy Baird
then sang Little Bo Peep...The next number was a violin solo by
Patsy
1934
-
September 1934 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, under 12 years -
Minuet in G by Bach - Keith Baird, second with 80 points -
Patsy Baird, 77 points
-
September 1934 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Solo, boys or girls under 10
years - The Good Little Jackass - Patsy Baird, 75 points
-
September 1934 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Recitation, boys or girls under
12 - The Beggar Maid - Patsy Baird, 77 points
-
December 1934 - Wonderland Theatre, Wagga Wagga -
Beauty And The Beast - Patsy Baird
-
December 1934 - St John's Hall, Wagga Wagga - "Patsy Baird gave the
recitation Where's Mum?" - The Mill Wheel and
Neapolitan were played as a violin duo number by Patsy and
Keith Baird
-
December 1934 - St John's Hall, Wagga Wagga - Distribution of Sunday
School Prizes - Keith Baird, violin solo, Londonderry Air -
Patsy and Keith Baird, violin duet, La Serenata and Minuet in G
1935
-
March 1935 - Wonderland Theatre, Wagga Wagga (in aid of the Wagga
Citizens' Band) - "Keith Baird played a violin solo, Ave Maria, in
a manner which was greatly appreciated by the audience."
-
May 1935 - St John's Café, Wagga Wagga - Wagga Red Cross Society
Presentation of Medals - "Miss Patsy Baird, who sang"
-
June 1935 - St John's Hall, Wagga Wagga - Mothers' Union Café - "The
dainty and well-served afternoon teas were greatly enjoyed, as also were
the nicely-executed musical items contributed by Keith and Patsy Baird."
-
June 1935 - Wonderland Theatre, Wagga Wagga - Combined Schools Concert -
"The violin solos rendered by Keith Baird were very well executed"
-
August 1935 - Church of England Tea Tent, Wagga Show - "Musical items will
be contributed by Patsy Baird and Keith Baird"
-
September 1935 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Solo, boys or girls, under
10 - All On A Monday Morning - Patsy Baird, 82 points - Violin
solo, under 19 years - Souvenir - Keith Baird, 73 points
-
September 1935 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, under 19
years - Souvenir - Keith Baird, 73 points
-
September 1935 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, under 12
years - Waltz by Alfred Hill - Patsy Baird, joint first with
82 points
-
September 1935 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Recitation, boy or girl,
under 12 - A Fancy from Fontanelle by Ernest Dobson - Patsy
Baird, 84 points
-
September 1935 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Duet in character -
Dresden China - Patsy Baird and H. Tolhurst, joint second
prize with 83 points
-
September 1935 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Waltz-Clog, under 12 -
Patsy Baird, 80 points
-
November 1935 - A.M.E.B. Violin Grade V with Honours - Patricia
Baird
1936
-
April 1936 - Tumut Eisteddfod - "Mr J. N.Baird, a member of the Wagga
Eisteddfod Council, in reply, thanked Mr Hill for his welcome."
-
April 1936 - Tumut Eisteddfod - Violin solo, under 14 years - Keith Baird
(only competitor), 81 points
-
May 1936 - Wonderland Theatre, Wagga Wagga - Combined School Concert -
"The violin solo, Toselli's Serenata, was nicely rendered by Keith
Baird, a promising boy who produced a nice tone with sympathetic touches"
-
August 1936 - St John's Hall, Wagga Wagga -
Roses of Joy ("Spectacular operetta") - "Patsy Baird, the fairy
queen, portrayed her part with royal dignity and sang very sweetly....with
violin obbligatos by Keith Baird"
-
September 1936 - Rutherglen Eisteddfod - Violin duet, under 18 - Harry
Snowden and Keith Baird, first with 90 points
-
September 1936 - Rutherglen Eisteddfod - Violin solo under 14 - Harry
Snowden and Keith Baird, joint second with 84 points
-
September 1936 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, under 19
years accompanied by pianist of the same age - Keith Baird and Eileen
Hardiman, 78 points - Patsy Baird and Eileen Kavanagh, 77 points - "These
were both quite pleasing performances"
-
September 1936 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, 12 years and
under 15 years - Keith Baird, 83 points, Harry Snowden, 82 points - "Keith
Baird offered to share his prize with Harry, but after commending his
action, Mr Evans said he did not think it would be fair to do so."
-
September 1936 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Vocal solo, girls 10 years
and under 12 years - Loo-La-Bye by Winifred Burley - Patsy
Baird, first prize with 81 point - "the winner gave a pleasant
performance. The song was sung smoothly and the singer had a sweet voice."
