An Ex-Spanish Boy Scout Writes

Only those born in a truly free county can appreciate what children's broadcasting should feed to young and impressionable minds. Here we see unfortunates like Enriqué de los Chicos Perdidos growing up on a diet of propaganda that only a stint with the Dorset Boy Scouts could wipe from the memory.

Ex-Spanish boy scout and long time companion of Mrs Amanda J Threadbone, Enriqué de los Chicos Perdidos has written, at great personal risk to update everyone on the current "state-of-play" in the Dorset radiogram arena. His heartfelt missive - which perhaps offers a little unintended insight into more private affairs in the Great Heaving area - is published in full. We trust that readers will receive and interpret it in the spirit in which we assume it was intended. [Never can quite tell with these continentals [Ed.]]

"Estoy muy avergonzado de escribir mal contra el gran y estimado Profesor Thrupiece. Especialmente así Soy el chico de la casa de la Sra. Threadbone y una vez apreté las tuercas del Sr. Threadbone antes de que se cayera de la ramita [de hecho, el mini tractor es una expresión inglesa]. No es tan buen hombre como el profesor. Muchos Boy Scouts que él toca le dicen esto, pero no a la Sra. Threadbone. ¡¡Gran secreto!!

Nunca la mente. Pienso que el libro reciente que tal vez el Profesor no escribió, ya que falta muchos años, no es toda la verdad sobre la radiogramma. Soy el presidente de la Sociedad de Apreciación de Radiogramas de Dorset y nos encanta la radiograma como ninguna otra cosa, excepto tal vez a la Sra. Threadbone, que está demandando algunas noches. Nos comparamos entre sí y vemos quién es el más grande, el mejor o el más en uso. A menudo vengo primero.

En España con Franco, la radiograma es muy importante: recibimos radio de países libres y podemos reproducir récords contra los fascistas, por ejemplo. "Estúpido Cupido" [Connie Francis] "El Hombre de Laramie" [Jimmy Young] "Rosa Cereza y Flor de Manzana Blanca" [Perez Prado]. La moral es tan alta. Franco no lo sabe porque el radiograma se ve como una mesa cuando tiene cobertura.

Luego vengo a Inglaterra en jamboree en 1963. Joaquim y yo conocemos a muchos chicos a quienes nos gustan mucho. Dicen que somos exóticos y que tenemos una piel bonita.Nos muestran los suyos y quieren ver los nuestros, pero no podemos transportar desde España, ¡no es Dansette! Más tarde, cuando el señor Threadbone quiere mirar la mía, le muestro una foto y él me invita a regresar para quedarme. Así que la radiograma cambia mi vida y me convierto en presidente cuando la señora Threadbone insiste.

Así que, por favor, dígaselo a todos los lectores: la radiograma tal vez sea vieja y algunos se olviden de él durante años, pero para los boy scouts es una forma de conocer a otros hombres y del pasaporte a una vida diferente.

Por favor, no le digas a la señora que estoy escribiendo o quizás pague el precio más adelante con muchos castigos, incluido el uso de un disfraz de niño travieso."

For non-Spanish Speakers and in the spirit of Drexit [postponed indefinitely pending talks between chief negotiator Mrs Marjorie Billington-Majorie and opposition leader Mr Jermyn Street and possible follow-on discussions with West Country Union road block Mr Barmier-than-Moste].

Listen with Franco was popular in Spain with young and old alike during the Genralissimo's rule. It was also compulsory, with listeners subject to random checks and written examination at all border posts.

I am very shamed to write bad against great and esteemed Professor Thrupiece. Especially so, I am house boy in the Mrs. Threadbone's and once I tighten nuts of Mr Threadbone's before he fall off the twig [mini tractor in fact - twig is an English expression, I think]. He is not so nice man as teacher Thrupiece. Many Boy Scouts he touches say this, but not to Mrs. Threadbone. Great secret!! Never the mind. I am thinking that recent book that maybe Professor did not write, since he is lacking many years, is not whole truth about the radiogram. I am chairman of the Dorset Radiogram Appreciation Society and we love radiograms like nothing else, except perhaps Mrs. Threadbone, who is demanding some most nights. We compare each others and see who has the biggest, the best or the most use. I often come first. In Spain with Franco, radiogram is very important: we receive radio from free countries and we can hear records against the fascists, for example. "Stupid Cupid" [Connie Francis] "The Man from Laramie" [Jimmy Young] and "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" [Perez Prado]. Morale is so so high. Franco does not know because the radiogram looks like a table when it has coverage. Then I come to England in jamboree in 1963. Joaquin and I know many kids that they like us a lot. They say we are exotic and have nice skin. They show us theirs and want to see ours, but we can not transport from Spain, it is not Dansette! Later, when Mr. Threadbone wants to look at mine, I show him picture instead and he invites me to come back to stay. So radiogram changes my life and I become President when Mrs. Threadbone insists. So, please, tell all readers: that radiogram may be old and some may forget about it for many years, but for boy scouts it is good way to get to know other men and passport to a different life.

Please not to tell Senōra I am writing or maybe I pay price later on with many punishments including wearing naughty boy costume."