The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online A virtual tour of W1 BBC volunteer visitors enjoy their introduction to New Broadcasting House – page 3

October 2012 • Issue 7

BBC reviews 50th anniversary Caroline access to Wales Today Thomson leaves buildings Page 6 Page 9 Page 12

NEWS • Memories • Classifieds • Your letters • Obituaries • CrosPERO 02 visiting scheme BBC Volunteer Visiting Scheme Conference 2012 This year’s Volunteer Visiting Scheme conference took place at the University of Leicester Conference Centre in September.

“A wrist fracture is now considered an important signal that there may be bone fragility.”

‘Ten years ago,’ said David, ‘we had Jim tried to track down one of the original £0.9 billion in fixed-interest bonds and characters, ‘Phil Archer’ (played by Norman virtually nothing in index-linked. That change Painting for many years). has come about because of the Scheme’s need for more protection against inflation.’ One fried egg or two? The Scheme has £1.1 billion invested in Eventually, Norman got in touch with property, and it directly owns 76 properties him, and Jim was able to record an hour- in the UK. It also invests £1.5 billion in long interview in which he answered ‘alternative investments’, which includes the question: Why was Grace killed off? making loans to companies who have (Apparently Phil had been the one who was his year’s programme of speakers His story highlights the fact that osteoporosis found it hard to borrow from banks in the due to be killed off, and it wasn’t until the had much of interest to the BBC’s is not just something that happens to ‘little current climate. last minute that the cast was told that Grace volunteer visitors, who came away old ladies’. Among the over-50s, one in five The final presentation of the day was by a would in fact be the first major character to well informed about a variety of men and one in two women will get so- new BBC visitor, Jim Latham, who urged the die in the series.) Tsubjects, including hearing loss, osteoporosis called ‘fragility’ fractures. audience to help record the history of the Norman, who was in poor health, died and State benefits. Jean Nunn, an ex-BBC visitor who now BBC by collecting (with the permission of shortly after the interview, and so Jim was There were also a number of presentations works with the Osteoporosis Society, went their ‘visitees’) the memories of the people never able to find out more about those very about the BBC, covering the pension scheme on to give a summary of the risk factors and who worked there. early days of The Archers. and its investments; the West One project in management of osteoporosis. Jim described how an interest in local He urged the visitors to get involved in London to redevelop Broadcasting House One of her key messages to the delegates history had made him appreciate the role the BBCPA’s Memory Bank project, in which (see article on page 3); and a project run by was this: if you or someone you know played by ordinary people in important all BBC staff will be able to record their the BBC Pensioners’ Association to capture fractures their wrist, don’t just go to the events. He became interested in the history memories in an orderly fashion using a web- the history of the Corporation. fracture clinic and leave it at that. It’s of The Archers, the longest-running radio based ‘wikipedia-style’ software programme. important to get referred for a bone density soap of all time, and wanted to know more The conference was closed by the Acting Hard of hearing scan, as a wrist fracture is now considered about the origins of the series (essentially Head of Pensions, James Hacker, who thanked Action on Hearing Loss is the new name an important signal that there may be a propaganda broadcast after World War all the visitors for the important service they for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. bone fragility. Two to encourage better farming practices). provided to the BBC’s pensioners. Speaker Gemma Twitchen, an audiologist working for the charity, explained what Day Two causes hearing loss and what treatments The second day of the conference took are available to people who may find their a more introspective look, with the hearing is not as sharp as it once was! An presentations focusing on the BBC. important message that delegates took away David Wall, Head of Finance for BBC with them was that the NHS hearing services Pensions, talked about the Scheme’s are excellent, and people should go via the investments and how those have changed NHS first. Only then, if they find the service in the last 10 years. lacking, should they go for the option of ‘At March 2012, we had about 44% of our private hearing tests. assets – £4.1 billion – invested in equities. The second session started with a moving ‘We hold big positions in internet and personal story by Bob Rees, an ambassador mobile phone companies – Vodafone, Baidu for the Osteoporosis Society (www.nos.org. and Amazon being in the top 10 largest uk). Bob is not your typical osteoporosis holdings – and it’s interesting to think that sufferer. Ten years ago, at the age of 42, those markets didn’t exist 20 years ago.’ he suffered a severe spinal fracture for no The BBC Pension Scheme is invested in apparent reason, while on holiday abroad over 370 companies across 30 countries, with his young family. After almost eight with its emphasis on reducing risk by Information online months of misdiagnosis, he was finally told diversifying its investments across markets, Test your hearing online: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk that he had osteoporosis. managers and geographical regions. Find out your risk of getting osteoporosis: www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/ (also available as an iPhone app) Now, 10 years later (and several inches At March 2012, the Scheme had State Pension Age: www.direct.gov.uk shorter – although still a tall man), he works £0.9 billion invested in fixed-interest bonds BBCPA memory bank project: www.bbcpa.org.uk as an ambassador for the charity. and £1.5 billion in index-linked bonds.

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: prospero@bbc.co.uk 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 2012.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 visiting scheme 03 W1 – new opportunities CONTACTS

