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All I could think of was: how on earth did Natalie keep it a secret? I thought I could read her like a book. The drive to the London studios found me still in a daze. I just grinned stupidly and said, 'You caught me, Eamonn!'
#Roger whittaker how to
I didn't know what to say, how to respond. THIS IS YOUR LIFE!' cried Eamonn Andrews and a great cheer went up from the crowd that had surreptitiously gathered behind me.Ībsolute and total shock. Suddenly the official side-stepped and the 'engineer' turned around and thrust something into my hands. An official was there to greet me and behind him, his back to me, a man I took to be an engineer from his dress.
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I taxied, parked, closed down the engines and opened the door. He told me they would be filming my landing, so you can be sure I made every effort to see that it was perfect. 'See you after your taping!' she called out as she drove off.Īt the airport near our home where I kept G-SONG tied down, I met the television production assistant who outlined the questions they would be asking. From there she was going to our London office to do some work on the magazine we were then producing. On the appointed morning I waved goodbye to Natalie as she drove the kids off to school. I arranged therefore to fly into Northolt airport. One of these, I was told, featured the various hobbies of the stars since mine was flying and since I used my own plane in my business the idea evolved for me to be filmed in flight this would become the opening sequence of the show. I agreed with Irene that it was a good idea to keep the interest running and so let her book me on a number of chat shows. The film may have been 'in the can' but there was still a lot of cutting and editing to do and the recording of much important music.ĭuring the course of our filming in Kenya the media had shown a lot of interest and when we returned we were inundated with requests for film clips, stills and interviews. Anyway, when you grow older what matters to you is not the way it was, but the way you remember it.Īfter the warmth and sun of Africa, returning to the cold and wet of a British spring brought me down to earth with a bump. Nostalgia is like an anaesthetic: you experience no pain, only a beautiful haze. What an unforgettable experience that was, how wonderful once again to absorb the sights and sounds and smells of Africa, to see my parents, old friends, to wallow in the pleasures of the past. When I left Kenya back in 1962 I knew it would be many years before I'd return but not in my wildest dreams could I have conjured up the actual circumstances of my homecoming.
#Roger whittaker full
Life comes full circle, sometimes in the strangest ways. Roger Whittaker recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, So far, so good. His music is an eclectic mix of folk music and popular songs, and he is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability as well as his guitar skills. The Last Farewell, a track from his 1971 New World in the Morning album was released in 1975 and became his biggest hit and his signature song, selling more than 11 million copies worldwide. He signed with EMI's Columbia label in 1966, and achieved success with his first UK Top 20 hit Durham Town.
#Roger whittaker professional
While at Bangor, he began singing in local clubs and turned professional in 1962 with the release of his first single, The Charge of the Light Brigade.
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Roger, who studied medicine and trained as a teacher in his native Kenya, moved to Britain in 1959 to further his teaching career by studying for a degree at Bangor University. THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Roger Whittaker, singer-songwriter and musician, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews after being filmed piloting his plane at RAF Northolt for a special film sequence.
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