The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online Remembering the Falklands War Harold Briley looks back at the BBC’s pivotal role – page 6

June 2012 • Issue 4

Head of pensions Dr Who moves on £850k travel bill documentaries Page 2 Page 8 Page 12

NEWS • Memories • Classifieds • Your letters • Obituaries • CrosPERO 02 BBC PENSIONS Head of pensions moves on Report from the BBCPA AGM to the city of dreaming spires The morning rain poured down. We feared the turnout to the 25th AGM of the BBC Pensioners’ Association Jan Killick’s sojourn as head of pensions at the BBC has been marked by dramatic change. (BBCPA) would be thin and damp. But maybe thanks to a timely Prospero display Indeed one might reasonably conclude that closed to new hires in 2010, she set up panel and an entry on our website she is afflicted by the Chinese curse, ‘May Life Plan and launched a comprehensive advertising Paul Lewis of Radio 4’s Money you live in interesting times’. Not only has communications programme to ensure Box as a second guest speaker, numbers she had to contend with a steady stream that members understood the benefits held up and the meeting was lively of statutory instruments and other forms (or otherwise) of opting to transfer into and interesting. of government tinkering, such as new limits CAB2011. Thus, while there will be many With the Association’s business out on tax relief, but she has been called upon that regret the changes introduced by the of the way, Geoff Jones (the pensioner- to completely re-jig BBC pension provision. BBC, Jan has handled all the upheaval elected trustee) reassured us about the And then just as she paused for breath, with professionalism and unflagging security of BBC pensions in payment. along comes automatic enrolment, good humour. The pension fund has gone up in value which can truly be said to be piling Ossa She leaves behind her a highly trained over the last year even though, for on Pelion. and enthusiastic team in Cardiff, which technical reasons, it is likely to be less Notable among her achievements have enjoys a reputation for excellence across fully funded than before because of been the introduction of a career average the BBC. We wish her well in her new quantitative easing, which depresses the benefits section in 2006, flexible retirement appointment managing the Oxford long-term yields on bonds. Potential EU Jan Killick. and salary sacrifice for the collection of University pension arrangements. legislation with the unappetising name pension contributions. After the Scheme Geoff Jones Solvency II, which caused a flurry of anxiety earlier in the year might not, he explained, pose a threat to UK occupational pension funds after all. Geoff reported that the BBC Pension Helping you Scheme is now closed. New staff now have to depend on the vagaries of the market rather than the more secure understand defined benefits offered by the new Career Average Benefits scheme (CAB your pensioner 2011). Painful decisions had to be made by current staff whether or not to accept the new arrangements or stay with ‘old’ payslips or ‘new’ benefits with a cap of just 1% Do you find your BBC pension advice slip on annual increases. Those who jumped, hard to understand? BBC pensioner, froze their pensions and became deferred Clive Coston, wrote in a recent BBCPA pensioners. They are now technically able questionnaire: ‘It seems to contain lots to join the Association. of detail but fails to explain in layman’s Paul Lewis gave a masterly tour terms exactly what each figure represents. d’horizon of the current financial It is only by comparison with the previous situation, highlighting the relative issue that one can begin to get a sense privilege of today’s occupational of what’s going on, and surely that can’t pensioners and the reduced pension be right. prospects for people working in the BBC ‘Of course, the people who issue it today. However, he also addressed the understand it fully and it’s obvious to them. challenges for many poorer pensioners However, the need is to inform pensioners on shrinking real incomes and the bleak about their pension, not just satisfy the picture of pension provisions in the administrative process of the BBC Pension future. Paul emphasised the huge cost of Trust Limited.’ buying a private pension which could in The BBC Pension and Benefits Centre any way match the BBC pension many has created this visual to show you what retired staff enjoy. He also explained CPI all the numbers mean. If you have any and RPI calculations, which turn out questions about your payslip, please contact to be compiled in completely different the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. arithmetical ways. His revelations, together with the minutes of the AGM, will be available for members to hear and read about on the Association’s website, now to be found at www.bbcpa.org.uk David Allen Chairman, BBC Pensioners’ Association

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 July 2012.

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 VISITING SCHEME 03 CONTACTS

The social network Visiting Scheme If you would like a visit or information on Chris Drouet sent us this article about his experiences in his first how to become a volunteer visitor, please ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged at year as a BBC volunteer visitor. the local rate. Queries not all my pensioners wanted a visit but were abroad. There are experts in growing For benefit and pension payroll queries, call content to have a short chat on the phone. orchids, game-keeping and country issues, the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Armed with lots of information, nervous cooking, and spending time babysitting but not daunted, I started out on my visits. their grandchildren at the other end of the Prospero To add or delete a name from the distribution country. Just always busy, busy, busy! list, ring the Service Line (number above). Prospero is provided free of charge to retired “Talking too much Busy, busy, busy BBC employees. On request, we will also With a list of over 20 people who I visit send it to spouses or dependants who want does now seem to and some recent additions where I’m in the to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is process of sending an introductory letter, the also available on audio disc for those with be an asset.” number I have is just about right for me, as sight impairment. a new visitor. It allows me to visit a couple To register, please ring the Service Line of times a year and fit this in with my busy on 029 2032 2811. With each visit I set out to stay for about an schedule that some us ‘just retired’ people BBC Club hour and a half – but usually it turns out to seem to acquire after leaving full-time work! The BBC Club in London has a retired New visitor Chris Drouet. be longer. This might have something to do I aim to visit each of my pensioners twice category membership costing £30 a year with the tea and cake! However, anyone who a year, with a big enough gap so I don’t for members and £39 a year for family hen I first retired in 2008, knows me will say they’re not surprised as become a nuisance but not too big that I lose membership. Pre-1997 life members are I answered the request for I could always be relied upon in BBC touch with what is happening in their lives. not affected. Regional clubs may have volunteer visitors by ringing meetings to talk too much! This does now The area I cover is made up of one small different arrangements. Please call BBC Club London the number in Prospero. I was seem to be an asset! My pensioners are town and a lot of small rural villages in administration office on 020 8752 6666 or thankedW for my interest but as there weren’t unique individuals made up of retired BBC Cumbria. Finding some of the addresses email [email protected] any vacancies I was asked if my name could staff, their widows and widowers. A more proved to be difficult, even with a Satnav, be kept for possible future use. interesting bunch you couldn’t wish to meet. but having been to them all once during the Benevolent Fund You can imagine my surprise when, quite The word ‘pensioner’ conjures up elderly early summer of 2011, my winter visits were This is funded by voluntary contributions out of the blue in February 2011, I received people who don’t get out much. Well that easily accomplished. from the BBC and its purpose is to protect the welfare of staff, pensioners and their an email asking me if I was still interested couldn’t be further from the truth. Of course As a BBC volunteer visitor, I have made families. Grants are made at the discretion and would I like to contact Christine Geen, there are a few who are housebound due to over 20 new friends who I have a natter with of the Trustees. They may provide who was the organiser of the BBC Volunteer infirmity or age, but these are ‘lively of twice a year over a cup of tea and biscuits assistance in cases of unforeseen financial Visiting Scheme at that time. mind’, quizzing me about local or national and I’d like to think they enjoy the visits hardship, for which help from other sources I was appointed in April 2011 and invited politics and still very interested in current as much as I do. It’s a little bit of simple is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. to my first visitor roadshow, held in BBC issues! friendly social visiting with the added bonus Prospero Society Manchester. Here I met a lot of very My happy band consists of those who of being there for my new friends if they Prospero Society is the only section of the friendly ‘visitors’, some ex-colleagues now are widely travelled, both at home and need me. BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff retired, who gave me a lot of friendly and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC advice and interesting anecdotes of their pensioners to meet on a social basis for own experiences. BBC Volunteer Visiting Scheme theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. I also made contact with an ex-colleague The Scheme covers people who are: Prospero is supported by BBC Club funds who is a visitor in an adjacent area to mine. • Aged 70 or over, or who left the BCC on health grounds so as to make events affordable. The only conditions (apart from paying He kindly invited me to lunch to discuss his • Known to be in difficulties (irrespective of age) experiences, giving me his insight into being a small annual subscription) are that you a visitor. • Known to have been bereaved recently. must be a BBC pensioner and a member of the BBC Club. For an application form write Unlike some of my other visitor The visitors are active BBC pensioners who provide a social contact to these pensioners, to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries Avenue, colleagues, I only had 54 pensioners to write either through visits or telephone calls. To find out more – either if you’re interested in being a visitor or if you would like to arrange a visit – please contact the Scheme Radlett, Herts WD7 7EL. to, introducing myself – whereas some have Telephone: 01923 855177 co-ordinator, Cheryl Miles, on 029 2032 3772 or email [email protected] over 100 on their list! Having made contact, Mobile: 07736 169612 Email: [email protected] BBC products BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% Crospero 166 devised and compiled by Jim Palm discount off the RRP of most products in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a 1 2 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 3 4 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, their BBC pension number when ordering. these letters will spell out the name of a regular BBC series. Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, 5 6 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The Editor, W12 7RJ. Telephone: 020 8225 8230 7 8 9 Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Email: [email protected] Cardiff CF5 2YQ by Friday 15 June 2012. Other ways to order (quoting your pension number when ordering): By phone: 10 CLUES 08700 777 001 8.30am-6pm weekdays. 1. Small fishing boat (4); 2. Award (5); 3. Stop (5); 4. Little one (3); 5. Colour By post: BBC Shop, PO Box 308, 11 (3); 6. Speaker (6); 7. Plot for flowers (3); 8. Scots indefinite article (3); Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8LW. 9. No matter which (3); 10. OT character (3); 11. Mineral-related (11); Email: [email protected]. 12 12. Vegetable (3); 13. Bother (3); 14. Fabric (3); 15. Implement (3); Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, 16. Upper class (5); 17. In the past (3); 18. Sickness (3); 19. Mammal (5); Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or 20. Names (5); 21. Repressed (4) 13 14 15 Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for telephone, post and email orders. Overseas: £4.50 for 16 17 one item and £2 for each additional product Solutions to Crospero 165: Knead; Mane; Ripe; Agent; Harem; Bette; for telephone, post and email orders. 18 19 Ewers; Alb; Syrup; Rigid; Ode; Begat; Write; Arums; Salon; Rate; BBC PA Clod; Niche. The theme tune was Knightsbridge March. The winner of 20 21 For details of how to join the Pensioners’ Crospero 165 was Mr John Lamb of Oldham. Association, see panel on page 5.

