Mailbox

In Mailbox this week: Radio Prague's new and old signature tunes, the Czech 311 RAF squadron that helped sink U-Boats, and the Prague throughway that was renamed Victoria Street by the Germans in 1941. Listeners quoted: Ted Schuerzinger (USA), Michael St. Amand (Canada), D.M. Cook (Scotland).

Thanks for staying tuned to Mailbox - the programme in which we respond to your letters and try to answer some of your questions. And as Peter just mentioned, I'm standing in for Pavla Horakova, who is away for a couple of days but will be back next week.

And we start with an e-mail from Ted Schuerzinger, who's from New York State in the USA:

"I noticed that you've changed the music that you use at the beginning of the programme just before reading the news. Is this a forerunner to any changes in the feature programme coming up soon?"

We've actually changed the entire signature tune. There was no particular reason. We were tired of the old one and needed something that's more vibrant and newsy. The features will remain the same for the time being, although we do make slight changes every autumn when the clocks go back here in Europe, at the end of daylight saving time, which this year falls on October 30. I don't think they will be major changes this time, but possibly some minor ones. In fact, if you happen to have some suggestions or requests, feel free to drop us a line.

On a similar note, staying with Radio Prague signature tunes, Michael St. Amand, Ontario, Canada writes:

"When I go in for an early shift at the television station I work at, I listen to your English broadcast that is carried on our local Canadian Broadcasting Corporation station on their overnight programming. It is nice to hear Radio Prague again as I used to listen to it on shortwave when I was a teenager. I really like the catchy tune you play at the beginning and end of the program. It's a light jazz number. I noticed the last couple of days that the music has changed at the opening and closing and I would like to know what the other music was. Was it a tune that is available to the public or was it done specially for you? If it is available to the public, can you give the name of it, the artist and the name of the album it is from?"

I'm not sure whether I know exactly what tune you mean but it must be the old signature tune. It is not available to the public, I'm afraid. It was composed by a Czech musician called David Noll, commissioned by Czech Radio. If you're really interested in it, then we can see whether we can get you in touch with Mr Noll himself. He may have composed a few pieces that will be of interest to you. But we hope you'll soon enjoy the new tune just as much - it really does grow on you after a while.

We would like to thank Mr D.M. Cook from Scotland, who in response to our programme on the anniversary of the end of WWII and a feature on Czech war veteran General Alois Siska who served in the RAF during World War II, sent us copies of reports and book references on the subject of Czechs who fought during WWII. Mr Cook wrote:

"Please find enclosed copies of combat reports for the Czech 311 RAF Squadron giving details of U-boats sunk during the squadron's time in coastal command during WWII. I can recall General Alois Siska telling me that books in English about Czechs in WWII were not all that common and perhaps some of your listeners would like to know about this book: 'Search, Find, and Kill' by Norman Franks, published by Aston Publication'."

Mr Cook also sent us a copy of a page or two of another book which says that during the war in August 1941, the Germans renamed one of Prague's main roads Victoria Street and had V for Victory painted in the streets of Prague in an attempt to convince the population that they had originated the sign. Mr Cook asks:

"Is the street still called Victoria Street or does it have a Czech name now?"

I have asked around and no-one seems to know the answer to your question. But I will most definitely not give up and will get back to you with the answer. If anyone else who's listening knows - please send us an e-mail, or letter.


Okay, our time's up. Just about enough time left for this month's competition question on famous Czech-born people:

"On June 10, 1923 a boy called Jan was born in Czechoslovakia's easternmost province of Ruthenia, now part of Ukraine, close to the Romanian border. The family was extremely poor and in his adult age, our man claimed he had got his first pair of shoes at the age of seven. Both his parents died in a Nazi concentration camp but young Jan managed to escape to Britain where he joined the armed forces and changed his name. He started a career in publishing and he was a Labour MP between 1964 and 1970 but he was most famous for having built a publishing empire that spanned the world. In November 1991 he died under mysterious circumstances. Who was he?"

Please send us the answer by the end of July to the usual address, Radio Prague, 12099 Prague, the Czech Republic or to [email protected].

Looking forward to getting your mail. I'm Dita Asiedu - good bye!