-
September 1936 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Recitation, boys or girls
under 12 - Nod by Walter de la Mare - Patsy Baird, 84 points
-
September 1936 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod Children's Concert - "Patsy
Baird, who has a most easy and pleasant style, gave a violin
solo...Particularly pleasing was a violin duet by Patsy and Keith Baird"
-
November 1936 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod Annual Meeting - John Nicol Baird
elected as a committee member
-
December 1936 - St Eugene's High School, Mount Erin, Wagga Wagga - Annual
Concert - Mazurka by Henry - Patsy Baird,
violin
-
December 1936 - St Eugene's High School, Mount Erin, Wagga Wagga -
Prizegiving - Violin Grade IV - Patsy Baird
1937
-
May 1937 - St Andrew's Hall, Wagga Wagga - St Andrew's Competition -
Violin solo, 16 and under - Keith Baird, 84 points
-
May 1937 - St Andrew's Hall, Wagga Wagga - St Andrew's Competition -
Champion violin solo (open) - Keith Baird, second, with 85 points
-
May 1937 - St Andrew's Hall, Wagga Wagga - St Andrew's Competition Final
Concert - Violin duet, Harry Snowden and Keith Baird
-
May 1937 - A.M.E.B Violin Grade IV examination with Honours - Patsy Baird
-
September 1937 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, under 19
years accompanied by pianist of the same age - Keith Baird, second, with
75 points
-
September 1937 - Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod - Violin solo, 12 years and
under 15 years - Keith Baird, first, with 86 points
-
October 1937 - A.M.E.B Violin Grade II examination with Credit - Keith
Baird
-
December 1937 - St Eugene's High School, Mount Erin, Wagga Wagga -
Prizegiving - Special Prize for Violin - Patsy Baird
-
December 1937 - St Eugene's High School, Mount Erin, Wagga Wagga -
Prizegiving - Theory of Music, Grade V - Keith Baird (credit)
-
December 1937 - St John's Hall, Wagga Wagga - St John's Sunday School
Concert - "Schubert's Ave Maria is not the easiest of solos
for young violinists, but Keith Baird made light of its difficulties, his
Interpretation being marked by accurate fingering and nice clear sweeping
bow that resulted in a good quality of tone."
-
December 1937 - St Eugene's Hall, Mount Erin, Wagga Wagga - St Mary's
School Concert -"Violin accompaniments were provided to some of the items
by Harry Snowden and Keith Baird, these being 'particularly effective in
the case of the tableau,"
19382
-
January 1938 St Eugene's School, Wagga Wagga - Sacred Heart Presentation
Concert - Pantomime by Moyatt - Patricia Baird
-
April 1938 - St Andrew's Presbyterian Girls' Club Eisteddfod, Wagga Wagga
- Champion violin solo, 18 years and under - Patsy Baird, second
July 1937 brought a loss to the family when Edith's mother died in Sydney
after she and her husband had recently celebrated their Golden Wedding. "Mrs.
J. N. Baird of Brookong Avenue, Wagga...left for Sydney by the express train
early on Friday morning."
The year 1938 saw the Baird family moving from inland Wagga Wagga to the
town of Kempsey, fifteen kilometres (nine miles) inland from the coast of
New South Wales. This was a journey of nearly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles)
which today would take over fourteen hours by train. It probably took longer
then.
John Nicol Baird had become the District Representative for Alfa-Laval
milking machines and milk separators. Before they left Wagga Wagga an event
was organised for the evening of Thursday 28th July 1938 so that the town
could say goodbye to them. This was centred on Mr and Mrs Baird's work with
the Church of England. John Nicol Baird had been churchwarden, a member of
the church council, president of the Church of England Men's Society (he was
given life membership), and superintendent of the Sunday School. He was
presented with a "handsome mantel clock". Edith was presented with a
handbag. Patsy was given a crystal vase on behalf of fellow scholars and
teachers. Keith was given a fountain pen and pencil.
Life in Kempsey
Mr Baird started work in Kempsey in August 1938 and immediately started
advertising heavily in local newspapers. Patricia joined the Kempsey
Convent, and in December 1938 appeared in a school concert and prize-giving.
She was soprano soloist in The Elfin Call, followed by a
demonstration of her skills as a violinist, leading a string quartet in
La Serenata.
Her third appearance in the concert was again as a violinist, this time
accompanied on the piano by her mother. Her name changed from "Patsy" to
"Pattie". Was this the conscious effort of a fifteen-year-old to adopt a
more "adult" name for herself?
1939
Mrs Baird, meanwhile, rejoined the Country Women's Association (CWA) in
Kempsey and in March 1939 organised and accompanied a community singing
session at the branch's tenth anniversary meeting. "Patty Baird also sang,
making a great hit with her items."
St Patrick's Day was marked by a concert at the Catholic Hall, West Kempsey.
Patricia played the violin in both the orchestra and a quartet.
Australia entered the Second World War on 3rd September 1939. Patricia was
aged thirteen, Keith was aged seventeen. The days of examinations and
competitive festivals seem to have come to an abrupt halt when the family
moved to Kempsey.
1940
In September 1940 the family underwent another shock. Keith was living in
Peak Hill, New South Wales, some 700km (435 miles) from Kempsey, fell into a
pit at Orange and so serious were his injuries that he was transferred to
Lewisham Hospital in Sydney. X-rays revealed serious spinal injuries and a
fractured pelvis. His mother rushed to be with him and his father soon
followed.
1941
Although John Nicol Baird's Kempsey-based advertisements for Alfa-Laval
continued for some time, the last appeared in September 1941. By 1941, the
family had moved much nearer to Sydney and were living at 4 Jarvie Street,
Petersham, when Keith enlisted in the Australian Army on 16th January.
1942
More sadness followed September 1942 when Edith's father, William Charles
Crowe, died in Petersham, Sydney.
1943
In November 1943, Patricia and her mother returned to Lismore to spend
a holiday with friends there.
War service
1944
Pat enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) at Paddington,
New South Wales, on 7th March 1944, one day short of her eighteenth
birthday. She enlisted using the name her father had registered her with -
Edith Lillian Baird.
