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JOSEPHINE ALEXANDRA MITCHELL was born in 1903 in Dublin.
As a young girl in Phibsborough she developed a passion deemed unusual for a female at the time: the saxophone.
She played her first gig in Dublin at the age of 11.
A few years later her brother Eddie, also a musician, brought her along as a ‘novelty act’ while playing a series of shows in London.
Jospehine, or Zandra – as she was known on stage, was spotted and joined a jazz band. She toured in Switzerland and Germany, settling in Berlin in her early 20s. She played with jazz legends Coleman Hawkins and Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt.
While in Berlin she gave birth to a daughter outside of wedlock whom she gave to a Russian couple. This was the start of a very difficult period in her life.
She witnessed firsthand the transition from the artistic freedom of the Weimar Republic, to the cruelest excesses of the Nazi regime – from Kristallnacht to Hitler’s public speeches.
Writing to her Irish parents in 1935, she spoke of the government closing down dance halls and banning music. She was one of only 40 Irish citizens who remained in Germany during the World War II.
She wed a Belgian man in a marriage of convenience to get out of Germany.
Marc Mc Menamin found out about Zandra’s story through a postmaster in his native Donegal: Michael Gallagher, who is also a musician.
When Zandra returned to Ireland she ended up in Rossnowlagh in Donegal, where her family had a holiday home. She played some gigs in Donegal and Sligo in the ’60s and ’70s and is still fondly remembered by local musicians who also played at the time.
Marc has made a radio documentary about Zandra’s incredible story. While researching the piece he unsuccessfully attempted to find Zandra’s daughter. However, he believes she survived the war.
Zandra never attempted to find her daughter, whom she named Constance Alexandra, but left her about £3,000-4,000 in her will when she died on 23 November 1995. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
Marc said that Zandra ended up as a recluse, living in the basement of her house. She told Michael she didn’t want her story to be told until after she died.
People will finally get to hear it today. Zandra: A Sentimental Journey will air on RTÉ Radio’s Lyric Fm at 7pm. You can also listen to the documentary on Soundcloud.
The Lyric Feature / SoundCloud
All images c/o Marc Mc Menamin
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Ban Sharks !!! But seriously if you know there’s sharks in the area AND its known for shark attacks AND you decide to go for a swim, well…. goodluck
A man and a shark both hunting in the ocean.
correct
I’m going to write a very short story about the triangular shaped mass on a Sharks back:
Fin.
Swimmer gets bitten by shark in known shark attack area .
If your ever attacked by a crocodile, run in a zig zag fashion thus confusing said crocodile, rendering him harmless.
Stephen
That’s handy to know, if I ever get to figure out how to walk on water.
That’s a life saving tip was for a land attack, but if your ever attacked in water, place a stick vertically in crocodiles jaws, this will prevent croc from closing his massive jaws around your body, thus rendering him harmless and you can go about your business as if nothing happened.
If you dont happen to have a stick of the perfect length to hand at the precise moment of the croc attack, look it in the eyes and shout “BONO” repeatedly. This will terrify the poor creature.
Stephen
And if you don’t have a stick handy, hold your breath, swim to the bottom of the river or lake, sit in an upright position, spread your legs evenly apart, griping your ankles firmly, place your head between your legs, and kiss your a.r.s.e good bye.
any clowns who enters water which is home to crocs deserves to be eaten.
take some of the shite out of your underwear and trow it in crocs face.
That’s a myth and hilarious one too. You’d surely get caught.
Wow I also heard of a farmer escaping a bull attack by hitting it with a stick.
Stick to your day job.
Ok. You should take up spearfishing off the Cape.
Ugh….eye poking….now im up for the shark!
I was thinking the same,I hope the Sharks eye is ok,because you never know where his thumb has been.
You’d have to have a screw loose to spear fish there
I was kayaking there last month
have your say