Rosemary Squires, one of the UK’s best-known big band singers, captivated eighty Inner Wheel members at Midsomer Norton and Radstock’s Interclub when she entertained with anecdotes of gigs, giggles and gossip from her international years with great stars and great songs.

Now in her 80s, she warmly made every listener feel she was personally talking to them about her long career in big bands, cabaret, TV, radio and variety, starring with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Geraldo, Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth and the likes of Danny Kaye, Sammy Davis Jnr, Johnny Carson, Cliff Richard and Ken Dodd.

Since her first BBC radio series in 1948, she has been at the forefront of popular singing; twice she was named female vocalist of the year; for five years was the Melody Maker music publication’s top singer and in 2004, was honoured with an MBE for services to music and charity.

Rosemary came from a Welsh musical background and lived in Bristol before moving with her family to Salisbury, where she now lives with husband and roadie manager, Frank Lockyer, a former police officer.

When The Beatles exploded on to the scene in the early 1960s, the heyday of big band abruptly ended but, undaunted, Rosemary carved a new career as ‘Queen of the advertising jingles’.

Her first TV series was as Reg Dixon’s scatty wife and she later became, at the suggestion of a fan, Roy Hudd, the UK’s answer to Doris Day, starring in ‘Day by Day’ with Dennis Lotis.

Over the years, Rosemary has topped the bill at many royal events, including at Prince Edward’s 30th birthday and at the Royal Albert Hall in 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a show that continued to play to thousands around the country and marked her own sixty years as, in the words of her proudest epithet, “a

musician’s singer.”

Rosemary went on to answer many questions from a very appreciative audience, was heartily thanked by Heather Langridge and was presented with a cheque for the Salisbury Hospice by IW President, Jacky Emm, who also praised the many

members from around the West Country for joining in the sumptuous afternoon tea at the Somer Centre provided by the local members.

The club’s next big event is a Jazz Evening, with a fish and chip supper and bar, in the Somer Centre on May 7th in aid of Jacky’s chosen charity, Coeliac UK. Tickets are available from Mollie Arnold on: 01761 416811.

Sue Meadows