Anecdotes

Some sources imply that he was the voice of Sir Winston Churchill in selected recordings of Churchill's most famous speeches. Churchill gave the original speech in the House of Commons but subsequent radio broadcasts may really have been Shelley impersonating the PM. In fact, Churchill delivered the speeches himself to British radio audiences, Shelley merely reading them live to American listeners (which would have been overnight British time).

Portrayed Dr. John Watson 80 times in BBC Radio adaptations from 1952-1969 opposite Carleton Hobbs as Sherlock Homes.

Amongst his many memorable roles on BBC Radio were Winnie-the-Pooh in the "Children's Hour" adaptations of the A.A. Milne stories, "Toytown"'s Dennis the Dachshund, and Gandalf and Tom Bombadil in the 1955-6 "Lord of the Rings" adaptation.

Played Colonel Freddy Danby in the long-running BBC Radio 4 series "The Archers" until his death.

On 21st August 1980 he collapsed at Finchley Road tube station, London. He was declared dead at Hampstead's Royal Free Hospital.