The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel A future plan Delivering Quality First – Page 2

Photo courtesy of Jeff Overs

November 2011 • Issue 8

Tales of Print edition of Musical Televison Ariel to close memories Centre Page 2 Page 6 Page 9

NEWS • Memories • Classifieds • Your letters • Obituaries • CrosPERO 02 Update from the BBC

commissioning and scheduling will be • More landmark output for Radio 4 (which closely aligned. sees its overall budget hardly changed). Delivering Quality First • Job grading, redundancy terms and • More money for the Proms. unpredictability allowances will be • The further rollout of HD and DAB. Mark Thompson sets out ‘a plan for living within our means’ as ‘modernised’ and reformed. A consultation he reveals job losses, output changes, relocations, structured process on those proposals begins Union response immediately. The National Union of Journalists issued a re-investment in a digital public space, and new content and • Production will be streamlined into a swift response to the announcement, calling programmes on BBC services. single UK production economy. for the licence fee negotiations to be re- • Radio and TV commissioning for Science opened and ‘a proper public debate about Fewer staff, a flatter structure, more jobs • All new daytime programming will be and Music will be brought together. BBC funding’. shifting to Salford and more output from on BBC One. In a statement the NUJ said: ‘The BBC will outside London, these are the conclusions of • BBC Two’s daytime output will focus on Reinvestment not be the same organisation if these cuts go the Delivering Quality First process. repeats and international current affairs. At the start of the DQF process, Thompson said ahead. You cannot reduce budgets by 20% In a ringmain broadcast (the BBC’s internal • BBC Three will move to Salford. last year’s licence fee settlement necessitated and pretend that everything is the same. It broadcast network), Mark Thompson and BBC • The BBC HD channel will close – BBC Two savings of 16%, but because the BBC needed won’t be…The quality of journalism and Trust chairman Lord Patten announced the will be solely HD. to invest in output, he set the organisation as programming will inevitably be diluted.’ headline decisions from months of debate, • Local radio afternoon output will be a whole, a 20% savings target. He explained Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of discussion and number crunching. shared across regions. how the surplus savings will be re-invested. media and entertainment union Bectu, Delivering the broad outlines the DG said: • Some news bureaux will close. The key priorities are to unite channels, said the proposals should have been called ‘By 2016 the BBC will be significantly smaller • White City will be emptied out and sold. networks and online content on ‘four screens’ ‘destroying quality first’. than it is today; employing fewer people, • The BBC’s orchestras and performing – TV, tablets, mobiles and computers. ‘They are destroying jobs, and destroying occupying less space, and spending less money.’ groups will be independently assessed, Money will be pumped into: the BBC,’ he said. Explaining that he could not go in to all with the possibility of reductions. • Drama and comedy the changes in depth, he said staff will be • Asian Network’s budget will be cut by for BBC One, factual briefed by their managers as to how they are 34% and the service will be ‘re-focused.’ genres on BBC Two affected. And he explained that the focus of • Comedy on Radio 2 and 5 Live will be and BBC Four. the changes was to concentrate spending on reduced, there will be fewer lunchtime • Children’s peak programming. concerts on Radio 3. programming, ‘This is a plan for living within our means,’ • Factual programming for TV and Radio 4 which will also Thompson said. ‘It’s also about making sure will move from Birmingham to Bristol gradually wholly we don’t accidentally cancel the future.’ and Cardiff. move onto CBBC • More content will be shared and more and CBeebies. The cutbacks programming from the Nations will be • Newsgathering in The following list is not comprehensive, but broadcast on network. ‘core’ areas around highlights the key points. • The News Channel will focus on breaking the world, as well as • Two thousand jobs will go. news, with more repeated material during local and regional • One thousand more posts will go to Salford. off-peak hours. coverage of the UK. • The Sports rights budget will be cut by 15%. • BBC Four will be more ‘complementary’ to • An increased • BBC One’s spend on films and bought-in BBC Two, and BBC Three will be more of a investigations fund programmes will reduce. test bed for BBC One. In both cases for Panorama. Print edition of Ariel to close ‘However I am pleased that it will live presence, and when the news in the newspaper The Ariel newspaper is on online, reflecting the lives, issues and has already been reported on that site.’ Et tu, Prospero? to close, 75 years after challenges that we face every day.’ She adds: ‘I know staff will be sad to see it News of Ariel’s demise may have our its first edition, in a DQF Candida Watson, Ariel editor for the last go, and that the online version is different to readers asking: ‘What about Prospero?’ We two years, admitted that compared with the the print issue; I know some people will see asked Jan Killick, Head of Pensions, for restructuring that will see the pan-BBC savings through DQF, the end of the it as a none-too-subtle way of diminishing a reponse. Communications division newspaper ‘pales into insignificance’. internal criticism of BBC management. Jan says: ‘There are no plans to stop ‘That doesn’t make it any less of a shock ‘It is true that the current Ariel online site Prospero, although as explained in this year’s shed 30 posts. to the long-serving staff who produce Ariel, has no comment facility on stories, but that summary report, we are conscious of Ariel Online, which was revamped in to our regular correspondents who make is something we are working to address. We the need to ensure the Scheme’s services February and now uses the BBC News the letters page a thing of occasional joy and still have a letters ‘page’ and readers can still deliver value, particularly at a time when content management system, will continue frequent conversation, or to those of you comment on any issue that they want to raise, the BBC is going through significant to carry BBC staff news and views. who like to pick up the paper and read it and in the online only Ariel you won’t have to change and the Scheme is in deficit. Four posts will be lost from the existing quietly in a break, or take it to read on the wait a week to see your letter printed.’ ‘Over the last year, we have made bi-media Ariel team along with comms journey home,’ she said. The Ariel website would contain more changes to the way we produce, design, jobs across the division, as it seeks to make ‘As Editor of Ariel for just over two years audio and video in the future and would print and distribute Prospero. We believe 25% savings. I am sad to be presiding over the end of the welcome readers’ suggestions on content, these have helped to improve Prospero Communications colleagues in the nations most recognised form of a BBC institution, Watson said, promising: ‘Ariel will still bring as well as reduce costs. Looking ahead, are not affected by the news. and sad that the post I hold is also closing. you news about the BBC, interesting features we will examine whether any further Mark Thompson acknowledged Ariel’s ‘But as the BBC prunes back frontline staff and opinion, and will still endeavour to be changes are necessary and will keep contribution: ‘Ariel newspaper has been an and output, it is hard to argue that it should the BBC’s concerned and impartial friend.’ pensioners informed.’ important part of the BBC’s history for 75 years devote licence fee income to publishing an The final printed Ariel will hit the presses at the Remember that you can also download a copy of and like many of you I will be sad the paper internal newspaper, particularly when it has end of December. You can view the online Ariel at Prospero by visiting bbc.co.uk/mypension version has to close as part of DQF savings. an intranet on which Ariel has an established www.bbc.co.uk/ariel

Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Editorial contributions: Write to: Prospero, employees, or to their spouses and dependants. BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Prospero provides a source of news on former Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Email: [email protected] colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are issues, plus classified adverts. scanned at 300 dpi. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The next issue of Prospero will appear in December.