She was posted to a section where the Education Officer was Richard Gordon
Thew [Born in Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia on 13th July 1900. On
8 June 1968
he became an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to
music. He died on 7th December 1972 in New South Wales, Australia.] who
happened to be a singing teacher. One night he heard Patricia singing and
told her she should make it her career.
Patricia's time in the AWAS is something of a mystery. Did she have lessons
from Richard Thew? When did she drop the violin? A newspaper report does
confirm that during her years in the AWAS she spent time in concert
parties.
1945
January 1945 brought happy news to the family when Keith got engaged:
BAIRD-ARTIS.-The Engagement is announced of Marie, eldest daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. W. A. Artis, of Summer Hill, to Trooper Keith Baird, A.I.F., son of
Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Baird, Petersham.
In May 1945 Patricia was in Wagga Wagga once more (presumably she was based
there with the AWAS) and competed in the Wagga Talent Quest at the Trades
Hall. Sixteen contestants took part and Patricia won with 100 votes, singing
One Kiss.
In July Patricia was still in Wagga Wagga and took part in a concert as part
of the Red Cross Annual Meeting.
The end of the Second World War happened the following month when Japan
surrendered on 15th August. A new future beckoned to Patricia in the
post-war period.
Post-war concerts and competitions
1946
Pat was demobbed in August 1946 but her whereabouts and activities for the
next year are vague.
There are hints in newspapers that she became a typist and had lessons from
Richard Thew. It seems likely that she was still living with her parents in
Petersham during this period. Whatever she was up to, she emerged a year
later as a fully-fledged soprano soloist ready to undertake concert work and
more competitions.
1947
In August 1947 Patricia was in Sydney, performing for the Wagga
Residents' Association with her mother accompanying. A low-key concert much
like those she had given in the past.
Her first formal public concert as a soprano soloist took place on 18th
November 1947 at the Presbyterian Hall, Wollongong, New South Wales, with
the newly-formed Illawarra Singers. Richard Thew was the accompanist, so
probably suggested Patricia for the performance:
Patricia Baird used her flexible voice with excellent judgment and
understanding and in her second group she showed dainty musical colour and
fine restraint.
Her first concert outside New South Wales was a Tasmanian performance with
the Hobart Philharmonic Society of Handel's Messiah on 9th
December 1947. Excerpts were broadcast on station 7ER [Now known as ABC
Radio Hobart]. The tenor soloist was Ronald Dowd, another pupil of Richard
Thew, who went on to have a successful career with Sadler's Wells Opera
before returning to Australia:
Patricia Baird, Melbourne soprano, in recitatives and arias, revealed vocal
artistry both tonally beautiful and flexible. In diminished volume,
constriction marred the natural fluency proclaimed in more open passages of
song.
The Hobart Mercury remarked:
Her first trip to Tasmania and her first trip by air anywhere was the
experience this week of Patricia Baird, the young Sydney soloist who is here
by invitation of the Hobart Philharmonic Society. She made a charming little
speech at a reception at the Hobart Town Hall on Tuesday morning, held in
honour of the three visiting singers - herself, Ronald Dowd, and Robert
Payne. About 30 members of Hobart's musical circles were there and enjoyed
the "cuppa" provided by the Lord Mayor (Air Osborne) and the Lady Mayoress
(Mrs Rust). The floral decorations in the reception room, which included
some of the finest Iceland poppies I have ever seen, brought much comment.
After the excitement of her trip to Hobart, Patricia's concerts assumed
their more low-key nature. Articles mention her radio appearances but these
seem not to be recorded in the pages of the newspapers.
-
12th December 1947 - Hurstville Presbyterians' Christmas Concert, with
Richard Thew
-
1st January 1948 - Grand Scottish Concert, Sydney Town Hall (part of the
Highland Gathering), with Ronald Dowd
1948
-
28th March 1948 (Easter Sunday) - St Stephen's Presbyterian Church,
Macquirie Street, Sydney
-
8th August 1948 - Epping Congregational Church, Sydney - The Creation by Joseph Haydn
-
21st November 1948 - Pitt Street Congregational Church, Sydney -
Sons of Jubal - special music
-
15th December 1948 - Parramatta Rotary Club Christmas Party and Ladies'
Night
1949
On 17th May 1949 Patricia and some friends appeared the Western Monarch
Theatre, Gilgandra. This was the first of several concerts given by her
concert party to raise funds for the "Far West Scheme" to benefit hospital
services for young people. It was well received:
A well known concert stage soprano, Miss Baird spent five years in the
services, and was included in concert parties since her discharge she has
become very popular in Sydney as a concert artist... Concert and Radio
Personality... To a music-starved audience, the full rich soprano voice of
Miss Baird was a delight, and her songs, familiar though they might be,
were presented with such clarity and colour that they retained all the
charm of novelty. Even the old favourite, Because, became a new
song.
The concert was repeated on 27th May 1949 at Guyra:
Patricia Baird's bracket of songs captivated the audience. The finely
presented sketch, High Finance, with artists Patricia Baird,
Lawrence Haines and Sid Coleman had the crowd in fits of laughter.
On 28th August 1949 Patricia returned to the Pitt Street Congregational
Church, Sydney to perform in The Creation by Joseph Haydn.
September 1949 brought the City of Sydney Eisteddfod. Patricia entered and
won the lyric soprano championship, the Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Trophy
(Champion of Champions) and the British Art Song Silver Shield.