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 04 LETTERS

So, farewell, Mark Thompson Existence of

The first time I really got to know him As it happens, soon after my job at C&DPU special recordings was when he was Head of Features and went down the pan in 1998 I became Ian Reed’s letter (Prospero, April 2012) I was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust executive producer for Nations & Regions on draws attention to the BBC’s experimental blinking into the job of acting head of the the BBC1 Millennium Event programme, stereo broadcasts on Saturday mornings smallest department in the Factual Group, 2000 Today, the longest-ever BBC live via Third Programme plus TV sound Community & Disability Programmes, in programme. Not long afterwards Mark transmitters in the late 50s and early 1993. When I nervously attended my first became director of Nations & Regions, a key 60s. I remember listening to some of meeting of the factual heads, headed by Jane position in the wake of devolution, and one these as a schoolboy when lack of Drabble, Mark leaned over to me and said if in which he was just as helpful as he’d been money delayed my acquisition of stereo there was anything I didn’t understand or in all the other roles I’d seen him fill so ably. record-playing equipment! wanted to know about how things operated, He helped ensure we got full co-operation Mr Reed wonders whether more of his door was always open. I found that same from every part of the BBC for our 60 live these special recordings exist. One that encouraging openness and helpfulness when OB locations round the UK and Northern I know to be preserved was made in he himself later became Head of Factual, Ireland. If I didn’t know before, I found out 1964. It featured the Rolling Stones during which time he was tremendously then in the course of working with Mark and performing four songs introduced by supportive through a very painful round of people from all four nations, from the Long John Baldry. redundancies in 1995/6, made inevitable Shetland Islands to the Scillies, there is a More recently this recording saw by endless ‘efficiency savings’ and crudely growing sense of alienation from the BBC the light of day in the Radio 1 programme, Mark Thompson. applied across-the-board programme budget the further you get away from London and The Stones at the Beeb (30 November 1985) cuts. As an old Union hand I had strong the South East. This was something Mark and was used in two transcription service It would probably be no surprise to Mark views on how the process should be applied undoubtedly grasped very clearly when productions: Concept for the Colonies (for Thompson that at a distance I have strongly fairly, which he respected and took on board pushing through the controversial new BBC syndication in the USA on Independence disagreed with some of his policies as throughout the group. North base at Salford. (Anyway, it can’t be all Day 1986) and The Sixties at the Beeb (1987). director general, notably over pension By the time I too became victim of that bad. Think how much easier it will be for Derek Horsman changes and the over-hasty licence fee same relentless cost cutting and structural staff there to go to Old Trafford to see settlement in 2010 and consequent cuts, as change a couple of years later, Mark was Manchester United...) mentioned in your report on his prospective Controller of BBC2, in which incarnation I was pleased Mark got the job of DG, retirement (Prospero, April 2012). I always found him as easy to work with, as everything I’d known about him showed But, just as it is famously too soon to and argue with, as everywhere else. As soon me that he believed utterly in what the BBC assess the results of the French Revolution, as he heard what was happening to my should stand for as the main public service now is probably not the time to arrive at department, which was losing its identity broadcaster, and I knew he would genuinely definitive judgments on Mark’s regime, and autonomy, and to me personally, he do what he thought right, even if tempting though that would be to his many phoned me at home to offer sympathy and I sometimes thought he was wrong. critics, inside and outside the BBC. However, support, saying how he strongly disagreed Away from the spotlight, he’s capable I do think it a good moment to pay tribute to with the decision (made by a different of nice little moments of self-deprecation. some of his more appealing human qualities, directorate, Production). He then invited me He once told me, at a time of continual at least as I found them in his various roles to lunch a day or two later, picking me up speculation about the next ‘career move’ in the 1990s/early 2000s. It often surprises ostentatiously with his driver in front of the in his seemingly irresistible rise, ‘You know, me how much vilification one hears about White City building, greeting me loudly and I’m much more ambitious than you think!’ him, usually from people who have never warmly in front of colleagues who might Giles Oakley met him. have thought I was ‘finished’. Back to the Front Don’t forget Salford – again Work experience In the light of the speculation on the There are two letters in today’s Prospero (April Following Paul Gouldstone’s article on work replacement for Mark Thompson, surely we the Bushmen 2012) extolling the joys of Salford and the experience (Prospero, April 2012), I have so should be looking back as well as to the front. The article in the last edition of Prospero surrounding area – I don’t doubt them for a many great memories of working with Paul It does make one think, when looking at the regarding the departure from Bush House minute. at Radio Solent as a work experience ‘student current senior management, where are the Bill concentrates entirely on the Centre Block. What seems to be forgotten is that for many engineer’: going to Patrick Moore’s home at Cottons, Huw Weldons, Michael Grades, Hugh No mention is made of the South East BBC staff, they are one of a family of two or Selsey to set up an OB, onboard HMS Greenes, and Paul Foxs, to name but a few, Wing where BBC External Services more people. I can remember an (unofficial) Invincible at Portsmouth after her return today? Will the new incumbent, who will take were situated. sign in one of the Design Department’s labs from the Falklands, working on the Three a significant pay cut over his predecessor Mark In the Fifties and during the Cold War, at Western House which read ‘There wouldn’t Choirs Festival and having to lay microphone for a start, be worthy of the accolades of his news and views in 50 foreign languages were be any engineers working here if their wives cables whilst making sure the Bishop of predecessors for doing a good job and not for transmitted 24 hours a day. ‘Bushmen’ were didn’t go out to work’. Chichester was happy! Going to the Isle of boosting his salary? proud to provide this service. It would be That’s the point. Most families need two Wight to work on Cowes Week and also on Of the present so-called team, Peter fitting to mention them at this time. Their incomes to pay the mortgage these days. Is the Radio Solent listener’s cruise to France. Salmon, Director BBC North, refuses to move contribution to the reputation of the BBC the other partner going to find a job which Working on the opening of the Bournemouth to Salford and is apparently on the way out. worldwide should not be underestimated. is comparable with the one they have in International Centre and fitting what seemed Tim Davie, Director of Audio, was formerly Mrs EK Gutowska London? Are they actually going to find a like hundreds of XLR sockets onto plates for flogging Pepsi-Cola, no broadcast experience. job at all? the wireman to connect. Caroline Thomson, Chief Operating Officer, And, what about the children? They are All great experiences and definitely ones has had no programme-making experience Anonymous? going to have to move schools and be that helped build life skills that served me in the last 12 years. So, could it be ‘Come uprooted from their friends as well. The BBC very well throughout my career and at back Greg Dyke, all is forgiven’? Not me! staffer will still, to a large extent, be working the time for a 15/16-year-old were real Another interesting snippet – the contract Referring to my letter (Prospero, April 2012) with familiar faces; the rest of the family has confidence boosters. for Question Time is up for renewal. For the regarding ‘Lack of interest in Local Radio’s to start a completely new life. It might Max Gillibrand past 14 years it has been produced by Mentorn, proud past’. As this is unsigned, it might be eventually be a better one, but it will but there is a strong challenge from Lion assumed that I wanted to remain anonymous. probably take years to find that out. Television. This company is part of the Nothing could be further from the truth. The comparison with a move from the All3Media group. Rumours are that they I’m John Henty and I’ve still not heard from City of London to Docklands is ridiculous. could shortly be bought by Shine, owned by BBC Sussex – and they do know who I am – That’s about the same as moving from BH Elisabeth Murdoch and ultimately owner by perhaps that’s why! to White City. daddy’s News Corporation. So the BBC’s John Henty Mind you, they have built a lovely new prime current affairs discussion programme shopping centre for those who made that could be run by the Dirty Digger or are we John, we’re very sorry for omitting your name move and were suffering from Oxford Street really in for a change? – it was a technical glitch not picked up during withdrawal symptoms. Chris Wickham proofreading. Ed. Charles Hope