PROSPERO November 2011 update from the bbc 03

will be cut. On this point Boaden said: ‘In all of this we £2m will be spent on completing the roll must not lose our editorial focus. Even as Hundreds of News jobs to go out of local radio political correspondents. we use and re-use material we will expect Up to 800 jobs will be lost in BBC News over the next five years editors to be creative about giving their Local radio and TV audiences something special.’ as the division cuts costs and re-shapes itself, Helen Boaden Some local radio stations will share off-peak has announced. The director of News explained the level of post programming. Re-investment A weekday evening programme will run Boaden was able to announce some re- closures was high ‘because 70% of our costs are people.’ across ALL local radio stations, with opts for investment. Aside from the money for News spending will be focused on peak Spend on presenters will be reduced, with news and sport. local radio political correspondents already output, while audiences will hear from a some double headed shifts reducing to Spending on local sports rights will be mentioned, £3m will be spent on output broader range of correspondents as network one person. reduced. for new devices, and £0.5m is set aside for news draws on staff from World Service and Dedicated business slots on the Channel Budgets for the regional TV documentary investigative journalism. Most of that will the nations and regions. Senior manager will be dropped. strand Inside Out will be reduced, with some go to Panorama, but Boaden said she hoped to numbers will reduce by at least 25%. programmes shared across regions at times. fund one-off pieces of work as well. Boaden said: ‘This change will be difficult 5 Live As she concluded she reminded her but we owe it to our audiences to manage News funding for the network will be cut Other changes audience: ‘Even after these cuts we will still it properly…we need to harness all our by 20%, with the station concentrating on Nine hours of ad hoc Current Affairs output be one of the biggest news organisations in resources as ‘one BBC News’.’ breaking news. News production staffing and on BBC Two will go, and the number of the world. We will still be unique in having a Explaining that there would be ‘some the number and spread of dedicated 5 Live dedicated reporters for Radio 4 sequences portfolio of services that delivers news locally, change’ everywhere in the News group over reporters will be reduced. and Newsnight will be reduced to around 20. nationally and internationally on TV, radio the next five years, she laid out the details. 5 Live Investigates, in its present form, The news teams of Radio 1 and sister and online.’ will be cut. station 1Xtra will merge. The News Channel Red Button multi-screen will close and BBC The News Channel will focus on breaking Politics School Report will move to BBC Learning, news, with back half hours and off-peak The money spent on covering party political with BBC News providing active support. Patel sets out output featuring repeats or nations and conferences will be halved, with programme The World Service long form Current regions output. presentation from such events reduced and Affairs team will move into the Radio Current risks of DQF plans Correspondents covering a breaking news broadcast from the BBC stand. Affairs department. story will file a few sentences of text for all The Daily Politics will be relaunched, The BBC’s plans to save platforms first, then appear live on either the broadcasting every day except Saturday, and Newsgathering News Channel or World News, depending on for an hour on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Newsgathering will integrate World, English money and implement its DQF whether the story is domestic or international. and Friday. Presented by Andrew Neil the Regions and network. Its priorities will be to proposals could be scuppered Their first answer should be structured in such programme will retain its national and deliver to the Six o’clock news on BBC One, a way as to be usable on other output. The regional opt outs and also feature a new the 6.30 regional programmes, the Ten, Today by factors outside its control, newsdesk will have an established order of strand, Politics Europe. and the 1800 on Radio 4, Newshour on Zarin Patel has warned. priority for 2-ways. Radio 4’s Beyond Westminster and Taking a Stand World Service and the news website. ‘Other programmes and services shouldn’t In a ringmain session, the group finance assume any kind of priority,’ Boaden said. director pointed out that various ‘risks’ were There will be a single, multilingual, attached to the radical strategy for the future multiplatform product from World set out earlier by Mark Thompson. Newsgathering, which will see local and ‘Inflation could blow us off course and we bilingual staff recruited. This will mean could have a bad economy,’ she said. the closure of 17 sponsored reporter posts, ‘We’re very lucky that licence fee evasion a reduction in the number of posts with hasn’t gone up in the recession. We’re lucky overseas conditions of service and a change that there seems to be a desire to stay at in the staffing of a number of existing foreign home and cleave to what you know, and that bureaux. The Colombo bureau in Sri Lanka we’ve kept our [licence fee] income. But that will close. could change. The recession could still hit us.’ In the UK there will be closer collaboration Patel also expressed her fears over the between the centre and the regions on sharing pensions situation, explaining that the next resources, crews and reporters. There will be a evaluation of the BBC Pension Scheme was single News truck fleet and joint planning and due in April 2013. ‘The thought of another deployment. deficit [if it came to that] horrifies and News material will be shared across all terrifies me,’ she said. BBC Staff. Photo courtesy of Chris Capstick outlets, regardless of origin. Things were tricky, she added, but: ‘We’ve thought hard about the risks and we have reserves.’ Crospero 161 devised and compiled by Jim Palm Flexible working She expected that within Finance & Business 1 2 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words division, between 50 and 75 posts would be running across. Then take these words in numerical order and lost as a result of DQF, although this was ‘a 3 4 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, high level estimate’. these letters will spell out a film and a BBC series. There would be changes in the way work 5 6 was carried out, she explained, with greater Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The automation and routine processes ‘performed Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 7 8 only once’. House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ by Friday, 11 November 2011. Finance & Business staff would need new 9 financial, commercial and operational skills CLUES and a willingness to work flexibly, she added. 10 11 1. Reddish colour (3); 2. Australian shrub (7); 3. Very old (4); 4. Infuriate (4); In addition, they should be prepared for 5. Harmonises (5); 6. Tropical plant (5); 7. Representative (5); 8. Beneath (5); a move out of the W12 Media Village. ‘Our 12 9. Be in debt (3); 10. Car (5); 11. Outspoken (5); 12. Big cooker (3); priority locations are likely to be Cardiff [already the home of some finance staff], 13. Obscure (5); 14. Byways (5); 15. Repent (5); 16. Quadruped (5); 13 14 Salford, the three nations and London,’ 17. Ploy (4); 18. Draw or paint (4); 19. Controversy (7); 20. Horse (3). said Patel. 15 16 She recognised that people would be concerned about career development, 17 18 particularly as the financial services industry The solutions and winning entry for Crospero 160 will be published was largely concentrated in the south-east, 19 20 together with those for Crospero 161 (this issue) in the next edition but pointed out that the exit from White City of Prospero. would not be fully realised for a decade.

PROSPERO November 2011 04 letters

I worked at Lime Grove from May 1960 producer, Alasdair Milne, in the office of the What’s in a name? and I remember it well. Nothing in The Hour legendary Grace Wyndham Goldie. The three CONTACTS ‘Young at Heart’ – the name that retired reminded me of Lime Grove, even faintly like of us listened attentively to this brilliant members have been given by the BBC Club. Lime Grove, inside or out! lady’s thoughts as she talked, gazing at the Visiting Scheme (October, Prospero). It nearly made me vomit! On the exterior the only thing that was ceiling, her feet inelegantly parked on her If you would like a visit or information on How utterly patronising can you get? accurate was the brickwork, the main entrance desk. Alasdair was a dour Scot – so I kept my how to become a volunteer visitor, please Will the Commissionaires be patting us on in the wrong place and Smith’s Yard a total gaze firmly on him, not daring to catch the ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged the head murmuring ‘there, there’? What are fabrication. As for the hospitality rooms, eye of the mischievous Ned, who I knew only as a local call. the Club going to name current employee corridors and canteen, well, no resemblance would inevitably voice some clever double- Queries members? Answers on a postcard please. to the real thing at all – and where did they entendre about the traditional bloomers that For benefit and pension payroll queries, call Bill Chesneau think the staircase was? Total realism stopped were clearly in view. the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. when it came to the studios and gallery and a Ned later created the ground-breaking Sorry, but I’m not prepared to be finger countdown by a producer! satirical series That Was The Week That Was, Prospero referred to by the patronising euphemism At this point I suspended belief and said introduced by newcomer David Frost. After To add or delete a name from the distribution list, ring the Service Line (number above). ‘Young at Heart’, rather than the factual term welcome to the world of make-believe. producing some Dixon of Dock Green episodes Prospero is provided free of charge to retired ‘retired’, so I will now be leaving the BBC I would have been more than happy to and the initial Come Dancing programmes, BBC employees. On request, we will also Club. Clearly it is no place for grumpy old accept The Hour as being in a fictional studio I returned to Aeolian Hall to head the send it to spouses or dependants who want men such as myself. and even allowed for some of the very new popular music production group to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is Tony Woolf strange idiosyncrasies that took place, like through ‘the Beatles era’. Alasdair created also available on audio disc for those with the appearance of a showgirl as a token ‘hey the Tonight series and the wondrous Yes, sight impairment. Prospero sent Mr Chesneau and Mr Woolf’s letters people – it’s showbiz’. Minister programmes. In the eighties he To register, please ring the Service Line above to BBC Club, who replied: BBC Club apologises However, with its connections with became the BBC’s Director General through on 029 2032 2811. for any offence caused by the name. We have been the Murdoch Empire through the Shine a challenging period before being ousted BBC Club using the name for the last 18 months and have Group, well, I mean, ask yourself, a pedigree by political pressure. The BBC Club in London has a retired had no other negative feedback. In no way have we of integrity? category membership costing £30 a year ever meant to sound patronising but had wanted to As for being a faithful and accurate picture JFK for members and £39 a year for family shrug off the ‘retired label’ for something slightly of Lime Grove, no way! Alas, this does reflect If you might be thinking of compiling a membership. Pre-1997 life members are more up beat. If there is a resounding desire to change on those in the BBC who allowed this folly piece from folk recalling where they heard of not affected. Regional clubs may have the name, please send your comments and name to slip through and be marketed as accurate. JFK’s assassination, here’s my contribution: different arrangements. suggestions to [email protected] and we will be Sometimes the marketing hype can do more I was producing an episode of Dixon of Dock Please call BBC Club London happy to look into other ideas. damage than good. Green; after a disastrous rehearsal (scenery administration office on 020 8752 6666 or email [email protected]. Points for drama content – 9 ‘flats’ stacked in the wrong order were Points for accurate reconstruction – 0 the least of it), I was leaving Riverside Benevolent Fund The folly of Chris Cherry studio when my car radio brought the This is funded by voluntary contributions news – the dense traffic in Hammersmith from the BBC and its purpose is to protect The Hour slowed to a halt. the welfare of staff, pensioners and their families. Grants are made at the discretion Thanks Albert (Barber) for bringing up the Three-in-one of the Trustees. They may provide lack of authenticity of The Hour. Donald MacLean, former head of Popular Music at the The Hour assistance in cases of unforeseen financial Comparing it to Mad Men was a mistake; BBC, responded to three of the letters published in the When TVC was being built, we producers hardship, for which help from other sources Mad Men is high colour with brilliant October issue of Prospero: had offices in caravans among the is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. reconstructions, The Hour was muted and contractors’ lorries – two of us per vehicle. I Prospero Society looked as if penny pinched. Ladies first… shared one with Russell Turner. The ‘period’ Prospero Society is the only section of the I am sure that all efforts were made to be During my training as a TV producer, my atmosphere of The Hour sets fitted quite well BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff accurate but obviously not enough. A little chum was fellow-student Ned Sherrin. with my memories of Lime Grove. and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC research would have done wonders! One day he and I sat with another budding pensioners to meet on a social basis for theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. Prospero is supported by BBC Club funds so as to make events affordable. Sort out sound with a panel of retired dubbing mixers The only conditions (apart from paying This, in my view, is an absolutely ridiculous a small annual subscription) are that you Having read the article on page 8/9 in the October issue of management ‘get out’, for at least must be a BBC pensioner and a member of the BBC Club. For an application form write Prospero entitled Points of Interest, my attention was drawn two reasons: to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries Avenue, particularly to the final paragraphs regarding the contentious 1 How is it that executive producers will have Radlett, Herts WD7 7EL. acquired the expertise over a relatively Telephone: 01923 855177 issue of sound levels with the heading ‘Sounds like…’ short period of working life to be able to Mobile: 07736 169612 make them ‘responsible for the audio mix – Email: [email protected] It seems that an Executive Producer, BBC available space must be filled with (often a skill which has historically been acquired Vision (!) had reported back regarding the BBC products inappropriate) music. It doesn’t. Let your over many years of mixing a wide variety results of surveys on sound carried out with, programme ‘breathe’ and it will benefit. of programmes in various formats that a BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% discount off the RRP of most products allegedly, ‘90% of respondents having no • Poor, or no, proper training in the correct career dubbing mixer has had? in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a problem’. With the increasing numbers of balancing of the components (especially 2 Surely, as now, complaints about sound postage charge of £2.95 per order older people in the population nowadays music) of the audio track to render the vital mixes will ensue after the programme has (not per item). Pensioners must quote (most of whom suffer from at least some dialogue fully intelligible in the final mix. transmitted. It therefore seems a pointless their BBC pension number when ordering. degree of degradation in aural perception), • Test your final mixed sound tracks by exercise to ‘fine’ an executive producer by Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, I find this very hard to believe. playing them to non-programme makers enforcing a remix when the only benefit will Television Centre, Wood Lane, London Sound annoyance perceived by older before TX. be for the repeat transmission! W12 7RJ. Telephone: 020 8225 8230 people listening to broadcast programmes The BBC should consider having a panel Although there can be no better way than Email: [email protected] can generally be broken down as follows: of older (i.e. over 60 years of age) retired having your final sound track mixed in the Other ways to order (quoting your • Music or effects (particularly the former) professional dubbing mixers on which to call correct acoustic environment of a dubbing pension number when ordering): By phone: being held too high in the mix, sometimes to judge the aural intelligibility and balance of theatre, complete with an experienced 08700 777 001 8.30am-6pm weekdays. By post: BBC Shop, PO Box 308, obliterating dialogue intelligibility. prepared programmes prior to transmission. dubbing mixer, it has to be said that a very Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8LW. • Used correctly, music is powerful stuff, After all, their hearing will have suffered good, well balanced soundtrack can be Email: [email protected]. setting moods and enhancing the pictures, a degree of age-related impairment and produced in an edit suite – as long as the Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, but inappropriate music, sometimes used yet they will have the previous experience editor can exclude extraneous machine noise Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or in annoying short bursts, is very distracting to analyse and advise the producer of and has the expertise to manipulate sound in Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for telephone, and often an irrelevance. appropriate action. a professional manner. I know, as these days, post and email orders. Overseas: £4.50 for • Why use music bursts at all? Kick the The article states: ‘One of the actions at 68, I produce an interesting and intelligible one item and £2 for each additional product music out unless it is really adding arising from the project has been to make soundtrack to accompany my documentary for telephone, post and email orders. something vital to the production. executive producers responsible for the audio DVDs daily in my own edit suite here in South BBC PA mix. They have to sign off the audio, and if Dorset – and I have had zero complaints from For details of how to join the Pensioners’ What are the causes of the copious the programme generates complaints they the many hundreds of customers purchasing Association, see panel on page 5. complaints of poor sound balance? [the producers] have to pay for the remix out my DVDs over the last decade! • Current producers seem to think that every of their own budgets.’ John Hale

