Voices from June 1944: The Wartime Sing-Along Program Hidden in Mom's treasure chest

Holding a piece of a loved one’s past in your hands is a uniquely touching experience. Recently, among my mother’s keepsakes, I noticed a set of yellowed, typewriter-printed pages. Since Mum was born in 1924 (and almost 40 when she had me), I realized with a sudden thrill that she was just a 19-year-old girl when she went to these wartime sing-alongs.

It wasn't a formal document or a fancy souvenir, but a simple paper leaflet from the OK Bazaars Tea Lounge in Johannesburg, dated June 20, 1944.

At first glance, it’s a charming artifact of everyday life: an advertisement on the cover for "Kenna Coffee" alongside a hand-drawn teacup, proudly declaring that the venue serves only Kenna Coffee. But turning the pages reveals something much more special—a window into the human spirit during the dark days of the Second World War.

Music as a Medicine for the Soul

The leaflet contains lyrics for a "Sing Song Community Program"—a weekly sing-along event hosted at the OK Bazaars tearoom. Down in the bottom corner of the cover, a small instruction reads: “Collect these programmes & compile your own album.”

Imagine the scene in June 1944: just two weeks after the D-Day landings in Europe, servicemen on leave and local families gathered around tearoom tables in Johannesburg, clutching these mimeographed sheets. Over cups of coffee, they sang together to keep their spirits high.

The program was divided into "Old Songs" and "New Songs":

• The Old Favorites: Nostalgic tunes like "The Honeysuckle and the Bee" (1901) and British music hall classics like "Ship A-Hoy!" (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor). They also sang "Lambeth Walk" from the 1937 musical Me and My Girl—a lively song and dance craze that became an iconic morale booster across the Commonwealth during the war years.

• The New Hits: Sentimental standards of the 1940s like "Yours" (popularized by Vera Lynn, the beloved "Forces' Sweetheart"), Irving Berlin’s "Always", and Bing Crosby's "Mexicali Rose". Songs about devotion, distant shores, and coming home—lyrics that must have hit very close to home for anyone with a sweetheart, son, or brother serving overseas.

A Precious Paper Bridge

It’s easy to read about World War II in history books, focusing on dates and military strategies. But holding this frail little program brings the lived experience down to a wonderfully human level. It reminds us that even during global turmoil, people still sought out warmth, community, music, and a good cup of coffee.

Finding this tucked away in Mum’s keepsakes felt like a bridge straight back to a Johannesburg tearoom in 1944. It’s a gentle reminder of the resilience of that generation—and how something as simple as a community sing-along could light up a wartime afternoon.

Echoes of Eloff Street

By the time we were visiting the OK Bazaars in Eloff Street, the war was long over, and that era felt world's away. I doubt whether they continued those sing-alongs, but I still have vague memories of the tea room and that grand old lift. You could never forget the lift man in his sharp uniform, manually stopping at each floor and announcing what awaited you: "Third floor... Ladies' undergarments..."

To hold this leaflet now is to realize that long before I was riding those lifts, my mother was sitting right there in 1944, a teenager with her whole life ahead of her, singing along to the hits of the day.

Celebrating Friends & Big Milestones: The Holistic Anxiety Cure by Stuart King

 There is something truly special about watching the people you care about succeed. Life moves quickly, but whenever a close friend reaches a major milestone, it deserves to be shouted from the rooftops. Celebrating each other’s achievements is one of the greatest joys in life!

I’m so thrilled to share a very special milestone today. My dear friend, Stuart King, has just published his very first book: The Holistic Anxiety Cure.

Stuart and I have known each other since we were five years old. Having had him as a wonderful friend for practically my entire life, I know firsthand just how dedicated, caring, and determined he is to help others thrive. He is someone who has always brought a deep level of compassion and curiosity to everything he turns his mind to—from founding companies in software and medicine to independent research (and yes, being a member of MENSA in both South Africa and the UK!).

Stuart and I were at both Primary and High School together, for most of it, same years, sometimes same class. 

What makes Stuart’s new book so special is that it doesn’t just come from an academic perspective—it comes from a place of real personal experience and genuine empathy.

In The Holistic Anxiety Cure, Stuart addresses anxiety for what it truly is: a complex condition with many contributing factors, rather than something easily explained away by a single cause. He offers a practical, compassionate roadmap with easy-to-follow techniques designed to help lessen and navigate anxiety.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what Stuart explores in the book:

• Nutrition & Mindset: How diet and food choices impact brain function and anxiety, backed by science, along with practical ways to take control of your mind and reframe negative programming.

• Movement & Connection: The specific types of exercise that best support anxiety relief, and why community connection plays such a powerful role across generations.

• Faith & Resilience: How faith and a sense of connection impact our ability to navigate difficult emotions and build long-term strength.

If you or someone you love is looking for practical, holistic approaches to managing anxiety from someone who truly understands the journey, I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

I couldn't be prouder of you, Stuart! Congratulations on this fantastic achievement and on creating something that will help so many people.

📖 Check out The Holistic Anxiety Cure by Stuart King on Amazon here:

The Holistic Anxiety Cure on Amazon