The first appearance of Jessie Matthews, the popular British actress, on her arrival back in England after her voyage from the United States in a convoy, was at the British Broadcasting Corporation s “Shipmates Ashore” party. This is a club, in the heart of which the BBC started many months ago as a weekly rendezvous for officers and men of the Merchant Navy on leave in London. At any of the Wednesday parties seamen drop in for a chata and a smoke, to listen to Debroy Somers’ Band, and to dance with the hostesses of the week-girls from some branch of the Services or from one of the London shows. Jessie Matthews is seen, with some of the W.A.A.F' s. of the Balloon Barrage and a few of the seamen present, joining in the community singing.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXI, Issue 8837, 28 October 1942, Page 1

The first appearance of Jessie Matthews, the popular British actress, on her arrival back in England after her voyage from the United States in a convoy, was at the British Broadcasting Corporation s “Shipmates Ashore” party. This is a club, in the heart of which the BBC started many months ago as a weekly rendezvous for officers and men of the Merchant Navy on leave in London. At any of the Wednesday parties seamen drop in for a chata and a smoke, to listen to Debroy Somers’ Band, and to dance with the hostesses of the week-girls from some branch of the Services or from one of the London shows. Jessie Matthews is seen, with some of the W.A.A.F' s. of the Balloon Barrage and a few of the seamen present, joining in the community singing.