The Men From The Ministry

Series 3 (1966/67) Opening and Closing Announcements The episodes of The Men From The Ministry were given titles in the Radio Times, but not on-air. The following transcripts of opening and closing announcements are provided to assist with identification of undated recordings. The transcripts are incomplete because some recordings are missing or truncated. Where not available from recordings, the names of the actors are reproduced from the original Radio Times listings, and written [in brackets]. The author would appreciate being informed of any errors or additions, or the availability of recordings of non-listed episodes.

Deryck Guyler and Richard Murdoch

 

3/1 Rebel In Regents Park (11.12.66)

[Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, Clive Dunn]

 

3/2 A Terrifying Weapon (18.12.66)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service; those men who are often compared to corset fitters - they can always push a problem out of sight by pulling a few strings. Our attention, as always, is focused on the General Assistance Department. Here we find that eager executive Richard Lamb completely caught up in his work.

Ends: ... [Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham]

 

3/3 The Post Office Pantomime (25.12.66)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service; men who are often compared to Christmas trees: spiky and rather green, but quite amusing when lit up. Christmas week, that magic time when life takes on a new look. Outdoors, the carolers sing, the revelers shout, and cars hoot their way home through the traffic jams. Indoors the children bang drums and blow whistles; indeed the whole world seems at peace. But for many of us, work slackens off. Perhaps not for the General Assistance Department at the Ministry. They, as always, stand ready to help any colleagues who are overloaded.

Ends: And that really was Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler on flute and washboard closing this special Christmas edition of The Men From The Ministry. Joining in were Clive Dunn, Norma Ronald, John Graham, and your announcer John Curle. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/4 All At Sea (1.1.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service. Men who work like lightning; in brief flashes with a great deal of noise. This week, our story opens in the Ministry of Defence, where two senior naval officers are studying a large chart.

Ends: All at sea as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Clive Dunn, Ronald Baddiley, Roger Delgado, Carole Allen and Frederick Treves. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/5 Bowler Hats And Sub-Machine Guns (8.1.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of Whitehall. These are the men who maintain our Government machinery always in the right gear; striped trousers, black jackets and bowler hats. Some offices may be cluttered and untidy, but in the General Assistance Department they are always putting things in order.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Hugh McDermott and David Healy. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/6 On The Run (15.1.67)

Starts: [Time to meet The Men From The Ministry.] We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service; those influential men who have been known to topple the cabinet, usually when they pull their drawers too hard. Some people feel that our Government officials have any easy life, but in General Assistance Department, at least, they get really stuck into their work.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, Edwin Apps and David Fallon. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/7 A Gift For Sir Gregory (22.1.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government offices; men who give themselves wholly to public service, from the tips of their ten fingers to ends of their ten toes, in short, men you can really count on. For those who work in the General Assistance Department, a healthy body is just as important as a healthy mind. A few minutes brisk exercise helps to start the day right.

Ends: ... [Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Warren Mitchell]

 

3/8 A Whitehall Circus (29.1.67)

[Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, David Nettheim]

 

3/9 Customs Of The Country (5.2.67)

Starts: Time now to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service, upright men, each able at the slightest hint of scandal to clap his hands to his head and say "There's nothing in it." Our story, as usual, centres on the General Assistance Department in Whitehall, through which there passes every week a constant stream of papers. Each paper is carefully studied by top executives, and if anything is missing they will not rest until they have found it.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and Felix Felton. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/10 Getting The Bird (12.2.67)

Starts: [Time to meet The Men From The Ministry.] We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government Service; those men whose agile minds swing into action as soon as they get out of bed, and don't stop until they reach the office. Westminster, the Mother of Parliaments; here in the House of Commons democratic government is seen at its most effective at Question Time, when great issues are probed and ministers are called to account for their actions.

Ends: ... [Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, David Nettheim]

 

3/11 The Girl In The Case (19.2.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the established Civil Servants of Whitehall. Those thrusting men who are often compared to ballistic missiles. If something goes wrong, they can't be fired either. At the General Assistance Department, top executives are as usual probing vital questions of the moment.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and David Fallon. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/12 The Thing On The Beach (26.2.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of Whitehall. Those men who ensure that if your ship ever does come in, it's promptly docked by the Government. In the General Assistance Department, each item in the morning's newspapers is keenly studied, of particular interest are the latest developments in foreign affairs.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Joan Sanderson and Ronald Baddiley. The programme was written by Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/13 A Slight Case Of Demolition (5.3.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service; those men who are sometimes compared to tea bags; they always stick together when they get into hot water. This week we find the General Assistance Department dealing with the problem of London's traffic. Naturally, they're giving it cool, careful thought.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Brian Cooke, Johnnie Mortimer and Edward Taylor, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

3/14 The Fastest Ship In The World (12.3.67)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to our Government service; that intricate network of departments, committees and subcommittees, all of whom keep minutes, and some of whom waste hours. There are those who say that Government offices tend to live in the past, but in the General Assistance Department, at least, they are more concerned with the present.

Ends: ... [Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, David Nettheim]

 

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This page was compiled by Gary Schajer, Vancouver, Canada. gary@schajer.com