Rosemary Squires Explained

Rosemary Squires
Birth Name:Joan Rosemary Yarrow
Birth Date:1928 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Genre:Pop, jazz, big band
Occupation:Singer
Years Active:1940 - 2023

Rosemary Squires MBE (born Joan Rosemary Yarrow, 7 December 1928 – 8 August 2023) was an English jazz, big band, cabaret and concert singer and recording artist. Her career started in 1940 with an appearance on the BBC Home Service's Children's Hour, and endured into the 21st century. Squires was also the president of the Studio Theatre in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Early life

Born in Bristol, England, Squires was the daughter of a civil servant. She took singing, guitar and piano lessons while at school at St Edmund's Girls' School, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Initially she entertained troops by singing on nearby UK and US army bases around Salisbury. With her appealing West Country burr she sang with various musical groups and with a Polish military band, all the while maintaining a job in a shop for antique books and later office work.[1]

Career

When Squires became a professional singer she performed with big bands such as Ted Heath, Geraldo and Cyril Stapleton. She also sang with the smaller jazz bands of Max Harris, Kenny Baker and appeared in the BBC Festival of Jazz at the Royal Albert Hall with the Alan Clare band. She moved from Salisbury to London in 1948 at 20 years of age. In the 1950s and 1960s, she became a regular on the BBC Light Programme (now BBC Radio 2) on programmes such as Melody Time and Workers' Playtime.[1] Squires worked in the United States with Danny Kaye and Sammy Davis Jr., as well as appearing on the Johnny Carson Show.[2] In 1994, Squires was part of the entertainment for Prince Edward's 30th birthday celebrations. During the 2012 Royal Diamond Jubilee year Squires undertook two countrywide tours to celebrate her own diamond jubilee in show business, including two appearances at the Royal Festival Hall.[3]

Television appearances

(incomplete list)

Fairy Liquid jingle

In the 1960s, Squires recorded the "Now hands that do dishes …” jingle as part of the Fairy Liquid detergent advertisement. It continued to be used until 2000.[6]

Personal life and death

Squires returned to live in Salisbury in 1983. In 1991, she married Frank Lockyer. She continued to perform at local charity events.

Rosemary Squires died on 8 August 2023, at the age of 94.[6] [7] The announcement of her death was not made until 18 September, in the Salisbury Journal. Her funeral took place on 25 September. Tributes were paid on social media, with founder of Angel Radio, Tony Smith, recalling a time when Squires heard the station in her car and popped in for an impromptu chat on air.[8] [9]

Awards

In 1984, Squires was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[10]

Squires was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for her services to music and charity.[6]

In 2012, she was awarded the British Music Hall Society's Lifetime Achievement Award.[3]

Discography

Singles

Albums

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rosemary Squires . . 27 April 2015 .
  2. Web site: Rosemary Squires Biography . Rosemary Squires . 27 April 2015 .
  3. Web site: A Lifetime of Achievements . Entertainments . Salisbury Journal . 12 December 2012 . 27 April 2015 .
  4. Web site: Rosemary Squires . Biography . Internet Movie Database . 27 April 2015 .
  5. Web site: The Good Old Days. Bbc.co.uk. 20 August 2020.
  6. Web site: Washing-up Advert Star Rosemary Squires' song and dance. . BBC Dorset . BBC . 28 January 2011 . 28 April 2015 .
  7. Web site: Scores attend funeral for Rosemary Squires at St Thomas's Church . 2023-09-26 . Sailsbury Journal.
  8. Web site: Scores attend funeral for Rosemary Squires at St Thomas's Church . 2023-09-26 . Sailsbury Journal.
  9. Web site: Smith . Tony . Angel Radio Post - Facebook . 2023-09-26 . Facebook.
  10. Web site: Gold Badge Awards 1984 . Gold Badge Awards . British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors . 28 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208164814/http://goldbadgeawards.com/basca.htm . 8 February 2015.
  11. Web site: Rosemary Squires' Discography . 45cat.com . 28 April 2015 .
  12. Web site: Rosemary Squires . Amazon.com . 28 April 2015 .
  13. Web site: Something To Remember Me By . Amazon.com . 28 April 2015 .
  14. Web site: Everything's Coming Up Rosy . Amazon .co.uk . 28 April 2015 .