PROSPERO November 2011 LETTERS 05 Boosey recollections… And examining the peel effect…

monitoring possible on the L2 was by means I must respond to the patronising letter from a very bright object or reflection would cause of headphones. Rosalind Dallas concerning the ‘Howl Round the image to become unstable and the white I think the machine shown is of a type Effect’ of the Dr Who titles, in which she area would expand rapidly across the screen marketed in the 1950s by Boosey & Hawkes; seems to assume that all the correspondents to leave a totally white raster, very much like this was spring-driven and required regular in these pages must be ‘VT engineers who film burning in the gate of a projector. Once winding – hence the handle on the front. took credit for other’s work’ (were any of them started, this was swift and unstoppable and The spools shown are of an early 3M pattern. VT engineers?) very embarrassing because the camera, one I still have one or two of them! I am sure that most people who have of only three in the studio, was then lost to the Yes – the L2 did weigh a ton (about worked in television for many years will usually live production for a few minutes while 22lb actually) but it was capable of making understand that a graphics designer will have it was re-stabilised. I don’t recall it ever being superb recordings; the later Uher weighed- been charged with and credited for the used as an effect, even for the Dalek zapping in at 9lb. As Allan Rogers says, 15 minutes provision of a title sequence for the original sequences. On the Dr Who productions (full-track) was the maximum you could Dr Who but all the correspondence in these I worked on, this was simply achieved by record on the L2 on 600ft of tape but pages has been about the creation of the a rapid crossfade to a negative feed from this reduced to seven-and-a-half minutes electronic effect that was used and which was the same camera. I think that the later CPS with the 15-inches-per-second models. As a central feature of the titles. To create this Emitrons, the ones that vaguely resembled first well as the eight HP2 torch batteries for required a detailed understanding of the world war tanks, were more stable and did not I am not at all sure that the tape recorder in the valve filaments and motor, you also engineering and operation of an image suffer from the peeling problem. the photo on page 5 of the October issue is needed a pair of 67.5v batteries for the HT orthicon camera, not something one would Alan Horne an EMI L2. I owned one of these machines supply. The L2 series was later replaced by a expect to find in abundance in the in the 1960s and mine certainly didn’t have transistored recorder which simplified the graphics department. Responding to Rosalind… a winding handle on the front; rewinding battery requirements but by now Uhers and In spite of my ‘fading memory’, an age- Well, I thought that ‘Dr Who Titles’ was the tape was done via a geared handle on Hagras were taking over. related problem I no doubt share with Rosalind exhausted but Rosalind Dallas’s letter requires the top which was linked to the feed spool. Ah – you needed to be tough in Dallas, I distinctly recall being in studio G Lime an answer. The machine shown also appears to have a those days… Grove in the early 1960s as a cameraman One (or more) of the sets of Dr Who titles small loudspeaker at one end, when the only Jim Palm when Norman Taylor came in during, I think, may well have been the work of Bernard a lunch break and ‘borrowed’ a pedestal- Lodge (a very well respected graphic designer mounted camera and a studio monitor. Much – even by ‘VT engineers’!) but I would be Corrections and recollections as described by Peter Jarrett, the camera was intrigued to know how anyone got a film set up looking at the monitor and the camera camera to ‘peel off’. – Holme Moss output fed to that monitor. Then the electronic The crack about VT engineers taking the Apart from not ever transmitting colour TV, beam was reduced until the picture became credit for others work (examples please) is Holme Moss has other interesting events to very ‘laggy’, the effect of which was to make both revealing and erroneous. Videotape was remember, being, as far as I am aware, the the image follow camera movement very merely a recording medium for the unedited only transmitting station to have an open lazily. What I can add is that once the camera studio output. day for the public, in the 60s. This event was set up and locked off, Norman flicked a As such we took a great interest in this attracted over 1,000 visitors. cigarette lighter in front of the monitor. Once new venture and had been able to monitor the In 1952 the station and staff featured the flame had appeared and was removed, experiments going on at Lime Grove Studios. on a live TV programme. The show was the now-familiar ‘Dr Who howl round effect’ However, the opening titles background part of a series called Other Peoples Jobs was created and was self sustaining. I don’t effect was produced by ‘studio engineers’ and and titled Top O’t Moss. The presenter was know if this was telerecorded at that time but it recorded by ‘film recording engineers’. There is Richard Dimbleby. Richard interviewed certainly would have been recorded on film for nothing mythical about those. staff members, including rhe E.i.C Charles the titles to be later assembled. I have no doubt that Doug Adamson (BSC) Buckle, A.E.i.C. Donald Hinchliffe and Incidentally, there seems to be a lot of did splendid work on some Dr Who titles but SM.E. Lionel (Fred) Allen. I was interviewed confusion about the so-called peel effect. This are we talking about the titles for the very on duty at the control desk. The station was an extremely undesirable feature of the first series? electrician Will Harper and rigger Frank early cameras in studio H and possibly D when Geoff Higgs Dobson were also featured. The Manchester Outside Broadcasting unit used three cameras and the show producer was Derek Burrell Davis. Sadly this was before video Holme Moss transmitter recordings were available and there are no recordings of this programme. These facts On receipt of Prospero, today, my wife read will probably be of limited interests but, at me the letters. The inaccurate information, least, are true, and we transmitter engineers by Mr Tordoff, about Holme Moss prompted must fly the flags as part of the TV chain this response. Some of the letter from between the studios and the public. Mr Tordoff is not correct. I spent the last Peter S Pearson 31 years of my career as a BBC engineer at Holme Moss, and Peter Sherdley was a colleague if mine and we were never It weren’t our fault, Guv! Once again I find myself metaphorically involved with any opt-out switching. putting pen to paper in defence of the In the early years this switching was the honour and integrity of Holme Moss. responsibility of Post Office engineers based Having brushed aside Graham Hare’s at Burley Road in Leeds. I understand the accusations of interference, I now find switching was moved to BBC premises in Courtenay Tordoff blaming us for a Woodhouse Lane. During the Post Office mis-switching operation causing involvement, it became a joking matter incorrect material to be radiated. when the switching errors became frequent. Not so! At no time did we at Holme When Holme Moss was built, at 720ft above Moss have any responsibility for any sea level, the television aerials were over network switching. We could only 2,000ft above sea level and the coverage broadcast whatever was sent to us covered from Hull in the East to Liverpool on the circuit from Leeds. and North Wales. I would suggest he looks outside Holme Moss became a target because the the BBC for the culprit in this case. My Welsh viewers thought programmes should suspicions would lie with the Post Office be in the Welsh language. One night the Network Switching Centre. Welsh Nationalists smashed windows to I repeat, it weren’t our fault, Guv! gain entry and some equipment was broken. Peter Sherdley The culprit was arrested and prosecuted.

