sign in sign up
<<
Home , Breakfast with Frost, Brexitcast, Newsnight, Radio Times, Riverside Studios, Working Lunch

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2019 web: www.bbcpa.org.uk e: [email protected]

hristmas is a season of celebration, rebirth, Crecollection, colour and joy. We remember too, days of our childhood and absent friends and MORE TO DO! family. It is an ending of old resolutions and new ones to think about with the start of the New Year.

he BBC Pensioners’ a hard act to follow. ’m TAssociation has been sure, that all our members, A 16 PAGE looking at what we offer to myself included, wish him you, the members, and how well and thank him for a ISSUE! we can do even more. major contribution to the PAGE 1 way the BBCPA is run. This next year our aim is At the AGM in April Alan Seasons Greetings to make all members enjoy Bilyard also stepped down. New Members the sense of community we Alan has generously agreed PAGE 2 felt whilst working at the to stand in until we find Membership Sec. BBC. With this new way of a volunteer to take over Notes. thinking, with the increased the reins. These two roles Treasurer’s Notes deals and website, Mail- are vital to maintaining

chimp and publications, the the standards we have set PAGE 3 BBC Pensioners Association ourselves as a Committee. BBC Pension Scheme offers even more Needless to say, we are Report value for a relatively small looking for volunteers to PAGE 4 membership fee. fill these roles and help us continue to offer a first Regional Meetings With increased membership class service to members. PAGE 5-8 involvement we can do even Photo: Fellicity Dennistoun Last but certainly not least Spreading the light at more. We do need input and year. Maurice Maguire, the I want to thank the Committee contributions from you, our Membership Secretary, is for their input and support over members, to complement what stepping down in April 2020. He the past year. PAGE 9 the hard working Committee has made a terrific contribution Message from the DG achieve. Together we can add to to the way we organise our Finally, may I wish all Birth of the Beeb members, on behalf of myself making life after the BBC more systems; from setting a new PAGE 10 fulfilling. database to navigating new data and the Committee, our very regulations and integrating our best wishes for the Season. Those were the days The Committee and members MailChimp and Newsletter Buying a New TV? are facing a big change next communications. He will be Albert Barber (Chairman) PAGE 11 What’s on offer by streaming A WARM WELCOME TO THE MANY NEW MEMBERS 2019 PAGE 12 Down by the Riverside Barry Austin Andrew Dixon Gordon Howe Gerry Quinn Elizabeth Bale Evelyn Draper Christopher Irwin Hilary Ransom-Rose PAGE 13 Geoffrey Beech Gerald Ellis Ann Jenkins Ernie Rea Christmas ‘Scraps’ Julia Bicknell Eric Fitzgerald Roger Jephcott Brian Richards Before TV was invented John Black Carmen Fletcher Sharon Johnson Ian Rose Stephen Blatchford Mary Fourt John Jordan Eileen Sawdy PAGE 14 Alastair Boath Alison Stewart Kelly Barry Seaman Cardif Pensions Move Denis Bourne Mavis Fulton Patrick Lambert Shirley Sherlock Cassie Braban Mignon Gallagher Raymond Lee Denise Simpson Early days of OB’s Beryl Brennan Peter Gallimore Anne Lount Peter Skinner PAGE 15 Raymond Bridges John Garson Chris Lowe James Stewart Harold Briley Robert Geoghegan Susan Martin Anthony Swainson Notices and Jeff Brown Steve Grey Brenda May Jill Tansley Discounts Charles Buckley Elizabeth Hagerty Susan Moir Martin Taylor PAGE 16 Evelyn Carter Christopher Harding Alan Moore Philip Taylor Derek Clarke Virginia Hardy Lesley Nicholls Daniel Warren TOP Quotes, Julie Cogill Maggie Harwood Kevern Oliver Chris Wyatt Times Margaret Connell John Hawkins Pamela Poole Romeo Cordani Anthony Hemmings Derek Powell Farewell Mary Dick David Hider John Prescott-Thomas 10 Ways to avoid a cold