Her ambition is to sing and study overseas, and she has already sung as
soloist with the Hobart and Launceston Philharmonic Societies in the
Messiah, and is well known to radio audiences in Sydney.
On 5th October 1949 she performed at the Rockdale Town Hall for the St
George Music Club's musicale. This was a concert of prizewinners from
the recent Sydney Eisteddfod and it brought her into contact with the winner
of the winner of the open piano championship, and the
Women's Weekly piano scholarship - a young Richard
Bonynge.
December 1949 saw another outing for the Far West Scheme Concert Party, this
time to Mudgee. They raised £190.
At some time in 1949 Patricia was examined for the Licentiate in Music,
Australia, diploma of the Australian Music Examinations Board, a highly
prestigious award, with the national pass rate being around 10% of
candidates. She was successful, and thereafter was able to use the
post-nominal letters "L.Mus.A.".
1950
In February 1950 Patricia made a return visit to Pitt Street Congregational
Church in Sydney were she sang for the 11.50am Communion service on Sunday
5th. Although the newspaper reports make it look as if her appearances at
the church were irregular, it's possible that this was actually a regular
job every Sunday.
Early April brought another visit to Wollongong for the 58th Musicale at the
Methodist Hall. Pat shared the stage with the pianist Dorothy White. The
concert was divided into five sections with Miss White performing alone in
sections one, three and five, and accompanying Pat in sections two and four.
The newspaper review gives us an idea of the sort of programme that Patricia
was putting together:
Patricia Baird had a particularly beautiful natural voice which would,
perhaps, have been shown to better advantage under different circumstances;
Her strong sense of the dramatic was shown in the operatic numbers, 'Mimi's
Farewell' by Puccini, and 'Daughter of the Regiment,' by Donizetti. Miss
Baird's second bracket consisted of Michael Head's 'Gaiete and Orion',
'Summer' by Martin Shaw and 'Do not go my love' by Hageman.
The following day (Palm Sunday) she was back in Sydney for a
performance of Dvorak's Stabat Mater at the Rockdale
Congregational Church.
In the second half of the month Patricia made her way to Goulburn, 120 miles
(95 km) from home, for the 1950 Eisteddfod. The First Prize for the Operatic
Aria was worth £100 and sponsored jointly by Pacific Chenille-Craft Pty.,
Ltd., and the Goulburn City Council. Patricia won the Lyric Soprano Solo on
19th April ("a very finished singer with a beautiful voice"), and went on to
win both the £100 Chenille Aria, and the Champion of Champions:
Miss Patricia Baird who crowned her long list of successes at the Goulburn
Eisteddfod by winning the Pacific Chenille aria contest from twenty six
other competitors hails from Sydney, and has studied with Mr. Richard Thew.
Her previous wins at the Eisteddfod were the lyric soprano solo, sacred
solo. oratorio, and the 2GN radio section. Miss Baird will sing at the
Eisteddfod concert this evening and this is a rare opportunity for the
people of Goulburn to hear an artist who is destined to become an
outstanding singer throughout Australia and overseas. Her first singing
experience was in the A.W.A.S. during the war where she met Mr. Thew, who
immediately became interested in the possibilities of her voice, and on
demobilisation, Miss Baird commenced her studies, with him. Miss Baird's
previous successes include the 2SM Radio Contest, 1949; Melba Trophy
(champion of champions) city of Sydney Eisteddfod 1949, and the Trophy for
British Art Song at the same Eisteddfod. A committee has been formed to send
Miss Baird to England to continue her studies early in 1951, and she will
worthily represent her country and continue the long line of outstanding
artists, who have preceded her.
The Mobil Quest for 1950 was one of three big competitions in which Patricia
competed that year. This was only the second year that the competition had
been run - fourth place in 1949 had gone to Joan Sutherland. The First Prize
was worth £1,000, Second Prize £300 and Third Prize £150. Winning the
competition would help substantially with the costs of Patricia travelling
to Europe to continue her studies. This was a nationwide competition which
used radio as its medium.
There were eighteen heats, all broadcast on a Friday at 8.30 p.m. Australian
Eastern Time, and each consisting of three singers. The winner of each heat
then faced one of six semi-finals, and the winner of each semi-final went
forward to the Grand Final in Melbourne Town Hall on 6th September.
The Sixth Heat was won by baritone Donald Cameron, the younger brother of
baritone Joan Cameron with whom Patricia was to sing two year later in the
recording of Merrie England. Patricia was in Heat Ten and was
runner-up to Beryl Jones, a coloratura soprano.
The Grand Final was won by Joan Sutherland in front of an audience of 3,000.
In June 1950 Patricia was in Illawarra to compete in the Illawarra
Eisteddfod's £100 Aria Competition. She went on to win against stiff local
competition and was described by the adjudicators as "outstanding":
He stated her verbal emphasis and colour were good, while she made many of
her words 'live.' She had excellent phrasing, an even voice and her runs
were extremely flexible. He awarded her 87 marks for her first aria and 88
for her second. Warmest ovation for the whole Eisteddfod was given to Miss
Patricia Baird of Petersham. Clapping continued long after she had left the
stage.