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 LETTERS 05 Wendy Duggan’s Relocation to Salford not the end of the world

massive contribution I suspect that George Boston (Letters, Top Of The Pops, Blue Peter, Dr Who, Dad’s Army, difficult to make the case that, with the Prospero, April 2012), is missing at least Match Of The Day, Only Fools And Horses, possible exception of 10 Downing Street, to Children’s TV half of the point. The furore surrounding Blackadder, Comic Relief, Tomorrow’s World, TVC White City has been the most significant the move to Salford is, one suspects, only Play For Today, The Borgias, Dixon Of Dock building in the UK for the past 50 years. and Play School partially about the changes to the personal Green, Terry And June, The House Of Elliot, Now that the corporation has decided lives of those directly affected. Many Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Newsround, to climb out from underneath this Having read the obituary in Prospero current production and technical staff will The Generation Game, The Two Ronnies, extraordinary legacy, surely nobody can (April 2012), I would like to add a undoubtedly also be concerned by the fact French & Saunders, Parkinson, The Old Grey be surprised that a few present and past few affectionate thoughts about Wendy that they are at the sharp end of a move Whistle Test, Jools Holland, Strictly Come members of staff have sat up and uttered a Duggan’s life and work with the BBC. which, for better or worse, does represent Dancing…enough already! collective, ‘hang on a minute’? She was the kindest and most the largest ever change to the BBC’s The move to Salford may not be ‘the end thoughtful person who ever worked in the operational, cultural and social base. of the world’, but it is a big change, and the Children’s Department. Nothing was too TV Centre will, very shortly, close. “...with the possible consequent closing of TVC will mark the much for her to do, there was no one she Broadcasting House will re-surface under a end of a long and fruitful era in the BBC’s wouldn’t support in their hour of need completely new skin, and Bush House will exception of 10 history. An era when the BBC cemented its and, of course, nothing she wouldn’t do to be no more. At the same time Manchester position at the heart of national life. make sure every animal she knew of had is no longer ‘one of the regions’, but firmly Downing Street, TVC Anyone with any commitment to, or the very best attention. at the centre. London isn’t quite a ‘region’ affection for the work of the BBC will only She adored working for children and yet…but who knows what the future holds? White City has been wish that The Salford Era is as successful as personified the aims and high standards Make no mistake, the BBC is in the throes The White City Era, and George Boston does of Play School. I never heard anyone with a of a massive and radical change, and nobody the most significant paint a grand picture of life ‘oop north’. bad word to say of her and she was much can predict, with any certainty, the long- The move to Salford however is about much loved – as witnessed by the many, many term effects of this change. building in the UK more than the length of the daily commute, people at her funeral. I worked at TVC for 20-plus years, so I or the proximity of the nearest John Lewis. She was a gentle and caring woman do have a residual allegiance to the place. for the past 50 years.” In the words of Baldrick, the move north who could not do enough for others, I also worked at BH and Bush House. Even might come to be seen as a ‘cunning plan’, regardless of the inconvenience. allowing for my misty-eyed nostalgia about I could list dozens more, era-defining designed to broaden the BBC’s cultural She gave enormous service to the BBC, past, personal and corporate glories, there productions that were conceived, produced outlook. If it doesn’t work, the move will, in which she was very proud of, and we were is no doubting the simple fact that the and edited in TVC. Add to this list every the words of Del Boy, leave a legacy of all the better for knowing and working Concrete Doughnut has been at the centre general election of the past 50 years, plus ‘…miles and miles of carpet tiles’. with her. of cultural, social and political life in the UK countless news bulletins covering every Good luck Salford! Christine Hewitt for the past 50 years. national and international upheaval. It is not Andrew Smith

required capacitance and inductance as underneath the car park inside TVC. This took BH Control Room specified by lines department. Cash office correction place some time after the raid but we With reference to the recent item We also staffed the small control room As a former cashier at TVC, I must correct were open for business as usual the concerning the Wartime Control Room, at 5 Portland Place – the home of school Brenda Todd’s letter as printed in the April following morning. I was reminded of an incident when I was broadcasting; a very pleasant duty as it was issue of Prospero. The villains concerned made their exit a young PTA in the mid-Fifties working in in daylight on the first floor. Although the main substance is correct via a workman’s gate which security failed BH Control Room. Best of all was studio testing. Two of us I must state that there was no hole blown to close. We were subsequently told that One duty was to control the shipping were required to tour empty studios to check in the ceiling, although the shotgun they our raid paid for the raid at Heathrow on forecast, which went out on the Light for any faults using Teddybears Picnic for the carried was fired into the ceiling. Brinkmats Bullion Centre. Programme long-wave frequency. grams. It ended for us PTAs when TV called Secondly the Cash Office was not The Cash Office is still open with one The procedure was to cross-fade to the and a change from the formal atmosphere of relocated to another floor but to the Annexe person manning the office. studio and cue the reader via the switch sound radio, to the more relaxed atmosphere at TVC before moving to its current location Richard Holmes above the appropriate fader – this switch of a TV studio, happened. could also be used to remotely start We even used Christian names! tape machines. Happy days. It was the announcer’s responsibility to John Hays cue me when to rejoin the Light Programme. Unfortunately he chose the wrong moment, and long-wave listeners were just in The origins time to hear the back announcement of the previous music enjoyed by of Prospero medium-wave listeners. I was surprised to read in the February issue, Immediately an avalanche of flaps fell on in the letter from Mr Goodchild, that former the lines termination bay, callers asking what DG John Birt had started Prospero. I left the on earth continuity was talking about. BBC in late 1977, and was added to the Ariel Manning the control bays along the side and Prospero circulation lists (my BBC pension of the control room was one of a range of being left to mature) by Central Welfare. duties. They included operating the LT bay, At that stage, Prospero was a six-monthly which was a small telephone exchange, A5-size publication, produced editorially by and plugging and taking down music and Central Welfare for pensioners. In 1993 the control lines on the incoming and outgoing editorial function was taken over for some bays, two very busy duties. years by former Bush House Newsroom Another was meal reliefs in Home pensioner Mike Brown. Continuity. Less onerous duties included The publication was up-sized to A4, working on the OB balcony where we had to as a supplement to the then tabloid-sized equalise the incoming lines by inserting the Ariel. It was planned to be increased to be bi-monthly. At some stage I sent on to Mr Brown most of my accumulated Please send your letters to: collection of A5 issues (apart from several The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension which I could not at the time locate). and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting As to when Prospero was originally started, House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ or email I cannot say, though obviously it was before I began to receive it around late 1977. [email protected] M St. J Candy

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 06 MEMORIES BBC under fire in Falklands War On the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, Harold Briley, BBC Latin America Correspondent 1979 to 1982, recalls the BBC’s pivotal role and its own baptism of fire.