PROSPERO November 2011 06 Memories

Manchester Studios: Nan MacDonald, Muriel Levy, Violet Carson and Wilfred Pickles Jimmy Young Musical memories Thanks to Cliff and other officers, especially having been given BBC leave of absence to Trevor Hill (Originator, ‘An Oral History, BBC North – 1922 those in BFN Music Department, I was make a film for Royal Doulton, having made encouraged to use German musicians. It one for the BBC on Norwegian pottery, to 1986’ for the BBC’s Recorded Archive), writes with was the leader of the Hamburg Symphony Henry’s score was to be paid for by this some memories and recollections of music at the BBC. Orchestra who, at the end of a recording commercial firm – as were members of our we did from the Musikhalle, beckoned Northern Orchestra. to Sergeant Martin as we finished a live We had truly brilliant Studio Managers, ack in 1936, Henry Reed was a (whose popular Hamburg series. A Melody performance: ‘Er, diss ‘Night und Die’ is so not only for Balance and Control but, for pianist at Manchester’s renowned A Memory, I had always announced), and very goot, Sergeant. You get it published, my cartoons, in making all the required Midland Hotel. It was he who now with the co-operation of Manchester’s no?’ Both Ray and I explained that if we did ‘Spot Fx’. David Fleming-Williams, Chris suggested to then BBC producer, Light Entertainment producer – the splendid as he suggested, Cole Porter would not be Webb and Charles Rogers, to name a few, BDavid Porter, that a talented young person Ronnie Taylor – Ray was to have his own very pleased! were outstanding. On the occasion we were formerly used as a pianist to silent films Manchester orchestra which I was to making the very first BBC programme ever should come to the BBC Piccadilly studios. announce for the BBC Light Programme. The Cameo cartoons to be recorded in Binaural sound for Radio She also possessed a talent as a singer programme was also to include a vocalist by What both Ray Martin and Henry Reed were 3 – my having listened to Dr James Crabb’s (having taken that up when the ‘Talkies’ the name of Jimmy Young. to do for me in later times – and now for experimental work at Manchester University began in 1929). Ray was a perfectionist. In order to put the BBC – was to compose a wide range – I heard David explain to those we were So it was that ‘The Riddle Song’ was to be recording on existing 1930s trains, buses, performed by a lady called Violet Carson. etc. ‘We are part of the TTT Team’. Henry Reed not only formed an orchestra, he also got two already established stars of radio, “I in turn would encourage a future ‘Sounds of the City’ Muriel Levy and Doris Gambell, to join Vi We recorded the sounds of genuine trams and to form ‘The Three Semis’. As from and buses after artist Harold Riley had sent January 1938, North Region was to knight of the realm with what had me a talk on his childhood in Salford in commence a ‘Nursery Sing Song’ for the 1930s and which he entitled, ‘Sounds Children’s Hour Still in the post-war period, of the City’. After recording trams, buses, a postman named Denis Decibel now been wartime Victory signs. ” and passing fire engines, Angus McKenzie delivered the children’s’ postcard requests then wrote in the Technical Press of ‘the whilst the same chap sang duets with Ms echo on just the vocalist’s microphone he of musical scores to accompany a series of remarkable sense of realism; the impression Carson. She’d ask: ‘Soldier, soldier, won’t you had me announce between the inner and ‘Cameo Cartoons’, including Adventures in that sounds were projected in front, at marry me, With your musket, fife and drum?’ outer doors of Studio 1, Piccadilly. Sharing Wonderland (commissioned especially for the the sides and, in many cases, behind me, To which I’d reply: ‘Ah no, sweet maid, I a BBC ‘Ribbon’ mic, our vocalist would 1951 Festival of Britain) and later, Beauty in a quite extraordinary way which I cannot marry thee For I’ve GOT a wife of my perform on the one side, myself on the other. and The Beast for television. Such music, found enthralling!’ own!’ (Vi knew that, as she’d not only He’d sing songs like: ‘Just to possess you, my thanks to the BBC’s Transcription Service, What became ‘enthralling’ to me was attended my wedding to Margaret in 1952 heart’s desire, just to caress you, my heart’s was often to be recorded at their splendid that this BBC North team, together with the – but skilfully knitted a set of table mats as desire..!’ whilst I in turn would encourage London premises, or for the BBC Northern creative talents of Ray Martin and Henry a present!) a future knight of the realm with what had Orchestra, in Manchester. The Northern Reed with BBC North’s in-house Orchestras, been wartime Victory signs. (It was probably Variety Orchestra (NVO) was now to be were now to be heard throughout the Dancing round the Baltic in order that I learn to behave myself that heard by NBC and CBC listeners in America, English-speaking world. What a ‘family’ I mention Ms Potter since, as Corporal Ray and his then wife Muriel invited me to Canada and in many other English-speaking team we were in those BBC days – and just Potter, she had met me (‘Sergeant’ Hill) become godfather to their son!) countries – which meant additional repeat how fortunate we were to be employed when joining the British Forces Network fees! I was even more delighted when, BY the BBC! in Hamburg 1947, when we began writing Post-war music plays and serials together. Major Barney After demob I’d written the theme music to Colehan had sent me to announce a concert accompany Desmond Hawkins’s production Northern Variety Orchestra CD in Germany given by the then Thirty of my adaptation of The Odstock Curse in May Corps Stage Band, formed and conducted 1949 for BBC West. It was described by Thanks and congratulations are due to Ian Reed and others, for ensuring a variety of the by a Sergeant in the Pioneer Corps called Cliff Michelmore as ‘a pastiche to end all NVO’s orchestral talents will now live on in CD form, with kind permission of the Musicians Ray Martin. He and I got on rather well pastiches!’ despite the fact that I had not Union. As well as employing his creative and technical skills over countless hours, Ian has together, and with the aid of the strings only given him his first broadcast from a made sure that due credit is given to the BBC staff in the North of England for the creation of the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC radio studio but also his first appearance of both the NVO in 1951 and then the Northern Dance Orchestra in 1956. we soon went Dancing Round The Baltic. Then, from the BBC’s television studios at If readers would like any information regarding when Ian Reed’s CD will be available, with the encouragement of both Barney Lime Grove! please email him at [email protected]

PROSPERO November 2011 Memories 07 Will the real Grace Wyndham Goldie stand up? It is strange to be history, writes John Grist. People are talking about what you know about, but you don’t know them. They were not there. Not only that, they were not born at the time but have the impertinence to make judgements. Club News ‘Would Grace have appointed Bel?’ Was she We have been totally rebranded and nasty, thick skinned and devious enough? redesigned, and we hope you like our She did, after all, have a double first from new look. We understand there has been Somerville. Could she make Grace laugh? Could some confusion regarding the sending she go without sleep? Did she prefer staying in out of membership cards. We apologise the office to going home? Could that lovely hair for this; if you would like us to send you be a sign of lack of moral fibre? a card, please contact Sachin (email: I started off with negative views, but Bel [email protected] or tel: 020 875 did bring off the interview with the Nasser 26549). man without shouting. That would be noted at every coffee break in West London. Having Young at Heart lunches it off with the front man, in programme West One has been primped and perked three, was a good way to bolster his and is now looking posh and ready to screen ego. extend a very warm welcome to you all. The jury is out. I have a suspicion she may Every Tuesday Young at Heart can enjoy a rate a BAFTA for her first season. main, dessert and a cup of tea or coffee for I took The Hour to my heart from the £5. Please call 020 776 50971 to book. start, when a young man with a lot of hair The Club is coming to Salford (I thought he must be Donald Baverstock) With the BBC’s migration up north, the Club Grace Wyndham Goldie gave his mirror a short, brilliant address, will be extending its services northwards to explaining that the pretty pretty television ensure that BBC staff continue to reap the I refer to The Hour. The woman on the gutsy, ambitious, brilliant, argumentative, news that he directed was worthless and benefits of being a Club member. There will telephone said it was ‘based on’ Grace noisy creative genius could put out a he wanted to do more with television than be no physical premises but the Club has Wyndham Goldie. What a brilliant idea. programme by himself. Most of the sunny afternoons at Ascot. arranged preferential rates and bespoke Might I appear in a crowd scene? secretaries were extremely able, and worked That was exactly what Lime Grove was offers with a number of local businesses. All through the first programme I was long hours. Those who ran the major about. It was obsessive. Whether it was We have a Club Ambassador in Salford waiting for Grace. She should come in programmes were called princesses. But news, current affairs, music, art, science, whose sole purpose is to co-ordinate local small, determined, urgent, with an armful it was a long time before their work was archaeology or the natural world, television events and activities. of papers, disturbing to all men present, acknowledged by the BBC. must do something positive. You can contact the Club Ambassador who would shift uneasily in their seats and Most men were frightened or anyway Not only that, it all had to be of the by email ([email protected]) or wonder what she would say. That was her apprehensive of Grace. To protect himself from highest standard. ‘Excellence’ became telephone 079 030 86002. Watch out for strength. She might be brilliant, incisive being frightened, David Attenborough got an as important as ‘Reithian’. The audience our regular roadshows. or ridiculous. office in the Film Studios in Ealing, way out of deserved nothing but the best. Near the end I realised there was no Grace. shouting distance from Shepherds Bush. It was the time when the television Congratulations! Just the lovely lissom Bel. Grace would start the day, before coffee, producers in West London lead the BBC. Congratulations to Peter Colson, our She could not be Grace or even ‘based by eating some self-satisfied, ex-President of Lime Grove, with their colleagues in Drama lucky Club lottery winner, who scooped on’ Grace, who was as old as the century. the Oxford Union and spitting the bones out. and Light Entertainment up the road in the the £10,000 quarterly jackpot. Peter had Educated abroad, then Cheltenham Ladies’ Television Centre, created public service been a member of the Club lottery for 17 College, a first at Bristol, two years at television at its very best. It was a national years and is over the moon about his win. Somerville College Oxford doing the new “She treated her achievement of importance. Nowhere was It couldn’t have gone to a more deserving PPE. History teacher, married an actor the dodgy word ‘profit’ ever heard. person – we hope he enjoys spending it! who never quite made it to the top, play secretaries with disdain. Lime Grove attracted an amazing group To sign up to the Club lottery, please email reader for the Playhouse Theatre Liverpool, of talented producers and editors: Micheal [email protected]. radio and the first television reviewer for For her they were there Peacock, Donald Baverstock, Alasdair Milne, Christmas is coming… the pre-war Listener. Joined BBC radio in Huw Wheldon, David Attenborough, Ned The Club has a wealth of offers with 1944, outstanding talks producer, seduced to get her coffee and Sherrin, Antony Jay, Paul Fox, Derrick Westfield (Shepherds Bush) retailers – all into television in 1948 which she thought her cigarettes. ” Amoore, Tony Smith, Tony Whitby, Humphrey you need to do is show your Club card: a mistake until she grasped the basics of Burton and Stephen Hearst, to name a few. Bose: 10% Discount on all Multimedia directing cameras in a studio. By the time Grace left the BBC in 1965, Speakers and Personal Audio Headphones She disliked Alexandra Palace intensely; Luckily for some of us, she liked men who practically everything had been invented (offer does not apply to QuietComfort only came into her own when she went to had been in the war. and developed in factual television, except Headphones). Lime Grove and became Assistant Head of Grace was brilliant at seizing on a humiliating nice ordinary people for Cards Galore: 20% discount. Talks, the most important Assistant Head of programme idea, giving it life, boxing the public display. anything in the history of the BBC. ears of the man she chose as editor. Her I do have one minor complaint about The Foyles: 15% off in store until 24 December. Leonard Miall, who was Head of Talks, said great achievement was fighting for resources, Hour. The gentle, present day set designers House of Fraser: 10% discount on most that when he accepted her as Assistant Head studios, film crews, producers for her editors. could not understand or even imagine that merchandise. he did not realise she could never be Assistant Nobody before or since could claim to have Lime Grove really was a dump. The BBC Octopus: 10% discount. Head of anything. taken three great programme ideas and seen decided in the early 50s that Lime Grove So Chic: 10% discount. Except for Grace, Lime Grove was totally them on the screen: Panorama and its American was unfit for human occupation and must Shirtstream drycleaners: 10% discount a man’s world in the mid-50s. We had one copy 60 minutes are still running today; Tonight’s be torn down. You don’t spend money on on all dry-cleaning, shirt service, laundry, woman – Cynthia Judah (later Kee) – who unique intelligent daily programming, only a condemned building, so they looked the suede & leather and alterations. was a proper journalist. She had been on a to be equalled by its successor Nationwide; other way for at least 20 years. smart magazine and wore a hat to work until Monitor with Huw Wheldon opened up It was odd. All the great and the good Whittard of Chelsea: 10% discount. Donald Baverstock made a fuss. Katy Dove for television the whole realm of the arts. came there to broadcast. They only saw the Vodafone: 20% off monthly line rental on (later Freeman) was the one woman graduate. There were many other formats and ideas studio and the reception rooms on the front any contract £40 and above. This is an Grace preferred men. Any connection – some flourished, others were thrown out corridor. In a way we were isolated from the ongoing offer which continues, month after between her and feminism was a laugh. She with contumely. rest of the BBC. Nobody complained. It was a month on their contract. treated her secretaries with disdain. For her they She was damning to rosy ideas. ‘What am I great place to work. Pay was very poor. Well were there to get her coffee and her cigarettes. going to see on the screen? done The Hour. Got a question or comment? In the department as a whole, the In the homes of the elderly around Britain Grace Wyndham Goldie – First Lady of Television, Email us at [email protected] secretaries were numerous and essential; no since The Hour started, the question has been: by John Grist, published 2006. or call 020 875 26666.

PROSPERO November 2011 08 Memories Recording Lord Louis

Sadly, I was involved in providing broadcast equipment is even more versatile. coverage of Lord Louis’s funeral at Romsey Solent also covered the late Lord Abbey for both Solent and Network Radio. Mountbatten’s Remembrance Concert The Vicar of Romsey Abbey, Rev David with the Band of the Royal Marines and Shearlock, was very helpful. Although narration by Solent’s Lawrie Bloomfield live the BBC was not allowed to broadcast the in Southampton Guildhall on 2 December ‘private’ committal service in the Abbey itself, 1979. When I arrived at the Guildhall early he did allow me to eavesdrop through one on the Sunday, I was greeted by the state of the Abbey windows to get some ‘Abbey manager telling me that all the Guildhall’s effects’. He also gave me the use of his public address system had been electronically Vicarage bathroom overlooking the Abbey wrecked by a boisterous band the previous West Door as a commentary point for both evening and so no hall equipment was Solent and Network, by positioning each working. We knew that Prince Charles was commentator seated on the edge of his bath coming to the evening concert, so I contacted and toilet… Unfortunately, I did not have my my London OB colleagues and, by luck, the camera to hand on that day but we covered OB storekeeper was actually on duty that the large waiting crowd with suitable f/x Sunday morning and organised a complete microphones in the trees. set of PA with stands and loudspeakers to be Later, I was given an exclusive tour of despatched...by train...to Southampton. We “the OB storekeeper organised a complete set of PA with stands and loudspeakers to be despatched by train to Southampton.”

the Vicar’s train-set in the roof space of the collected the kit in the afternoon and set up Vicarage and was allowed to put my own in the hall. That concert was recorded and control over his hobby! made into hundreds of double LPs by BBC BBC Radio Solent has covered very many Transcription Service in aid of charity. local and national events over the years, as Solent has also been broadcasting many we set up studio and OB facilities for Naval concerts by the Bournemouth Symphony Fleet Reviews, coverage of the Falklands Orchestra, including special live Saturday Fleet leaving and returning to the UK, morning children’s programmes with Lord Mountbatten including live broadcasts from the QE2, items such as Peter and the Wolf, with our own Canberra, Hermes and Invincible en route to presenters relaying the story. Some of those Memories of Lord Mountbatten’s connection with BBC Southampton and Portsmouth from mid- broadcasts were challenging, such as the channel. For these broadcasts, I was flown time when the orchestra arrived just minutes Radio Solent 40 years ago, from Solent’s first Chief out to the ships by helicopter, and I also before transmission, due to ‘road hold- climbed the Rowridge transmitter mast to set ups’; on that occasion my only balance-test Engineer, Paul Gouldstone. up the necessary aerials some 1,000ft above was two verses of the National Anthem just sea level. These Radio Car aerials are still in minutes before the red light went on! ord Mountbatten had much pleasure recording to file away in his own archives. use and will soon be re-sited’ onto a new Lord Mountbatten’s ‘shadow’ has steered in opening BBC Radio Solent Lord Louis praised our pre-opening mast nearby when new national transmission us all over the past 40 years, ensuring our some 40 years ago. I went over broadcasts covering the national power cuts facilities come into use next year. broadcasting standards were always up to his family home at Broadlands in 1970, as he reminded our new audience Our sports coverage was, and still is, very to scratch in all respects… long may that Lin Romsey with Dave Challis (Solent’s in his opening speech, especially as he comprehensive, especially with the use of continue. Some of ‘our’ past and present staff programme organiser) to record several was directly concerned with Broadlands self-operated OB equipment to cover tennis, and assistants, helped on with two ‘birthday versions of his speech for us to edit together losing power on selected days and hours. I football, rugby etc. We made our own version cakes’, came together for an anniversary on our opening night. remember discussing with him ways and of the BBC COOBE and christened our three-hour broadcast compered by Julian I met Lord Louis many times in his means of providing electricity back-up equipment ‘ROOBE’ (reporter-operated OB Clegg at the beginning of this year and you capacious drawing room overlooking the facilities for selected areas of his home. equipment). The 2011 BBC version of this may recognise some of us in the photograph. River Test, as he would always support any Radio Solent covered a very large area of request from our staff to provide a witty and Southern England, including Hampshire, the thoughtful few words for us to use prior to Isle of Wight and acres of West Sussex and broadcasts from, say, the Isle of Wight, where Dorset, all from one VHF/FM Transmitter on he had direct family connections. 96.1. Our pre-recording conversations, sitting We made arrangements to provide with him on one of the very large settees automatic power back-up facilities for in Broadlands, were, to say the least, full of both the studios in South Western House, technical humour and searching questions on Southampton, and the Post Office under- any subject that was in the news at the time. sea cables to the IOW (using two separate When I recorded Lord Louis, he would routes via Portsmouth and Lepe beach). We always sit at a small table in the drawing arranged with the local Post Office for the room, with a microphone on a table-stand. two separate routings as it was not unknown After a short pause to collect his thoughts for large fully laden oil-tankers to drag their (as he did not use any notes), he would turn anchors when waiting to enter the Fawley to me and say ‘Are you ready?’ and off we Oil Refinery and slice-off one of our main went… He would often give me three ‘tries’ transmitter links. In later years, we used so that we could edit them together to get PO radio links for the transmitter with one the best composition. All he asked was that sea-link as a back-up and we added extra I send him a cassette copy of the finished transmitters for both VHF and Medium wave.

PROSPERO November 2011 Life after auntie 09 Life’s rich pattern: A day in the life of Britain Want to be in a film? Now’s your chance. The BBC is joining film-making in retirement forces with Hollywood director Ridley Scott’s production company to make a film using material shot by members of the public. It’s now 48 years since I joined the Film Department at Ealing – working in the Film Dispatch – and my love of all things film still Britain in a Day will be part of the BBC’s contribution to the Cultural Olympiad accompanying next year’s London Olympics. It will provide what the BBC is describing as ‘a unique glimpse of hasn’t waned. contemporary British life.’ On November 12 this year people will be able to film something that encapsulates their own I am a member of two film-making lives and upload the material to a special YouTube channel. The material will then be trawled groups, ‘Ealing Video and Film Makers’ and for images for a feature-length documentary which will be produced by Morgan Matthews and ‘Partners Productions’, the latter being my broadcast on BBC Two in 2012. main ‘work’. Over the last few years I have Ridley Scott said: ‘Our aim for this new project is to get everyone behind the lens and give been on locations as far apart as Brighton, us a window onto one day in Britain.’ Beaconsfield, Chalfont St Peter, Hindhead (in Charlotte Moore, BBC commissioning editor for documentaries, will spearhead the project, Surrey) and a two-day shoot in Llanberris, which she said the BBC was uniquely able to deliver, adding: ‘The Cultural Olympiad feels like North Wales – which meant I had to pick our an ideal opportunity to take a mirror to ourselves and capture something of the kaleidoscope of actor ‘Ben’ up at 05.30 and Karen (continuity life that thrives in Britain today.’ and shot logging) at 06.00 with an RV in Betys Y Coed at 10.45. My main responsibility is ‘Transport Coordinator’, i.e., collecting the actor(s) from their homes or the nearest station and Tales of our times at TVC taking them to the location and obviously Neville Withers returning them after filming is finished. Have you got a story about Tales of Television Centre (working title), During the actual ‘shoot’ I become a GDB about me – I’m the one who beat you up!’ due to be transmitted next spring, first on (general dogsbody): ‘Neville, can you get I didn’t realise until I got involved in film- TVC? Then the makers of a BBC Four then BBC Two, will chart the my spare headphones from my car?’ (this making that there are places that specialise new documentary would like history of the building through the anecdotes from John, on sound – throwing me the in props. For instance, there is a place in to hear from you. and memories of stars and staff, past keys)… or ‘Neville’ (from the director) ‘can Southall where we were able to hire night and present. you turn that Redhead off’ – pause – ‘on’ – vision goggles, a tilley lamp, dummy corn ‘Our aim is for the programme to be a pause – ‘ok, leave it on thanks’, or it could be sacks, ammo and prop firearms for one of nostalgic, amusing, entertaining, occasionally something mundane like handing round the our films, The Release. critical, sometimes poignant and thoughtful sandwiches when we have a break. I discovered this when I needed a revolver celebration,’ says producer Richard Marson. The longest day I’ve had (so far) was on for a film called Partners. After making various Various themes will be explored, he adds, 17 March 2001. We were working on a film phonecalls, I was pointed in the direction such as the sheer size and geography of the site, what it means to work there, and the big events it has witnessed, from general elections to Children in Need. “The revolver was put in a wool stocking with ‘We also want to look into some of the a Velcro top and we were told not to wave it urban myths which surround the place – like the famous unused swimming pool in the around in public” basement, the real reason the Helios fountain never worked and the room containing a mysterious machine which no-one knows called Dirty Style Blues (which incidentally won of Bapty, in a huge warehouse in Kensal anything about.’ FIVE awards in an international competition). Green, where the security was tighter than It is not just personal stories that are of I was up just after 06.00, and we started Fort Knox. They had everything from the interest, but photographs, cine and video filming at the first location just after 09.30, smallest pistol to AK47 replicas, plus swords, footage – ‘all of which, if lent, would be in Ickenham in Middlesex. We wrapped at muskets and rifles. Before we entered the carefully looked after and much appreciated’. 20.30 in Dean Street, Soho, having squeezed warehouse, the director and I had to provide Do you know the real reason the If you can help, please contact Jax Rohen on 0208 576 in eight locations in between. By the time a complete copy of the script, proof of our Helios fountain never worked? 9539 or write to Jax Rohen, Tales of Television Centre, we’d returned to base and had a debrief and identities and proof that we were members Room 3100, BBCTV Centre, London W12 7RJ. I’d returned home, it was gone midnight. of a recognised film-making group. We both And I do this for fun? had our ‘IAC’ (Institute of Amateur Still, as my mum would have said, it all Cinematographers) cards which proved we adds up to life’s rich pattern. were genuine film-makers. Once we were Beware of scams It’s the little things I enjoy, like the time inside the warehouse (under CCTV (again, working on Dirty Style) we were surveillance), the door was locked and Police are warning the public so, the scammer will press their mute filming at a flat in Clapham and our leading bolted. The revolver was put in a wool button and stay on the line; thus giving lady Claire had been doing a scene in which stocking with a Velcro top and we were told to be aware of a particular the impression that the line is dead, and she returns to her flat after having been not to wave it around in public, otherwise scam involving landline that no outbound calls can be made. It is beaten up. Claire had done her own make-up we would have an ARV (Armed Response this part of the deception which is causing and she really looked the worse for wear. We Vehicle) turning up. telephones after a number of particular concern, as some may indeed finished filming at about 22.00 and Claire When I left the BBC in 1992, I wondered incidents were reported. be led to believe that the caller is a genuine was eager to get off. We stopped off up the how I would spend my time. Apart from BT employee who is able to access their road, me to take on petrol and Claire to buy the two film groups already mentioned, The scam begins with a call to an individual’s telephone line. something to eat. When I went to pay for and membership of various societies, I home from a person claiming to be a BT It should be noted that this scam is not the petrol, I noticed Claire had not removed often get involved with other film-making employee. The caller then states that there about obtaining the sum requested in the her make-up. Under the lights we had been projects which can involve locations up to 70 is an outstanding sum to be paid on the call. Instead, the credit card details taken using, she looked bad; under fluorescent miles away. telephone bill, which must be paid over by the scammer will be used to make far lighting she looked ten times worse. The Ask me if I’d rather stay at home and put the phone immediately, by credit card, larger purchases. faces of the men behind the counter had to my feet up, instead of getting up at some otherwise the line will be disconnected and be seen to be believed. When we got back to ungodly hour to be on location at 09.00, and a reconnection fee will be charged together Please remember never to give your credit the car, I pointed out to her that she still had the answer would be a resounding NO… with the arrears at a later date. card number, or other such personal her make-up on. Claire burst out laughing; which reminds me, I’m filming tomorrow If the caller is asked to prove their details, to unsolicited callers. If you when she recovered she said ‘What they must morning RV 08.30. identity, they will ask the individual to hang are suspicious about a call, you should have thought of me!’ My reply was, ‘What Neville Withers up and try calling someone else. On doing contact the Police.