Patricia went on to win the Oratorio class in the same competition:
excellent voice with good shape, atmosphere a trifle forced, good
climax
In late September came the news that Patricia was one of twenty-four
soloists to reach the semi-final of the Sydney Sun Aria Competition at the
Sydney Conservatorium. The semi-final, to select eight soloists was the
following evening. Patricia got through and was awarded Third Prize (£50) in
the final. The winner was a 19-year-old called June Gough from Broken Hill.
She used her £300 prize together with the money raised by her home town to
travel to London in 1952 and had an international career under the name of
June Bronhill.
A month later Patricia was in Victoria for the finals of the Melbourne Sun
Aria Competition. She came third with an "honourable mention."
On 14th October 1950 she was the soprano soloist (Ronald Dowd was the tenor)
with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society's broadcast performance of
Verdi's Requiem at the Melbourne Town Hall, conducted by Eugene
Goossens. "A truly magnificent performance," Goossens wrote across her
programme.
Christmas 1950 was a busy time for Patricia with no fewer than seven
performances of Messiah including the Christmas Eve concert in
Sydney Town Hall.
While Patricia's success in the smaller competitions, and the cash prizes
she won, must have been useful for her, it was her success in the three big
competitions which were ultimately more significant. So the year 1951 was to
be a busy and important one for Patricia.
1951
|
Patricia Baird rehearsing for "A Masked Ball", 1951
|
In March and April 1951 she sang Amelia in Verdi's
A Masked Ball (Il Ballo in Maschera) with the New South Wales
National Opera at the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney. June Gough (Bronhill) was
also in the cast.
In June 1951 Patricia was again taking competing in the Mobil Quest. This
time she was in Heat Eleven broadcast on Monday 4th June. She performed "Can
It Be He" ("Ah fors' è lui.") from Verdi's La Traviata and Eric
Coates's Green Hills of Somerset. Her co-competitors were jointly
awarded First Prize with Patricia getting Second Prize and a recommendation
from the adjudicators that she should have a place in the semi-finals.
That same month saw another broadcast performance of the Verdi Requiem in Melbourne Town Hill, this time conducted by
Joseph Post - "Lovely singing came from the soprano Patricia Baird,
particularly in the unaccompanied Libera Me."
On 19th August it was Patricia's turn to compete in the Mobil Quest fourth
semi-final, singing Rossini's Una Voce Poco Fa. The semi-final was
won by
Margaret Nisbett, one of the joint winners of the initial eleventh heat. Margaret went on
to win the £1,000 First Prize in the Grand Final in Melbourne on 5th
September, and in 1954 studied, along with her husband Jon Weaving, with Patricia's own teacher Dino Borgioli in London.
By August 1951 the funding was in place for Patricia to go to study in
London and it was announced in the press that she would leave Australia on
13th November. Before that, however, was the City of Sydney Eisteddfod Sun
Aria Competition of 1951. Patricia made it through to the semi-final on 26th
September at the Sydney Conservatorium. The Sun Aria Prize for 1951 was
ultimately won by Angelina Arena.
Patricia was chosen to be the soprano soloist in the first Australian
performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
under Eugene Goossens on 3rd October. - "Patricia Baird's soprano seemed to
miss the Mahlerian boyishness so necessary." Vincent Wallace's opera
Maritana was broadcast from Sydney in an hour-long concert
performance on 19th October with a team of soloists including Patricia and
the ABC Sydney Orchestra conducted by Clive Douglas.
Even at this late stage, Patricia continued to compete in eisteddfods,
presumably for the cash the prizes could bring her. In the Bathurst
Eisteddfod on 21st October she won the Second Prize of £50 in the Aria
Competition. October brought a return visit to Pitt Street Congregational
Church for Haydn's The Creation, conducted by Richard Thew.
|
Patricia's farewell concert at the Sydney Conservatorium
|
Patricia's farewell concert was given at the Conservatorium in Sydney on
Wednesday 7th November at 8.15 p.m. Accompanied by her teacher, Richard
Thew, she sang pieces by Mozart, Brahms, Franz, Wolf, Rossini and Verdi. A
review in the Sydney Morning Herald gives some clues as to her failure to
win in the larger competitions, and the areas she needed to work on once she
reached London.
There was much tasteful, well-considered and attractive singing in a recital
by soprano Patricia Baird at the Conservatorium last night. Miss Baird (who
plans to continue her career abroad) is very well equipped in the primary
necessities of singing and in some of the secondary considerations, too, for
last night the points of phrasing and expression were often most carefully
designed and executed. But there is still an impression of immaturity about
her work, A general preoccupation with the technical side of expression and
a diffidence in emotional colouring makes even a well-wrought performance
like her Willow Song from "Otello" seem a little cold. Apart from this lack
of dramatic colour and conviction, Miss Baird has very little to worry about
technically. Her tone is sweet and flexible, a little inclined to excessive
tremolo and a little hard at the top of her range, but quite capable of the
brilliant coloratura of Rossini's "Una Voce" and the delicate intimacy of
Wolf's "In the Shadow of My Tresses."
A few days later, she left for England on the 26-year-old RMS Otranto. Her
departure was noted by "Margaret's Column" in the Illawarra Daily
Mercury:
MRS. COWBURN and Mrs. Witte went down by train to say 'Au Revoir' to Mrs.
Hatfield. Some of the other members did the trip by car. The two ladies
mentioned, took the ferry that accompanies the departing ships. They tell
me that Patricia Baird (we have seen her artistry down here) sailed on the
'Otranto', too. Some of her friends from the Conservatorium were on the
ferry, and their singing of 'Now is the Hour' was certainly appreciated by
the Wollongong countrywomen, if not heard by Patricia Baird.