Page 1 THE ALAN BILYARD’S BBC PENSION SCHEME 2019 MEMBERSHIP THOUGHTS FOR 2019 to bring together regions, Report and Financial Statement SECRETARY nations, even friends and families once we are back on I’M STILL HERE the rails again whenever that BIDS FAREWELL will be. As a pensioner of TOTAL MEMBERSHIP PERFORMANCE Well, you may have thought some years I even wonder if I that I had resigned earlier will see it all restored to that it is the Chairman, Albert this year after 20 years in proud nation that we once The total number of Scheme beneficiaries at 31 March 2018 The Scheme’s assets produced a return of 6.3% in the year Barber’s avowed intention office! You would have been were. was 49,272* excluding dependants, 1.6% less than last year. ended 31 March 2019. Over the last five years the Scheme’s ADIEU, to increase the number quite right in thinking that investments have generated an annualised return of 11.6%. of social activities for but as we have not found my At 31 March 2019 the value of the fund stood at £17.3bn. FAREWELL, IT’S members, so that spirit replacement yet I agreed with IT’S ODD THOUGH MEMBERSHIP compared to £16.6bn the previous year can be kept alive and Albert, our chairman that I indeed flourish. would continue keeping the of the odd things TIME TO SAY MEMBERSHIP 2019 2018 books until someone offered though is that the economy MOVEMENT OF THE FUND GOODBYE their services. I am grateful is bouncing along quite A BEACON TO however to other members well. Even inflation is being Contributing members 9,337 9,827 of the committee who have reasonably controlled and The 2019 Scheme Accounts show that total contributions After a thoroughly enjoyable, taken up some of the other the pound is not doing half Deferred members 28,430 28,927 over the year were £195.1m, of which the BBC contributed though busy four years as ALL tasks that I handled as well as badly abroad. The exchange £194.3m. Outgoings were £518.9m, giving net withdrawals Membership Secretary, the finances of the Association rates always seem to be at Pensioners 24,273 24,079 from dealings with members of £323.8m. Investment income other pressures have led me Above all, it should be so my load is much lighter their worst for us when we are net of expenses was £271m. The market value of the to tender my resignation and, a beacon to all in the now. It is amazing how many going abroad in the summer Total 62,040 62,833 Scheme’s assets rose during the year by £706.7m. as it were, return to the ranks rather altered BBC of other jobs stick to you over (is that just coincidence?) following next year’s AGM in . In an uncertain the years as my committee but now that we are back * Membership numbers in the table above are higher as Scheme’s assets rose during the year by £729.1m. members can hold more than one record. For example, April. I’d like to take this era of broadcasting it colleagues will testify. But home spending our money CHANGES TO THE TRUSTEE BOARD opportunity to pay tribute is vital that we hold I am happy to continue to on heating lighting and existing members who joined the Career Average Ben- to my fellow Committee aloft the founding and help out until a new person soon Christmas presents efits 2011 section from another section of the Scheme members, not only for their fundamental standards arrives. Are there any offers the pound’s strength has may have a deferred pensioner record for their benefits • On 1 May 2018 Grant Cassidy was re-elected as a hard work on all our behalfs, and principles which out there? returned despite all the chaos built up in the Old Benefits, New Benefits or Career -Av Member Nominated Trustee. but also for their friendship made the Corporation of . (There, I have erage Benefits 2006 sections and a contributing record and support throughout the great and which I hope said it again – sorry). for their Career Average Benefits 2011 benefits. • On 1 June 2018 Catherine Clayton was appointed as many happy meetings I’ve the Association, with A an Independent Trustee. had the privilege to attend. your valued support, will The Scheme closed to new entrants on 1 December 2010. continue to promote for RAMSHACKLED BBCPA FUNDS • On 31 December 2018 Bill Matthews resigned as an many years to come. ACTUARIAL VALUATION Independent Trustee and Chair of the Board. EXTRAORDINARY I wish you all a very Happy YEAR The BBCPA’s own funds have Christmas. not exactly bounced back to Every three years the Trustees arrange a full actuarial valu- It has, moreover, been a joy So we are nearly through this their former glory but they are ation of the Scheme. The valuation gives a snapshot of the • On 1 January 2019 to meet and interact with so Maurice Maguire ramshackled year. Politically doing very nicely. After last cost of providing benefits to be paid to members (the lia- Catherine Claydon many ‘ordinary’ members the nation is in an awful state year’s (2018) drop in income bilities) and how that compares to the value of the assets. was appointed of the Association who are and so many important issues to £28K I am pleased to say The last full valuation was carried out with an effective date Chair of the Board. indeed extraordinary in their are being held up as a result that we are now on track and of 1 April 2016 and revealed a shortfall of £1,769m. At 31 talents. If history is made VOLUNTEERS? of the BREXIT saga. (Sorry I predict that our income will March 2018 this had reduced to £1bn. The next full actuarial by individuals, then you, our I was going to try and avoid be about the same at valuation will take effect on 31 March 2019 with the results • On 1 January 2019 Eileen members, can be proud of that word). It is affecting us of 2019. Our expenditure is available in 2020. Haughey was appointed as an Independent Trustee. your contribution to making You can write or email all. And now there is to be an also expected to finish similar the BBC one of the world’s or fill in the form on election as well. By the time to last year at £25K. So a • 10 February 2019 Anna Mallett stepped down as a finest broadcasters. the web site (see under you read this the result will surplus of some two or three FUNDING LEVEL Trustee as she was leaving the BBC. ‘Downloads’ in the have been published and we thousand pounds is likely but Members’ Area). will continue to stagger on to I will provide more details • On 11 February 2019 Glyn Isherwood was appointed the future but hopefully our of this in our Annual Report At the 2016 actuarial valuation the Scheme was 88% funded; as a BBC Trustee. COMMUNITY an improvement from the previous full actuarial valuation in The Membership Secretary, new politicians will lead us in which will be distributed in 2013 of 83%. At 31 March 2018 this had further improved Maurice Maguire the right direction! February 2020. • On 31 March 2019 Anne Bulford stepped down as a to 94%. Part of that wonderful ethos PO BOX 142 Buxton There is so much anger and BBC Trustee as she was leaving the BBC. is the sense of community SK171AX disagreement everywhere. I Meanwhile I would like to The Trustees and the BBC have agreed a funding plan to which existed throughout e-mail: membership@ heard a “man on the wireless” wish you all a very Happy • On 1 April 2019 Peter Johnston was appointed as a address the shortfall so that, if the funding position develops our BBC careers and which bbcpa.org.uk the other day say that there Christmas and New Year. BBC Trustee. is encapsulated in the work will be a massive challenge as projected, the Scheme would be fully funded (that is, a of the Association. I know for the new government Alan Bilyard funding level of 100%) by 31 December 2028