Andy Griffee’s presentation on the West One 80 years later, when they discovered that rust where members of the public can enjoy a Visiting Scheme (W1) project – the BBC’s largest ever capital was damaging the Portland stone (so-called coffee while watching live television and radio If you would like a visit or information on project – drew gasps of admiration from the ‘Regent Street Disease’, where water gets news being made. how to become a volunteer visitor, please visitors, as they watched a short video which between the steel framework and the stone of ‘Audiences won’t have to stand in the rain, ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged at showed the ultra-modern interior of the new, the building). queuing in Portland Place. They can come the local rate. purpose-built multimedia centre Andy showed some photos of the 1930s into the building and enjoy a drink in the warm, at Broadcasting House. building, including the Art Deco radio theatre before the show starts,’ said Andy who also Queries For benefit and pension payroll queries, call (where staff sheltered during the Blitz), and said that tour guides would begin taking pre- the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. the canteen – ‘where 10 chefs served booked visitors around BH from next March. 30,000 cream teas a year’. A new energy Prospero The W1 project has involved two The new building is specially designed as the To add or delete a name from the distribution list, ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. main phases: home of a great deal of live programming, Prospero is provided free of charge to retired • the restoration and modernisation of ‘so the majority of people in it are frontline BBC employees. On request, we will also old Broadcasting House and the programme makers’. Everyone sits in open construction of a new eastern wing send it to spouses or dependants who want plan floorplates (including the new director to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is (now known as the John Peel Wing) general, George Entwistle and other senior also available on audio disc for those with on the site of the old Egton House managers), although they have glass meeting sight impairment. To register, please ring • the construction of the seven-storey rooms conveniently located nearby to retreat the Service Line. New Broadcasting House, as an to for more confidential business. extension to ‘old’ Broadcasting House. Nearly all UK-wide and International news BBC Club The BBC Club in London has a Once Phase One was completed, they dug programmes will be made at Broadcasting retired category membership costing one of the largest holes in West London House, including the World Service – who behind Broadcasting House – three basement £30 a year or £39 a year for family have been able to take advantage of the new membership. Pre-1997 life members are levels deep. Two underground lines (Victoria technology available to them to do more TV not affected. Regional clubs may have Andy, who is leading the team responsible and Bakerloo) run under the building, and the programmes – ‘part of moving to a multi- different arrangements. for the planning and delivery of W1, pointed hole came within a few metres of the Victoria platform service in a multi-platform building,’ Please call BBC Club London out that the project has involved much more line – a huge challenge for the civil engineers said Andy. administration office on 020 8752 6666 than just the refurbishment and extension working on the project. A relatively last-minute addition will be or email [email protected] of ‘old’ Broadcasting House. Several Andy was asked whether vibrations from Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra, who are now Benevolent Fund other BBC buildings in the area, including the underground were noticeable in the being accommodated on the top floor at This is funded by voluntary contributions Western, Grafton and Brock, have also four new TV studios which were built at the rather short notice, after a leasebreak for been refurbished to make them fit for purpose bottom of the hole – something which had from the BBC and its purpose is to protect their existing premises at Yalding House was the welfare of staff, pensioners and their in the 21st century, at a total cost of been a problem in the old Broadcasting invoked by their landlord – ‘so now we have families. Grants are made at the discretion £1.46 billion. Most of this has been funded House. The answer was that the floors of the teenagers upstairs with their loud music of the Trustees. They may provide via a 30-year loan, he explained, and the all the basement TV studios have been built just like home’, joked Andy. But he was assistance in cases of unforeseen financial technology would need to have been replaced on special springs to absorb any vibrations looking forward to the additional buzz and hardship, for which help from other sources anyway. Current savings made possible by the caused by the underground trains rattling by. energy that they would bring to the building. is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. project total more than £700 million. About a year ago they took out the walls Not only does Broadcasting House now Prospero Society ‘And we’re on budget and on schedule!’ that separated old Broadcasting House and feature the latest digital technologies (with he noted. the John Peel Wing from the new extension, Prospero Society is the only section of the everyone sharing the same system) but they BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff Andy, who is also a BBC-appointed to create one single inter-connected building. have also introduced ‘genre working’. This and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC Trustee for the BBC Pension Scheme, has The security of such a high-profile building means that all staff working in a particular pensioners to meet on a social basis for been tasked with the migration of 6,000 was obviously a concern for the project team, genre (eg, science, or arts) sit together – theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. news, television, radio and support staff into and precautionary measures include steel whether they are TV, radio, news or factual Prospero is supported by BBC Club funds New Broadcasting House by March 2013. bollards around the building, blast-proof walls programme making – so they can share so as to make events affordable. and extensive CCTV. However, as part of its prospects and ideas, and staff can develop The only conditions (apart from paying Regent’s Street Disease planning permission, the BBC also had to their careers more easily. a small annual subscription) are that you The original Broadcasting House was built in ensure that the building had extensive public ‘Everyone is taking advantage of the new must be a BBC pensioner and a member of the BBC Club. For an application form write 1932 as the first purpose-built broadcasting spaces, with people being able to walk in off opportunities that the new building gives to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries Avenue, centre in the world. It had an innovative steel the street and use the horseshoe-shaped them,’ said Andy, ‘and we believe that there Radlett, Herts WD7 7EL. superstructure – but that same superstructure piazza as a walk-through. There is also a large will be many creative benefits from working Telephone: 01923 855177 caused problems for the project team ‘Media Café’ overlooking the main newsroom, this way, as well as financial benefits.’ Mobile: 07736 169612 Email: [email protected] BBC products BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% Crospero 169 devised and compiled by Jim Palm discount off the RRP of most products in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a 1 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words postage charge of £2.95 per order running across. Then take these words in numerical order and (not per item). Pensioners must quote 2 3 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, their BBC pension number when ordering. Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, these letters will spell out the name of a popular BBC programme. 4 5 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The Editor, W12 7RJ. Telephone: 020 8225 8230 Prospero, BBC pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff 6 7 Email: [email protected] CF5 2YQ, by Friday 19 October 2012. The winner will receive a high street Other ways to order (quoting your voucher worth £10. pension number when ordering): By phone: 08700 777 001 8.30am-6pm weekdays. CLUES By post: BBC Shop, PO Box 308, 8 9 1. Restaurant (9); 2. Monster (5); 3. Arranges (5); 4. Miss Hayworth (4); Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8LW. 5. One of five children (4); 6. Milking organ (5); 7. OT man (4); 8 and 9. Email: [email protected]. Sports broadcaster (5, 5); 10. Cereal (4); 11. Shuts with a bang (5); 12. Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, Practical one (4); 13. Underground railway (4); 14. Remote island (5); Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or 10 11 15. Not active (5); 16. Reasonable (9). Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for telephone, post and email orders. Overseas: £4.50 for 12 13 one item and £2 for each additional product for telephone, post and email orders. Solution to Crospero 168: Away, Glint, Gin, Ree, Eel, Aft, Eli, Ase; Reach, 14 15 Arts, Omit, Pomades, Peri, Bolt, Opine, One, Gem, Caw, Ace, ATS, Eve, BBC PA Erode, Odes. The film wasAngel Fish and the music was Rippling Waters. 16 For details of how to join the Pensioners’ The winner of Crospero 168 was Mr J Dean of London. Association, see panel on page 5.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 04 LETTERS BBC Trust European move to BH Being an avid reader of Private Eye, I thought I might be in a minority for thinking cynically about Mr Agius’s position with somewhat ‘frosty’ the BBC...not so, it would appear. However, to round upon one individual almost I think I can answer Margaret Ettall’s to her lower lip, stormed in to point out in a scapegoat-like fashion is really a question, posed in the August letters column, errors in the columns of figures I had typed. distraction, when in fact there have been as to when exactly the European Services Apparently I had assigned more than many more who have preceded over the were transferred to Bush House, because it 60 minutes to an hour and everyone Beeb’s future and have been seemingly coincided with my joining the BBC in my knows it couldn’t possibly be that! quite content to let it be the fatted calf first job after leaving University. Unfortunately no one had bothered to for the greater good of others – ‘those’, Having been recruited for a clerical explain that these figures were times of as the ‘Eye’ identifies so clearly, being position in Studio Bookings, it was on day expressed in the 24-hour clock system, mainly the Murdoch empire! 4 November 1957 that I reported to room a completely new concept to me. After A quick look at the economic history 209 SE Wing Bush House. The room I that I had to start learning the peculiar of the BBC reveals a subtle and agonisingly entered was filled by an assortment of ways of broadcasting, fast. slow destruction by outside interests: why women standing about and seemingly doing Once I had completed the typing, the Come six o’clock on my first day, I was still has this been allowed to happen, anyone little. Closer inspection revealed they seemed sheets were rolled off on a Banda machine sitting at the typewriter, facing the wall, who dares to champion the Beeb – to fall into two groups. One of these ladies, (remember them?) and run around Bush unaware that all the clerks had drifted away, Greg Dyke, Michael Lyons – goes? The perhaps recognising a newcomer (though House, distributing them to the Control until the last, perhaps more kindly than the outsourcing and privatisations; the loss of its no-one was taking much notice of me,) Room, studio managers, reception, and others, said ‘Shouldn’t you have gone home own broadcasting ability through the ‘sale’ pointed out a woman called Ethel and said various production offices. It was in one of by now?’ So ended my first day at work, of its transmitters; its position as a major ‘She’s our boss; if anyone else tries to tell you these offices, in the central block, that I was ingrained in my memory. feature film and drama producer through what to do, don’t take any notice.’ greeted by a bad-tempered secretary who Pat Cox the ridiculous ‘forced sale’ of TVC with the Apparently there was another claimant to snapped, ‘None of this is relevant to us’, subsequent even more ridiculous move this title, in the room! Rather disconcerting tossing my hard-won sheet aside. Feeling Margaret Etall wonders when the to Salford? in your first job. somewhat aggrieved, I told her I was only Overseas Service moved to Bush from During my service at the Beeb all these Eventually I was sat down at a typewriter following instructions and it was my first day 200 Oxford Street. I started work in Bush transfers, cuts and privatisations was always facing the wall in a corner and told to at work! After commiserating with me, she Bookings in autumn 1958 and the move because we were to ‘save’ £100m by copy handwritten lists entitled ‘Alterations explained that everything was in confusion must have taken place around ‘57. Relations outsourcing this and that: what the Finance to the schedule’ which were brought in because the European Service and the between the two sets of bookings clerks were Directors wouldn’t, or possibly couldn’t, from time to time from another room. Overseas Services of the BBC had that week still a little frosty and the amalgamation was tell you was the £101m plus that it would It was not long before an elderly woman been thrown together in Bush House, and always spoken of as ‘a year ago’. now take to bring in these services over with a cigarette butt permanently attached nobody was happy. Pat Taylor the medium term, not to mention the thousands of dedicated and talented staff pushed out the door. There is a long list of these ‘mistakes’, but to mention them all “…everything was in confusion because the European Service and the one runs the risk of being accused of being utopian and nostalgic. But could one not be Overseas Services of the BBC had that week been thrown together in blamed for thinking that the slow grip of political manipulation has always overruled Bush House, and nobody was happy…” the Corporation’s true potential? I’m sure that many must feel that the Beeb has now lost its independence and stature as a public institution. For example, why was Carrying the scars of Wagner’s Rienzi the current Chairman appointed when he Does a BBC music is so closely associated with the present I was interested in Don Hartridge’s letter prepared all the full scores, orchestral parts governing political party who have about the technical aspects of recording (all hand copied), vocal scores and chorus library exist? effectively placed the Corporation into Wagner’s Rienzi in Manchester. parts for the ‘huge forces’ involved. a financial straightjacket for the next I well remember that production – in It took three months’ solid work and we The item ‘Report urges BBC to keep all six years? fact you could say I still carry the scars! The had to say we could only take on work for its orchestras’ (Prospero, July) was of If readers have the time to read it, I advise Music Copying unit of the Central Music other programmes if it was an emergency. interest to me as I worked in the Music them to take a look at Private Eye’s unusually Library in Yalding (in other words myself, If I remember correctly it involved over five Library at Yalding House from 1955 until complimentary report on the Beeb two staff music copyists, two book binders hours of music. It is sad if the recording no the end of 1961. (10 August), where they ruthlessly and two photocopying machines, with the longer exists. I do hope the orchestral and Those were great days as we issued cut through what has happened to the support of a long list of professional music vocal material are still around somewhere! music to all the regional orchestras, as Corporation, mainly at the hands of Sky copyists and a couple of photocopying firms) Diane Ward well as music for the studio managers and their ‘friends’, in the light of the Beeb’s controlling the numerous afternoon excellent sports coverage. They ask why on concerts by artists ranging from solo earth do we not have a dedicated BBC sports singers and instrumentalists to quartets, channel (why indeed could this not be trios, etc. In the early days of ‘live’ satellite broadcast on a subscription aka the television, we also sent music to TV license fee, to other countries?) free from BBC shop – not Centre for the monthly Music for all the dross associated with over commercial You programmes. broadcasters? Now who was it who said I thought I should warn Prospero readers that shop for me, as I knew precisely what I am still in contact with two friends that the Beeb didn’t need to do so much it’s not quite as easy to buy products from I wanted. I provided cash and my pensioner from those days, and we have wondered sport because others do that? the BBC ‘shop’ at Television Centre as they number, and eventually had the DVD set in many times if a music library still exists in John Burns might imagine. my hand. this era of computers! I recently walked I recently needed to purchase a box set of But without being able to visit the up Great Portland Street and was surprised Coast, and rang the TVC shop (the only one shop in person, there is no way to browse to see that Yalding House was still in in London, so far as I can see) to check that the shelves, or to pay by credit card. I can’t ‘BBC hands’, but now for the services it was in stock. see the point of this arrangement, which of BBC One. Yes. So far so good. I turned up armed bars not only pensioners but also the I left the library after marrying another with my pensioner number and thought it general public. The sales must be employee of the BBC, but in those days would be a simple matter to collect it. extremely limited. was known under the name of Pat Elphick. However, I found that there is actually no I am not sure whether BBC pensioners I often wonder if any colleagues from shop in the foyer! It is somewhere beyond, to can obtain the appropriate pass to give those days are still around? which outsiders have no access without a pass. access to the shop, but if so it would be Pat Holmes (nee Elphick) The reception staff were as helpful as they good to know how. could be. One of them offered to go to the Angela Bird

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 LETTERS 05 Falling standards Whereabouts The chatterbox on Just a Minute For some time it has been obvious that the The report on 45 minutes of Just a Minute designed and built at home a foolproof system BBC has had falling standards. There was a of Light Music in the June issue of Prospero brought to indicate the first to buzz. I provided each time when the television went on and that Alan Ward asks about the whereabouts of back memories for me. I was the studio player with a hand-held push switch mounted was it; nowadays it’s a continual battle with Light Music these days. manager allocated to record the pilot and within a copper tube. The first to press opened the sound levels. The Robert Farnon Society (www.rfsoc.org. many subsequent programmes from the relay contacts blocking the other three circuits, Why is it that studio productions with uk) exists to promote, not only Farnon’s rich Paris studio in Lower Regent Street, London. triggered a buzzer and activated one of four pre-recorded inserts cannot manage to musical legacy, but all aspects of Light Music, Each of the four players had a buzzer from lights on the chairman’s desk. I seem to recall have the same sound balance throughout both live and recorded. It has remastered and sound effects store, but immediately a problem I was awarded £25 for the idea and the cost the programme? Why do the promotions reissued many recordings of days past under emerged. The chairman was unable to tell who of components. Later the BBC copied my idea always come through much louder than real the umbrella title The Golden Age of Light Music. had buzzed, even more so should two players and produced its own version. It was known production? Why is the sound level different Its next London meeting will be on challenge at the same time. Sometimes a short locally for a while as the ‘chatterbox’ after my between BBC channels? Where is the overall 14 October when the guest speaker will be discussion plus a little honesty was necessary name rather than any vocal output. I wonder transmitted sound control and is there the former Principal Conductor of the BBC to determine who was actually first. As if the same system is in use today. anyone taking this responsibility? Radio Orchestra, Iain Sutherland. something had to be done about this, I John Chatfield The falling standards were no more Whilst writing may I be permitted to apparent than in the Jubilee Concert, which mention, in the context of the general lacked cohesion, looked as if it was directed tenor of your readers’ letters and memories, by committee and some parts shoddy beyond the Voice Of The Listener & Viewer (www.vlv.org. description, an untidy aggravating mess of uk) which exists to maintain standards in public That which is Taken back in time panning shots, zooms and audience reactions. service broadcasting. It is a much respected My goodness Mr Willey, how your article Such a pity they didn’t remember to ‘put the organisation within the industry and has no in the archives stays took me back in time. It was lovely to be camera on the money’. connection with the late Mary Whitehouse’s reminded so happily of all those radio shows The drop in standards is apparent in the National Listeners’ & Viewers’ Association, and in the archives! that kept us cheerful through some rough ‘dumbing down’ – the best example of its conferences, which are held around the On behalf of my son-in-law’s grandfather, times. Happidrome does not ring a bell, but the this is The One Show (Blue Peter for adults). Alas country, regularly attract key figures; indeed, I’ve been trying to find out whether any original words of ‘We three…’ are still in this simplistic approach was used on the the speaker at the next London event on recordings were ever made and retained memory. What really pleased me was your unresearched, badly planned, tacky shambles 26 November will be Lord Patten. of Grandpa’s wife’s piano duet programmes mention of ‘Ole Faithful’. that was the Jubilee Pageant. Enough has been Both organisations would welcome in the early-mid 1950s. Light Programme I When I was sent, somewhat reluctantly, to said about this dismal showing of poor concept new members. think. I even have names, dates and times. piano lessons, I was lucky to have a teacher with lack of preparation, but Mark Thompson Anthony Wills Grandpa’s wife died last year. who was not going to bore me to tears said he was pleased, blamed the rain and shut I can’t make contact with archives, or even with scales and theory. Instead, I started his ears. I would have said it was adequate – their minders, either to raise or dash hopes. The off with the aforementioned tune, which but then I doubt he sat through the whole Where’s Wally nearest I got was a helpful person at Dovetail I thoroughly enjoyed, and set me off on a sorry debacle of the pageant or the concert! who are responsible for the selling process. happy road. I have kept the sheet music, now And yes he is leaving. (Evans)? She said she’d look into it for me and email a touch battered after about 80 years! Let’s hope for better coverage at the I work in reception in Southampton. Derek me back. Her eventual email contained this ‘Thanks for the memory’ seems appropriate. Olympics. Let us hope that valuable lessons Jeffs called in to say he is trying to find out immortal line: ‘Unfortunately the Archive Department Doreen Parr have been learned, fronting programmes with more details about his father, Walter William are unable to look into what are in the archives, as once it is ‘eye candy’ is not the recipe for good television! (Wally) Evans, born 1891. Around 1936, in there, it stays there I’m afraid.’ Once the BBC was a byword for excellence. his father used to play BBC piano recitations I think I remember that there wasn’t (isn’t?) Any more examples like the Jubilee between programmes, and also had his own a central archives, but I’d like to make contact weekend and it will be derided for sloppiness dance band. with someone who’d at least tell me what the and ineptitude! Mr Jeffs told me he’d sent several SAEs to process is/if a process exists at all, or indeed Chris Cherry BBC London and not even had a reply. if the above statement from Dovetail is the If you have any information that I can BBC policy. pass on to Mr Jeffs, please email me at Can anyone help? Pedlar of propaganda [email protected]. Adam Phillips Am I the only ex-Beeb employee who feels so Moira Heather angry when Alastair Campbell appears on the BBC, whether on television or radio? Practiced in the art of deception, have you noticed how Canteen gossip he’s reinvented himself? Telling anybody who Regarding the recent letter, ‘Canteen gossip’, will listen about his drinking problem and I well remember an event in the Pebble Mill breakdown, and saying anything to make canteen. A lift at the far end was convenient himself agreeable. Is he that presumptuous for staff and artists to get from Studio A (the he feels that we don’t remember his larger, drama studio) to the staff restaurant. hectoring, and anti-BBC rhetoric? At the time, around 1967, when Doctor This is the man who, almost certainly, Who was being recorded, his companion manipulated the press over the Hutton Report, Deborah Watling, wearing a T-shirt on denying that the dossier on Iraq’s illegal which it said ‘God Bless Woolworths’, weapons was not sexed up. This pedlar of and nothing much else as far as I could see, biased propaganda forced three extremely walked the length of the seating area to talented, honest BBC employees to resign: the serving end. As she progressed, you Greg Dyke, the director general Andrew could hear all the conversations stop from Gilligan, and Gavyn Davies. one end to the other. Lew Gardiner Colin Pierpoint Changeover woes I am at a loss since the changeover to the new system of watching TV. Before changeover, I had no problem with signal. Now, on my new television, with my new aerial purchased and installed by a BBC installation engineer, I often receive a ‘no signal’ message. When I watch BBC i-player on my computer, I often lose the picture. All I get is the blue circle of light whirring in the middle of the screen. However, if I go back to the programme later on, it will play. I only live in Surrey, not far from Red Hill – and not in the wilds of Scotland. Why a system that was not a problem changed for one that causes aggravation and loss of programme, I am at a loss to understand. I have missed parts of programmes that I would have really enjoyed. Will this problem resolve itself? Kay Curtis

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 06 Memories Wales Today and 50 years of regional

