Hockey, Bettina (Oral history)

British civilian manger and performer with ‘ The Non Stops’ Concert Party in GB, 1940-1948

REEL 1 Background in Bournemouth, GB, 1916-1939: family; education; employment; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Recollections of period as manager and performer with ‘ The Non Stops’ Concert Party in GB, 1940-1948: decision to organise concert parties for troops; performing in concerts; difficulty of obtaining costumes for shows; behaviour of servicemen towards female performers; voluntary nature of work; transport problems; motivation for organising concert parties; contact with ENSA; amusing story of compere and commanding officer wearing monocle; story illustrating lack of toilet facilities for performers; concert parties on Isle of Wight; performance for German POWs at Weymouth, 1947; concert given to American troops in New Forest on eve of D-Day, 6/1944; German Air Force raids in Bournemouth; daughter’s post-war career as professional dancer. REEL 2 Continues: story of concert party pianist getting drunk on rum punch aboard Royal Navy vessel; story of acquiring army uniform to get access to army camps; poster she used to advertise show; reasons for end of shows, 1948; story of lorry journey sitting on armchairs with castors; occasion when concert party performed for 397th Bomb Group, United States Army Air Force.