Patricia was not to set foot in Australia again for eleven years.
England
Patricia wasn't the only musician to leave Sydney at that time.
Eugene Goossens, in Australia as conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,
was off to conduct in South Africa, then Belgium (his family were Belgian)
and London before returning to Australia in March 1952. But Goossens was
travelling by air in a Qantas Constellation.
The P&O liner RMS Otranto docked in Southampton 18th December
1951. The year of the Festival of Britain was coming to an end and Christmas
was fast approaching. In the recent General Election the Conservatives had
come back into power with Winston Churchill as Prime Minister.
Patricia's first Christmas in the northern hemisphere was a far cry from the
sunshine of Australia, London was plagued by thick smoky fogs, still
depended on coal, and showed the damaged inflicted during the Blitz. Meat,
sugar and sweets were still rationed.
1952
Arriving in London she began her studies with
Dino Borgiol and on 10th March 1952 Pat made her first broadcast for the BBC
in Souvenirs of Music with Robert Busby conducting the
Augmented BBC Revue Orchestra. This was to be the first of many broadcasts
on the Light Programme and Home Service between 1952 and 1961.
How she came by this work it unclear, but her work with the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation must have stood her in good stead. Perhaps she was
provided with a letter of recommendation? Did Goossens help her with
introductions when he arrived in London?
March 1952
-
Monday 10 March 12.00 SOUVENIRS OF MUSIC - Augmented BBC Revue Orchestra
(Leader, David Paget) Conductor, Robert Busby with Patricia Baird
(soprano)
-
Tuesday 11 March 17.30 RENDEZVOUS - Commonwealth artists entertain Hugh
Hastings, The Hassan Five Patricia Baird (accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons)
BBC Revue Orchestra, conductor, Robert Busby. Introduced by Peter King. Produced by David Miller
Meanwhile, Eugene Goossens returned to Australia after his four month tour
abroad. He told the press that five Australian singers were making a success
in London: Sylvia Fisher, John Cameron, Elsie Morison, Joan Sutherland - and
Patricia Baird.
April 1952
-
Tuesday 8 April 20.00 SONG OF VIENNA - The life story of Franz Lehar -
Episode 2 - 'The Rage of the Town. Devised by Kenneth Pakeman, Written by
Maurice Gorham. The Players: Dermot Palmer, Elaine Dundy, Mary Wimbush.
Roger Delgado, Richard Hurndall, Gladys Spencer The Singers: Patricia
Baird, Kyra Vayne, John Cameron, Rowland Jones, BBC Opera Chorus (Trained
by Alan G. Melville), BBC Opera Orchestra (Leader, John Sharpe)
Conductor, Stanford Robinson. Produced by Kenneth Pakeman and Archie
Campbell
-
Friday 25 April 19.00 First House MELODY FROM THE STARS - Patricia Baird,
Jimmy Young, Kathran Oldfield, Ereach Riley, The Joe Saye Trio. Augmented
BBC Revue Orchestra, conducted by Robert Busby. Producer, Jimmy Grant
In 1952 Patricia joined the Arts Council's "Grand Opera Group". This was a
group formed in 1950 comprising four or five soloists (one acting as
compère) with a pianist which toured the UK performing specially chosen
programmes of excerpts, both in ensemble and aria, which were introduced
with an explanation of their dramatic significance within the story of the
opera.
-
Sunday May 16th Eisteddfod Marquee, Cardigan. The Treorchy Male Voice
Choir was asked to perform at the Semi-National Eisteddfod Concert. Also
on stage was soprano Patricia Baird, John Cameron (bass) and Brychan
Powell (tenor). The accompanist was Charles Clements
June 1952
-
Friday 13 June 17.30 BAND CALL - BBC Variety Orchestra, conductor, Paul
Fenoulhet with Patricia Baird and Mark Pasquin. Introduced by John
Webster
July 1952
On 3rd July 1952, Patricia's father died in the family home at 4 Jarvie
Avenue, Petersham. While she was probably told of his death by telegram,
returning home for the funeral would have been impossible.
