Bill's Message Archive
Bill's previous messages will be posted here to assist new and existing listeners alike
About this website
Harmony Night Appreciation Pages
For everyone who loves the Harmony Night radio show hosted by broadcasting legend Bill Rennells which was broadcast live on BBC local radio every Sunday 10pm - 1am until the last show aired on New Years Eve 2023 and New Years Day 2024.
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This website will provide the latest news about Bill, the programme itself and all contributions are welcome! We'll provide contact details in due course - in the meantime do feel free to subscribe in the box below ↓
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PLEASE NOTE: This site is currently under development so it may take a while to get all features operational. Thanks for bearing with us. We'll be making improvements as soon as circumstances permit!
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* * * NEW FEATURES * * *
We have added a new page to the website - Crew Messages - which allows you to catch up with crew members - click here
We have also added a new page - Joke Box - to provide some welcome humour - click here
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* * * REGULAR FEATURE * * *
Poetry Corner - which was always a popular part of the Harmony Night show - showcases the poetic talents of the Harmony Night family - click here
* * * REGULAR FEATURE * * *
While Harmony Night is off air, Bill aims to bring you a short message each week, that will be posted on Sunday night around 11pm.
Previous messages can be read on the archive page - click here
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May 5, 2024
Dear Family....Well I've come to a big decision!!!! It happened the other day when our Al texted me and told me that local radio boss Chris Burns was talking about the infamous re-organisation on Radio 4's Talkback. The subsequent platitudes and dodging of questions sent me into a rage - and led me to send a rollicking e mail to the lady.
Well - it was the ultimate catharsis - and I sat myself down and told myself I'm not going to spend the rest of my life ranting about what's happened. Positive thinking is going to take over - including gratitude that our beautiful Harmony Night happened at all, giving us friends that we wouldn't have known about otherwise. Its wonderful that we've managed to keep the spirit going.
We talk to as many of you as we can, we've had two lovely re-unions at Beckenham and Abingdon, with a third one round the corner in Canterbury. At this one my real family - nieces, nephews and cousins - mix happily with the rest of our family. We enjoy all the telephone conversations we have with you - the other day delightful ones with two of our Annas - of Wokingham and Andover - the sound of their laughter as much music to my ears as Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings or Elgar's Nimrod. Even being bitten on the hand by Kiki had its upside - bringing new ways of rising from a sitting position. That's it then - no negs - all pos's.
Love and all the very best wishes to you all.....
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Bill and Rita
Bill broadcasting live on the last ever Harmony Night programme... for now!
Latest News
We'll update as soon as we can...
A message from the BRAS Editor
Dear Friends:
It has been such an honour and pleasure to produce the Bill Rennells' Appreciation Society (BRAS) magazine for the last 24 years. We will keep you informed via the web and magazine about our Fan Club lunches around the counties.
Our first lunch will no doubt be in Greater London. We are still trying to find decent places to meet and greet around the counties. We will, as usual, use the Victoria Hotel in Canterbury as we have done over the years. We aim to have a summer party in Beckenham in July and if any of you would like to join the club and meet up with Bill and some of the listeners please contact us via radiorennells[at]aol.com (replace the word 'at' with the @ sign).
Bill and I, like many of you, have shed many tears over the dreadful loss of our beloved family programme. It is a bereavement. People everywhere are grieving over the loss of their favourite presenters. Harmony Night attracted listeners , not only in the UK, but around the world because there wasn't another radio show like ours. All the beautiful music chosen evoked so many memories . Now, Sunday evenings are full of boring phone-ins.
Al, Pete, Lisa and Sydney, the cheeky cat, have done a marvellous job keeping us laughing. We can't thank them enough for all their love, and yours, which has made the show such a success. Bill, we call The Master. He has the humour, wonderful voice, doesn't talk over the beginning and end of the music and is a real pro. We all love him and the crew so much....Hope to see some of you soon....
Love, Rita
Petition created
A Harmony Night listener has started an online petition urging the BBC to reconsider plans to axe the show. If you would like to sign it, please click here:
https://www.change.org/p/save-bill-rennells-harmony-night-programme-on-bbc-local-radio
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End of Year Deadline Passes
The final Harmony Night show on BBC local radio was broadcast live on New Years Eve 2023 from 10pm to 1am.
Furry Friends Gallery
Meet the Furry Friends living with Harmony Night listeners, who have submitted their favourite pictures of their much loved pets.
[This section not yet up and running - we'll give details of how to send in pics soon.]
Sydney Stories
Find out what Sydney the Cat has been up to and view his latest pictures.
[This section not yet up and running - please check back soon!]
Leave us a message - we'd love to hear from you.*
* We're very sorry but we might not be able to reply to individual messages at present. Please be reassured though that every single one will be read.
Thank you.
