radio raves

For the next few months I am adding to my Radio Live Sunday at 2.15 talks about extraordinary episodes in NZ history by talking about books on BeachFM, the Kapiti radio station, filling in for fellow Aperahama St resident book reviewer Ralph McAllister. I have already discussed the Kapiti Coast thriller, which enjoys a front window display at Coastlands Paperplus, and my bio of NZ's wittiest lawyer Roy Stacey, who successfully defended nine murder accused when the hangman beckoned, and any number of other defendants, such as Carmen when she claimed one in four MPs was homosexual and Muldoon sumonsed her before the most draconian court in the land, the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, such as as Roy's drinking buddy the poet Denis Glover on a rent arrears charge. Denis and Roy were both Christ College scholarship lads, both Lieutenant Commanders of corvettes in World War Two, both known for their sense of humour. In this case Denis coutersued for disturbance of his quiet enjoyment of the tenancy by subtenants trooping past the outdoor dunny. Between them Denis and Roy brought in Victorian doilies, Othello, Whistler and Ruskin, and after the conclusion of the case they all went for a beer at DeBretts, except Roy as usual had a gin, or more. Check me out Beach FMThursdays at 10.15am.