-
Friday 18 July 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke, David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Revue Orchestra
conducted by Robert Busby. Produced by Michael North
-
Friday 25 July 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke,
David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety
Orchestra conducted by Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael North
August 1952
-
Friday 1 August 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke,
David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety
Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael North
-
Friday 8 August 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke,
David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety
Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael North
-
Friday 15 August 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke,
David Hughes, Patricia Baird, Sydney Keith and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC
Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael
North
-
Friday 22 August 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke,
David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety
Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael North
-
Friday 29 August 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies
from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke,
David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety
Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael North
September 1952
-
Friday 5 September 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - with
Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke, David Hughes, Patricia Baird
and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael North
-
Friday 12 September 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - with
Helen Clare, Jack Cooper, Eve Becke, David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the
Grosvenor Singers. BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced
by Michael North
-
Friday 19 September 21.15 John Watt introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper,
Eve Becke, David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC
Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael
North
-
Friday 26 September 21.15 John Watt Introduces SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Melodies from Theatreland over the years with Helen Clare, Jack Cooper,
Eve Becke, David Hughes, Patricia Baird and the Grosvenor Singers. BBC
Variety Orchestra conductor. Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Michael
North
December 1952
-
Tuesday 9 December 17.30 RENDEZVOUS - Commonwealth artists entertain - Patricia Baird, John Cazabon, Bob Freeman, John Hauxvell. BBC Revue
Orchestra (Leader, David Paget). Introduced by Aidan MacDermot. Produced by
David Miller
-
Saturday 20 December 16.00 BAND CALL - BBC Variety Orchestra (Leader, George
Deason) conductor, Paul Fenoulhet, with Patricia Baird and Randall Stevens. Introduced by John Webster
-
Saturday 27 December 14.00 BAND CALL - BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul
Fenoulhet, with Patricia Baird and Denis Catlin. Introduced by John Webster
January 1953
-
Saturday 17 January 20.00 THE STAR SHOW - Introduced by Joe Linnane. Tonight in order of broadcasting: Leslie Adams, Karoly Szenassy, Johnnie
Brandon, Patricia Baird, Gladys Cooper and Angela Baddeley, Ian Wallace,
Elsie Waters and Doris Waters. The George Mitchell Choir. BBC Variety
Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Produced by Tom Ronald and Michael
North
-
Friday 30 January 12.25 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL - Michael Miles introduces The
Four in A-Chord, Tony (Silly Thing) Scott, Professional Protégés Ted
Andrews and his Canadian Singing Sisters, Kitty Bluett Your Favourite
Musical Comedy - Patricia Baird and John Hauxvell, Cardew Robinson. BBC
Revue Orchestra. Produced by Trafford Whitelock
May 1953
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Sunday 17 May 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of our
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia),
Eve Boswell (South Africa),
Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies). Introduced by
Robert Easton (United Kingdom) with The Johnston Singers and the BBC Variety
Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald MacLean
-
Sunday 24 May 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies) Introduced
by Robert Easton (United Kingdom) with The Johnston Singers and the BBC
Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald MacLean
-
Saturday 30 May 20.00 VARIETY PLAYHOUSE - with Vic Oliver as host and Master
of Ceremonies, who each week invites stars of the entertainment world. This
week, in order of broadcasting: Tollefsen, Hermione Gingold, Frederick
Sharp and Patricia Baird, Max Wall, Maurice Chevalier, The George Mitchell
Choir, Augmented BBC Revue Orchestra conductor, Harry Rabinowitz. Musical
adviser, Vic Oliver. Continuity by Carey Edwards. Production by Tom
Ronald
-
Sunday 31 May 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies) with The
Johnston Singers. Introduced by Robert Easton (United Kingdom) and the BBC
Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald MacLean
June 1953
-
Monday 1 June 11.55 VARIETY PLAYHOUSE - A repeat of the broadcast on 30th
May. 2 June 1953 - Coronation Day
-
Sunday 14 June 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). Malcolm Lockyer and his Orchestra. Producer, Donald MacLean
-
Sunday 21 June 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald
MacLean
-
Sunday 28 June 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald
MacLean
July 1953
-
Sunday 5 July 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald
MacLean. (Eve Boswell is in 'The Show of Shows' at the Opera House
Theatre, Blackpool)
-
Sunday 12 July 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald
MacLean
-
Sunday 19 July 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Eve Boswell (South
Africa), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West Indies), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Producer, Donald
MacLean
-
Sunday 26 July 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Patricia Baird (Australia),
Marion Williams (Nigeria), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), George Browne (West
Indies), The Johnston Singers (U.K.). Introduced by Robert Easton (U.K.). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor. Paul Fenoulhet. Script by Jimmy Grafton. Produced by Donald MacLean
August 1953
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Sunday 2 August 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of
the Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Marion Williams
(Nigeria), Chester Harriott and Vic Evans (West Indies), The Johnston