Money matters news programmes To mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of BBC Television’s regional news programmes, Accessing financial David Morris Jones looks back at the very first edition ofWales Today, broadcast on 17 September 1962. Now the longest running news programme in the world, it shared a 20-minute slot with advice – changes BBC Points West. from 2013 From January 2013, the way in which It’s coming up to ten past six on financial advice is offered to retail investors Monday, 17 September 1962. We’re in BBC newsroom, Stacey Road, 1967. will change. Studio B, Cardiff – built in what was New legislation known as the Retail once the nave of a disused Wesleyan Distribution Review takes effect from then, IMethodist Church in one of the city’s and commission payments from product seedier streets. providers to advisers will be unavailable for The nervous tension in the darkened gallery retail investment products. In addition, all is almost palpable. Nobody in Wales, or in any financial advisers will have to hold qualifications of the regions, has ever made a programme and maintain continuous training to a higher quite like this before. It’s loosely based on its standard than is currently the case. progenitor – the Tonight programme – which These measures are being introduced by itself is a format imported from the USA by the Financial Services regulator to: Merthyr-born producer and ex-RAF bomber • promote better outcomes navigator Donald Baverstock. for consumers In the studio, presenter Brian Hoey (also ex- • ensure more transparency in the cost RAF) is standing ready before a map of Wales of financial advice. – his opening link memorised. (It has to be – The cost of financial advice will have to there’s no autocue.) be agreed between the consumer and the adviser. This may be as a fixed fee, hourly rate charge or a percentage of any ‘We’re not having you. investment. It must be agreed in advance, and if an ongoing fee or charge is to be You’re not the man paid, it must be for a specific service. Most Ormond Thomas has done his best to rebuild advisers offer a free initial consultation and for us.’ Brian Hoey’s confidence after his put-down you should not expect to pay until you have from Head of Programmes – but meanwhile agreed what advice you need and signed an hasn’t had much of a vote of confidence agreement as to the scope and cost of this. Hoey is nervous – and with reason. Head of himself . The short-tempered, one-legged, After January 2013 some advisers will be Programmes Wales Hywel Davies has already ebullient and brilliant news editor Tom independent and required to access the whole told him: ‘We’re not having you. You’re not Richards, only too well-aware that television market to provide solutions to their clients. the man for us. We’re looking for a new Cliff programmes tend to trip themselves up on Others will be restricted to advising on a limited Micklemore.’ (Davies never could pronounce their first nights, had already warned Radio range of products from a few providers and in the Tonight presenter’s surname.) ‘But look, Times readers that things might go wrong on some cases one provider only. you can help us with the auditions if you Wales Today. Tom wrote, ‘It may occasionally be Before you seek advice, you should like – you can be the stooge, the foil, for the untidy – but then so is life.’ understand whether the adviser is people we’re looking at.’ Nervously pacing up and down behind independent and able to access the However, after auditioning 52 hopefuls, Ormond Thomas is producer Wynford whole market, or restricted to one or two Davies has drawn a blank – so he’s now told Jones, ex-South Wales Echo columnist, now product providers. Hoey (who’s done some radio acting as a assistant news editor and producer. When You should also ask the adviser about schoolboy and some freelance reporting), Tom Richards and his team had been John Ormond Thomas – the director their qualifications; the new minimum that he can ‘fill in’ as temporary presenter of struggling to think up a suitable name on the first night of Wales Today. standard is the equivalent of QCA Level 4. Wales Today for a few weeks while they look for for the new programme, it was Wynford Many advisers are qualified above this level somebody else. Little does Hoey know those who’d saved the day. He’d remembered already. You should also ask if the adviser ‘few weeks’ would become years. that the name of an old Saturday-night On the studio floor, the cameramen (yes, and their firm specialise in particular areas Across the studio, newsreader Aled Rhys radio programme, In Town Tonight, had been all men) have just completed line-up – that of advice; for example, long-term care William is rifling through the news bulletin adapted for an obscure current affairs sacrosanct period of engineering purdah planning, occupational pensions advice marking up punctuation. There’s no autocue series called In Wales Today. So, Wynford imposed before every live transmission. and retirement options advice all require for him either. The Wales Today newsreader’s ventured to suggest, ‘Why don’t we just (There are no zoom lenses. Everything is in additional licensing and qualifications. If you role will rotate with several other freelancers, call it Wales Today?’ black and white, 405 lines.) need advice in these areas, it is essential including solicitor and actor John Darran, and No one has yet seen the news films properly that your adviser is qualified in these. ex-Sunday Times journalist David Parry-Jones. – they’re camera negatives which will be While personal recommendations are Both of them, in the years ahead, will present The idea went down converted electronically to positive only when a good way to find an adviser, there are the programme regularly and become very shown live on air. Film editor Peter James has also a number of websites that offer lists familiar TV faces in Wales. like a lead balloon. edited these dim pictures on his venerable Arno of qualified advisers in your area, showing In the gallery, 20 feet above the studio floor, editing machine and joined them on a foot- their qualifications, status and areas of is director John Ormond Thomas – eisteddfod- operated splicer, patented back in 1916. He specialisation. For more information see winning bard, poet, and someone far happier The idea, Wynford told me later, went down hopes the joins hold. www.thepfs.org and www.fsa.gov.uk/ at directing leisurely features than frenetic live like a lead balloon. Nobody thought much In the gallery, production secretary Elfair register/home.do news programmes. Supporting him is ex-Fleet of it – but time was running out and, in Davies has no news computer at her disposal Kay Ingram Air Arm navigator- turned-director Gareth the absence of anything better, Wales Today it (they won’t be introduced for another 20 years), Chartered Financial Planner Wyn Jones. He, with later Richard Lewis, Gwen duly became. In the event, of course, it was not even an electronic calculator (they haven’t LEBC Group Ltd MacFadyen, Phil Chilvers and John Roberts will the very best name imaginable. Wales Today been invented either). Her only tools are two www.lebc-group.com become the key directors of the programme in was to become the longest-running news standard-issue BBC Nero Lemania stopwatches 0203 036 0842 the years ahead. programme in the world. and an aptitude for deft mental arithmetic.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 Memories 07

John Ormond Thomas scans the seven On the transmission monitor, the name monitors in front him (that’s all there of the new programme appears for the Launch of regional TV news programmes are); Points West from Bristol presented by first time on thousands of screens across, Jeremy Carrad is coming to an end. ‘Standby not just Wales, but the West Country Until 1957, BBC and the commercial was still a single monolithic and more-or-less everyone – good luck. Run TK1...Sep-Mag.’ too. (Both regions still have to share the television stations had gone off the air UK-wide broadcaster (there were still several Elfair counts down the eight seconds it single TV transmitter at Wenvoe just outside between 6pm and 7pm every evening parts of the country which did not have a takes for the film to run to the first frame. Cardiff – tonight it was Points West’s turn because this hour was designated as the BBC TV transmitter at all). The vision mixer – with only six white to go first.) period of the so-called ‘toddler’s truce’. From 1957 the BBC had incorporated buttons and six faders in front if him – ‘Mix to 2, cue Hoey.’ Presenter Brian Hoey is This period of blank screens was straightforward five-minute ‘regional bulletins’ cuts to the titles on telecine. The music sounds nerve-free and word-perfect on his memorised ostensibly to allow parents to put their within the ex-toddler’s truce 6pm-7pm slot, suitably staccato and urgent. The piece, selected opening link: ‘Hello and good evening to you children to bed without the distractions but these had been very basic newsreads by Gareth Wyn Jones, has the unlikely title on this most important day of the history of of television (although some Welsh-language to camera. They were a long way from the Mambo for Strings, by Roger Roger et the BBC in Wales…’ The very first edition of programmes were broadcast on BBC regional magazines which were to launch Son Orchestre. Wales Today is on the air. Television across the entire UK in this in 1962. period – presumably on the assumption In September 1962, the early evening that most British toddlers didn’t regional magazine programmes were all understand Welsh!) accommodated in what were called ‘opt- It was pressure from commercial outs’ from the core single BBC Television television (who wanted to sell advertising Service. They all ran for 20 minutes, starting in this period) that led to the end of the at 6pm, and were followed by Tonight with ‘toddler’s truce’, and in 1957 the BBC Cliff Michelmore, which took up most of the ended the truce with the Tonight programme rest of the hour up to 7pm. being slotted in. The exception was the Wales region The BBC in the late 50s was coming and the West Country region. As there under increasing competition from was no TV transmitter in the West Country, commercial television and found its audience they were both broadcast on the same figures plummeting under the onslaught of channel from the same single transmitter The original Wales Today team. Left to right: popular programmes from its commercial at Wenvoe, outside Cardiff. This meant, Tudor Phillips, Arfon Roberts, Gareth Wyn Jones, Peter James (with the film reel), Tom Richards rivals (then all separate regional commercial every night, dividing the 6pm slot between (news editor – seated) and Wynford Jones companies). In particular the commercial BBC West region’s Points West and BBC (producer) with the pipe. They were probably television companies all seemed closer Welsh Region’s Wales Today – giving each agonising over the name of the programme! to their viewers as they all had distinct programme just 10 minutes (actually nine This picture appeared in the Radio Times. regional identities, whereas the BBC and a half!)

Broadcasting a State Banquet

In the Queen’s Jubilee year, Paul Gouldstone remembers the first live radio outside broadcast of a State Banquet from Windsor Castle.

