World of Just William: BBC Radio Play S01E09

Initial broadcast information: Tuesday, 25 December 1945, 18:30-19:00.

This is a new original story for the BBC Play series.

Adapted for radio by Richmal Crompton in collaboration with Ian Smith and Alick Hayes.

Script published by David Schutte in William the Terrible. ISBN: 978 0 9546802 4 4

This is the final play of volume one, but not of series one, which is continued in volume two up to episode 18, the last that Richmal wrote for the 35 episode first series.

In this play we have William having to put up with the unexpected addition of Violet Elizabeth to his Christmas day, but as is typical we meet the family at the breakfast table.

William has received a model aeroplane and is attempting to put it together. This leads to a sweet moment where Mr Brown and Robert get caught up in helping William construct the plane, during which William ironically questions who the plane actually belongs to. It is scenes like this that really deepen the characters from the angry and fed up with William characters we often see in the books.

Robert has received a scarf, but it required coupons to purchase. Rationing in Britain didn't end officially until 1954, and included food and petrol. Books would either has coupons, or lists of products with a space for a stamp to show when that product has been used. I have included a couple of examples from the Calne Heritage Centre, a place where I volunteer as a Trustee.

Ethel is ecstatic with her presents, including a bed jacket (which look similar to cardigans to my mind).

The hilarity comes when the family are discussing the presents William has gifted them. With each one, including the water pistol he's given his dad, meant to eventually be returned to him, or borrowed when the family member isn't using the item. I'll not go through the list, as it's so well written in the play and better read first-hand!

A telephone call announces that an aunt of Violet Elizabeth's is very ill and therefore VE needs to spend the day at the Brown household. I can quite imagine the joy on Violet Elizabeth's face as she begged to spend the day with William before that phone call was made!

Mr Brown vows to dress up at Father Christmas to give young Violet Elizabeth a lovely day, leading William to say that Father Christmas needs to be small, not big - and also leading to William getting stuck in a chimney proving his theory. Covered in soot, he ends up in the bath.

William is such an 'in the moment' character, that despite Mrs Brown repeatedly telling him to hurry, he finds various things to do while in the bath. I suspect that William would unintentionally been a master of mindfulness as he became an adult.

Mr Brown and Robert discuss the options for attire as Mr Browns Father Christmas suit isn't available anymore. They decide on Father Christmas visiting by aeroplane and therefore need a flight suit, that Robert will procure.

William heads out to meet Ginger and, unhappily, collect Violet Elizabeth. While William has been given a mouth organ, Ginger has been given a trumpet. With Hubert (selling Christmas cards on Christmas day) in tow, they start carolling, Violet Elizabeth singing 'Noel'.

They raise threepence, which they deliver to a bemused vicar before William and Violet Elizabeth head back to the Brown household.

After lunch, Robert helps Mr Brown secretly put on the flight suit. William is in charge of the cable to plug in the Christmas tree lights. Mrs Brown tells Violet Elizabeth that she's just heard and aeroplane fly past, to give VE anticipation that Father Christmas is due any moment.

An already uncomfortable Mr Brown is almost roasted like the dinner meat when William loses the Christmas tree cable and accidentally plugs in the cable that keeps the flight suit warm at altitude!

All in all, a wonderful Christmas.