Page 2 Page 3 By Bernie BBC PENSIONERS’ REGIONAL MEETINGS SpreadingSpreading thethe lightlight atat ChristmasChristmasDavis ‘Carols from King’s’, which for many around the world is the start of their Christmas tradition, began in 1918 when the First World War The meeting in Armistice was we are looking for new members. A video outlining followed by everyone announced. 17th OCTOBER partners to bring offers to the offers was shown to attending introducing our members. The meeting the meeting. Discounts themselves and giving a In 1918 the Dean of King’s Members from Bristol and ended at 4.15 and special deals on home, potted biography of their College Chapel, Cambridge, surrounding areas gathered travel and car insurance BBC careers and information decided to hold a service of in the Animal Magic room 24th OCTOBER were outlined along with about retirement activities. Nine Lessons and Carols in BBC Bristol for their discounts at several leading This took some time but on Christmas Eve as a gift Regional Meeting. On Members from the retailers. Christina also was well worthwhile. They to the City of Cambridge; this occasion Khalid Iqbal, area got the explained how the regular came from a wide range a tradition that has lasted Committee Member was the chance to meet members e-newsletter worked of BBC jobs with a strong over one hundred years. sole representative of the of our Committee when the and how the Association representation by BBC BBCPA Committee. Association held a regional was pushing ahead with Engineers of all kinds as In 2018 The Society of The new objectives of the meeting at BBC Leeds. electronic mailing to well as people who started Television Lighting and BBCPA were received with Christina Hamilton chaired save paper and help the as secretaries, personnel Design were invited to lots of enthusiasm and the meeting with support environment in the process officers, World Service see the broadcast being applause. A presentation from Jonathan Smith and through cutting waste. journalists and so on. Many prepared. Bernie Davis, about the BBC Pension new Committee member Colin Sykes reported had had training or worked who is the current Lighting Scheme prompted questions Colin Sykes. She explained on the new aims of the for some time in Director tells the story of Association which have but clearly preferred to the lighting challenges faced recently been approved work in BBC when by the BBC from 1928 to the by the Committee. These the opportunities arose. present day. include a commitment to Most people seem satisfied champion the needs of the with their time at the BBC Association’s membership and enjoyed their careers The Chapel and also offer members the although some took the chance to still feel part of opportunity to leave when The Chapel takes your The meeting in Leeds the BBC’s wider community Producer Choice came in. breath away with the world‘s about a potential buy-out. how the Association was of former employees. A significant number who largest fan-vaulted ceiling. Khalid reassured members formed in 1988 to monitor Details of how to contribute left then returned to work as It is considered the finest that there was no likelihood the BBC pension fund to the Association’s hugely freelancers. There seemed example of Perpendicular of this due to the huge which was then in surplus. popular memory bank were to be no producers/directors Gothic Architecture in the sums of money that would She explained how the also demonstrated at the except the three committee world be involved. A further Association has changed meeting. members. We showed a It was commissioned by discussion about RPI v over the years putting the couple of PowerPoints Henry VI with the foundation CPI resulted in further idea of a ‘them and us’ explaining the role of the stone laid by him in 1446. reassurances that there approach to the BBC behind GLASGOW 8th NOVEMBER BBCPA and how the BBC The roof was finally added had been no approach by us to concentrate on a more Albert Barber, Maurice Pension Scheme works plus between 1512 and 1515. The the BBC to consider such a co-operative approach. Maguire, Auckland, the excellent video shot by perpendicular design allows change. The Association now has represented the BBCPA. Jonathan Smith of Leslie for much larger windows than After a tea break Khalid 2,400 active members and The meeting was held on Huss-Smickler presenting were previously possible, The Chapel of Kings College Cambridge Photos: Bernie Davis and John O’Brien proceeded to show a video Christina explained how the same day as an annual the range of offers he has filling the chapel with natural recorded at the BBCPA it aims to help sort out lunch organised by BBC managed to secure on behalf light. The chapel’s beautiful although in one area of wall removed and stored in the sum by a benefactor who AGM in April of Leslie members’ pension problems Scotland pensioners. This is of our members. We were stained glass was finished by near the altar you can just cellars of other Cambridge then donated it to the chapel Huss-Smickler’s explanation through its contacts with the quite a large group and 23 of invited to join the rest of the 1531. make out what appears buildings. Luckily, that part in 1968. of the current BBCPA offers. Pension Trust and the BBC. them attended our morning group for lunch. The building survived to be the remains of some of Cambridge escaped the This was well received and She demonstrated how the meeting at the same venue, We may have recruited Henry VIII’s dissolution graffiti depicting a soldier on bombing, and the windows members thought it was BBCPA website has evolved the Crowne Plaza Hotel, one or two new members of the monasteries in 1536 horseback, believed to have were re-instated soon after The BBC a very useful part of the into a modern-looking directly across the river although that was not the largely thanks to Thomas been drawn by one of the the war ended. BBCPA’s work. There was portal for members. One of Clyde from BBC Scotland’s main purpose of the exercise. Cromwell’s troops billeted in soldiers. At the east end of the chapel On Christmas Eve 1928 some suggestion about the most popular additions headquarters BBC Pacific I believe we have made quite the chapel. As it was winter During World War 2 the city is the magnificent Adoration the BBC first broadcast The potential discounts with has been the various offers Quay. a number of new friends who they chose not to smash was concerned that bombing of the Magi, painted by Festival of Nine Lessons and mobile phone providers. As and discounts negotiated The meeting began with may be willing to spread the the windows. The chapel could have destroyed the Rubens in 1634, and bought Carols live, making this year, always, Khalid explained, by the BBCPA on behalf of a few words from Albert word about the BBCPA. largely survived unscathed, windows and so they were in 1959 for a world record 2019, the 90th anniversary

Page 4 Page 5 of the BBC’s involvement. A photograph in the Radio Times shows the entrance to King’s College looking remarkably different from how it looks today. Listeners in 1936 were able to receive the broadcast on 2LO and 5XX (London and Daventry respectively), with the BBC’s first charter only having been granted in 1927. Apart from just one gap in 1930 the Service has been heard on BBC Radio every year since then. The Service was first televised in 1954 when MCR10, a based three camera unit broadcast the Service as part of the Television Continental Exchange. This enterprise for the exchange of programmes, now known as Eurovision, only started in June that year. It linked Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and West with one month of experimental exchange of programmes. This was done via thousands of miles of newly installed circuits and optical standards converters joining our 405 lines to the 819 lines, 625 lines and 441 lines used abroad.