Singers (U.K.). Guest, Patricia Howard (Australia). Introduced by Edmund
Hockridge (Canada). BBC Variety Orchestra conductor, Paul Fenoulhet. Script
by Jimmy Grafton. Produced by Donald MacLean
-
Wednesday 5 August 20.00 THE LEISURE HOUR - A radio diversion for the
whole family Informally introduced by Rex Palmer. This week you meet: Betty
Marsden, Robb Wilton in 'Councillor Muddlecombe, J.P.', Bransby Williams, 'Midge's Choice' - Wilson Midgley talks about new books he has enjoyed
reading, and Beverley Nichols, Jill Balcon, and Francis de Wolff present
scenes from them. Leisure Serenade with Patricia Baird. A Wandering Minstrel
with John Cameron and Alan Paul at the piano. Louis Voss and his Orchestra
provide the music. Incidental music composed by Alan Paul. Production by
Alfred Dunning and Richard Keen
-
Sunday 9 August 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of
the Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Marion
Williams (Nigeria), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), The N.Z.-ers (New Zealand),
The Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom.) Louis Voss and his Orchestra. Script written by Jimmy Grafton. Produced by Donald MacLean
-
Wednesday 12 August 20.00 THE LEISURE HOUR - A radio diversion for the
whole family informally introduced by Rex Palmer. This week you meet: Betty
Marsden, Robb Wilton in ' 'Councillor Muddlecombe, J.P.', Bransby Williams, 'Midge's Choice' - Wilson Midgley talks about new books he has enjoyed
reading and Molly Rankin, Edna Romney, Denise Bryer, Warren Stanhope,
Harold Rees , David Spenser and Charles E. Stidwill present scenes from
them. Leisure Serenade with Patricia Baird. A Wandering Minstrel with John
Cameron and Alan Paul at the piano. Max Jaffa and the Leisure Hour Players
provide the music. Incidental music composed by Alan Paul. Production by
Alfred Dunning and Richard Keen. (Betty Marsden is appearing in 'Airs On A
Shoestring' at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London)
-
Sunday 16 August 14.15 COMMONWEALTH OF SONG - Music from four corners of
the Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia Baird (Australia), Marion Williams
(Nigeria), Edmund Hockridge (Canada), The N.Z.-ers (New Zealand), The
Johnston Singers (United Kingdom). Introduced by Robert Easton (United
Kingdom). Louis Voss and his Orchestra. Script written by Jimmy Grafton. Produced by Donald MacLean. (Edmund Hockridge is in 'Carousel' at the Grand
Theatre, Leeds)
-
Wednesday 19 August 20.00 THE LEISURE HOUR - A radio diversion for the
whole family introduced by Rex Palmer. This week you meet: Ann Lancaster, Robb Wilton in ‘Councillor Muddlecombe, J.P.’, Bransby Williams, ‘Midge's
Choice’ - Wilson Midgley talks about new books he has enjoyed reading and
Robin Bailey and Molly Lawson present scenes from them. Leisure Serenade
with Patricia Baird. A Wandering Minstrel with John Cameron and Alan Paul
at the piano. Max Jaffa and the Leisure Hour Players provide the music. Incidental music composed by Alan Paul. Production by Alfred Dunning and
Richard Keen
Patricia's home in London for the next four years was a shared flat in
Cranley Gardens, South Kensington. She spent a year in Flat 2C and then
moved into 2D.
1955
Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th March Central Hall, Chester - City of
Chester Male Voice Choir Festival Patricia Baird, Paul Asciak, Michael
Langdon. Maelor Richards (Accompanist)
1957
26th and 28th June 1957 - Welsh National Opera at Sadler's Wells -
Nabucco (Abigail / Abigaille - debut on the London stage) (The
Times):
Miss Baird is certainly an acquisition to opera. She has a bring, strong,
agile soprano voice, and a clear flowing line; she can negotiate florid
music with some accuracy, and should become adept in fioritura before long,
since the voice is cleanly focused. Her singing is naturally dramatic in
manner, though of stagecraft she is still innocent. She made much of a
bravura role; it is no surprise to learn she comes from Australia
After a whirlwind romance of only four months, in August 1957 Patricia
married a British engineer, William Shackell, at St Marylebone Register
Office in London. They had decided to marry only one week before.
1958
In 1958 she was in the Carl Rosa Company's production of Verdi's
Falstaff at Sadler's Well as Mistress Ford, being described by
"The Stage" as "safe and sure".
Later the same year she appeared with the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff
in Pagliacci.
1961
-
London Telephone Directory, 1961: Patricia Shackell, 4C Leinster
Square, W2
-
Register of Electors, 1962: Patricia and William Shackell, Flat C, 4/5
Leinster Square, W2
Return to Australia
1962
In early January 1962 Patricia left Tilbury Docks on P&O line SS
Iberia bound for Sydney, travelling via Gibraltar (18th
January), Suez, Aden, Colombo, Fremantle, Melbourne and Adelaide.
On 13th February the ship docked in Sydney. Patricia had travelled alone
and in First Class. This would not have been cheap. She gave her
destination as her mother's address - No 1, Kara Flats, 30 Orpington
Street, Ashfield, Sydney, and her name as Mrs Patricia Fairlie Shackelle.
The spelling of her surname may be an error on the part of P&O.
- 24 March 1962 - 14 April 1962 - Theatre Royal, Adelaide, SA, Falstaff /
Don Giovanni / La Traviata
1963
By February 1963 Patricia had moved to Canberra where she advertised that
she was conducting auditions for students for her forthcoming series of
classes. Her three advertisements in the Canberra Times show
that she had gained two professional diplomas: the Licentiate in Music,
Australia (L. Mus. A.) and the Licentiate of Trinity College London
(L.T.C.L).
1964
By September 1964 Pat was back in London.
-
Thursday 10 September 1964 20.40 SONGS FROM THE SHOWS - Introduced
by John CARLIN with PATRICIA BAIRD, PETER REGAN, THE MIKE SAMMES SINGERS, MICHAEL COLLINS AND HIS ORCHESTRA. Produced by Chris MORGAN
1965 and after
On 19 November 1965, in London, Pat married her second husband, Fred. Later in
life they returned to Australia.
Fred died in 2007 and Pat stayed in Australia even though she said didn't
enjoy living there and would have preferred to return to the UK.
This was the point at which I was able to make contact with her through
her cousin. In spite of her disabilities her memory was perfect and she
remembered her work in the UK in the 1950s.
Patricia Baird died on 23rd July 2015 in a nursing home in Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia.
WILLIAMS Patricia Fairlie (nee Baird) 6.3.1926 - 23.7.2015 Loved wife of
Fred (deceased). Fond aunt to Margaret. A Service for Patricia will be
held in its entirety in the Ann Wilson Chapel, corner Barrenjoey Road and
Darley Street, Mona Vale on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 2.00pm. Ann Wilson
Funerals An Australian Company 9971 4224
Published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 29, 2015