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Lionel Logue

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Lionel Logue
CVO
Lionel Logue, c. 1930
Born26 February 1880
Adelaide, South Australia
Died12 April 1953(1953-04-12) (aged 73)
London, United Kingdom
Nationality Australia
Years active1902-1953
Known forWork with George VI of the United Kingdom
Scientific career
FieldsSpeech and elocution
InstitutionsBritish Society of Speech Therapists
College of Speech Therapists

Lionel George Logue, CVO (26 February 1880–12 April 1953) was an Australian speech therapist, notable for his successful treatment of King George VI, who had a pronounced stammer.

Early life

Logue was the eldest of four children, born in Adelaide, South Australia. His parents were George Edward Logue, a clerk, and Lavinia Rankin. He attended Prince Alfred College as a schoolboy between 1889-96. There, he received elocution training from Edward Reeves, in the process losing most of the Australian accent from his voice. He worked for Reeves as a secretary and assistant teacher from 1902, studying music at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium. He subsequently spent time working in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia at a gold mine.[1]

Professional career

Logue's professional career began in Perth. There, in addition to teaching elocution, acting and public speaking, he put on public events such as plays and recitations and also founded a club for public speakers. Part-time teaching commitments led him to contribute to the town's Young Men's Christian Association, Scotch College and Perth Technical School.

In 1911 Logue set out on a tour of the world. Encountering World War I in Europe, he developed treatments for war veterans whose exposure to shell-shock had left them with impaired speech.[2] In addition to physical exercises, which helped with patients' breathing, Logue's distinctive therapy emphasised humour, patience and 'superhuman sympathy'.

From 1924 Logue operated a practice from premises at 146 Harley Street, London. He used fees paid to him by wealthy clients to subsidise the free service he gave to patients who could not afford to pay. In 1935 Logue co-founded the British Society of Speech Therapists.

When his practice reduced in World War II, for three nights each week Logue took on the duties of an air-raid warden. He became a founding fellow of the College of Speech Therapists in 1944.

Treatment of King George VI

Before he ascended the throne, Albert, Duke of York, dreaded public speaking because he suffered from a severe stammer.[3] His closing speech at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley on 31 October 1925 proved an ordeal for both speaker and listeners alike. The experience left the Duke resolved to find a way to manage his stammer, so he engaged Logue.[4]

Diagnosing poor co-ordination between the Duke's larynx and thoracic diaphragm, Logue prescribed vocal exercises which would occupy an hour daily. Logue's treatment gave the Duke confidence to relax[5] and avoid tension-inducing muscle spasms. As a result he suffered only occasional hesitancy in speech. By 1927, he was speaking confidently and managed his address at the opening of the Australian parliament in Canberra [6] without stuttering.[7]

Logue's work with the Duke continued through the 1930s and 40s. He used tongue-twisters[8] to help King George VI rehearse for major speeches, his coronation, and his radio broadcasts to the British Empire throughout World War II. The two men remained friends until the King's death. The King recognised his friendship and gratitude to Logue by inducting him to the Royal Victorian Order, appointing him a Member (MVO) on 11 May 1937 and elevating him to Commander (CVO) in 1944.

Personal life

Logue with Myrtle Gruenert at the time of their engagement in Perth in 1906.

Logue married Myrtle Gruenert, a 21-year-old clerk, at St George's Anglican Cathedral, Perth, on 20 March 1907. Their marriage produced three sons who all outlived their father.

Logue was a Christian Scientist. He joined the spiritualist movement after his wife's death in 1945. He died in London 12 April 1953, and his remains were cremated.

Logue's treatment of King George VI became the subject of the 2010 British historical drama film The King's Speech. In the film, Logue was played by Geoffrey Rush.

Notes

  1. ^ "Logue, Lionel George (1880 - 1953), by Suzanne Edgar". Australian Dictionary of Biography, published by Australian National University. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  2. ^ "Stuttering and The King's Speech". The Stuttering Foundation. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  3. ^ "Public Speech and Public Silence, by Margaret Drabble". The British Stammering Association. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  4. ^ Bousfield, Arthur (2002). Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, 1900-2002: The Queen Mother and Her Century. Dundurn Group (CA). p. 50. ISBN 1550023918. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Erickson, Carolly (2005). Lilibet: An Intimate Portrait of Elizabeth II. St. Martin's Press. p. 15. ISBN 0312339380.
  6. ^ National Film and Sound Archive: Official Opening of Canberra by His Royal Highness the Duke of York 1927
  7. ^ Shawcross, William (2009). The Queen Mother: The Official Biography. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 460. ISBN 1400043042.
  8. ^ According to Sreedharan (2007), p.100, two of the tongue twisters were "Let's go gathering healthy heather with the gay brigade of grand dragons", and "She sifted seven thick-stalked thistles through a strong, thick sieve".

Sources

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