The Men From The Ministry

Series 6 (1970) 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.

Patricia Hayes guest star on 14.7.70

 

6/1 Bye-Bye Mildred (30.6.70)

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. In many jobs, people begin full of enthusiasm but gradually get lazy and bored. Ministry men aren't like that; they're bone-idle from the start. Over now to the General Assistance Department where that eager young executive Richard Lamb is trembling with excitement.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, and John Graham, Gordon Clyde and Jo Manning Wilson. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/2 The Bare Necessities (7.7.70)

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; resolute men, each of whom stands firm in any argument for he knows he has a point -- and when he takes his bowler hat off you can see it. Over now to the General Assistance Department where that eager young executive Richard Lamb has some astonishing information for Secretary Mildred Murfin.

Ends: Bearing up as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and Joan Sanderson. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/3 Storm In A Tea-Urn (14.7.70)

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; cautious men who sit in the train each morning with an impressive newspaper held in front of them, men indeed who are often behind 'The Times.' Over now to the General Assistance Department where those two skilled executives Lennox-Brown and Lamb are facing the challenge of another day's work.

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

 

6/4 The Moving Target (21.7.70)

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 must spend long hours in their offices, hours which they face with patience, or sometimes with whist or ludo. Over now to the General Assistance Department where that busy young executive Richard Lamb is going through the books with his secretary.

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 Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/5 Oil Well That Ends Well (28.7.70)

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 can face hard work and think nothing of it -- in fact, show them any sort of work and they don't think much of it. As our story opens, we go as usual to the General Assistance Department where we find that eager young executive Richard Lamb arriving for work only two hours late.

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

 

6/6 The Bigger The Better (4.8.70)

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 would be fired with enthusiasm, except that whatever they do they can't be fired. As our story opens, we go as usual to the General Assistance Department where we find our Ministry men seriously concerned about a personal problem.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Gordon Clyde and guest star Clive Dunn as Bertie Foot. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/7 Trouble In The Air (11.8.70)

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 have often been compared to dried peas -- when they get into hot water they tremble violently and go bright green. Over now to the General Assistance Department where those two stalwart civil servants Lamb and Lennox-Brown are celebrating an important occasion.

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

 

6/8 Miss Chatterly's Lover (18.8.70)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We present Richard Murdoch and John Laurie in The Men From The Ministry, a weekly tribute to the men of our Government service; men whose work is sound as a bell, men who indeed are like bells, each tending to broaden out at the bottom and liable when shaken to produce an enormous clanger. Our attention, as always, is focused on the Ministry's General Assistance Department where today something unusual is happening. Junior executive Richard Lamb is at work.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and John Laurie. Also featured were Norma Ronald, and Joan Sanderson. The show was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/9 The Pudding From Outer Space (25.8.70)

[Richard Murdoch, John Laurie, Norma Ronald, John Graham, Gordon Clyde]

 

6/10 A Little Of What You Fancy (1.9.70)

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; contented men, who ask for little beyond their daily bread, whose life indeed is often just one long loaf. Our special corner of the ministry, of course, is the General Assistance Department where today Lamb and Lennox-Brown are actually discussing work.

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 Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/11 A Bird In Hand (8.9.70)

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; cautious careful men, often so cautious and careful that they look both ways before crossing their legs. In the General Assistance Department, top executives stand by to help any busy ministry from Pensions to Agriculture. Today we find them dealing with problems of the soil.

Ends: Getting the bird 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 Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/12 Bringing The House Down (15.9.70)

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; decent upright men who loathe the use of foul language -- in particular such four letter words as 'work', 'duty', 'jobs', and one you never hear in Whitehall 'sack'. Over now to the General Assistance Department where for once Lamb and Lennox-Brown are not on top of their form. There's so much paper in the office their forms are on top of them.

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

 

6/13 Fair Exchange (22.9.70)

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; influential men, who have been known to topple the cabinet, usually when they pull their drawers too hard. Today our story opens not in Whitehall's corridors of power but in the open English countryside where the Men From The Ministry are helping a farmer with his problems. Note the esteem in which Government officials are held and the quiet respectful way in which ordinary citizens receive their advice.

Ends: Quids in 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 Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

6/14 Bill Stickers Is Innocent (29.9.70)

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 rather like braces; you don't often see them in action but you know they're holding things up. Over now as usual to the General Assistance Department where that eager young executive Richard Lamb is talking to his secretary. They're discussing something close to his heart.

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

 

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