William Evelyn Kingwell (1889 - 19 January 1947) was a British bank cashier who on 6 September 1931 was the first disc jockey to broadcast in English from France after he was recruited by

Leonard Plugge Captain Leonard Frank Plugge (21 September 1889 – 19 February 1981) was a British radio entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. Early years and political life Plugge was born at Walworth, only son of Frank Plugge (1864–1946), a co ...

to introduce records on a Sunday evening show on Radio Fécamp in Normandy.

Early life and family

Kingwell was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, in 1889, the son of a bank inspector. He married Jessie.

First World War

Kingwell served in the

Royal Regiment of Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

during the First World War. He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1914 but was injured during a gas attack and returned to England. He also served in the

Royal West Kent Regiment The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army based in the county of Kent in existence from 1881 to 1961. The regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms, originally as the Quee ...

Career

Kingwell's father had intended him for a career in banking from an early age which he had started before it was interrupted by the First World War. After his war service, Kingwell returned to banking, working for Lloyds on attachment as chief cashier at a Lloyds/National Provincial branch in Le Harve, France. It was at the bank that Kingwell met the radio entrepreneur Leonard Plugge who needed money to buy gramophone records for his new

International Broadcasting Company Captain Leonard Frank Plugge (21 September 1889 – 19 February 1981) was a British radio entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. Early years and political life Plugge was born at Walworth, only son of Frank Plugge (1864–1946), a co ...

(IBC) and got chatting with Kingwell. He asked him if he knew anyone who could introduce records on radio every Sunday night and Kingwell replied that he would be glad to do the job. The first broadcast took place on 6 September 1931 using transmitter time that Plugge had bought from Radio Fécamp in Normandy making Kingwell the first "

disc jockey A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include Radio personality, radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music f ...

", a term invented later, to broadcast in English from France. Kingwell found the work difficult, possibly due to the after-effects of his gas injury during the war, and on one occasion lost his voice and had to get his son to take his place. Later, he was joined by Major Max Staniforth before giving up presenting entirely.Wallis, p. 197.
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Death

Kingwell died on 19 January 1947. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow, Jessie. He left an estate of £520.1947 Probate Calendar.
p. 101.

References

External links