with its programme organiser Domingo the Falklands were, I made a fact-finding Valenzuela also re-broadcasting on many reconnaissance visit in January 1981, during foreign stations. The World Service increased which I landed from the sea at San Carlos its broadcasts, its frequencies, and its listeners. 16 months before the British troops arrived On Ascension Island, BBC staff led by there to liberate the islands. resident engineer Norman Shacklady gave The Islanders, described by the Governor vital logistical support to the Task Force. The as ‘more British than the British’, complained BBC’s transmitters there frustrated Argentine that no one knew about them. ‘Would I, with jamming. Islanders hid their radios from my broadcasts, help to put them on the map!’ confiscation and listened throughout, as I In his autobiography, Governor Rex Hunt discovered when they afterwards greeted me thanked me personally, as did Admiral Lewin with a banner across the road saying ‘God and dozens of Islanders. A telegram to the BBC bless you, Harold’. from the most senior Falklands official, I was the first journalist to file the initial Harold Rowlands, praised what he called the report of the invasion globally, despite the BBC’s ‘magnificent coverage…as the only refusal of the BBC in New York to accept reliable news media’ and kindly mentioned me. my call, so I sent it to London by way of The Falkland Islands Association in Stanley the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. made me an honorary life member as did My invasion scoop beat by 24 hours the Falkland Islands ‘Gluepot’ Social Club, Prime Minister Thatcher’s confirmation to entitling me to free drink for life 24 hours Parliament in London. a day as they gave me the door key! I was We journalists in Buenos Aires defied invited by the Islanders as a guest to their strict censorship threatening jail for ‘reports 10th and 25th anniversaries of liberation. Brian Hanrahan, June 1982. causing panic, disunity or contradicting I broadcast a weekly personal ‘Letter of the official information’. I took no notice. All of Air’ on Calling the Falklands, presented by my despatches were broadcast worldwide, veteran newsreader, Peter King. His rallying housands of journalists worldwide uncensored. My activities were kept under cry ‘Heads Down, Hearts Up!’ won him covered the conflict but none more 24-hour surveillance by six police special many Falklands friends. The programme was comprehensively or controversially “The BBC rejected agents on a shift system, and I was three subsequently axed after 64 years on the air than the BBC, criticised and praised times detained for questioning. and its archives were discarded. Tin equal measure. It rejected accusations of accusations of Three newspaper journalists, jailed in British newspapers praised the BBC’s ‘helping the enemy’ and said it needs no South Argentina, listened to the rest of the unique ability to transmit ‘messages of hope’ lessons in patriotism. Its aim was ‘objectivity’ ‘almost treasonable war on the BBC. to the beleaguered Islanders by family, friends, and ‘reliability’. I was the last person to telephone the government ministers, and even the Queen. Journalists embedded with the Task Force behaviour’.” Falklands before they were cut off. Unlike clashed with Ministry of Defence censors, Margaret Thatcher and Defence Secretary Death threats arousing mutual recrimination John Nott, who did not know where For three years before the war, my Buenos and antagonism. Margaret Thatcher derided what she regarded Aires reports frequently brought death Yet BBC television correspondent Brian as the BBC’s ‘neutral’ stance and use of the threats from paramilitary kidnap squads. Hanrahan rose above this with his memorable ‘third person’ such as ‘British troops’ and Many Argentine journalists were abducted phrase ‘I counted them all out and I counted ‘Argentine troops’ instead of ‘our boys’ and and murdered. Years after the conflict, them all back’, describing a Harrier mission. ‘the enemy’. But even she conceded that Argentine generals and admirals invited me The head of the armed forces, Admiral Brian Hanrahan was ‘excellent’. home for tea to relate their experiences. They Sir Terence Lewin, said: ‘This phrase, on its bore no ill will to the BBC. own, justified all the press hassle.’ Treasonable behaviour The British Government’s Spanish Hanrahan and BBC radio reporter The BBC rejected accusations from some language propaganda programme, Radio Robert Fox filed riveting despatches from Members of Parliament of ‘almost treasonable Atlantico del Sur, was castigated by the dangerously exposed locations in foul behaviour’. Television current affairs aroused Official History as ‘hastily conceived, belated, weather, describing bombing raids, artillery angry criticism, as did the World Service, botched and costly’. It commandeered a bombardment and sinking ships. They denounced by Task Force commanders for BBC transmitter but proved spectacularly faced frustrating censorship and almost leaks of the impending Goose Green assault, ineffectual. A newspaper reporter said it insurmountable technical obstacles. Some Argentine bombs failing to explode, and was ‘so awful’, it might have persuaded despatches took longer to reach London than about sea and land force deployments. the Argentines to surrender to escape it! The Times report on the Charge of the Light Brigadier Julian Thompson was ‘fed up The Argentine Military Governor, General Brigade in the Crimean War in 1854 with hearing my plans broadcast on BBC Menendez, told me he had never heard of it. by William Howard Russell! News’. Admiral Sandy Woodward called the ‘Psst, senor. What are the BBC saying?’ Argentina’s own propaganda service called Hanrahan spoke of the ‘problem of BBC Argentina’s ‘allies’. The irony was that ‘Radio Liberty’ made little impact either. surviving’: ‘On ship it was possible to shut the source of the leaks was traded to the out the threat of air raids…On land, it just Ministry of Defence itself. wasn’t. You dug your own trench and lay in The BBC won praise for sustaining it for hours in cold and danger…Restraint Falkland Islanders’ morale, influencing world and restrictions slowed and diminished opinion in Britain’s favour, and persuading our reporting.’ Robert Fox described his Argentine commanders to surrender to avoid difficulties: ‘The campaign passed in a whirl a massacre and save lives. The Argentine of hitching lifts in helicopters, seizing boats generals defied President Galtieri’s orders to ply to stormy anchorages, impersonating to fight on in Stanley when BBC reports of all ranks, high and low, to get the vital British victories confirmed the futility of transfer to the ship with the right kind of further resistance. satellite telephone.’ Argentina’s senior naval spokesman Robert reported the tragic death and in Buenos Aires, briefing hundreds of gallantry of Colonel H Jones VC and journalists, regularly asked to join me to developed close comradeship with the listen on my radio to the World Service. paratroop commander, sharing danger Millions of Argentines tuned in to BBC and discomfort. English and Spanish language programmes,

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE 07 BBC pensioners test tours ‘We couldn’t do it without David’ at MediaCityUK By Claire Barrett avid Reeves knows the next big Beryl and Betty have dirty minds and dirty Dozens of BBC pensioners have been helping the BBC test out thing when he sees it – even if it’s laughs. They get excited at the prospect of its tours of MediaCityUK in Salford. more likely to be dozing off in studio visits by ‘lovely young men that we an armchair of an evening than can feel up’ and lust after Michael Buble They responded to an invitation to sample The complex is also home to regional spillingD out of a nightclub. (‘I’ll polish his boots any day’), who is the tours before they went public on television and to BBC Radio Manchester. The Radio Humberside presenter/producer’s something of a recurring theme. 31 March, just over a week after the Queen ‘Superb, and hugely impressive’ were nose for new talent was demonstrated last Throaty cackles punctuate an easy chemistry officially opened the new complex. some of the comments from BBC pensioners month when his pensioner prodigies Beryl between the two widows and 33-year-old Several days of test tours were organised and their partners who tested the tour, and Betty bagged a Sony Gold for Reeves, who thinks of himself as their by operations manager, Anne Rabbitt. although some felt the surroundings lacked entertainment for their Radio Humberside impudent grandson. ‘The generational divide The pensioners included presenters, the cosy working atmosphere of the studios show and were propelled into stardom. works,’ he considers. ‘We come from cameramen, producers, musicians and they had once worked in. Reeves says 86-year-old Beryl Renwick different sides of the street – I was brought administrative staff. Many had worked Some of the group felt they would have and Betty Smith, 90, were ‘just what I had up in Hertfordshire, they are from East Hull previously at various BBC studios in liked to have seen a studio control room, been looking for’ when they gatecrashed – but it’s lovely to riff with them. I can call Manchester. After each tour they were given this is the nerve centre of operations, his studio back in 2006 during a visit to the them old duffers and they don’t mind. They asked to give their opinions and suggestions and others felt static displays could have BBC’s premises in Hull. say, ‘David, we’re recycled teenagers’.’ by filling in a questionnaire. been more extensive. They also felt there ‘I was doing some production work when A taxi delivers Beryl and Betty to the BBC Groups of between 12 and 20 pensioners should be a static display of pictures and they came in with their group of ladies on a each Friday morning – except during snow took the 90-minute tours which cost the equipment from old programmes. Everyone tour,’ he explains. ‘We had an instant rapport. and ice. They record their hour-long show public £8.50 for adults, with discounts for was impressed by the tour guides, who were They didn’t care that I was on the radio or for about an hour and 20 minutes, judges groups, students and youngsters. knowledgeable, welcoming and friendly. that I was trying to work – they were cheeky, Reeves, who gives his co-hosts no pre- The public tour varies from day to day, Anne Rabbitt said, ‘We are very grateful they had a voice and they had personality.’ warning of the topics to be discussed. depending on studio commitments, but to the former BBC staff who came along Perfect, Reeves thought, for the new early ‘It’s all shock value,’ he laughs. ‘It’s an easy included in most of the tours are the studios and tried our new tours at MediaCityUK. evening show he was creating that would edit. Sometimes I shorten their reaction times of BBC Sport, the BBC Philharmonic, Obviously with years of broadcasting include OAP opinions on the latest music or take out bits where they’ve lost their train Blue Peter and the Blue Peter garden, Breakfast TV experience and such good knowledge of the releases. He had approached a few retirement of thought, but there’s not much more to it.’ and a Doctor Who Daleks display, as well as industry, they’re a tough crowd to please! homes but had drawn a blank, so he pitched The show goes out on Saturday evenings at HQ1, the largest of the studios in the We knew if we could satisfy them, we would up at Beryl and Betty’s Tuesday Club social group. 6pm – straight after the football. Beryl and complex which recently hosted the BBC have a good show for the public. We really Betty pick their record of the week from a Sports Personality of the Year. valued their comments and feedback.’ Any takers? shortlist of two (‘it was hard – they were ‘I did a talk to 100 ladies about working in good’), play ‘Guess the Buble’ and deliver the radio. I explained that I was looking for some Pensioners’ News. The last edition even had new recruits to join me on air and asked if them warbling karaoke-style to Queen’s Don’t I had any takers. Ninety eight of them Stop Me Now (a bit pitchy but bags looked disinterested – only two said yes – of personality). Beryl and Betty.’ They give as good as they get, whether Despite being radio novices – Beryl’s they’re reprimanding their good-humoured background was in retail, Betty had been a co-host for ‘telling fibs’ or accusing him of cook and a cleaner among other things – being ‘bonkers’. But they know who pulls the duo were ‘brilliant from the word go’, the strings. according to Reeves who has gently groomed ‘We couldn’t do without you,’ Betty tells them into professionals. Reeves candidly during their last broadcast. ‘They know what’s funny, what works on And she’s right. He drives the show, leads the radio – I’ve told them. They’ve learnt how chat and watches their backs. to respond and react. At first I was asking But does he mind being overshadowed? questions; now they know what to say ‘Well, it would be lovely if every photograph without any prompting.’ showed the three of us,’ he sighs. ‘But I’m no But they are refreshingly naïve about fool. We used to be listed as David Reeves with the craft of radio. They don’t care if the red Beryl and Betty; now it’s the other way round.’ light’s on, if they chatter over jingles or if So what next? A TV chat show, perhaps, or they litter their conversation with brand Radio 2 slot? ‘We’ve had interest from around names. ‘They don’t know about product the world,’ Reeves reveals, ‘but we won’t be placement,’ admits their mentor. ‘They’ll globetrotting any time soon – Beryl and Betty talk about enjoying a Baileys and ice or a don’t have a passport between them. And if North 3 News Werther’s Original.’ London wants us, then it can come to Hull.’ The former BBC 1969 colour OB scanner fit in North 3. These particular cameras North 3, which is a heritage restoration were salvaged from the defunct North 1 project by a small group of enthusiasts, has a number of years ago. The camera heads spent much of the winter in a body shop are in good condition, but the CCUs are near Shrewsbury, having all the external described as ‘a bit rough’. The original fittings removed for restoration. Pye PC80s belonging to North 3 had been The rear mudguards have also been removed and replaced by EMI 2001s by removed for inspection and repair as a previous owner. It is too early to say required. All the cab windows have been whether the ‘new’ PC80s can be restored removed so that the surrounds can be to working order. That is a project for cleaned and buffed up and two new retired vision engineer Steve Jones, who has windscreens have been made. One of the worked wonders restoring the vision mixer old ones was cracked. Meanwhile the and other equipment to operation. exterior of the vehicle has been prepared for Little work has been done so far on the the major re-spray, in the original colours, sound and comms equipment, but four big which it is hoped will be completed in time batteries have been obtained to provide the for the early summer vehicle shows. The 48 volts required to power up the bays. It is pressure is on now to complete the job by hoped to make some progress on this later early June. in the summer. Steve Harris, the owner, has been If you would like to be kept informed delighted to complete a recent exchange about forthcoming North 3 outings, please deal to acquire two complete Pye PC80 email me at [email protected] camera channels, which were the original Jerry Clegg

