Mountbatten tape is a reel find!

Mar 30 2007 By Leda Reynolds, Birmingham Mail

A FORMER radio presenter has been given the royal seal of approval after finding a gift fit for a king among his attic clutter.

Pete Simpkin, who used to work for BBC Radio WM, was sorting through his junk when he came across an old reel-to-reel interview with Lord Mountbatten which he and a schoolfriend recorded 47 years ago.

Pete, of Tanworth Lane, Shirley, made the recording in 1960 when he was a pupil at Tauntons School, in Southampton.

Pete and his pal David Dyche were in charge of their school's bicentenary celebrations, where the guest of honour was Lord Mountbatten - Prince Charles' favourite uncle - who made a speech.

After meeting up with his old friend and taking a walk down memory lane, Pete decided to transfer the old recording on to a CD.

His brother Jake, a Southampton historian, suggested that the Prince of Wales might like it as a further reminder of his uncle.

"I wrote to Clarence House and asked whether he would like it," said 65-year-old Pete.

"I was delighted when I got a reply saying he would."

He spent hours repairing the age-worn tape before despatching it to Clarence House, the prince's London residence.

"I was delighted when I got a letter back three weeks later thanking me for the 'marvellous recording'," said the granddad.

"I have no idea whether the prince heard it or not, but it would be nice to think he did."

A spokeswoman at Clarence House said she did not know whether the prince had listened to the CD yet.

"We've added it to the archives here and are very grateful."

Lord Mountbatten, Britain's last Viceroy of India, was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.