The press and the public saw this as a great success and despite

the high costs involved the exchange was extended. This included a Christmas programme by which Carols from Kings was broadcast live to nine countries on 23rd December 1954. ➜ The BBC took Midnight Mass live from on Christmas Eve, and Winter Sports from Switzerland on Boxing Day. A film-recorded copy of this broadcast was shown on BBC in 2014 as part of their celebration of sixty years of Carols from King’s on television. Although that was the sixtieth anniversary, television did not actually cover the event every Above Left and below: The ingenious solutions. Discrete lighting the choir. The spacer tube for the choir and to the left of the year. One such year was when the BBC was barred from the ‘Rubens’ a remote camera and lamp almost invisible (shown by arrow). Right The Rubens painting below the East Window. chapel following controversy over some damage incurred to the walls. It was 1963 before the BBC visited a second time. resulted in a story which lives now in BBC Outside Broadcast tubes and the changing of the bulbs. With a few gaps since then BBC Television and Radio has history. The candles that are used extensively throughout the Peter Webb placed miniature lighting fixtures on the been there every year! When the BBC returned in 1963 Barry choir were almost bright enough to give satisfactory and very woodwork over the choir, and used these to light the Hill from BBC Birmingham is credited. Barry was a much natural lighting of the choir, almost but not quite enough. congregation, organ pipes, vaulted ceiling, and other respected -based TV Lighting Director. Cambridge These lights were part of the original 60’s installation and still architectural details. This was the design I inherited, and it came under the Midlands in the old BBC Regional division in use in 2018, although we did have to repair one this year. served well for a few years until Health and Safety got involved. of programmes. In 1972 Bryan Wilkes, ex Head of BBC OB Peter found that the candles all sit in candle holders which The only way this design could be rigged was to walk along a Lighting was involved, soon followed by Hugh Cartwright, contained 10w pygmy bulbs used to light the choir’s music. wooden ledge about 4.5m high and about half a metre wide, Harry Thomas, Alan Woolford, Peter Greenyer, and Bert This installation was part of the first time 1960’s installation which was also where the lights were placed. Access meant Robinson. In 1991 Peter Webb was asked to take on the of electric lighting. treading carefully between lights, avoiding cables and other lighting, and to reassure the chapel that more care would be Peter had an idea, that if a spacer tube could be inserted obstacles, with no hand rail and nowhere to harness on to. taken, a policy was followed by which continuity of staff year under the candle holders with a small window the pygmy What’s worse, the ancient woodwork was getting dilapidated, on year was maintained as far as possible. Peter left the BBC bulbs could contribute to the choir lighting from a very and you had to think twice about making fine adjustments in 1999 and handed the show to me, and I have managed to natural angle. He invited Dave Yates of BBC OBs Mechanical for fear of moving something else. So one year we set about stay with it since then.. Workshops to come up with a design. Dave drove back to the designing a new way of lighting the chapel, but in such a large OB base in Kendal Avenue wondering where he could source and open building where do you put the lights, especially some metal tube of the right size, and on arrival noticed that when cameras want to look everywhere? The Challenge the swing pole vehicle barrier had yet again been caught by a truck and was lying snapped off to one side of the entrance. With help from contractors ELP and scaffolders Bristol and So how do you light a building for multicamera coverage of a He thought it looked remarkably close to the size he needed Principality, (namely Justin Denchfield and Brian Hamley), I service that happens in real time, when you want to look in all and measured it. It proved to be perfect, and the aluminium managed to place four vertical trusses, one in each corner of directions including up to the roof? tube was quickly taken to the workshop, sawn into suitable the choir area. At the east end of the choir we fitted chemical The lighting design changes very little year to year now lengths, windows milled into them, and they were finally bolts into the wall to which we attached short tubes to secure although there have been a couple of landmark adjustments sprayed gold. The result was a very natural look on camera the trusses, and when they are not there a small grey plastic in the past. Camera technology advances have brought about with no possibility of unnatural shadows. These fittings are cap leaves the bolt hole almost invisible. key changes, going back to the early 1950s when the Image removed afterwards, carefully stored and used every year. The west end of the choir proved more tricky as the oak Orthicon cameras with their improved sensitivity enabled the woodwork prevented us attaching to the wall behind. However, broadcast to be made at all for the first time. with extreme care we managed to tuck a vertical truss into the Continuing Improvements corner of the choir stalls themselves, and to secure it with soft ratchet straps to the ancient woodwork. This is not structural An Interesting Solution The only improvement I have made since taking over is the enough to allow climbing but is perfectly adequate for keeping addition of reflectors made from Rosco reflective material, the truss upright. A scaffolding T-piece at the top provided a Peter Webb was asked to improve the design with two aims: and diffusers on the windows to improve the spread. We platform for better fixtures than we had used before. to remove the scaffolding, and to make the lighting look also had them powder-coated one year to tidy them up. Peter The choir are still lit using the adapter sleeves, and the more natural and candle-lit. He had the benefit of the new replaced the 10w bulbs with 15w to get the level up, but these additional lighting is for architecture and for congregation sensitive CCD cameras that were just being used by the BBC have to be removed after we go as in summer 15w is enough mostly. These lights enable the very dark woodwork to be replacing the old tubed cameras. He was able to use much 1926 and 2818 OB trucks in the ‘50’s an Marconi Mk1B with to make the candles droop. So every year King’s starts and lifted out of the gloom and a few carefully placed fixtures keep smaller lighting fixtures. But he took another approach which BBC cameraman Don Mackay. finishes with the ritual of fitting and removing of the candle the walls visible after goes down.