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 08 BACK AT THE BBC BBC ‘unambitious’ about savings and revenue, MPs say The BBC has been ‘unambitious’ about potential savings and plans for increasing revenue, a Commons Public Accounts Committee report says.

Ps on the committee said end of 2012-2013 – 15% of its 2007- BBC is achieving a good balance between Club Connect the BBC had underestimated 2008 expenditure. delivering value for money through the Beebflutes is a friendly group of flautists the scope for efficiency The October 2010 settlement froze the financial savings targets that the BBC Trust has playing at intermediate-plus level. We improvements. It risked licence fee until 2016-2017. set whilst at the same time ensuring that the Mundermining public trust in its financial The following year the BBC set out its quality of the output remains high. meet at lunchtime every fortnight in TVC. 15 June 1-2pm E: [email protected]. management and openness, their report added. proposals to make £700m annual savings ‘All indications are that we are delivering Connect music group membership is The BBC said all indications were that it by 2016-2017 to cope with the settlement. on both fronts but we will continue to £10 until 31 March 2013. was delivering value for money and ensuring The BBC Trust said that its 3% target was monitor these targets closely.’ Gliding Group open weekend for output quality remained high. at ‘the top end of a range’ suggested by new members. Trial gliding lessons are The committee’s report says the BBC will the then government, on the advice of the Increasing offered to BBC Club members for £50. be in a ‘weak position’ to argue that any National Audit Office (NAO). It said that commercial income 23-24 June 11am-4pm. Contact future cuts could be damaging. it was ‘encouraging’ that the target was The select committee’s report also says the Roger Limb T: 020 8348 7016. Committee member Richard Bacon MP being exceeded. corporation should challenge the cost of its Ariel Flying Group open day - Learn to said: ‘It took the pressure of a licence fee services ‘more vigorously’ through greater fly! Come along to the Open Day and take a settlement to force the BBC into setting use of internal benchmarking and measures trial lesson. 15 June 12-5pm. Contact Rob a target of 3% annual savings, which it is “All indications are that like researching other broadcasters’ costs. Foreman E: [email protected] comfortably on track to achieve. The BBC’s ‘The BBC’s plans for increasing T: 0303 040 9587 assumptions about what it could deliver we are delivering on commercial income, from £280m to £320m Golf Florence Day (14 June were unambitious.’ a year by 2016-17, are unambitious in the http://www.eastberkshiregolfclub.com/) The public accounts committee report both fronts but we will context of the financial pressures it faces,’ and Summer Meeting (29 June says the BBC did not prepare a detailed it says. www.tyrrellswoodgolfclub.com) Stableford analysis of the costs of its services and their continue to monitor The report says the BBC Trust should competitions from 8.30am til late. The value to licence fee payers when identifying ‘formally revisit’ whether the £40m target day includes a breakfast roll, 9-hole efficiency savings. Such analysis is ‘vital’, these targets closely.” can be increased. competition, lunch, 18-hole competition, it says, and should be based on licence fee In a statement, Mr Bacon said: ‘The BBC dinner and prize giving (jacket and tie payers’ feedback. must maximise its commercial income. But required for dinner). £55. Contact Jason The report recommends that the ‘In a very difficult economic climate, the BBC’s plans for this are unambitious Barram E: [email protected] broadcaster publish how it expects savings the trust is now pushing for further when placed in the context of the financial T: 02084332956 to impact on the quality of its services, savings, and we have set a target of 11% pressures on the broadcaster. We expect a Ariel sailing open day and training the level of impact it will tolerate and efficiency savings by 2017. This has been clear explanation of why a £40 million a year courses. Come down to a wonderful how it will respond if those levels independently analysed by Ernst & Young,’ increase in commercial income is the limit of Thames-side clubhouse to try the sport are breached. a spokesperson said. what can be achieved.’ of dinghy sailing. RYA instructors will ‘The trust monitored the implementation The BBC Trust spokesperson said the target be on hand to take you and your family BBC savings targets of the 3% target, in particular to gauge was based on ‘what the corporation expected for a gentle sail on the river. £5 After the 2007 licence fee settlement, the whether they were true efficiencies and did to be achievable without damaging either the E: [email protected]. 24 June 12-5pm. BBC Trust set the BBC the target of 3% not impact on the quality or scope of the wider market or the quality of services for Learn to sail solo on 16 June 9am-5pm sustainable annual efficiency savings until BBC’s services. We will continue to do this for UK audiences’. RYA training for novices. If you want to 2012-2013. the new target.’ ‘If it proves possible to generate more learn to sail, this is the course for you. To meet that target the BBC had to In a separate statement, the BBC said: commercial income without any such E: [email protected]. deliver annual savings of £487m by the ‘The NAO report acknowledges that the damage we would of course welcome this.’ Yacht Club round the island race. The UK’s largest sailing race – join 1800+ yachts as they race anticlockwise around the Isle of Wight. 30 June 4am-7pm. £76 for Club members, £96 for non-members E: [email protected] 850k bill for Salford travel Club Together Power Plate promotion in eight months First designed for astronauts to regenerate muscle mass lost in space, the Power Plate is a great tool for strengthening both The BBC spent more than £850,000 on travel to Manchester muscles and core stability. Power Plate is and Salford between May and December last year. great for people of all ages. It reduces the risk of getting and also the progression of Nearly £650,000 was on rail journeys, with during the financial years 2009/2010 osteoporosis, because it increases bone most train travel involving journeys from and 2010/11. This includes the time density – which especially important for London, but also from the rest of the UK when staff were based at the BBC post-menopausal women. For those who such as Glasgow and Bristol. Manchester site on Oxford Road – sold last don’t want to work out, the Power Plate can Around £160,373 was spent on taxis, November – and not all journeys relate to also be used for massaging and stretching, and £45,158 on flights to Manchester the Salford relocation. which increases blood flow and circulation. Airport from around the UK (particularly The BBC North offices at the new Due to the Power Plate’s super Belfast) and parts of Europe, plus one MediaCityUK site opened in May 2011. effectiveness, you can do your workout flight from Dubai at £1,502. A BBC spokesperson said the nature in half the time! For the whole of June, The sums refer to journeys bought via of the corporation’s work meant travel Retired Club members are entitled to a the central booking system, and does not was inevitable, adding: ‘We are mindful FREE 15-minute session with an instructor. include journeys paid and claimed back that we spend public money and we We have Power Plates in both White City by staff, so the total is likely to be more. work hard to keep this expenditure to (E: [email protected], T: 020 875 The details were revealed after a Freedom a minimum. 24884) and Western House (E: bbccluba. of Information request from the Manchester ‘Some of these costs will be bookings for [email protected], T: 020 776 50296). Evening News. multiple passengers as the information A separate FOI from The Telegraph revealed provided from our booking system does Got a question or comment? that around £2m was spent on travel not detail the number of tickets purchased Email us at [email protected] between London and Manchester/Salford on each booking.’ or call 020 875 26666.

