- published: 05 Feb 2011
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Captain Henry Blythe Thornhill (Teddy) Wakelam (May 8, 1893 - July 10, 1963) was an English sports broadcaster and rugby union player.
He played rugby for Harlequin F.C. and became its captain. On 15 January 1927 Wakelam gave the first ever running sports commentary on BBC radio, a Rugby International match, England v Wales (final score 11-9) at Twickenham. By today's standard it sounded really odd: to give listeners an idea what it actually was they were hearing a picture was published in the Radio Times of the pitch divided in numbered squares. And as Wakelam described the run of play a voice in the background mentioned the square the play was happening in. It is believed the phrase "Back to Square One" comes from this, long abandoned, practice.
Wakelam was an expert on a wide variety of sports. A week after his broadcasting debut he and C.A. Lewis gave the first football commentary on British radio, Arsenal - Sheffield United, 1-1. Later in 1927 he would also cover cricket and Wimbledon. It was in London SW19 that he would prove to be an unflappable character: in the mid '30s he accidentally set fire to his notes but kept on commentating as if nothing had happened.
The story of Pat the angry turtle, Arnold the alcholic fox, Kip the stoner kid and Frank the chip lovin duck! Arnold, Kip and Frank throw Pat a surprised birthday party, which he doesnt take too well. Lets just say the party still goes out with a big bang!
The Spithead Royal Naval review of 1937, commentator Lt Cdr Tommy Woodroffe.
The story of Pat the angry turtle, Arnold the alcholic fox, Kip the stoner kid and Frank the chip lovin duck! Arnold, Kip and Frank throw Pat a surprised birthday party, which he doesnt take too well. Lets just say the party still goes out with a big bang!
The Spithead Royal Naval review of 1937, commentator Lt Cdr Tommy Woodroffe.