The Clerk of Works went away to think location in front of the Queen and her guest to use the switch – without the danger of Windsor Castle on this difficult situation, especially as and to set up the two BBC microphone table her coronet slipping down...so the Queen’s State Banquet the Queen had already agreed for this stands, at their correct heights, together hairdressers were summoned and worked Menu 1969. particular State Banquet to be broadcast with their connecting cables. These cables, out a way of affixing the Royal coronet using live on radio, both on BBC Domestic and in 1969, were a grey type of rubber and long hair-pins. the BBC World Service. had to be pre-coiled so that when the table I was suitably thanked by the Queen for After further visits and discussions, it staff picked up the two gilt BBC stands my part in setting up the live broadcast was agreed that I could use BBC carpenters from a side table near the wall, the cables installation and for entertaining Charles and wiremen on site with a Windsor Castle would naturally uncoil to lay across the floor and Anne using my Grade One spare set representative to remove a long thin section without kinks. This meant that the waiters of equipment so that they could ‘listen in’ of the flooring in the hall. This would enable could safely carry the refill wine ‘containers’ to our conversations in the hall using two our BBC team to run screened mic cabling without fear of tripping over! This procedure pairs of headphones! It reminded me of my from the fireplace area in the hall to the BBC had to be rehearsed many times so that training days with RH Wood in earlier years. control point alongside the balcony, behind everyone knew the correct and safe method The BBC commentator on the day was a disused Willis pipe organ. to be used on the day. Godfrey Talbot, and I positioned him on Our team set about the project, taking I was also asked to be present on the the ‘organ balcony’ with a close-speaking great care to preserve the state of the afternoon of the State Banquet to rehearse, microphone so that he would not be heard flooring and to terminate the cabling using with her Majesty, the BBC requirement that by the guests as they enjoyed their dinner. silver coloured connecting boxes and the Queen should actually switch her own Godfey also worked out a timing system panels. We were thanked by the Windsor microphone on and off. This was designed to arrangement with the dinner manager, by Castle authorities for our professional BBC prevent the BBC unwittingly broadcasting any him using a white pocket handkerchief In the early part of 1969, Dr Alexander, standards and had many enquiring visits asides from the Royal guests around the two suitably repositioned to cue the BBC who was the Superintendant of Radio from passing members of Castle staff. table microphones. (I say ‘microphones’ in handover time from Broadcasting House. Broadcasting, sent for me and asked me to When the ‘project’ was completed, I plural, as the Queen’s Italian guest also had his By the way, Godfrey and myself enjoyed our visit Windsor Castle to set up, for the first fully tested out the broadcasting facilities in own microphone with on/off switches and pre-State-dinner in the quarters nearby, some time, a live outside broadcast on 23 April conjunction with the Castle Public Address appropriate red and green signal lights.) time ahead of the dinner guests arriving, and 1969 of the State Banquet from St George’s Staff, as the BBC microphones also provided we were served the same meal on gold plates Hall with HM The Queen, and the President the table speeches into the PA for the Royal hairdressers and cutlery...a very pleasant experience. of Italy. Royal occasion. After my introductions to the Queen, it was Dr Alexander must have guessed of the agreed that her Majesty would lean over, problems that would be encountered when Ancient flooring Condiments decorously, to operate the guest’s switch he first called me into his office all those When I suggested running mic cables under One of the practical problems of in case he forgot, as we were not sure how years ago. I guess that these days, reliable BBC the tongue and groove floor, this raised many broadcasting the Queen at State Dinners in much English he understood. However, this radio mics have replaced the complicated eyebrows – especially as this would mean Windsor Castle was to set up a procedure Royal action in front of 600 guests required system of broadcasting we had to use in getting high approval to open up the old and to enable the Royal Table staff to formerly a further rehearsal by the Queen as it was 1969 and that procedures were considerably ancient flooring. remove the condiment sets from their not too easy to lean forwards and sideways different than in this Royal Jubilee Year.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 08 life after auntie Retired BBC Books promo man turns Services to music Douglas Coombes, music producer with tables to become thriller author Radio 4 from 1968-88, responsible for programmes such as Singing Together and ‘Keith often said, ‘you know enough about it, Time and Tune, with audiences approaching you should write a novel yourself’.’ two million weekly during term time, was It’s taken Harry quite a few years to realise awarded the MBE for services to music in that dream but, on retirement seven years the Queen’s Birthday Honours List this year. ago, he opened his desk drawer, took out the There may still be readers who will have first few chapters he’d started in the eighties worked with him and remember his time and set to it. at the BBC. ‘I always had a picture image of the main He continues his association with the character and that person is Jack Barclay, a BBC as music consultant and conductor for London-based private investigator.’ Jack’s tough the annual BBC TV Songs of Praise School exterior belies an engaging personality, and Choirs of the Year Competition. His original the novel, Smile of the Viper, is a fast paced thriller, songs and all of his 250 arrangements in the already attracting five-star reviews on Amazon. Come and Praise worship songbook series In the grand tradition of the genre it has a (pub. BBC Worldwide) ensure that hardly a completely unexpected twist at the end. child in the land has not sung at least one of ‘It’s a tough road to getting traditionally his songs since publication began in 1975. published and not for the faint hearted,’ Douglas continues to be a prolific said Harry. ‘I had over a dozen rejections composer and his compositions, orchestral during a period of six months and and choral, have been performed throughout sometimes there was no reply at all. the world. Some were standard rejections but some He works extensively for the children’s agents took the trouble to reply in a more charity, Barnardo’s, in conducting large personal way. One in particular, although fundraising concerts at the Royal Albert Little did Harry Dunn know, when he accompanied TV celebrities a rejection, changed everything. I was Hall and other major UK concert halls. He told I had commercial writing talent and founded and chairs the annual Barnardo’s on book tours in the seventies and eighties, he would eventually must not give up. That was enough to Choral Competition for School Choirs, and finish up on the other side of the bookshop-signing table. keep me going. in the 15 years of working for Barnardo’s, has helped raise in the region of £1 million uring his time based at wee small hours as stories were swapped. at these events, for which he gives his Woodhouse Lane in Leeds, Harry Thankfully everyone managed to arrive at ‘It’s never too late to services freely. helped organise book tours for the fish market on time. The fish buyers were many leading celebrity chefs. in high spirits at the prospect of meeting rock and roll’ D‘I travelled with the likes of Delia Smith, the famous Mr Floyd. One of them picked Keith Floyd and Ken Hom on promotional up a huge cod and lobbed it over to Keith tours throughout the North of England. For who deftly caught it, ruining his newly dry- ‘Caffeine Nights Publishing put me under BBC blood donor the most part the tours were quite tiring, cleaned raincoat in the process. He simply contract and I’ve never looked back. My with early starts and late finishes, including a threw it straight back to the fish buyer, debut novel has been enthusiastically reaches milestone packed itinerary of TV and radio appearances taking him by surprise. To everyone’s glee, he received and I’m back on the bookshop and bookshop visits each day. As the missed an easy catch, and as the fish slithered circuit at the age of 67, this time as an popularity of the celebrities grew, the over the edge into the harbour, the air author. A live interview with Mike Read crowds increased and so daily schedules became thick with grateful noisy seagulls. It on Radio Berkshire recently was a came under pressure.’ was as if Keith had to prove himself with this wonderful experience and I’m about to There was little room for error and hardy lot, and in great traditional North East embark on a Watersones book tour. I’ve sometimes tensions crept in. However, a little fashion they took him to their hearts. After a gone full circle. humour helped things along. Harry recalls successful shoot, everyone finished up in the ‘It’s never too late to rock and roll.’ a 6am start on a bitterly cold November harbour cafe to enjoy a round of tasty bacon Smile of the Viper is published by Caffeine morning when filming with Keith Floyd at and fried egg sandwiches on the house.’ Nights and can be bought in paperback from North Shields fish market. Harry recalled that back in the day, with Waterstones and all good bookshops. It is ‘We’d had a ‘robust’ meal the evening many weeks being spent on the road, his also available online from Amazon and as an before which of course continued into the reading genre of choice was crime fiction. eBook including Kindle and ePub.

BBC pensioner Ray Liffen and his wife Maureen, Celebrating who between them have donated almost 150 pints of blood! a century In the 1960s, the BBC held blood donor sessions at Television Centre – which is how Ray Liffen became a donor. His wife followed Eileen Steward MBE has just celebrated his example, and earlier this year they both her 100th birthday, having a service recorded their 75th donation. at her parish church and a small Ray and Maureen were invited by the reception afterwards. NHS Blood and Transplant to a special She started work at the BBC in 1938, lunch organised to thank donors who have retiring in 1972. She travelled from achieved 75 and 100 donations. Croydon to Broadcasting House right The lunch, held at the Croydon Park Hotel through the war and retired with an on 4 Jul, included the presentation of Royal MBE for services to broadcasting. Doulton cut crystal servers to the donors. The picture shows Eileen cutting her The guest speaker was not some famous cake,surrounded by friends from her ‘name’ but rather a wife and mother who parish church. spoke very movingly about how her life Derek Miller had been saved by an enormous amount of donated blood. ‘With the relaxation of age limits for existing donors, my wife and I can hopefully continue to the 100!’ says Ray.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 back at the bbc 09 Farewell Caroline Radiophonic Chief operating officer Caroline Thomson left the BBC at the end of September and BBC workshop Operations was axed.