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 BACK AT THE BBC 09 BBC to buy £15m of local TV content The BBC will buy up to £5m of content per year from external local TV services in the three financial years between April 2013 and March 2017. Money matters As part of the 2010 licence fee settlement, but the BBC will not be involved in their output and according to value for the corporation agreed to provide £40m their selection. money. They will also have third-party Preparing for later life for the creation of a ‘new generation’ In the first year, starting next April, exclusivity in the UK for content of local TV services – an initiative each successful applicant will be expected they broadcast. You probably know someone who is championed by the Culture Secretary to provide the BBC with a maximum Independent producers were critical currently unable to live a totally independent Jeremy Hunt. of 125 stories per month for an income of some of the plans at a recent media lifestyle simply due to old age. The sum will be split into £25m of £150,000. conference in Liverpool, where annual Some planning can be done well in from the BBC Trust for infrastructure In the second year, the BBC will buy estimates for a local TV company’s costs advance. It is important to ensure that if you and £15m from the BBC Executive around 50 stories a month for £60,000, ranged from £500,000 to £2m. are not able to deal with your own affairs, for content. and then 20 stories a month for £20,000 In addition to the initial rollout to for whatever reason, that you appoint Media regulator Ofcom are inviting in the third year. BBC funding for local TV 21 locations, local TV is also expected to someone else who you trust to do so on applications from local TV companies to services will end in March 2017. be rolled out to another 44 cities or towns your behalf. broadcast in 21 locations across the UK. The corporation says it will select in the following years. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 allows They will award the licences this autumn material ‘if it is suitable for inclusion’ in you to choose someone to make decisions for you when you lack mental capacity yourself. There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). One covers property and financial affairs, and allows an Just A Minute marks Rodents on attorney to make decisions about paying bills, dealing with banks, collecting benefits and, for example, selling your house. The anniversary on TV the rise other allows decisions to be made on treatment, care, medication etc. Just A Minute celebrated 45 years on the radio with ten Sightings of rodents at It’s possible to make these separately or programmes on television, broadcast in March and April. Television Centre have to have both, and you can choose different attorneys for each, although you may need increased in recent weeks, to think carefully about avoiding conflicts Like their radio counterparts, the TV episodes Mumbai specials with staff complaining of between two attorneys who do not agree. were chaired by Nicholas Parsons – who On Radio 4, meanwhile, there were two Just ‘a plague’ of mice and rats. If you don’t make an LPA and lose hasn’t missed a recording since 1967 – and A Minute in India specials. Parsons and regular capacity either permanently or temporarily, featured regulars including Paul Merton, panellists Paul Merton and Marcus Brigstocke Rebecca Carruthers, operations director for then other people would have to apply Stephen Fry, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins and went to Mumbai in India, where the shows building managers Johnson Controls, told to the Court of Protection to look after Julian Clary. are particularly popular. Ariel: ‘We’ve had a spate of recent sightings. your affairs. This can be a lengthy and Newcomers such as Russell Tovey, Ruth Indian comedians Cyrus Broacha and It’s a common problem and we are always expensive process and can result in delays Jones, Hugh Bonneville and Jason Manford Anuvab Pal joined them for the recordings in working on it.’ in decisions being taken at critical times. also entered the fray, attempting to speak for Mumbai’s Comedy Store, when such topics Staff have reported mice in offices in It is therefore advisable to plan ahead and a minute about a given subject. as ‘Mumbai Traffic’ and ‘It’s Just Not Cricket’ stage 6 TVC and in the Newsroom, to make an LPA which sets out your wishes The celebrations began on Radio 4 Extra, were up for discussion. and rats in the grounds of the building. with regards to both your financial affairs when Parsons looked back in Just A Minute Listeners in India first latched on to Just A Patrick Howse told Ariel: ‘In the past week and your health and wellbeing. Without Hesitation on classic performances by Minute via the World Service. Its popularity I’ve seen around 10 rats at TVC, in the You can choose as many attorneys as the likes of Clement Freud, Linda Smith, sparked many ‘Indianised’ versions of the area between the West Hill and the you like, and appoint replacement attorneys Sheila Hancock and Kenneth Williams. game, which is still played today by young, Restaurant Block.’ who can act if your original choices are Indian college graduates. The World newsgathering SBJ added: no longer available. They can act jointly ‘They weren’t at all furtive, and in fact or severally. looked me straight in the eye and wanted You can also appoint up to five people to know what I was going to do about it.’ to receive notice of your Power of Attorney Carruthers says there are pest controllers being registered. on site every day, laying baited traps both You must appoint a certificate provider, inside and out. who can confirm they have known you for She said: ‘We have put extra traps in more than two years and that you have some of the key areas, particularly in the mental capacity at the time of signing the News areas, and we’ve put them under LPA. Without this it could become invalid. the floor as well because that’s where we A solicitor or financial adviser would be able think the problem lies. We’ve also put extra to fulfil this function for you. food bins into the area and we’d really like While no-one wants to be in a position people to dispose of food in those bins and where a Power of Attorney is necessary to not leave it on their desks.’ deal with one’s day to day affairs, making She said they had also laid extra bait advance provision can make matters boxes on West Hill. much easier for friends and relatives. They Carruthers attributes the increase in otherwise might not know how to deal rodent numbers to a number of factors: the with your affairs, could come into conflict warmer weather following on from a mild with each other and would not be able winter, the age of TVC and the emptying to claim any out of pocket expenses if out of the building. they were simply acting as ‘volunteers’ in assisting you. Kay Ingram is Director of Financial Planning, LEBC Group Ltd. Email: [email protected]. LEBC Group Ltd is an appointed representative of TenetConnect Ltd which is authorised by the Financial Services Authority.

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 10 obituaries with tricky payments like the request of the that exactly summed up a hilarious situation Current affairs star of the station’s Asian Song Contest for or a particular personality. Panorama producer unit manager payment in rupees. Dave was born in India and lived there and champion of Numerous friends and colleagues will be until he was 13 when his family returned disability access shocked and saddened to hear of the loss home. He served an apprenticeship with Jack Ashley (Lord Ashley of Stoke) worked of Susan Baggott (formerly Philbey) on Metropolitan Vickers in Manchester and then as a BBC producer on Panorama before he 2 April 2012. did National Service with the RAF as a radio became an MP. When he entered the House of Susan’s BBC career began in Programme technician, serving in Northern Ireland and Commons his hearing deteriorated. Medical Correspondence where it was clear from the also in RAF marine-craft near Grimsby. After interventions failed catastrophically and he start she had great potential. She successfully leaving the RAF he married Olwyn, spent became completely deaf. fulfilled several posts over the next few years a couple of years back with Metrovics and and gained wide knowledge of the BBC’s then in 1959 joined the fledgling BBC North overall output. Susan then expressed an Television Unit in Manchester, where he interest in television production, and being spent the rest of his career. a keen sportswoman it was appropriate that In his spare time, Dave was a beekeeper, she moved to television sports department and he and Olwyn were also enthusiastic where she very soon became a valuable horticulturalists. They also took an active addition to the production teams responsible On social occasions when the drinks cabinet interest in their local historical society. for many major sporting events. Susan held in the manager’s office was unlocked, Anne Dave will be fondly remembered by many a number of important roles before moving easily took on the role of hostess. Gin and former colleagues, and we extend our to television current affairs, working on tonic in one hand and a cigarette in the sincere condolences to Olwyn, Alison, Stuart, such notable programmes as 24 Hours. After other, she watched over her flock while Caroline and their families. only a short while, she was appointed to putting to rights the day’s happenings on the Jerry Clegg the demanding position of unit manager. station and in the world. His struggle to live a normal and professional Susan handled any problem with infectious Anne took early retirement from the BBC Period designer life as a constituency MP while battling with enthusiasm and good humour. Indeed she but her talents were soon in the service of Don Homfray, a leading production designer sudden and totally isolating deafness was had a great wit and turn of phrase. Knowing another well-known Leicester institution, at the BBC from the 1960s through to the truly amazing. Without his wife Pauline he her from the beginning I was particularly the County Cricket Club. 1980s, died in hospital in Norwich after a might never have managed. proud of her achievements. All those who Anne’s funeral on 27 March was attended period of illness. As an MP Jack contributed to one of the worked with her would agree that it would by many friends and colleagues who had The son of an engineer, Don was born in BBC’s first technological developments for be hard to find anybody more reliable, loyal worked with her at Radio Leicester. She Codsall, Staffordshire in 1935. He studied disability access – live subtitling. and conscientious. You would compete to was 66. architecture at Wolverhampton Polytechnic In 1975 I produced a series for people have Susan on your team! Owen Bentley before joining the BBC, working initially who, like Jack, go deaf in later life, as Following busy working lives in London, at Birmingham, then Cardiff, before opposed to those who are born deaf. The Susan and her husband Philip chose early Radio mic expert progressing quickly to TV Centre. His early series was called I See What You Mean. Jack was a retirement and moved to West Sussex where Dave Glen passed away on 18 March, after a works included an episode of Dixon of Dock great supporter and presented a programme they pursued their joint interests in music and long illness. He was 79. Before retirement, he Green (1968) but he soon found his métier in the series called ‘In My View’. It showed, gardening. Susan was hugely popular with was an audio supervisor, based in Manchester. in period literary adaptations and was among other things, how he coped with everyone and had a natural warmth which Always courteous, amiable, conscientious renowned for his attention to historic and deafness as an MP. endeared her to all who were privileged to and dependable and with a unique sense of architectural detail. Jack had discovered the Palentype machine, meet her! She was immensely kind and always fun, Dave was universally liked and always His first success was the John Davies directed best known in American courtroom dramas on hand for anybody in need. It was typical a pleasure to work with. In an increasingly adaptation of Zola’s Germinal (1970) which where stenographers type verbatim accounts of her to show enormous courage in coping casual age, Dave was always to be seen with earned him his first BAFTA nomination. This of the action at chunky little keyboards. These with the surgery, treatment and increasing a jacket, collar and tie and highly-polished huge undertaking involved designing hundreds machines produce a kind of phonetic code symptoms her illness presented. Susan’s shoes, exuding an air of invincibility. of sets in the studio and on location. The Sunday which the operators later have to transcribe. devoted husband was a tower of strength Times noted ‘Everything about it is right…it Jack thought that if it could be displayed on a and rarely left her side. Her close friend, could hardly be done better.’ For War and Peace screen he could learn to read this. He would Rosalind, has been a wonderful support and (1972-73) Don created the vast magnificent sit in the Chamber with a laptop screen and is the perfect example of what true friendship interior of the Kremlin in Studio One at BBC an operator would sit in the Strangers Gallery means! Philip and Rosalind were at her Television Centre. It was at the time the largest typing away, keeping him up to date with a bedside at the very end. and highest set ever built there and he was debate by sending him phonetic code. Maureen A Stevens awarded the BAFTA Design Award in 1973. At about this time Ceefax subtitles were Other notable and commended projects being transmitted. The deaf community included Vienna 1900 (BAFTA nomination) found subtitles invaluable but they were only Radio Leicester’s Notorious Woman, Fame is the Spur, and The available for recorded programmes. Weather in the Streets. ‘big sister’ We thought: why can’t they be used for Later Don designed seven of the BBC The family analogy for the staff of a local live transmissions? Shakespeare series plays, Oxbridge Blues (1984) radio station was especially true for the BBC So with the aid of BBC Engineering we and Mr and Mrs Edgehill (1985). As a freelance, Radio Leicester team of the 70s and 80s For many years Dave was the radio tried an experiment. A programme was played Don designed Danny, the Champion of the World when Anne Holt was variously secretary to microphone specialist for BBC Manchester, a and watched at BH by an operator who kept (1989), My Friend Walter (1992) and Mary John Collard’s newsroom, to the programme job for which he was entirely suited in both up with it using the Palentype keyboard. Wesley’s Harnessing Peacocks (1992). The phonetic codes were sent by phone line organiser, Roger Eames, and the manager, temperament and experience. Over the years, On his retirement to rural Norfolk, Don Owen Bentley – and latterly the administration he played a big part in the development of devoted himself to restoring an old house and to (if memory serves me right) Leicester assitant. The station had its fair share of family improved radio mic facilities. creating a wildlife garden. Always a serious Polytechnic, where they had developed a oddities, ranging from the top presenter Once, during a charity assignment, Dave reader, in 1994 he enrolled at the University computer programme to turn these codes who liked his drink, the Lothario from the met and chatted with the Prince of Wales, of East Anglia, and proudly graduated in 1999 into written English. Within seconds these sportsdesk, the geeky brilliant engineer, the who showed a knowledgeable interest in his with a 2:1 in History. were sent back to TV Centre, broadcast live on strident, the meek and all those in between. radio mic equipment. On another occasion, After his move to Norwich’s historic Ceefax as closed subtitles and viewed by Jack In this diverse family Anne (to many he was nearly shot by American security agents Elm Hill in 2003, he and his terrier quickly in the same room at BH on a TV just a few Annie) was everyone’s big sister. She could as he stepped forward to adjust a microphone became a central part of the community; a seconds later. There was a slight delay, but the be entrusted with the woes and joys of her in front of President Jimmy Carter. One village within the city which he believed to results were impressive – with 90% accuracy. colleagues in the knowledge of her perfect grunted, ‘One step nearer and you’re dead.’ be ‘Paradise’, where he was surrounded by Tragically the BBC failed to appreciate that discretion. The personnel role sat naturally One of many reasons for Dave’s popularity medieval buildings and interesting people. 90% was a lot better than nothing for people on Anne but she was no slouch at guarding was because he was a master of the one-liner, Don Homfray, born 3 December 1935 in with serious hearing loss. The view in those the station’s budget. Inflated mileage claims often creasing up the crew with laughter by Codsall, Staffordshire, died 18 January 2012. days was ‘if it wasn’t 100% it wasn’t good never got past her and she dealt serenely coming out with just three or four words Gill Ducker enough’. Now, of course, it is commonplace

PROSPERO JUNE 2012 obituaries 11 and a valuable disability access service for that, despite meagre resources, his parents of television (as he told me) but he helped both live and recorded programmes. Flamboyant BBC bought him a second-hand violin and paid for them along if only to get – as he always David Allen broadcaster and dancing lessons. He practised both disciplines saw it – his story on air. This sense of self- assiduously, gaining an Intermediate ownership was his trademark and all too Wigan reporter Certificate in 1947 from the London College evident to his colleagues over his 30 years His camera televised When Dick Hatch, eccentric BBC broadcaster, of Music, and attending classes at the as a cameraman. the Crowning in 1953 Anglican vicar, lover of John Smith’s bitter, Marie Rambert School of Dance. A distinct BBC Management saw Ingo as a dependable Wigan and The Muppet Show, went to meet his Dennis Montague, senior stage manager preference for dance led him to join a chorus and good news picture gatherer in hostile and Maker, it was in the back of a VW camper van in Manchester for many years, passed away in Glasgow and he toured throughout the 50s, non-hostile locations alike. They sent him to (his preferred means of transport) stuffed in a care home in Mobberley, Cheshire, appearing with many celebrated acts including cover many stories over the years, both at on 15 April. He was 96. ‘Monty’, as he with helium-filled Kermit the Frog balloons. ‘female impersonator’ Douglas Byng. Andrew home and abroad: Belfast during the Bobby was universally known, had a varied and also appeared on Andy Stewart’s TV show, The Sands revolt, the fall of the Berlin Wall and interesting career, starting with the RAF White Heather Club, and at the London Palladium Tiananmen Square. The historic night of before and during the Second World War alongside such great entertainers as Lionel 3 June 1989 saw Ingo at his bravest. Together and moving on to join the reborn television Blair, Val Doonican, Frankie Vaughan and Max with his soundman, Mark McCauley, he stayed service at Alexandra Palace in 1946. Bygraves. in the square when the Chinese Army opened In the pre-war RAF, Dennis completed an In 1956 he was one of the regular dancers fire at the students. Ingo ‘filmed’ a Chinese engineering and wireless operator’s course at on Associated Rediffusion’s Cool for Cats, a tank hurtling towards them before getting Cranwell and worked for a while at the popular records & dance programme stuck on a barricade. The mob took their top-secret Bawdsey Manor site where Robert introduced by DJ Kent Walton, with opportunity and attacked the lame tank crew. Ingo captured the whole incident by being Watson Watt was developing radar. The service choreographer Lennie Mayne (then later with in the right place and at the right time. personnel, sworn to absolute secrecy, were Dougie Squires) and featuring young dancer Ingo leaves behind his wife, Fionnuala billeted away from the site and always wore Una Stubbs. and two sons, Mark and Donal, and a lot of civilian clothes. Monty was involved in testing Andrew joined BBC TV’s Costume his comrades in the camera unit, past and mountings for radar aerials. The urgent need Department in the 1960s. The variety of present, with sorrow and sadness. RIP Ingo. was for a transportable radar station to protect It was a fitting send-off for a flamboyant credited programmes stand testament to his Bob Prabhu the Suez Canal in the event of war. When character whose religious and secular talents: Dr Finlay’s Casebook, Z-Cars, Softly Softly conflict did come, Monty found himself in broadcasts, not to mention his extravagant (working with his partner, actor Joe Brady), Egypt, where he manned an early warning sideburns, earned him a following in the The Regiment, Secret Army, Dick Emery, Blue Hearst’s stalwart PA radar station for the much of the war. North West in the 1970s and 80s. Remembered Hills, In Sickness and in Health, Bergerac Dick was a parish priest in Manchester and many more. He retired in 1990. Enid Praesoody, who died in April aged 83, for many years. Then in 1973 he became In the late 70s Andrew had built a home was born in Wales, the daughter of a Welsh the Bishop of Manchester’s radio and TV in Andalucia with his then partner Freddie bishop. She was brilliant at school and officer. In this role he persuaded BBC Radio Baglietto but by the mid-90s health problems excelled in every kind of sport, particularly Manchester to let him run a hymn request drew him back to settle permanently in tennis. She wanted to go to sports college, but show, Ever Singing, which proved hugely Chester. Freddie died unexpectedly, and her father insisted on an academic education popular. There were regular ‘Ever Singing’ Andrew was later brutally mugged and and in 1946 she went to Bedford College, concerts in Manchester’s Free Trade Hall robbed outside his own home. From then London, to read history. When it came to where listeners and choirs joined together on his health deteriorated rapidly. Fellow choosing a career, she told the careers officer to sing their favourite hymns, and Dick was designer John Peacock, and friend Joan, gave at Bedford she rather liked the idea of working invited to open schools and shows with unwavering help and support throughout for the BBC. ‘And what on earth do you think adoring fans asking for his autograph. those final years. you could offer the BBC?’ said the old dragon. In fact she offered her whole working life, and In 1945, he was ‘demobbed’ and in 1946 In 1978 Dick resigned from the ministry Andrew had a dynamic, unforgettable an immeasurably rich one. married Mary, whom he had met on his final and became a full-time BBC producer, personality: intelligent, forthright, irascible, She turned up there as a holiday relief posting near Beachy Head. The same year working first as a presenter and later as a fun-loving, industrious, sensitive, hilarious, secretary, and never left. She went on to be a he also joined the BBC. He soon became a news reporter. generous, witty: ‘Beware all enterprises that producer’s assistant in the great days of BBC trainee cameraman at AP, operating the early He then became part of the experimental require new clothes!’ (HD Thoreau) Talks, and worked with the likes of Bertrand Emitron cameras, both in the studio and on BBC Radio Wigan. It was only on the air for Maggie Partington Smith Russell, Julian Huxley, Malcolm Muggeridge, the re-commissioned pre-war OB unit. He two months, but was so successful that a John Betjeman, Kenneth Clarke and Jacob progressed to senior cameraman and it was post of BBC Wigan reporter was created for Cameraman who Bronowski, of whom she would recount his camera that televised the actual moment Dick. From 1983 to 1992 he was a familiar stories with her slightly wicked gravelly of crowning of the Queen at the Coronation figure in the town, clomping around in his captured events at laugh. Her greatest devotion was to Stephen in 1953. Later, he was involved in the trademark Lancashire clogs, cloth cap and Tiananmen Square Hearst, with whom she made several series, sensational debut of the first zoom lens to be red braces. An avid supporter of the Rugby One of the finest cameramen of the BBC TV and when Stephen became head of Music used in television at Royal Ascot. League team, he went with them on many News was none other than Ingo Prosser and Arts she stayed with him, giving up the When the television service spread its trips to Wembley. who died unexpectedly on 3 April 2012, just excitement of programme making to sit in wings, Monty was one of the pioneers of the In 1992 Dick Hatch became public days after his retirement party on 30 March. his outer office and manage his appointment Midland OB Unit in Birmingham. He and relations officer for Wigan Council, staying His untimely death rocked the whole of TV book. When Stephen went on to run BBC Mary lived in Solihull, where their daughter there until his retirement in 2001. News staff on hearing this sad news. Radio 3, she stayed with the subsequent Gillian was born. Later they moved further He suffered a very severe stroke in 2007, In 1982, Ingo secured his first staff job heads of Art Department. north on the inauguration of the North which left him unable to speak or walk. From at the BBC. Stephen Claypole, news editor Her tennis playing was legendary – she Television Unit in Manchester, where Monty then until his death he was cared for in York (1984-87) described him as ‘one of the best played at Putney Lawn Tennis Club, where she eventually became the senior OB stage Lea Nursing Home, Chorlton, Manchester. of the cameramen, if not the best’. won 14 titles. She met her husband there, a manager, a position he held until his Donations in Dick’s memory are Ingo as a person was amicable, active, and sweet, gentle former Sri Lankan junior tennis retirement in 1976. His wife Mary died requested to The Stroke Association: enthusiastic, with a very wicked dry sense champion, who, alas, died young. in 1981. www.justgiving.com/dickhatch. of humour. He was a self-motivated news After retirement, she kept up constantly Dennis Russel Guy Montague was a Tony Coll person, with a keen eye for pictures and with her many friends. Lunches were the gentleman of outstanding character and drive sound. He knew what a TV news story was pattern, and those who shared them with her and exceptional health. He never had a single Dancer and designer all about and showed it in television terms. will miss her wit, sharpness and sense of fun. day’s sick leave. He had a lively mind, sharp It is with great personal sadness that I share He was a good team player and worked She was down to earth, kind and courageous, wit, charm and humour. He was passionate news of the death on 11 April of costume with many household names, including particularly in her last illnesses. She stayed at about his family and pets, his BBC work and designer Andrew MacKenzie. Kate Adie, John Simpson, Mike Smartt, Andy home to the last, in her small house full of colleagues, and his music, especially opera. Born in 1931 in Glasgow to a poor Tighe, Mike Baker, Peter Gould, Neil Bennett pictures of family and friends and a framed He was also had a lifelong love of cricket. To hardworking family, he had two older siblings, and Clive Ferguson, to name but a few. He poem written for her by John Betjeman on his daughter, Gillian and son-in-law Klaus we Frank and Mary. From an early age Andrew was also gentle with new TV producers the back of his script! She was greatly loved. extend our sincere condolences. displayed such a love of music and dance who, in his estimation, often had no idea Colin Nears Jerry Clegg

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Stunning beaches and TVC documentary worked on a classic Doctor Who 1982 Peter lagoons nearby. £295pw. Tel: 01428 653127. (This is different to the brilliant Richard Davison story who might be willing to talk Marson TVC documentary that will go out about working on the show: Roselyn Parker Venice, Giudecca. Beautiful apartment in quiet on BBC4 very shortly.) I am looking for any (production manager), Alison Symington private courtyard, sleeps 5, fully equipped. staff members who remember Doctor Who (AFM), Peter Chapman (film cameraman), Experience the real Venice. being filmed at Television Centre and have a Carolyn Perry (make-up), Ken Starkey Tel: 01260 227262 story or two to tell. I am hoping to cover all (production designer). Email: [email protected] aspects of the building, from main reception If you can help I would be eternally Scottish Highlands. Two high quality to the green tea bar, the waitress service grateful. I am filming during the summer self-catering cottages. Peace, convenient canteen to security/main gate, electricians and would love to hear from anyone with a location, great views. Discount for ex-BBC staff. and technicians to hair and make-up. good story to tell. www.alcaigcottages.co.uk It will be both factual and light-hearted, Russell Minton and celebrate the building and its relationship Room 4090 Kalkan (SW Turkey). Apartment, sleeps 4 in to one of the nation’s best-loved TV shows. BBC Television Centre twin + double bedrooms from £200 per week. Did you work in the green tea bar and Wood Lane Tel: 01643 841602. Photos and full details on regularly serve a cyberman with a cup of W12 7RJ www.ownersdirect.co.uk, ref TK2992. coffee? Were you responsible for turning out Email: [email protected] Wanted: Large reel-to-reel tape player. 7.5 ips. Must be in first-class condition. Email John Parry: [email protected] Help Prospero celebrate the Olympics Avoid Olympic frenzy: French country cottage. Southern Dordogne. Sleeps 6. Peaceful, very With the 2012 Olympic Games now just weeks away, rural. Pool. Olympics very distant. Lovely. From Prospero will be running a special feature in the July £600/w. Email: [email protected] issue, looking back at previous Olympic Games and Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, particularly the so-called ‘Austerity Games’ in 1948 – the Cardiff CF5 2YQ. first Olympics in which British television played a role. Please enclose a cheque made payable to: BBC Central Directorate. We would love to publish your Olympic stories. If you Rate: £5 for 20 words. In a covering letter have special memories of any of the Games, whether or please include your pension number. not you were working for the BBC at the time, please send your contributions and photographs to: The Editor, The Bereavement Register Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting The Bereavement Register is a service with House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, to be received by Monday one simple aim: to reduce the amount of 18 June 2012. (Photographs will be returned to you direct mail to those who have died. safely and promptly.) Direct marketing initiatives targeting a The BBC’s History & Heritage team is also looking deceased loved one can cause added and for people to share their memories of working on the unnecessary distress for grieving families. 1948 Games, either in TV or radio. If you are willing to By registering your relative’s details with The Bereavement Register and TBR Call be interviewed and have your story published on their Guardian you can put a stop to junk mail website (www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc), please contact and unsolicited telesales calls. John Escolme, History Manager (Email: John.Escolme- Available through funeral directors who [email protected]; Tel: 0208 752 6400). are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors, The Bereavement Register is a free service that removes the names and addresses of deceased people 1960s pop from company mailing lists and databases. Lunch reminders TBR Call Guardian is an associated free service that screens all telemarketing calls Yorkshire Region Annual stories wanted to the deceased person’s telephone number Reunion/Pensioners’ Lunch I am retired BBC staff member and I am for a period of six months from the date of This year the lunch will be held on putting together a website, ‘Remembering registration. Unwelcome marketing calls Thursday, 9 August, 12.30pm for 1.00pm. 1960s Pop: A Chronicle of Pop Singers/ are blocked at the telephone exchange, The venue, once again, is the popular Groups from that era’. but there is no impact on personal calls to Dower House Hotel, Knaresborough. Does anyone have any stories (photos) to the number. Do join us and catch up with former BBC RELCS tell regarding the 1960s pop duo, Paul and To register all you have to do is forward colleagues at a superb venue and with The next lunch get-together for the Barry Ryan, who originate from Leeds? the deceased person’s details to: excellent food! RELCs is a diary date for Thursday, Also, if anyone has any stories (or photos) The Bereavement Register, Freepost Please contact Sue Pagdin on 13 September at the Miramar Hotel in about any other artiste from that period it SEA8240, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1YR 0113 261 2613 or email [email protected] Bournemouth. Please email Paul Gouldstone would be much appreciated. Tel: 0870 600 7222 (local rate) for details. ([email protected]) for details. Paula Harris-Scully Fax: 0870 400 5644 [email protected] Or visit: www.the-bereavement-register.org.uk

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