Archie Ravenscroft

Peel with his grandson Archie in April 2004

Archie Ravenscroft (born 24 September 2003) was Peel's only grandchild and son of his eldest daughter Alexandra and her partner Ashley. Archie's first radio debut on Peel's show was on 23 October 2003, when he was sleeping until he was woken up and started crying. On that show, Sheila mentioned to Peel that his voice was making Archie to sleep, which Peel replied, "Is it...OK the music can't be sending him to sleep, that would be insulting". On later shows, Peel would often mention Archie's name and what he did. A day after Archie was born, Peel asked listeners on his 25 September 2003 show to suggest songs that featured the name 'Archie', which he could play a track from. In the end, Peel choose Tapper Zukie's "Archie, The Rednose Reindeer" on the same show.

Mentioned In Shows

John Peel's Grandson

Archie's radio debut on Peel's 23 October 2003 show

2003

• 24 September 2003: (JP: "Well good evening pals. At 8:21 this morning Archie Ravenscroft was born. This is for him and Danda and Ashley, his parents.") Beatbox Saboteurs - 'It's A Long Way (LP- The Hour Of Enchantment)' (House Of Beauty) (JP: "But will he play for Liverpool or QPR? That's the problem.")
• 25 September 2003: Peel announces that his grandson (Archie) was born last night and asks listeners to list records with the name "Archie" in them.
• 23 October 2003: JP's baby grandson Archie makes his first radio debut. Sheila tells JP that his voice is making Archie to sleep.  JP then says "Is it...OK the music can't be sending him to sleep, that would be insulting".
• 09 December 2003: Young Heart Attack: El Camino (Peel Session) (JP: "I wish I'd got a voice like that. Well, I wish I'd got a voice at all. Whenever I try to sing 'Lonesome Fugitive' to my grandson Archie, he just cries. And who can blame him for that.")
• 25 December 2003: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 'Maps (LP-Fever To Tell)' (Dress Up) (JP: "While that was on I walked to the other end of the house to try and persuade our grandson Archie, whose first Christmas this is, to come and speak to the nation. But he wasn't having any of it and who can blame him for that.")

2004

• 28 January 2004: "And the other day our grandson Archie was around at our house and his mum, Danda, was singing to him to try and get him to go to sleep, and I said to her, "Danda, did I ever used to sing to you when you were a child, and she said "Only 'Lonesome Fugitive', Dad"." After the heart-warming intro Peel then plays his old favourite by Roy Buchanan - at the wrong speed.
• 08 April 2004: JP: "While that was going on [EZ T], I was doing a bit of babysitting, I want you to know. My grandson Archie. I sat him on my knee and bounced him up and down and he started crying. Well, wouldn't you? "
• 04 August 2004: (JP: 'The other day I was, well the Pig and I were babysitting for our grandson Archie and he crawled into my room and crawled over to a box of records that were unheard, demos and stuff like this and he took one of them out and started to contently chewing it, and because his dad has excellent judgement in music and I like his grandfather does too, to a point. We thought, well if Archie's chosen it, it must be worth playing.') Soundhack: Untitled Soundhack #1) White Label
• 09 September 2004: It’s party night at Peel Acres, although not for working man Peel, as it is the birthday of Ashley, father of Archie.
• 23 September 2004: (JP: "Time now for the Pig's Big 78 but Shelia has actually gone to bed so tonight Flossie is standing in, so it's Flossie's Big 78... this is for our grandson Archie who is one tomorrow.") Kitty Masters & Orchestra: Many Happy Returns of The Day (Flossie's Big 78) Regal

External Links

• East Anglian Daily Times