William Heseltine interviewed by John Bannister in the Battye Library collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3357988
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Heseltine, William, Sir, 1930-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Written permission required for research, personal copies and public use during the lifetime of the interviewee.
- Description:
-
- 2005
- 15 digital audio tapes (ca. 938 min.)
- Series:
- Battye Library collection.
- Summary:
-
Sir William Heseltine talks of his family background, childhood and education; his aspirations for a career in the Dept. of External Affairs; moving to Canberra; becoming Private Secretary to Robert Menzies; some experiences of this time; his recollections of Menzies; Menzies attitudes toward Australia, Britain and the Commonwealth; Churchill and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II; the international climate of the 1950's; his transfer to London; his initial duties associated with taking up employment for Queen Elizabeth; his time as a member of the Royal Household for 27 years; experiences associated with the Royal family, the monarchy and its changing position in the Commonwealth; the Queen's Royal Visits; the close contact he established with the Royal Family; his contributions to the reality television series 'The Royal Family' (1969); many royal occasions and important events; the Silver Jubilee (1977).
Heseltine discusses British Prime Ministers, Churchill, Eden and Margaret Thatcher; the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana; the Queen Mother; the young royals, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Sarah Ferguson and Diana; Prince Phillip; the assassination of Lord Louis Mountbatten; the way in which the Royal household operated during his employment; the daily duties associated with the monarchy; his time in London, comparing it to his life in Australian prior to 1960 and after his retirement in 1990; the Suez Crisis; Korean and Vietnam wars; the assassination of John F. Kennedy; the disappearance of Harold Holt (1967); the dismissal of Gough Whitlam (1975); the Falklands conflict; terrorist activities including IRA bombings in London. The interview covers some sixty years of Sir William's life, a period which coincides with great changes worldwide, both political and social.
- Notes:
-
- The J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History is part of the State Library of Western Australia.
- Interview conducted in association with the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History.
- Recorded on Jan. 18 & 25 and Sept. 1, 2005 at Perth, W.A.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Summary (1 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 267 leaves)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Battye Library collection.
This collection contains 50 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2075 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2005
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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