ROYAL CEREMONIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 10

ROYAL CEREMONIES

REMARKABLE ORGANISATION

FIRST IN HISTORY

The broadcast of the Coronation ceremony and of the Royal procession between Buckingham Palace and Westminster^ Abbey is the most complicated' "outside broadcast" yet undertaken by the 8.8.C., and it is designed to enable listeners throughout the Empire to follow in detail not only the ceremony in Westminster Abbey but the Royal procession on its outward and return journeys. In addition, ten separate commentaries in different ! languages will be sent to foreign countries by their own observers. There are two main control rooms; one for the Home and Empire programmes, and the other for foreign commentaries. Seven observers will tell listeners the story of the procession from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey. A composite sound picture of the greater part of the return journey will be made possible by a scries of "effects" microphones along the route. During the day a total of 58 microphones will be used. Thirty-two will be used for the broadcast of the actual ceremony—it is hoped that listeners will even hear the King's voice during part of the service—and for reproducing a sound picture of the arrival and departure of the procession. Eleven will be used for "effects" outside the Abbey and Buckingham Palace and along the route, and English and foreign observers will use fifteen. The total weight of equipment installed is 12 tons, of which seven tons are batteries.. The total length of wire used is approximately 472 miles. ■• Sixty 8.8.C; engineers will be engaged on this one outside broadcast. The equipment is installed in such a way that last-minute changes in the observers' requirements can be met without serious dislocation. EARLY SCENES AT PALACE AND ABBEY. Broadcasting will begin at'lo.ls a.m. (8 45 p-m. New Zealand time), when listeners will hear the voice of John Snagge, of the 8.8.C. staff, speaking from an observation post in a corner of Green Park overlooking Buckingham Palace. With a clear view of the procession as it moves down the Mall, he will briefly: describe the scene. Afterwards, George Blake, from above the stands facing Westminster Abbey, will describe the early scene before him, the arrival of peers, commoners, Dominion representatives, foreign royalty, and. other important personages at the Abbey. When, -at approximately 10.30 a.m., King George VI and Queen Elizabeth make their first appearance on Coronation Day, in the inner courtyard at Buckingham Palace, there will be a description of the scene from a post within the precincts of the Palace.. As the State coach begins its journey down the Mall,'flanked with stands holding ,a multitude-of spectators, John Snagge will again take up the story. With him will be three foreign commentators describing the scene for their respective countries; special microphones will carry their words through the G.P.O. radio system to their homelands., , PASSING THE CENOTAPH. The next chapter in the story will be fold "by Howard Marshall, who, from his post in the triforium, will deal with the scene in the Abbey before the arrival of the King and Queen. Michael Standing will continue this pre-view of the scene from the annexe at Westminster Abbey, and there will then be time for listeners to hear Harold Abrahams describing, from Whitehall, the scene when the King and Queen pass the Cenotaph, and reach Parliament Square. George Blake will resume his story, at the moment, when the King and Queen arrive at the Abbey and enter the annexe. With him will be the commentators of many countries — representatives of America, the Argentine, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Den-mark.-France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Japan. Norway, Sweden, and Yugoslavia—describing the scene for their home broadcasting stations. The French observer will be Andre Maurois. Inside the annexe, • Michael Standing will tell of the marshalling of the procession, of the memorable.scene as the "Great Proceeding" moves slowly up the carpeted aisle, through the organ screen, and on towards, the high altar; and as the King himself passes through the west door to the inspiring | sound of the opening anthem.

The return of the procession will be described at various points, and the commentary will probably finish about } p.m. (2.30 a.m. in New Zealand).

By the wonder of radio the whole Empire, for the first time in history, will be able to follow the ceremony of the Coronation throughout the solemn hours of the'service.