and Editorial Policy, with a budget of almost Reynolds will take over from Marcus Agius revived online a billion pounds and over 2,500 people. as the senior non-executive director on the The BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop, She was in charge of the moves to Executive Board. which created theme tunes and sound Salford and New Broadcasting House. In his first press interview, the new effects for programmes including Doctor Entwistle pointed out she had delivered director general said he will fight for Who and Blake’s 7, is to reopen after the digital switchover scheme on time and originality and quality. 14 years. under budget. George Entwistle told the Radio Times that Composer Matthew Herbert, known Thomson said in an email to the division’s he ‘can feel – and this had been true the for his use of ‘found sounds’, has been staff: ‘I have agreed with George that this is whole time I have been here – that the way appointed creative director. the right time for me to leave.’ the organisation is run is somehow slightly One of his first commissions is a BBC Operations and BBC Finance will dislocated from the thing the organisation ‘sonic memorial’ to the BBC’s Bush House merge and be run by the current director of is for: outstanding creative originality and building which, until recently, was the home finance Zarin Patel who will also leave the outstanding journalistic quality.’ of the World Service. BBC within the next 12 months. The original workshop was known for Entwistle told staff his challenge is ‘making Immensely frustrating its pioneering use of electronic sounds. us as good as we were during the Olympics The article goes on to say that the director Founded in 1958, it was best-known all the time’ and creating a BBC ‘focusing on general vows to ‘go to war on… every for creating the eerie swoosh of the Doctor George Entwistle announced the change in a creativity and run solely for that purpose.’ bit of the design and the structure and Who theme tune, but its compositions were speech to staff on his second day in the job He wants to stop ‘internal competition… management and every bit of the culture also used in numerous radio dramas, The as director general. duplication… leaking, briefing against that isn’t optimised for that.’ Goon Show and The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide Thomson started as chief operating each other. Enwistle revealed in the Radio Times to the Galaxy. officer six years ago. She was responsible ‘In an increasingly competitive world we interview conflicting views about the As well as music, the workshop created for Strategy, Legal, Workplace, Distribution, can’t afford to squander,’ he added. Corporation. sound effects – from champagne corks Business Continuity, Complaints and Other changes announced include a ‘The original letter I wrote as part of the popping to the distorted, strangulated Outreach. The division grew to include management board reduced from 25 to 12 application process said that I both love voices of the Daleks. Technology & Archive, Safety, BBC People, people, director of BBC People Lucy Adams the BBC and at times find it an immensely While the first workshop was based in Communications, Marketing & Audiences will rejoin the Executive Board and Fiona frustrating place,’ he said. the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, the new incarnation will live online, at The Space, a new digital arts service developed by the ‘Fiona Reynolds will take over from Marcus Agius as the senior Arts Council and the BBC. Herbert will lead ‘seven fellow cutting- non-executive director on the Executive Board.’ edge collaborators’ in making new sounds and music. The composer is known for his experimental sound collages, which often have socio-political themes. On last year’s One Pig film and album, he recorded the life of a pig from birth to its Production slaughter at 20 weeks, and its subsequent BBC’s longest serving staff member serving as a meal. In a live performance at 2004’s London celebrates 50th anniversary panel sees Jazz Festival, he drove a tank over a replica of a meal Nigella Lawson had cooked for The BBC’s longest serving member of staff Tony Blair and George Bush. celebrated the anniversary of his joining the its last day Herbert will be joined by seven other Corporation on Monday, 24 September. composers in the new Radiophonic Senior Broadcast Engineer John Walch, The panel of production coordinators who Workshop 68, began his career as a Technical Assistant get staff contracts and are deployed around More conventionally, he has worked in the Transmitter Department on 17 the BBC has closed after over 30 years. on records at the innovative edge of September 1962, which was also a Monday. There are seven remaining members pop, including Bjork’s Vespertine album. After 10 years being posted around the of the panel but back in 2007 there were His first work for The New Radiophonic country and abroad at the start of his career, around 65 production assistants. When Workshop takes audio from 25 previous he joined Radio Sheffield in 1972 and has secretaries were also employed on the panel projects featured on the website – worked there ever since. there were over 120 on the books. from theatre performances to poetry ‘Computers have been the biggest The panel originally aimed to offer readings – creating a ‘curious murmur change,’ he says. ‘There wasn’t a computer secretaries the opportunity to get into of activity’. in sight in the 1970s. Keeping up with production work by training them as ‘It is the perfect time for the rebirth of the technology has never been a problem production coordinators. the workshop,’ he said. ‘The rapid pace though, I just take what’s thrown at me.’ But it went on to become an in-house of change in technologies has meant our Radio Sheffield Editor Martyn Weston production resourcing agency and people imaginations are struggling to keep up. says his colleague has a youthful outlook stayed on the panel for over 20 years. ‘By bringing together the people making on life and is always looking for new every day is interesting in a different way. The Production Management Trainee the technology with people making the ways to make things happen. ‘John is a My advice to a younger person considering Scheme is replacing the production panel. music, we are hoping to find engaging great example of how, with imagination a career as a BBC engineer would be, The first group of 12 trainees started answers to some of the modern problems and the ability to adapt, we can make the ‘go for it!’’ in October. Their 18-month contracts associated with the role of sound and programmes we want to make,’ he says. An advertisement in the Radio Times will include training and placements as music on the internet, in certain creative ‘That’s especially important in a local radio attracted Walch to the job and he gave production coordinators and independent forms and within broadcasting.’ station where resources are often stretched.’ up a place reading Physics at Liverpool production companies. The other artists joining Herbert in In 1972 when Walch joined Radio University to take it up. Meanwhile, the seven remaining members the New Radiophonic Workshop are Mica Sheffield there were three permanent BBC People has verified he’s currently of the production panel have gone on Levi, from the band Micachu and the broadcast engineers based there. Now the longest serving member of staff. to other jobs or taken redundancy. Jean Shapes, Yann Seznec, Max de Wardener, he’s the only one. He has no immediate Although it’s not possible to prove, McMeakin from BBC Finance, which runs theatre director Lyndsey Turner, Patrick plans to retire. he believes he may also be the only the production panel, told Ariel that none of Bergel and broadcast technologist ‘I love the variety of the job,’ he says. ‘I person to have made it to 50 years’ the production panel are going to be part of Tony Churnside. can’t single out a career highlight because uninterrupted service. the new trainee scheme.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 10 obituaries and Head of the Hausa section for the and research (BBC euphemism for head Monitoring in Africa A bright light Africa Service. His detailed understanding of damage control), to manage litigation, George Balazs, one of the surviving doyens in the graphic of Nigeria and his fluency in the Hausa sort out contract disputes, placate Downing of Monitoring, died on 13 August at a care language were tailormade for his career in Street, deal with ‘sensitive issues’ across all home in Dartford. He was 92. He had a photography team broadcasting, which he genuinely loved. output – very probably the most challenging distinguished career at Caversham and Bush Our Dave Clarke passed away two months When in 1975 Chris became Head job description ever drafted. House, but will perhaps be best remembered ago, the youngest of all the graphic design of Personnel for all of the external Barely had John started up his small unit as Head of Unit at Monitoring’s outpost at photographers. We are all still shocked at this language services, he brought with him when it emerged BBC Scotland had been Karen in Nairobi. terrible and unexpected news. the enthusiasm, intelligence, dry wit and keeping its cards close to its chest, making He was such a bright light in our group common sense that were his trademark. a series aptly called Secret Society, the final of graphic photographers. He lit up our He was a quick study of all the rule books programme of which was about to reveal the days with his humour and quick wit. He but, characteristically, also knew when and existence of a top-secret British spy-satellite constantly made us laugh again and again to how to work around them. project called ‘Zircon’. such an extent we often thought he was on On his retirement in January 1981, Chris Assistant director general Alan Protheroe the wrong side of the camera. was given a send-off that he would always and Edwards persuaded Milne to pull Dave joined Graphics at TVC in 1974; treasure. The retirement book, with which the programme, MI5 officers raided BBC at that time there were six photographers he was presented, was filled with fond Scotland to sequester every inch of film but it working on just about all aspects of memories and farewells, many in Hausa, and was too late – bootlegged videos were soon television from opening and closing titles, wonderful tributes from close colleagues. in circulation, The Zircon project was blown. production requirements, BBC Enterprises, In Chris’s final interview, the Overseas Although Milne and Protheroe both left the magazines, corporate and many more areas Controller (whose signature, unfortunately, is BBC shortly afterwards, John remained in of programming. illegible), remarked that: ‘Almost anyone can situ for a further two years before moving memorise the rule book. Fewer can exercise into independent production. common sense. Very few can show that On retirement, John moved to South combination of intuitive insight, justice and Gloucestershire, where he and his wife George (Gyorgy) was born in 1920 in humanity we have all come to expect from Elizabeth developed an exclusive B&B, the Transylvania, in what is now Romania. His Chris Farmer.’ idyllic Cadwell Hill Barn. family were from the Jewish intellectual elite, During his long retirement Chris and his David Morris Jones and Richard Lewis and in the late 1930s George came to Britain wife Betty travelled extensively, gardened like so many others fleeing the Nazis. energetically and regularly attended theatre George started his BBC career at Evesham, Secretarial pioneer productions of every ilk. His love of classical monitoring wartime broadcasts. music and reading accompanied him to the who advanced the He rapidly rose through the ranks, finally ending up as Organiser, News and end, as did his attention to current affairs. progress of women After 61 years together, Chris passed away Publications. He also had a successful career Monica Long former Head of Office Training just two months after his wife. He is survived in Bush Newsroom, finally being promoted died on 2 August 2012, aged 81, after a long by his two children and four grandchildren to Duty Editor. fight with cancer. and is sorely missed by all who knew him. It was in the late 1960s that George She had a long and distinguished BBC John Edwards started his love affair with Africa. The career and did much to further the progress of Monitoring outpost at Karen housed about women. She joined the Corporation in 1949 40 Ethiopians, Somalis, Kenyan Arabs and Editor and as a junior secretary. A colleague at the time Mozambicans. They monitored interesting remembers sharing a room with her in the developments ranging from the antics of troubleshooter By the pure nature of the work, Dave covered first BBC hostel in Duchess Street. Idi Amin, to the overthrow of Haile Selassie a vast cross-section of productions. He made John Edwards, the broadcaster, former In the late 50s, Monica moved to the West in Ethiopia. photography look so easy, especially with his deputy editor of Today, editor of That’s Life, Region and worked in Bristol and Plymouth Through all this George looked after his creative lighting skills. He had the ability to Tonight and Checkpoint, has died at the age before joining the team at the newly-created charges as a kind of benevolent dictator. He easily fit in with everyone, either on set or in of 74 after a long illness. TV studio centre in Southampton. There she was highly impatient, but could never stay the studio – a rare talent. John had originally been expected to take was secretary to the news editor, bringing angry with the local staff for long. He was It was a true pleasure to work with Dave. over the family’s drapery business. However, her experience and knowledge of BBC much loved and was very kind to them. He witnessed the best in BBC television National Service in the RAF widened his administrative practices to an enthusiastic George Balazs was just one of many history. They were such memorable days and horizons and it wasn’t long before his rich bunch of newcomers who were rushing Jewish intellectuals who enriched the life he made a huge contribution. voice and sharp intellect were spotted by the to get South Today on the air in January 1961 of Caversham. With his Newsroom friends, We were fortunate to have 20 years of BBC Radio Wales programme, Good Morning (to compete with the launch of Southern Martin Sullivan, Martin Heyman and fantastic memories thanks to this lovely man. Wales, which recruited him as a freelance Television). The programme’s success in Karl Lehmann, George was always reading Barry Boxall reporter and then producer. those early days owed much to her calm and the Racing Post. Between them they could be John’s ability to keep programmes sharp efficient work behind the scenes and she fully relied upon to come up with good each-way Dogbite Film Crew is hosting a wake for but editorially bombproof were soon noticed deserved her big leap forward from South bets at long odds on the Grand National. Dave on Saturday 27 October from 4pm in London, where he was drafted into Western House to the DG’s office, becoming George never married, although it was onwards, at The Doghouse, 5-8 Tidemill Today and World at One, working alongside Hugh Carleton Greene’s personal assistant in not for want of offers. Despite his diminutive