Page 6 Page 7 BIRTH OF THE BEEB October 1922 The British Broadcasting Company Ltd, was formed on 18 October 1922 by a Award winning building housing the Pensions and Benifits Centre and BBC . See Page 14 group of leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi. MESSAGE FROM THE DG. Tony Hall November 1922 This year has been a reminder of what a powerful creative The British Broadcasting force the BBC remains for the UK, even against the Company Ltd. began daily radio broadcasts from 2LO, advancing tide of global competition. the transmitter in The Strand Hit shows like and His Dark had more than 100 million requests to view. that they acquired from Materials picked up where last year’s Marconi for the purpose. Bodyguard left off. They became must-watch In of the last year, iPlayer’s reach TV events, drawing the kinds of audiences we to young audiences is up by around 20%. were told are a thing of the past. At the same Alongside the ongoing development of BBC Sounds – and the strength of our output across January 1923 time, new dramas like Gentleman Jack and radio, music and now – it’s a strategy First outside broadcast, World on Fire proved once again that, when that will be vital in allowing us to live up to our the British National Opera the BBC takes creative risks with original universal mission by continuing to reach, and Company’s production of British storytelling, our audiences respond. Above Left: A Strand pattern 23 spot lamp from the 60’s still in use today. provide value to, audiences of all ages. The Magic Flute from Covent Below Left and Centre: Lights for the magnificent ceiling. Far Right The lighting within the Choir stalls I am particularly proud of all the work our Garden. Of course, the biggest decision that we took this teams have been doing in an incredibly testing The wonderful ceiling was more of a challenge as it gets One of the challenges is that we have to record the service year concerned the future of free TV licences for political climate. heavily featured in the programme. The wide shot from right as a complete package, and can only do retakes at the end. those aged over 75. 18 January 1923 over the organ loft, east to west has the whole of the ceiling in This means that we might well be recording part of a carol in Through programmes like , Today The Government announced in 2015 that they The UK Postmaster General it up to the west window. A few lights on our trusses would daylight with a patch recorded after dark. The vision team do and , our expert editors are working would stop paying for the current scheme. After grants the BBC a licence to not do much. The solution I came up with was a small corral great work using their own recording to quickly check how it harder than ever to help audiences navigate our one of the largest consultations in our history, broadcast. of lights placed in the ante chapel some way west of the organ, looked on take one and then match the retake insert as best fast-changing news environment. Meanwhile, we have decided to put a new, BBC-funded firing over the loft. From this one point you can see every bit of as they can. There is nothing I can do to help either, it is that BBC Parliament has been attracting the kinds scheme in place from 2020 which will offer free the roof although the distance varies enormously as you look large cool daylight lift that disappears.. of audiences we more associate with soap opera TV licences to all those who receive pension for east to west. But by using an array of different fixtures I – and arguably offering just as much drama. 13 February 1923 credit. First broadcast from broke the ceiling down into sections using appropriate lenses The BBC’s core values of impartiality, accuracy (station 5WA). to keep levels and spread the same. So each side of the roof This was the most popular choice emerging The Future and universality have always set us apart. I uses one 5° lens, one 10°, one 26°, one 36°, one 50° and one from the consultation. We believe it is fairest believe they give us an increasingly vital role to 75° lens . It looks more like some lights have been dumped out So what for the future? Well, the lighting works, so there is for the poorest pensioners, and also fairest play in the disinformation era, in standing up of the way, but they are very effective. no urgency to fix it. But one project that is already under way for all audiences, old and young, because it 6 March 1923 for truth and supporting democracy at home is a new house lighting installation. The lights introduced in protects the services they value from extensive First broadcast from Glasgow and abroad. 1968 have seen their day and the chapel is a gloomy place even cuts that might otherwise have been inevitable. (station 5SC). Recording the Service with all their lights - before 1968 there was only candle light. Of course, the BBC can never be complacent. Our priority now is to implement the scheme The chapel is already adding Light Emitting Diode (LED) This year we have been working hard to responsibly and with care. To help with the fact that the recording starts in daylight lighting that can help with lighting the congregation, and to modernise and transform the corporation, Over the Christmas and New Year period, the 6 June 1923 - sometimes with direct sunlight still on the north walls - light some of the architecture. Thanks to good co-operation, both inside and out. Edgar Wallace makes a BBC will once again demonstrate on air and on through into full darkness, we light through the windows from the fixtures have already been tested for camera flicker, report on The Derby, thus screen the central role we play in British national outside with big discharge lights. This maintains light through and they are all colour tuneable. What’s more, they can also Our new strategy for iPlayer is an important becoming the first British life – both through the breadth of our creative the windows to the end of the recording. It might not be nat- be controlled by our lighting desk, once the installation is example. More box sets and more content, radio sports reporter. output and through our coverage of news and ural but it does look nice. Eight cameras are used, three with complete. available for longer, are helping us to compete UK politics at a critical moment. remote pan and tilt heads, three on rolling bases just west of I look forward to seeing what they offer, but I think it might better with the big global streaming services. the choir, one in the organ loft and one hidden near the back be a while before the candle holder sleeves are redundant. I Programmes like Fleabag and Killing Eve have Our focus in the year ahead will be to keep 28 September 1923 of the choir. Careful focussing of the lights keeps the cameras would like to see that tradition continue into the future. shown that iPlayer is already starting to make working to make sure the BBC will continue to First publication of the Radio pretty well invisible even though most wide shots would in- the transition from a catch-up TV service to a play that role, for everyone, as we head towards Times listings magazine clude at least half the cameras in frame. Photos: Bernie Davis and John O’Brien destination in its own right. Killing Eve alone our second century in 1922. (price 2d).