PROSPERO November 2011 10 life after auntie North 3 goes ‘Professional’ Calling retired VT engineers The privately owned BBC ‘heritage’ OB scanner CMCR 9, which I am a member of the International to preserve the sounds in their care. This Association of Sound and Audiovisual advice is needed particularly for quarter at various times since 1969 was London Unit 5, the Midland Archives (IASA). I joined IASA in 1985 inch tape recordings which are increasingly Unit and until retirement in 1982, the first ‘North 3’, has recently when I was Manager Audio & Cameras at the endangered by a combination of tape decay taken part in shooting for a feature film. BBC Open University Production Centre at and disappearing machines. The book has Milton Keynes and have been active in the been widely accepted as being of value and association ever since. In 2005, the members has been endorsed by UNESCO. of the IASA Technical Committee collectively Work has now started on an equivalent wrote a book about how to digitise analogue publication covering video. The writing team sound recordings and manage the digital seeks help from people with knowledge of files. A second, and updated, edition of the the earlier analogue video formats who are book, Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of willing to provide information about the Digital Audio Objects, was published in 2009 and ‘tips of the trade’ – the practical knowledge can be viewed on the IASA website at http:// built up over the years and rarely, if ever, www.iasa-web.org/audio-preservation-tc04. written down. If the project is of interest to The purpose of the book was to offer any retired VT engineers, can they contact me guidance to people in the many institutions in the first instance and I will explain a little around the world that hold collections of more of the project and its background. I can audio on cylinders, discs and tape. Many of be contacted by email at [email protected]. these institutions have little or no technical com or by telephone at 01827 700 173. support and lack information about how George Boston Appreciation from retirees

BBC Visitor quite an upheaval to change a noisy line in Anne Bristow the early days; we had to physically pull the wrote in to switchboard out of its cabinet so the GPO tell us about engineer could get in behind it. Once we Moira Leece even put a mousetrap inside the desk, which and Diane was a bit of a shock for the engineer. Now all The truck was used in filming forTheatre of Dreams, a drama about Sir Matt Busby. Shooting Lowden, the repairs are done from the exchange.’ took place at a football ground in Salford in the recent very hot weather and fortunately two longest- Diane and Moira say they love their Steve Harris, the owner, was able to deploy some of the original air conditioning system for serving jobs. ‘I like meeting people and enjoy the the first time. At one stage there were about 12 people, a camera and lights all working inside receptionists challenge of finding something out when the vehicle. in the needed,’ remarks Diane. Moira adds that one The only hitch occurred just as the scanner arrived on location on a low-loader, when Steve BBC, who of the job’s best aspects is the thanks they discovered he had left keys at home! With his usual innovation, he proceeded to ‘hot-wire’ were presented with certificates from the get. ‘Visitors say we look after them and the starter, and North 3 was able to disembark to start shooting on time. The scanner usually Corporation’s retirees in appreciation for sometimes even write to say so.’ makes its way under its own power, but this was a long way and a very early start. their hard work and warm welcomes over This was the fifth outing for North 3 this summer. The others were Kelsall Steam Fair, the years. Wilmslow Show, Astle Park Steam Fair and a presentation to the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Moira and Diane received their specially at Northop. As usual, visitors were really interested to inspect this 1969 vintage technology. created certificates from the present HRLP Thanks to Steve Harris and retired BBC vision engineer Steve Jones, both of whom have Jason Horton on 28 September. spent many hours at their service benches, much of the old electronics is now operational. They were particularly thrilled to have That includes the BBC Designs Department vision mixer on which Steve ‘cut his teeth’ many photos of both South Western House years ago. and Broadcasting House, Havelock Road Forthcoming projects include firing up the sound desk and comms equipment. To this end, Southampton incorporated in the frame. four heavy duty 12V batteries have been acquired to provide the 48 volts needed. Steve has Moira and Diane have worked together even mentioned… in hushed tones… the possibility of an external respray next summer! for 41 years. Switchboards have become a lot smaller Theatre of Dreams will be in cinemas next year. Diane (left) and Moira in the old days Jerry Clegg since they joined the Corporation. ‘It was Reunions BBC Scotland Retired in attendance, so fingers crossed we are would like to join us please book your seats up sculpture and Malcolm plans to visit Staff Reunion luckier this year. Details will be posted (or with Russell Horne on 01590 624389 or Venezuela later in the year. Once again the Christmas reunion will be emailed) by early November to our known [email protected] Any old colleagues wishing to attend held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, colleagues, but if anyone new would like A reminder that you are eligable to next year would be welcome. commencing 12:00 on Friday 25 November. to come along, the details and contact attend the RELC’s if you have been in the Email: [email protected] The cost is £15, payable in advance. Anyone information will be available on our website BBC Broadcasting Chain at some time in wishing to reunite with ‘old chums’ should www.40sand50sreunion.co.uk your career. contact Stewart Shearer (stewart.shearer@ Roger Martin ntlworld.com; 0141 942 3039; 07860 338 ACED reunion 843), or Bryce Lamont (01505 703 092). BBC RELCs Members of Structural and Transmitter The BBC RELCs are celebrating Christmas this Building Section of ACED (Architectural and London Tel Rec year on Thursday 8 December at the Miramar Civil Engineering Department.) got together Christmas Lunch Hotel overlooking the sea at Bournemouth, recently in the Ship Inn in Wardour Street. Thursday 1 December will see our starting in the Bars from 10.30am with our Those present were Mike Leach, Eric 2011 attempt at holding this event at grand lunch from 1pm in the restaurant. The Finlayson, Ray Ralls and Malcolm Reid. They our usual location of the Masonic Hall, ‘Hotel-Cook’ will parade the usual flaming are all enjoying an active retirement: Mike Surbiton. Following the deluge of snow Christmas Pudding around those of us at the holidays regularly in France, Eric teaches in 2010, we suffered a 50% reduction tables when crackers will be pulled... if you sailing through the BBC Club, Ray has taken The ACED reunion

PROSPERO November 2011 obituaries 11 Colehan on It’s a Knock Out etc. of intense interest to him as well, both at working in the Alexandra Palace studios. Eastern Service When Top of the Pops came to Manchester, work and at home, where he experimented This was a time when actors were lined producer who helped he was involved as a PA and saved the Beeb with different recording techniques up in a row, with one camera per face, and a lot of money when, after the very first and effects. another in reserve for wide-shots. Technical raise standards production, the studio floor was ravaged by Allan was renowned for his uncanny requirements ruled. Engineering was in vernacular thousands of small holes from the stiletto ability to repair anything, even – or perhaps paramount, when achieving a decent picture heels of the girls cavorting on the studio especially – things others had thrown away, seemed almost miraculous. programme-making floor. He bought a stock of rubber ferrules to and at home he spent many happy hours Back at BBC Television Centre Peter Former Eastern Service senior producer cover said heels. Typical of him. with the soldering iron in hand. Photography saw everything freshly. As a lover of art he Heather Bond died on 16 July at her home This charming, delightful showman – you was another hobby, and he liked to develop expressed himself through images; painting in Ibiza after a short illness. She was 68. took his comments with a pinch of salt, he his own photographs and screen his slides with ideas. His innovative approach had a Her BBC career spanned 42 years, from sometimes ‘overegged’ his tales – was very and cine films. wide influence across the whole television when she started – as Heather Rosie – as a well known to so many different staff in He was also a very skilled self-taught spectrum. He thought in visual terms, often trainee studio manager in 1964, to her last Manchester. I was once sitting on a small pianist, and became a great cinema organ quoting Marshal McLuhan’s ‘The medium is freelance assignment for the BBC in 2006. knoll halfway down the outlook at Lands enthusiast in his fifties. His retirement the message’. He was always popular with She had retired from the BBC in 1999 and End in Cornwall when I saw a pretty girl allowed him to concentrate on playing and designers and cameramen, inciting radical pursued a further very successful career as walking down towards me. She asked if I recording, performing for members of the solutions to achieve dramatic effects. The a trainer and teacher of Radio Production at was Cecil Korer! She soon left after hearing Cinema Organ Society and restoring theatre crews loved him as much as the audiences Goldsmiths College. that I wasn’t; a music secretary who had organs. When arthritis made playing less rejoiced in his productions. You can always Heather played a leading role in starting seen me with Cecil in the offices. We were pleasurable, his delight in technology of all recognise Peter’s style. the BBC Nepali service and guided it closely all disappointed when, in 1969 he left to kinds meant he turned to the computer. The He directed several iconic episodes of for many years. She got to know the country join Channel 4 as a commissioning editor freedom of the internet was a consolation in The Avengers for ABC TV, helping create its well. As colleagues recall ‘she was like the responsible for the very first programme that his later years when poor health restricted distinctive new aura. Peter was a fund of local guide who knew everything and channel aired: Countdown! his life. energy and ideas. Everything was a challenge. everybody knew her.’ It was not easy to write Cecil died at home on 24 September and a Allan is survived by his wife, Audrey, two When offered work he had a simple formula: a job description for her; she did her own service was held on 6 October at Kingston & daughters, a stepson and five grandchildren. ‘How much does it pay? When does it start?’ thing. Her ‘fixing’ role, making sure Eastern Surbiton Crematorium. Kate Quarry He directed episodes of Rumpole of the Service languages got the Wimbledon or Those who knew him will be pleased to Bailey, starring Leo McKern with verve, other sporting coverage they wanted, was know he finished an autobiography a few followed by several classic dramas for the specially appreciated. days before he died: Name Drops Keep Falling Influential actor BBC including Aubrey about the painter Before her BBC career she had taught on my Head – recollections of a life in Television. His Beardsley, the Dickens’ classic Our Mutual English and music at secondary schools in wife Jean (55 years married) and daughter turned award-winning Friend, Treasure Island (1968), Count of Monte Cristo Birmingham and she had not found teaching live in Surrey while his son runs their media director (1964) and Hereward the Wake, for which he fulfilling. But she was a brilliant teacher, business in the US. won the Drama Director’s Bafta Award in and a generation of broadcasters in the BBC Ralph Hill On Wednesday, 1965 . Also, The Three Musketeers, then later Dark Eastern Service as well as fledgling foreign 12 October 2011, Angel based on Uncle Silas, Wuthering Heights, Cold correspondents for the World Service as a Peter Hammond, Comfort Farm, and many, many others. whole, owed much to Heather’s practical World Service the multi-talented He was a great fan of the late producer support and guidance. A colleague writes: television and Rosie Hill, in an era when the BBC ‘I saw her rescue many a programme, and newsreader film director, encouraged daring and experiment. The use a producer, from disaster. She contributed died aged 87. of angles, reflections, and inserts were some hugely to the general raising of ambitions Peter was a of his recognisable trademarks, always used and standards in vernacular programme- man of many to subjective effect. He invented his own making during the 1980s.’ careers. He was multi-adjustable glass screen for elaborate She developed her gift for languages with born in London on 15 November 1923 as mirror effects which travelled with him a degree in Spanish from Birkbeck College. Peter Hammond Hill. Inspired by his father, everywhere. He knew every shot in advance, She and her late husband, broadcaster and a picture restorer and water-colourist, he all achieved with minimum takes. It is not by BBC announcer Peter Bond, constructed started work as a scenic artist at Sheffield chance Kilvert’s Diary was nominated for a a magnificent roof garden in their flat Repertory Theatre before turning to acting, 1978 TV Lighting Bafta. in Hampstead and nurtured it for some as he put it ‘To earn some cash’. Aged 17 he In latter years he directed outstanding years before it irrigated the downstairs Allan Newman, who has died aged 83, began to star in West End plays, including episodes of ITV’s Inspector Morse, based on neighbour’s carpet once too often and had spent his 40-year career entirely at the Reluctant Heroes. ‘Soho was my village,’ he’d the Colin Dexter detective stories. He then to be removed. In her short time in proper BBC. He was an only child, born in east say, educating himself in the bookshops off worked on the Sherlock Holmes series for ITV, retirement, Ibiza became her first home. London in 1928, and left school at 16 to Charing Cross Road, letting novels seep into starring his good friend Jeremy Brett, before There is a warm tribute to her on the join BBC Radio Engineering. He transferred his brain. He made his début as a screen being forced to retire after signs of ill health. Goldsmiths’ College website http://www. to train as a studio manager and worked actor in Waterloo Road, followed by such Peter was a great character. Witty. Dry. ma-radio.gold.ac.uk/bond.htm ‘In memory in sound effects before becoming a radio movies as Morning Departure with John Mills Anarchic. Loved. He will be remembered of an elegant lecturer who taught her announcer. Following a brief stint in and The Huggetts series of family films, when fondly by the many who have been students how to make good radio.’ television announcing – a medium he didn’t he found himself doing a live double-act influenced by him, but most of all by those William Crawley particularly enjoy – he returned to radio, around the Rank cinema circuit promoting who continue to watch the many DVDs of his passion, finishing his working life in the the series with co-star Diana Dors. his work. World Service. He went on to star in such early BBC He is survived by two daughters, three Cecil and the studio Allan made many lifelong friends in TV series as The Buccaneers and The Adventures sons, and four grandchildren. his early years at the Corporation, and is of William Tell, before embarking on a BBC If people wish to they can send flowers and/or make a stilettos described by one, John Amos, as ‘one of the television director’s course at a time when donation to The Woodland Trust, Woodland Dedications, Cecil Korer started his career in the BBC best newsreaders you could want’ and an fashionable people boasted they had never 0800 093 8466, quoting Peter Hammond and/or ref. as a scene hand in TV Centre before being inspiration to younger readers. The 1950s watched, let alone owned, a television set. no. 6732915. For people who prefer to post a cheque, promoted to floor assisant. He moved and ’60s were an exciting time in radio, and He was one of those first actors to become their address is The Woodland Trust, Kempton Way, to Manchester in 1959, promoted to Allan often recalled working with the famous TV directors, which is when Peter’s wide Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL. production assistant in OBs and worked names of that era on the Light Programme. knowledge of drama and art came into Oliver Bayldon for Ray Lakeland on Sport and with Barney The developments in sound recording were focus. ‘We created the medium,’ he said of