House, Discovery Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall luminaries like Roger Cook. The two created 1964. stature George’s good looks, charm and TR11 3XP. Spaces are limited, so please email Hugh Greene retired in 1968 and after wit made him very successful with the for Radio 4 a new kind of investigative Fran Thomas ([email protected]) to confirm settling in his successor, Charles Curran, ladies, whom he tastefully categorized into programme, Checkpoint. John also edited your attendance. There will be a second wake Monica moved to Office Training where she ‘horizontal’ and ‘(strictly) vertical’. Esther Rantzen’s consumer programme, in London at a later date; please email Fran pioneered and developed the very successful George would have roundly condemned That’s Life. for details. Teeline Secretarial Training scheme. most of the present changes in the BBC But John’s talents for spotting incoming Monica’s trainees soon earned a reputation carried out by people whom he would have flak were badly needed elsewhere. In the dismissed as ‘comma pushers’ and those Old Africa hand wake of the Falklands War and the miners’ that was second to none. They were regarded ‘who wouldn’t know a flash from an Chris Farmer, who died in April 2012 strike, director general Alasdair Milne was as high flyers in the office world and were airmail letter’. age 91, joined the BBC in 1963 after a having a torrid time of it. A major row snapped up for internal vacancies at the end of George Balazs was a remarkable man distinguished career as a colonial civil servant with the Governors had erupted over a their traineeships, for the most part building and very good and loyal friend. He will be in Nigeria. ‘Nigeria’s loss and the BBC’s gain,’ BBC Northern Ireland documentary, made careers within the BBC and obtaining some missed by all who knew him. noted Ian Trethowan, director general at the without Milne’s knowledge, called Edge of of the most sought after jobs. It was Monica’s John Bamber time of Chris’s retirement. the Union, which featured the day-to-day determination and foresight that got this During his 18 years with the BBC, at home life of IRA leader Martin McGuinness. initiative off the ground and enabled it to Bush House, Chris established himself as It was in this febrile atmosphere that flourish in an organisation that was still very both a very successful programme organiser John was hauled in as editor – information much a man’s world.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 obituaries 11 After retirement Monica threw herself into direction towards technical information 1986, Robin listed his recent achievements local community projects down in Tonbridge retrieval as a project leader for the Morgan at the BBC, which included: installing where she lived. She worshipped at St Giles’ Crucible Group. Largely self-taught in and supporting three generations of Church Shipbourne where she was a Church computing, this became his springboard to computerised timesheet payments systems warden for a number of years, and helped set get into the BBC in 1964, joining the staff for 1,400 staff at Ealing Film Studios up their Farmer’s Market. Her many outside the following year. (1972-86); setting up a BBC standard for interests kept her actively involved right up For his first 22 years at the BBC, Robin off-line information interchange between to the last few months of her life. Our was in the Consultancy Department until floppy-disc computers (1979-81); and helping thoughts are with her family and friends at its closure in 1986, when he took redundancy negotiate two £250,000 office automation this sad time. at the age of 58 with a generous ‘golden grants from the Department of Trade and Janet Wilson handshake’. This enabled him to set up Industry in 1982. He also installed a system his own company, Petrology Computer for reading US Olympics wires in the studio Long-serving Services, through which he continued to (1984). When he left the BBC, Robin received August Lottery winners work exclusively for the Corporation until a glowing letter of appreciation from the August’s lottery winners have been systems programmer 2000, a remarkable degree of longevity then somewhat beleaguered director general, announced… congratulations to George Described affectionately by his brother in such a fast-moving field as systems Alasdair Milne, referring to Robin’s ‘leadership, Reeves, John Wilkinson, Roy Folami, as ‘a BBC devotee’, Robin Watson worked programming which is usually seen as expertise, dedication and initiative’, a letter he Clive Wapshere, Nigel Margerison, Joanne Housden, Laura Wignall, Sylvia Line, for the Corporation for nearly 40 years a ‘young person’s game’. clearly treasured to the end of his life. Daniel Cawtheray, Thomas Mould, Sheila in computer programming and systems At the time of his semi-departure in Giles Oakley Casstles, Robert Rowe, Stephen Rose, analysis, at a time when pioneering Shameem Shah and Sharon Banoff. If developments were continually occurring you would like to win £10,000 or £1,000 in his field. David Webber or £100 or £50, then sign up to the Club Robin, who died in early August after David Geoffrey Webber, who died on lottery NOW! The next £10k draw is in several years of serious illness, helped provide 17 August, joined the BBC Equipment December but you need to be signed up by the kind of administrative underpinning Department in 1956, at Clapham Common. the end of November to be eligible so don’t needed by a large, sprawling organisation He moved to Power Road Chiswick in delay! E: [email protected]. that perhaps sometimes goes unnoticed by December 1958, when we were married in programme makers. Yet the early stages of his Shrewsbury, Shropshire, where I came from. Aut-tums! working life gave no real clue that he would We settled in Ashford, Middlesex, where Being in the thick of autumn, it is time to find himself in such an important, if unsung, our three children were born. ditch the salads in favour of soups, stews role in broadcasting. The eldest was photographed with us at and jacket potatoes. That is why in the James Robin Watson was born in 1928 the summer fete at Motspur Park in 1961, Club for the whole of October, Club in Nottingham, where he attended the city it appeared in Prospero. We also live latterly in members just pay £1 per filling and get high school and then the University of Shepperton, Middlesex, retiring to the Isle your jacket potato FREE*. Nottingham from 1944-49, studying physics, of Wight in 1986, where David worked, Jacket Potato with Butter geography and his specialist subject, geology. for his six fit years, for the National Trust, (members save £0.95) Always an adventurous, strong-minded helping to run the Needles Battery Jacket Potato with Cheese individual, Robin swiftly got work as a at Totland Bay. (members save £1.50) geologist in Africa. However, by the beginning Mrs SR Webber Jacket Potato with Beans of the 1960s, Robin was already changing (members save £1.50) Jacket Potato with Tuna Mayo (members save £2.30) Corrections and additions *Jacket Potato with Chilli Con Carne is not available with this offer; regular price Peter Redhouse. I counted Peter Redhouse as a friend, after we met on several boards £3.95 applies when I was moving around in Local Radio. He was on the board which appointed me senior producer to launch the new BBC Radio Furness, England’s first four-man station, which went The Film Club on to become the south Cumbria studio for BBC Radio Cumbria. If you like films then this is right up your Peter was supportive of my plans for developing the new station and visited regularly, partly street! We have a Connect group dedicated through duty and partly because he loved the southern Lake District. It was typical of the man, therefore, to have him comment somewhat scathingly, when I told him after two years in post, to watching films! They hold around 26 film that I intended applying for a promotion to BBC Radio Stoke: ‘Stoke, from here? Allan, you screenings a year, usually on Wednesday must be mad!’ evenings, at a private luxury professional Allan Muirhead preview theatre just a short walk from Oxford Circus. All films are screened from Aud Davis. The picture attached to the obituary for Aud Davis (Prospero, July), formerly of 35mm prints (no DVDs) and they aim to the wartime Norwegian section, is not of her. It is in fact a photo of Essi Kiviranta who was show a mixture of mainstream, indie and programme organiser of the Finnish Section from the early 1960s. occasional foreign films. All films are recent Coincidently Aud Davis did occasionally work for the Finns as a secretary. Maybe that’s releases and if you like movies you will Memorial services how a mix up has occurred with the photo. Essi Kiviranta is still alive in a nursing home in save a fortune by joining the Film Club. Gillian Hush MBE. The celebration of the Bexleyheath. She is unlikely to have seen Prospero. All films are FREE to Film Club members life and work of Gillian will be at 3pm on Peter Hunt and members can bring guests for £3. 21 October at Manchester High School Email Nigel Messenger now to sign up for Girls, Grangethope Road, Manchester Unfortunately the Prospero team cannot check that the people named in the photographs to the Film Club. E: nigel.messenger@ M14 6HS. The formal event will be followed supplied to us are who we are told they are! phase9.net or go to http://www.bbcclub. by a reception giving people time to meet, com/connect/film talk and remember Gillian. We have loads of other Connect groups John Lang. There will be a memorial service for fans of music, sailing, flying, riding, golf, for John Lang at Lichfield Cathedral on photography and heaps more. Check out 5 November at 2.30pm. Tickets are not our website for full details of Connect and required. John died last June aged 84. He Club events: www.bbcclub.com joined the BBC in 1964 as Assistant Head of Religious Broadcasting, based in BH, and remained at the BBC until 1980, the last nine years as Head of Religious Broadcasting. He was then appointed Dean of Lichfield, a post from which he retired in 1993. Some of his Got a question or comment? former BBC colleagues will be taking part Email us at [email protected] in the service. or call 020 875 26666.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012 12 BBC Pensions Steady performance Classifieds Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Quality one-bedroom apartment with balconies but deficit grows and private roof terrace. Stunning beaches and lagoons nearby. £295pw. The 2012 BBC Pension Scheme report was posted to members last month. If you haven’t Tel: 01428 653127. received your copy, please call the Pension Service Line on 029 20 322811. Menorca. Detached villa with private pool. Sleeps 2-7. Close amenities. Short drive gorgeous beaches. In his first report as chairman of the Scheme, The growth in the deficit was despite Brochure 01621 741810 or visit Bill Matthews referred to the difficult year extra contributions from the BBC and The BBC Pension www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk for pension schemes, with the Eurozone some members, the Scheme closing to Scheme’s full debt crisis and market instability dominating new joiners and the BBC changing how Report & Accounts Niton, I.o.W. Holiday chalets in peaceful headlines in 2011 and 2012. benefits build up. is available on and secluded landscaped gardens. Pension schemes have also been badly Bill Matthews commented: ‘The Trustees the BBC Pensions Ideal base for walkers. affected by the continued trend towards are disappointed that economic headwinds website (bbc. Tel: 01372 462732. lower interest rates, or more accurately have blown the Scheme’s funding off course. co.uk/mypension). www.westcliffechalets.co.uk long-term gilt yields. ‘Gilt yields’ are the However, we believe that the BBC’s support If you have a smartphone, you can Lagos, Algarve, 2-bed townhouse, interest rate that is payable on long-term UK for the Scheme remains strong.’ access the website by scanning the roof terrace, from £150pw. Also 3-double- government bonds, or ‘gilts’. Gilt yields are QR code. bed apartment. Both inside city walls at an all-time low. Gilts are used by pension Investments and near beach. schemes as an investment to produce the James Duberly, Director Pensions Tel: 07956 181613. required income to pay their pensioners. Investments, explained how the Trustees Email: [email protected] If the money the Scheme gets from gilts have implemented their strategy for investing Production of is lower, it means that the Scheme has to the Scheme’s assets. Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and put aside more money now to provide the The Trustees’ overall policy is to invest Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. benefits to be paid in the future. in a wide range of assets such as company information shares, property, bonds and alternative assets. Please enclose a cheque made payable to: As part of the normal running of the BBC Central Directorate. Funding update (‘Alternative assets’ is a catch-all phrase that Scheme, from time to time, the Trustees Rate: £5 for 20 words. In a covering letter In the summary funding statement contained captures everything that isn’t shares, bonds or and auditors routinely undertake an please include your pension number. within the Report, the Scheme actuary, Alison property. It includes hedge funds, infrastructure, exercise to identify any cases where Blay, explained that these factors had resulted loans, private equity, renewables, catastrophe the Scheme has not been notified in the Scheme’s deficit growing to an estimated insurance, and currency.) of a pensioner’s death and to avoid The BBC Scotland Retired £2.6 billion at 1 April 2012 (measured as part During the year the Trustees reduced overpayment of pensions. of the annual check-up on Scheme funding). the Scheme’s investment risk by increasing We regularly send the Audit Commission Staff Annual Reunion As at April 2012, the Scheme was 78% funded our investment in assets that better match some basic personal details such as This year’s reunion will, once again, be on the (compared with a funding level of 87% as at the liabilities (the pensions and benefits name, date of birth and National Insurance last Friday in November, which this year falls April 2011). This is a drop of around 9%. due to members). As a result, the Scheme’s number. This data matching exercise meets on 30 November. Alison pointed out that if interest rates were investment in equities has fallen from the requirements of the Data Protection Once again, it will be held in the Crowne to rise, the funding level would improve. 48.4% to 45%. Act 1998. Plaza, immediately across the river from BBC ‘Since the 2008/9 financial crisis, interest Despite the challenging investment The Audit Commission processes the Scotland’s premises at Pacific Quay. Normally rates have been generally lower than in conditions, the Scheme’s investments grew data for this purpose only, and complies running from 12pm to 4pm (and later!); the the previous decade and they have now hit by 5.8% (helped by the strong performance with data protection principles. cost, including a buffet lunch, is still only £15! unprecedented low levels.’ of its bond investments). If you’d like to know more, please contact Stewart Shearer (email: Stewart.Shearer@ NTLWorld.com; tel: 0141 942 3039) or Bryce Lamont (tel: 01505 703 392).