Page 8 Page 9 THOSE BUYING A NEW TV? What’s on the box this Christmas? WERE THE Jonathan Smith attempts to explain what’s what. Colin Sykes explains what’s on offer in the new world of streaming Thinking of upgrading your old telly? Television used to be so simple. Two main channels from the BBC plus ITV and the newcomer Channel Four. But suddenly it’s all become so complicated. DAYS! That tired small screen you have has long since gone past its sell by date, but you still use it. Streaming is big business now and the main - mainly American Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The pictures are quite good and you think there - players are falling over themselves to get your attention this Apple is putting around six billion dollars into the service and Christmas. the launch price is a low £4.99 a month. There are special is no need to change, what’s the point? Well, technology According to a new report from , young people are subscription offers for people who buy a new Apple product has moved on and here are a few NEW features which may turning their back on traditional broadcasters in favour of like an iPhone. change your mind. the streamers. and TouTube reached more young viewers than the BBC’s iPlayer but it’s the traditional model . of broadcasting that is under threat. DISNEY+ With the glittering exception of Strictly Come Dancing, live TV Note: A smart TV uses the internet. If you haven’t got the internet don’t is appealing to fewer of us than it used to. Streaming services Not here yet but launching in 2020 with a huge back catalogue SMART TV worry as it will work like your ordinary TV but you dont get the extras. are pumping billions of pounds and dollars into new content from the Disney vaults plus Marvel, Star Wars and National and it’s attracting more viewers than ever before. But look Geographic content. No price yet for the UK launch but the The internet is now an integral part of the programme content available to the more closely at the services and the TV picture becomes ever US price is $6.99 a month. screen. Access to Netflix and Amazon Prime give a wide range of entertain- more grainy. As the big beasts of America’s tech companies ment that is not available on terrestrial TV. Additionally, BBC iPlayer gives move into streaming many of them are withdrawing content access to 30 days of past tv and intends to offer up to a year’s streaming. ITV from their new rivals like Netflix. And there’s a new British kid BRITBOX CH4 and Ch5 have similar services. Most importantly, for children, there is on the block in the form of Britbox - a partnership between ITV and the BBC which offers amazing archive plus some Available now and with a huge range of archive programmes a great selection for all ages at any time of day. See our Guide to Streaming newly commissioned content. from the BBC and ITV with the benefit of no ads. More content Services. So what are you likely to get for your money? is promised with hundreds of episodes promised from Boxing Day and films from Channel Four in the new Note: OLED means Organic Light Emitting Diode which will give you an year. Expect to see classic series such as and OLEDS excellent picture and 4K and 8K and HDR gives even better quality. Inspector Morse plus gems from the vaults of classic British NETFLIX TV. Critics say much of the content is already available free The screen technology has moved on. OLED displays are the order of the day elsewhere but the service is expected to grow as more back and most manufactures have moved over to this technology in the last two Most subscribers opt for the £8.99 a month service which catalogue programmes and new content is added. There’s a years. The problem is that it’s currently only available for larger screens (55 lets you stream programmes on two devices. It’s big-hitting 30 day free trial on offer and if you sign up the cost is £5.99 and 65 inch) although I have heard that LG are to produce a 48 inch versions. programmes include , Better Call Saul and House a month. The definition is flexible up to 4K with 8K on the horizon for the next Olym- of Cards and the company is also putting lots of money into pics. 4k refers to the horizontal display of approximately 4,000 pix- original films. You need good quality broadband to benefit from any of the streaming services and watch your data els. The great advantage of OLED televisions is that the black level brightness allowances if you’re watching on a phone or tablet. BBCiPlayer is held constant. The brightness of LCD screens varies with picture content f you’re a licence fee payer, this is already yours to watch. and there is no true black. High Dynamic range (HDR) is available on some The big change is the recent decision which allows the BBC of the latest Blu-ray discs giving you brighter than peak white highlights and to keep programmes on the service for up to a year instead of increased gradation in shadows. the current month. There’s a huge amount of programming Having just poached Phoebe Waller-Bridge from the BBC, the already on the iPlayer with new deals with the US companies Note: If you can have a to the set. A sound bar is a long service is hoping to capitalise on the huge success of Fleabag FX and PBS America which will offer new content. CRISP SOUND speaker that sits under the TV and is an extra you may not need. to attract the attention of younger viewers. The library is huge with thousands of TV shows and films to watch. Best known With the BBC heavily committed to the last two services the Lastly, you bought the screen, but the sound is awful. Thin screens and com- output includes - which used to be seen on the war for viewers’ attention is clearly hotting up. It could be a pact electronics make the whole unit physically thin but the sound is compro- BBC as . For £7.99 a month you also get Amazon’s very warm Christmas. mised big time. The only solution is a sound bar. A small stereo loudspeaker next-day parcel delivery service. adapted for multichannel sound. As a start it can be used on its own, but can Ho Yo Ho Merry Ch enhanced with a sub-woofer (bass) and small rear left and right speakers (am- ristma bience surround) connected wirelessly. This gives a good sound stage, which is NOW TV s eve ryone! You could always listen really engaging. A word of caution, I have found the East Asian systems want- If you’re not a Sky subscriber this service offers content from like they did in 1923! The ing regarding clear articulated speech. I would therefore recommend a Bose and HBO through signing up for a series of TV Postmaster General had system as these loudspeakers work best with our European languages. They passes which start at £8.99 a month. If you want films too granted a license earlier in provide clear sound with hard edges. I have read in Prospero many letters ex- you’ll have to dig a little deeper. the year to allow broadcasts pressing frustration at the lack of clarity of TV drama sound. I think the Bose by the British Broadcast systems go a long way to make this apparent shortcoming disappear. Company. It become APPLE TV+ the British Broadcasting So now you know. Go out and do it; you won’t be disappointed. Corporation in January 1927. A new rival to Netflix from a company with very deep pockets. (See item on previous page) P.S. I am not on commission from BOSE so do some of your own research. Jonathan Smith The service is launching with just seven shows including The

Page 10 Page 11 CHRISTMAS SCRAPS BEFORE TV WAS INVENTED DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE The Victorians produced big The late Ian Dow remembers BBC Riverside Studios In middle class Victorian homes scraps, as they were called, were often as much a part of Christmas as the Lantern. screen spectaculars, but not as They were often embossed and glossy with publishers we know them today. producing multiple picture sheets that were sold by local stationers and booksellers. You may still be able to buy some even today. From the 1850’s scraps were popular decorative additions to Christmas cards. Designs were not exclusively Christmas but included historical and popular events. In the Victorian home a fashionable pastime was to embellish the folding screens for the often draughty living rooms. Some screens have survived as valuable antiques.