PROSPERO November 2011 12 BOOKS

Zoom in When You See the Tears Classifieds

The Memoirs of Fred Hamilton, ex-BBC film cameraman. Reviewed by Bill Chesneau Time to be... Is your retirement what you expected? Do you want more? Life coaching with Lynda Sanders. physical demands of the job and sometimes Email: [email protected]; appallingly dangerous locations. A page Tel: 07879 810046 on which Fred gives details about his contribution usually carries praise of Richmond, Swaledale. One-bedroom the ‘team’ as well. Working closely with apartment overlooking castle. Sleeps 2/3. directors, actors, assistants, recordists, Walking, restaurants, Georgian theatre. gaffers, sparks, grips, everyone inspiring one Tel: 01748 822863 another, has a direct influence on the quality Email: [email protected] of a programme. This ‘corporate’ attitude is also reflected by his choice to include guest Port Solent on South Coast – FOR SALE. contributors of different vocations. Fred is Lovely 3-bed house with 36-foot berth generous in his praise, but not slow with the attached. £369,000. other side of the coin when professionalism Details: [email protected]; is less than adequate! Tel: 07502 305807 Fred won several awards for current affairs, but his list of ‘cult’ series credits is Seaview, Isle of Wight. Wanting to get away just as impressive. It is a fact that the BBC’s for a break? Pleasant ETB 4* studio annexe, programmes of the ‘golden age’, of which sleeps two comfortably. Near beach and village. more and more come to life, these days, on For details email: [email protected]; Tel: 01983 812180 John CW Reith and BBC senior staff DVD, were loved by audiences and respected by critics worldwide. Fred points out one Lake District. Historic watermill, secluded in of the reasons why: the people working on woods and fields, sleeps 6, beautiful all year for them were skilled AND dedicated. walking, climbing and sailing. Full of (mostly) amusing anecdotes, the Tel: 020 7387 6654; book is well illustrated with pictures taken Email: [email protected] on assignments around the globe. The author implicitly claims that many others probably Brittany, Dinan. Delightful medieval riverside Former BBC film cameraman, Fred Hamilton, tradition of a dedicated workforce producing could have written something similar. town with many restaurants. Attractive was an eyewitness to the rise and fall of many of the most memorable programmes The book brings back memories of my apartment in old merchant’s house; quiet, the BBC Film Department, disbanded in on television. He describes being an assistant career in the department and the very many central. Beaches, walks close. Near St Malo the 1990s. He saw it grow from a handful on sports programmes to filming current folk and programmes I was privileged to channel port and Dinard airport (Ryanair). of crews to become the largest and most affairs abroad and filming major plays and work with. It will also fascinate readers who Sleeps 2, double or twin. From £190pw. prestigious film unit in the world, with more serials in the 1970s and 1980s and the do not have an ‘inside knowledge’ of a BBC Tel: 020 8995 8543; than 50 active crews. introduction of electronic video cameras. department which contributed so much. Email: [email protected] Fred’s autobiography, Zoom in When You See the The author adopts an undisguised I wish I had kept a detailed diary… Tears, is a powerful tribute to the department, point of view: that of a dedicated member Fantom Publishing £14.99 Dordogne. Farmhouse in peaceful hamlet now no longer in existence. It leaves behind a of a team. He frequently emphasises the ISBN 978-1-906263-67-7 with magnificent views from garden. Ideal walking, swimming nearby, all comforts. Sleeps 4. Bargain. Tel: 07788 940660; Publishing on Kindle Email: [email protected] Menorca. Detached holiday villa with private pool. Sleeps 2-7. Near Es Castell, amenities Alan Taylor submitted this article to Prospero, as he thought it would useful to and beaches. For brochure, tel: 01621 741810; many BBC pensioners who have written or are about to write a novel, biography or www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk autobiography and are concerned about the publishing process. Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and When, as a young man, I worked at the BBC, with the ‘e-book’. Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, I was surprised at the number of people who Using the Kindle, Cardiff CF5 2YQ were looking forward to their retirement so and with a great Please enclose a cheque made payable to: that they could write a book. deal of very helpful BBC Central Directorate. I address this to the many pensioners with information from Rate: £5 for 20 words. In a covering letter similar aspirations but who have not yet got Amazon (which please include your pension number. around to setting pen to paper or fingers to is totally free), it computer keyboard. is now possible to When I eventually retired, I too decided publish your own Stolen identity that I had a book to write and I set off book within hours. on that difficult path. I found, as so many You can set your Roy Curtis-Bramwell was dismayed authors have also found, that the writing was own price and to find that his name has been used the comparatively easy part. Getting read, establish the sum for a publication entitled Blatant Bias however, was not so easy. you wish to be Corporation, which criticises the BBC ‘for After my cupboards overflowed with paid in royalties. constantly taking an anti-British line’. rejection slips, I eventually went down the For those who He says: ‘This disturbs me, particularly path of ‘self publishing’ with a company who have not yet because my days working for the produced a very good but too expensive end approached the Corporation were amongst the happiest product. Unfortunately, the next hurdle to Kindle, it is an of my life.’ negotiate was the promotion of the book. electronic book with for several months now, I am convinced Roy, who now lives with his extended Self publishers do not promote your book, an enormous storage capacity of over a that it is here to stay. family in Australia, is very keen that no-one that part is left up to you. thousand books. One of its other great For those who are still not convinced, I am thinks he has contributed to or is in any This attempt to publish my book occurred advantages is that one can change the size living proof that it can be done. Let me say way associated with this book, which about five years ago, and already in that short of the type and even change the distance that it is an incredibly satisfying experience he considers a slur on his reputation. time things have changed dramatically for between lines. It is no bigger than a to write and then to professionally publish Having previously co-written a book about authors. On the Internet, Amazon grew and paperback and much slimmer. There are still yourself. I re-published my original novel, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, he developed. Suddenly the ‘Kindle’ was born, many who say they prefer to hold a normal One Day as a Tiger, and three more books of is especially concerned about this new and publishing took on a new lease of life book in their hands, but having used one short stories on the Kindle. publication being linked to his own.

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