Access to BBC buildings RELC Christmas Lunch Paul Gouldstone, the Vice President of the The BBC has recently completed a review of access to BBC buildings, which includes BBC Retired Engineers Luncheon Club, is the arrangements for retired staff access. reminding all members and friends to make BBC buildings as a guest of a current a note in your diaries ‘now’ for the Christmas employee. Anyone visiting for business Lunch at the Miramar Hotel in Bournemouth purposes will be hosted, and if they on Thursday, 6 December 2012. Details work as a contractor, at a particular BBC will be sent out nearer the date, or contact building, they will be issued with a the lunch organiser, Russell Horne (email: security pass. [email protected]; tel: 01590 624389). BBC Club members will still be able to access the Club at TV Centre until it closes in March 2013, and on Ariel Orchestra production of a BBC Club membership card, to the clubs at Bristol, Plymouth seeks players and Southampton Elsewhere, clubs have This new venture, organised through a separate entrance so access should not the BBC Club, welcomes current and former be an issue. However, unescorted access BBC staff and their musicalguests to play in a to operational areas will no longer fortnightly session at Maida Vale. be permitted. The next dates will be Sunday 7 October The review has highlighted that the BBC, its Paul Greeves, Director of Workplace and The BBC welcomes continued contact and Saturday 20 October (2pm-5.30pm). people, buildings and systems are vulnerable Safety, said: ‘The BBC welcomes the continued and involvement with its retired staff The orchestra is very relaxed and informal to a variety of security threats. In order to contact and involvement with many retired and would like this to continue. The BBC and would love to hear from keen amateurs – minimise these risks, it is necessary to control staff, and the BBC’s approach in no way is offering interested pensioners the rusty returners and adult learners are just as access to BBC buildings as tightly as possible. suggests that pensioners represent a threat opportunity to have guided tours of New welcome as the very experienced players. Therefore the BBC has reluctantly decided to the organisation. However, the BBC’s Broadcasting House, MediaCity UK and We’re a bit full with flutes (although there that only current employees and accredited key responsibilities have to be to maintain Pacific Quay on an occasional basis as is a BBC Club flute group which welcomes contractors will be given unrestricted access. broadcast continuity, provide a safe and secure demand dictates. enquiries), and would particularly like to hear The change will be introduced at the end of working environment for employees, protect Details of tour dates and how to book from string players. For more information, March next year. As a consequence, no new its interests and retain the trust of audiences.’ will be advertised in the February edition please contact Liz Holden (holdenliz@hotmail. retired passes will be issued or renewed. Retired staff will still be able to enter of Prospero. com or [email protected]). Designed and produced by Wordshop PROSPERO OCTOBER 2012