Archive SJEHG BBC Appeal Comes to Light

An archive transcript of an early BBC appeal on behalf of the then St John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem has been brought to our attention by Trustee, Colonel Mrs Sheenah Davies. 

The transcript is an example of an early charity appeal on the BBC programme, “The Week's Good Cause”, made by broadcaster Wynford Vaughan-Thomas in 1966. 

Wynford Vaughan-Thomas CBE (15 August 1908 – 4 February 1987) was a Welsh newspaper journalist and radio and television broadcaster.

He joined the BBC in the mid 1930’s and, in 1937, gave the Welsh-language commentary on the Coronation of King George VI.  During World War II, Vaughan-Thomas established his name and reputation as one of the BBC's most distinguished war correspondents. His most memorable report was from an RAF Lancaster bomber during a real bombing raid over Berlin. Other notable reports were from Anzio, the Burgundy vineyards, Lord Haw Haw's broadcasting studio and the Belsen concentration camp. In 1953 he was one of a team of BBC commentators on the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1967, after leaving the BBC, he was one of the founders of Harlech TV (HTV), now ITV Wales, being appointed Director of Programmes. 

“The Week's Good Cause” became a regular charity appeal on the BBC from 1930. 

Read the transcript here.