How the Archers’ theme might never have been tum-ti-tum-ed by millions

he only found out when told by a friend at his gentleman’s club in 1950. The story behind has been put together by Chris Phipps, a media historian and ex-BBC producer, who has worked with Wood’s family.

Wood was born in Yorkshire in 1875 to a modest family of tailors but made his name as a conductor in West End musical theatre in the early 1900s, earning extra money by writing light music for commercial libraries.

Jane Talbot, Wood’s granddaughter, told he was in “constant demand” but never forgot his “very poor background”. While at Boosey and Hawkes, he wrote in four parts named after parts of Barwick-in-Elmet in West Yorkshire.

It was one of several dozen library compositions and Wood is believed to have thought little more about it until a chance meeting in London’s Green Room Club in 1950.

“I think he had retired by then and one of his fellow members said ‘Oh by the way, you know your piece was chosen for a radio programme?’” said Mrs Talbot, who used to work for the BBC World Service. “My grandfather didn’t know anything about it and thought they were having him on until he rang the BBC directly and discovered a producer had chosen it,” she added.

Mr Phipps said Godfrey Baseley, editor and creator of had a music budget of only £250 to £300 for its trial on the BBC Midlands Home Service in 1950 and could not afford to commission an original score.

Wood died in 1953 but Mrs Talbot said he would have been “really tickled” by the tune’s success.

The family want him commemorated by a blue plaque from English Heritage but were turned down for one in 2010 as his sole well-known work was considered to be not “sufficiently outstanding” to merit recognition.

The London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony later featured as an essential part of British life.

The story will be told by Mr Phipps at Newcastle City Library on Thursday.