The New Studios and late 1966 on the set of“The Power of the ” ( and Anneke Wills) Ian Dow sadly is no longer with us. He left many programme looked at the way the conductor wanted the During the 19th century technology produced the Magic recollections of a happy time at the BBC. This one camerawork and vision mixing to reflect what he was trying Lantern. It was so popular that some complex and from his experiences at Riverside studios illustrates to achieve in the music. spectacular lantern shows were presented at the Royal the variety of programmes that originated at Of course, there was “The Idiot” (all but one episode in R1), Polytechnic Institution, 309 Regent Street, London (founded Riverside Studios, R1 and R2. which made a great impression on me personally. As a result, 1838). Very near where BH is today. I got and read fully Dostoevsky’s novels. The screens at the Polytechnic were about 25 feet (8 My most tricky track ever on a ped was on Play School in metres) across, musicians accompanied the shows with R2. It started as a medium 2-shot (or a wide shot) and ended Another hugely enjoyable production from R1 was “Curtain a team of sound effects people hidden behind the screen. up as a close-up on some jewellery in the presenter’s hand of Fear” - a comedy thriller - which again involved me The projectionists often used four, five or six large-format - and the tracking line was on a curve. 2 was the home for tracking into a close-up of the leading characters kissing. projectors to present fantastic and complex shows. The “PlaySchool”, and it was usually a joy to work on. I did not The director wanted a tight shot, but on transmission I went Royal Polytechnic Institution closed in 1876. But as projecors work on the first episode transmitted after BBC 2’s disastrous a bit too tight, and all you saw were four lips diagonally became cheaper people were beginning to buy their own. opening night, but I worked on the episodes for the following across the screen (4:3 ratio, of course!). On one episode, I They proved as popular as home movies and televison were week if I remember correctly. Tricky production, “Play was on a ped and there was one other camera looking at later. Below is a selection of seasonal slides that might have School”, especially the clock: zoom out, pan down zoom in this particular scene. According to the script, we had to been shown in the Victorian home. (onto a different focal plane). “Jackanory” (R2) also had its move from this set around to the next set - and in my case, I moments, trying to line up a recalcitrant camera into the had to clear round a Mole Richardson sound boom as well. kaleidoscope for the opening and closing titles. There was just one word to do this in the script - “No”! That was some fast move! I am sure that the ped tipped up as I R1 and R2 were put together for the Saturday Show “Open rounded the boom. House” - one show memorable for me, trying to hold the camera still as I was trying not to laugh at Blaster Bates in an Another production in R1 was “(The) Marriage Lines” with interview with Gay Byrne. The two studios were essentially Richard Briars and Prunella Scales. I worked on this show vision mixed as one studio. Generally, one segment was after Riverside was converted to use Pye Mk5 cameras, rehearsed in one studio when the other was live - I remember sometime in the early 1960s. The main problem was that dancers in R2. In R1, on another Open House, there was theses cameras had motorised turrets that were really Millie with “My Boy Lollipop”. incredibly slow to operate. On one “Marriage Lines” I had three consecutive shots of Richard Briars - MCU, CU and The two studios were also put together for a performance BCU, which were achieved by rotating the turret to select the of Michael Tippett’s Concerto for Double String Orchestra. appropriate lens. There was little time to do this, so as soon I was tracking a Vinten Heron on the camera-right hand as the camera was cut away, finger on the lens change, rotate side of the orchestra in R1 (the orchestra was in two section the camera focus and hope that the focus position was right mirrored left and right). The cameras from R2 were in the as the lens swung into place. Luckily I managed it!, (And gallery and on the floor, recording our final run through. thanks to the Vision Mixer, too!) They also recorded the notes in the gallery after the final run through, where Michael Tippett was present. In fact, they Another couple of programmes from R1 that I worked on were HIS notes: he asked, for example, the Vision Mixer to were “Mogul” and “The Newcomers”. You can get involved mix shots rather than cut on at least one point. We had to in some programmes, such as “The Idiot”, mentioned above: modify our track at one point, as far as I recall. Then the two “The Newcomers” was quite the opposite: I thought that it studios recorded the full performance. The final (edited) was a tedious programme to work on.

Page 12 Page 13 CARDIFF EARLY DAYS OF OUTSIDE BROADCASTS NOTICES AND DISCOUNTS PENSIONS TEAM Below: A Pye Mobile Control Room, which had 3 cameras and a ‘working spare’. These were 4.5 inch Image Orthicons. They arrived in the early sixties to virtually double the number of OB units at http://www.bbc.co.uk/ Cash Plan. For a monthly Wembley in order to service the new BBC 2 channel. SUBSCRIPTIONS AGM 2020 mypension/documents/ premium members can claim MOVE Illustration may be from: Our subscription year runs This will take place starting prospero back the cost of visiting ‘How Television Works’ from 1 May to the end of at 2 on Tuesday 21st the dentist, optician and The team in the Pensions Back then in the 1950’s a April. April 2020 at Friends physiotherapists etc. up to book for boys. and Benefits Centre have re- If you have not yet House, 173 Euston Road, DISCOUNTS AND annual limits. cently moved into a brand paid your subscription London NW1 2BJ. ROHAN new office in Cardiff. The for THE CURRENT Tel: 020 7663 1000 OFFERS Members can get an exclusive pensions team was one of the YEAR, 2018-19 we look No reservation is required. Look out for any new 20% discount off full price first departments to move forward to hearing Prospective members and BBCPA offers in the purchases of outdoor clothing into the purpose-built BBC from you soon. If we partners are welcome. members’ area of the and equipment at Rohan. Wales Headquarters in Cen- do not hear from you, Any motions, questions BBCPA website. SPAGIS tral Square next to Cardiff your membership, or nominations should be A Personal Accident Central Station. After 30 unfortunately, will lapse. sent to the Membership Costco Insurance plan at the years a little way outside the The current subscription is Secretary to arrive by Friday Members are eligible to apply same rate as current BBC city centre in Llandaff, the £15 per annum for single 5th April 2020. More details for membership of Costco. employees. This is insured team now find themselves members £20 for joint will be included in the Costco is a membership only through AVIVA and is a fixed not just in the centre of the members who both have March Annual Report mail warehouse club, dedicated premium regardless of age. city, but very much in the worked for the BBC. out. to bringing their members LOVE TO SHOP middle of BBC Wales broad- For single members only who quality goods and services at An online management casting operations, sharing joined between January till the lowest prices possible. portal with re-loadable cards a floor with the News and Decembe 2019 we offered HELP WITH PENSIONS COTSWOLD that offers members savings Sports teams. free membership. For details on your OUTDOORS through an exclusive discount particular pension ring the Cotswold Outdoors provides scheme . Discounts The move took place over ‘Pension Helpline’. The team outdoor enthusiasts with available include M&S, Tesco, one and from the HAVE YOU MOVED? at Cardiff are friendly and the latest clothing and Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, morning of our first day, Each year a number of helpful. equiment for their outdoor Argos, Boots, Cunard, Royal Monday 21st October, after a Below: One of the early members move and don’t , adventures. Members receive Caribbean. welcome breakfast of bacon Roving Eye units. Later a tell us. As a result our Cardiff, CF5 2YQ a 15% savings at Cotswold Radio Times butties (and veggie alterna- modified Humber Snipe letters get returned, usually Tel: 029 2032 2811 Outdoors. Members can buy an tives) laid on by BBC Wales, was used and finally a with ‘Gone away’ scribbled E: myPension@.co.uk FRED.OLSEN CRUISES exclusive 6 months renewable all systems were up and run- Citroen Safari. on them. If you move, do For further information Fred.Olsen offers cruises. subscription to Radio Times ning and teams were quickly please let us know. You can about BBC pensions: Members receive a 10% for £39. That’s £1.50 per issue working as normal. Our aim write or email or fill in the www.bbc.co.uk/ discount on their first cruise 50 Plus Travel was that there should be no form on the web site (see mypension on top of any other discount, Insurance interruption of service to under ‘Downloads’ in the and a 5% discount in addition Exclusive Annual Travel pensioners and other mem- Members’ Area). You can to the loyalty discount on Insurance available to bers and we believe that we write to the Membership VISITOR SCHEME subsequent cruises. members between ages 50 achieved that – with no com- Secretary, Maurice Maguire If you are over 70, in ill ROBERTS RADIO -79. Once a scheme member plaints or breakdowns! PO BOX 142 Buxton health or recently bereaved Members can receive a no upper age limit will apply, SK171AX and would like a visit from discount on the purchase of provided cover is not lapsed. The new building has won e-mail: membership@ a fellow BBC pensioner, the Roberts . Single trip policies also awards for its design and Above: The MCR21 is being bbcpa.org.uk contact is Cheryl Miles at HOTPOINT available for members over construction to the highest restored. If you have any Of course if you have moved the Pensions and Benefits Members can use the age 79. environmental standards. Its information about it or other and haven’t told us, you Centre phone 029 2032 Hotpoint Privilege Purchase Car and Home outstanding sustainability 1960s BBC units, please give probably won’t be reading this! 2811. Club where they can receive Insurance Nick Gilbey a call to help with credentials include 500m² Right: OB trucks with the Please also be sure to notify discounts of up to 40% on Competitive rates and they the restoraton. of photovoltaic panels on OB scanner CMCR 4 at us if you change your email purchases of Hotpoint, Indesit offer to beat any renewal Tel 07831 219957 the roof which will reduce Ely in December 1971 for address. PROSPERO and Whirlpool appliances, plus quote, subject to their terms the need for power from the a recording of Handel’s ‘Prospero’ is the free free removal of old appliances. and conditions. grid, and underground tanks Messiah. We believe it magazine produced for LOVE2SHOP CSS which collect rainwater to included the LSO and Kings THE COMMITTEE BBC Pensioners. It is sent An online management Members are eligible for flush the toilets. BBC Wales College choir. It was a 10 The Association Committee every other month but portal with re-loadable membership of CSSC. will be moving all its opera- day shoot with the Messiah meets on the second new pensioners will have cards that offers members Benefits includes free tions into the new building in Monday-Friday and the Tuesday of every month to read it online. It contains savings through an exclusive access to over 300 English the coming months – around weekend was spent doing a in London. If there are a selection of items about discount scheme . Discounts Heritage properties, historic 1,000 people altogether - and carol concert. Each morning issues you wish to raise or what ex-colleagues have available include M&S, Tesco, Royal Palaces and historic opening up the ground floor was taken up with sound questions please email or been up to, obits, and news Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, sites across Wales, a free to the public in 2020 – so vis- recording of each section write to the Membership of the BBC. The next Argos, Boots, Cunard, Royal Tastecard giving 50% off over itors will be very welcome to and then taped in the late Secretary a week or so edition is due out early in Caribbean. 6,200 restaurants, savings at come and look around. afternoon and evening so before the meeting. Contact February 2020. SIMPLY HEALTH supermarkets, shops, holidays Photo of new centre on the lighting was consistent. with all our members is Prospero can be found Members can apply for a etc. Page 9 Photo: Graeme Wall always really appreciated. online at: discounted Simply Health

