Rosemary Squires

Early life

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.

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 60s she became a regular on the BBC Light Programme (now BBC Radio 2) on programmes like Melody Time and Workers’ Playtime. Squires worked in the United States with Danny Kay and Sammy Davis Jr., as well as appearing on the Johnny Carson Show. In 1984 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.

Television appearances

(incomplete list)

1956 in 5 episodes of Let’s Stay Home, an Associated-Rediffusion comedy series.

1956 as a guest on The Nixon Line.

1958–59 in 3 episodes of After Hours, a comedy series,with Michael Bentine, Benny Lee and Clive Dunn among others.

1959 in Musical Playhouse, a BBC musical series.

1962 as a guest singer on Muziek voor U!, a Dutch music programme

1964 as a guest on the Arthur Haynes Show.

1967 in Hooray for Laughter, with Ted Ray, John Junkin and Reg Varney.

Fairy Liquid jingle

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

Awards

In 1984 Squires was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters.

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

In 2012 she was awarded the British Music Hall Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal life

Squires returned to live in Salisbury in 1983. In 1991 she married Frank Lockyer. As of 2015 she continues to perform at local charity events.

Discography

Singles:

Albums: