Kathleen Garscadden

February 18, 1897 (age 94)

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

She was known as "Auntie Kathleen" and her popularity turned her into a celebrity. Crowds gathered at the studio to obtain her autograph and she received a large volume of correspondence from listeners. She abandoned her goal of becoming an opera singer and returned to Glasgow where her career began at the very beginnings of radio broadcasting. Garscadden acted as a singer, pianist and announcer on her father"s amateur radio station. This radio station became the basis of the British Broadcasting Corporation"s first Scottish radio station when it was taken over in 1923. She was then invited by the first station director to join the British Broadcasting Corporation as a programme assistant. In 1940, she was appointed as Children"s Hour organizer for Scotland and she held that post until her retirement. Among the well-known entertainers who received their first opportunities from Garscadden were Gordon Jackson, Fulton Mackay, John Grieve, Molly Weir, Tom Conti, Moira Anderson, Sydney Devine, Stanley Baxter, Jimmy Logan, Rikki Fulton, and Janet Brown. There is photograph of her with Tom H. Gillespie (known as the Zoo Manitoba), James Douglas Home (The Bird Manitoba) and Gilbert Doctorate. Fisher (the Hut Manitoba). These three experts presented natural history programmes on Scottish Children"s Hour, hosted by Garscadden. She retired in June 1960 after 37 years" service with the British Broadcasting Corporation. After Kathleen Garscadden retired, she continued to give piano and singing lessons at least into the late nineteen eighties.

Kathleen Garscadden

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Radio host

Background

Kathleen Garscadden was born on 18 February 1897 at 13 Nithsdale Gardens, Crossmyloof, Glasgow, the daughter of George Garscadden, accountant and businessman, and his wife, Maggie Jane Vint.

Education

She was educated at Hutchesons" Girls" Grammar School, Glasgow, before moving to London to train as a professional singer under Sir Henry Wood.

Career

She was known as "Auntie Kathleen" and her popularity turned her into a celebrity. Crowds gathered at the studio to obtain her autograph and she received a large volume of correspondence from listeners. She abandoned her goal of becoming an opera singer and returned to Glasgow where her career began at the very beginnings of radio broadcasting.

Garscadden acted as a singer, pianist and announcer on her father"s amateur radio station.

This radio station became the basis of the British Broadcasting Corporation"s first Scottish radio station when it was taken over in 1923. She was then invited by the first station director to join the British Broadcasting Corporation as a programme assistant.

In 1940, she was appointed as Children"s Hour organizer for Scotland and she held that post until her retirement. Among the well-known entertainers who received their first opportunities from Garscadden were Gordon Jackson, Fulton Mackay, John Grieve, Molly Weir, Tom Conti, Moira Anderson, Sydney Devine, Stanley Baxter, Jimmy Logan, Rikki Fulton, and Janet Brown.

There is photograph of her with Tom H. Gillespie (known as the Zoo Manitoba), James Douglas Home (The Bird Manitoba) and Gilbert Doctorate. Fisher (the Hut Manitoba).

These three experts presented natural history programmes on Scottish Children"s Hour, hosted by Garscadden. She retired in June 1960 after 37 years" service with the British Broadcasting Corporation. After Kathleen Garscadden retired, she continued to give piano and singing lessons at least into the late nineteen eighties.

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Kathleen Garscadden

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