Page 14 Page 15 TOP QUOTES Two former managing TEN WAYS directors of BBC Television put succinctly the difference between TO AVOID the BBC and other broadcasters. Huw Wheldon said of public service broadcasting; COUGHS ...that the BBC exists ‘’To make good programmes popular, and popular AND COLDS programmes good” and Bill Cotton in reference to US broadcasting 1 said, “...the difference Stay warm, keep your jumper between our system on and your hat. and yours is that you make programmes to make money, and we 2 get money to make Wash your hands often and programmes”. dry them on paper towels Radio Times 1923 and 2018 3 Dull, cloudy and moist weather breeds viruses – stay Farewell 2019 inside if you can P 4 This is a list of BBCPA members only who have died in the past year. Push open doors with your Our sympathies to all relatives and friends. elbow and avoid using bare We are able to include a written obituary on our website. If you wish to do so either hands as this spreads viruses submit it in writing or by using the links on the website bbcpa.org.uk. Apologies for any omissions or inaccuracies 5 Peter Andrews Judith Harry Meryl O’Keeffe Boost your immune system Diana Baldwin Robert Hartley Michael Painter with echinacea, zinc, garlic Peter Bale Roy Hatton Margaret Parry and Vitamin C. Alan Beecham William Hawkins Peter Parry Jeffrey Boden Kenneth Hill Neville Pickering 6 Annie Brown Jack Hollinshead Reginald Poulter Pro-biotics and a daily Margaret Brunt Gladys Holloway Robert Pratt multi-vitamin tablet help the John Cairns Roy Privett body’s natural defences Alex Campbell Michael Homewood Elizabeth Przylecka Dennis Carr Winifred Hopkins Harold Ransom-Rose Basil Cottrill Albert Ingle Shirley Rennison 7 John Cox Peter Jarvis John Richardson Keep hydrated, drink water Martin Dalby Cyril Jenkins Sam Samuel and hot drinks. Soup is nu- Dennis Dick Philip Knight Monica Simms tritious and hydrating Richard Dines Mary Leegood Howard Smith Kenneth Dunlevy Terence Leyland Ann Stangar 8 Desmond Elcock John Liddle D Surridge Move around as this helps Brian Elliott Frederick Lister Derick Tansley blood circulation which car- Anthony Escott Kenneth Locke Rodney Taylor ries natural killers of bacteria Norah Esslemont Robert McDougall Gordon Thorp around the body Margaret Etall John McElroy Francis Turner Stuart Frost Tony McLaren Gwendoline Weekley John Garratt Peter March Harry Wellborne 9 Alan Gee Peter Marsh Barbara Westlake Throw used tissues away David Gorringe Marion Menzies Colin Widgery immediately Janet Gosling Valerie Mills Donald Wilkinson John Grantham Audrey Mines C Willicombe 10 Donald Grattan Frances Monger arold itt H W Get some sleep – it will help Cyril Hadley George Mowlam eith oung K Y your body to fight infections

Page 16 December 2019 Design by Albert Barber. Edited by Christina Hamilton WEB EDITION