The BBC Play School Ann makes Scheme remembered a stand deficit page 6 page 8 page 2

December 2010 Number 9 A special message for Freda page 3

With highlights from Ariel BBC Pensions How big is & why do we have Throughout the debate over the proposed pension scheme changes, they’ve been the two questions that just won’t go away. Here Jeremy PROSPERO Peat, chairman of the Pension Fund Trustees, explains the complex December 2010 process necessary for a full valuation of the Scheme.

many members the Scheme has and whether What is the valuation there is any change in the life expectancy of Prospero is provided free to members since the last valuation. But we can’t about? do some of the calculations until the retired BBC employees. It can consultation on the BBC’s pension proposals We are legally obliged to have a full actuarial ends and the way forward is clear. Agreeing all also be sent to spouses or valuation of the Pension Fund at least once the relevant details after that will take some time. dependants who want to keep every three years to help ensure that the Scheme has ‘sufficient and appropriate assets to cover its in touch with the BBC. liabilities’. This involves reviewing the Scheme’s The importance of the It includes news about financial position, to determine the appropriate level of contributions for the years ahead. assumptions former colleagues, pension Assumptions need to be made about uncertain issues, and developments at When will we know the future events such as the effect of inflation, the BBC. Prospero includes how long members will live, future salary results and on what increases and investment returns. The Trustees, classified advertisements. with advice from the Scheme actuary, choose To advertise in Prospero or basis will they be the assumptions to be used to carry out the valuation. These must then be agreed with the the BBC Staff magazine, provided? BBC. The starting point for the assumptions underlying the 2010 valuation will be those Ariel, see page 12. Probably not before next summer. But I used in 2007. Any subsequent adjustments uses the agreed assumptions to estimate each can assure all members that the results, when must be justified by changes to legal, individual future pension payment for published, will show the size of the deficit both demographic or economic circumstances. members. The projected future payments are Subscription information for before and after allowance is made for the Small changes in any of these key assumptions then converted back to amounts in current Ariel is on page 12. changes the BBC intends to make to the Scheme. can have a significant effect on the money terms. This part of the process is called valuation results. ‘discounting’ and in effect it is the opposite of The legislation requires the agreed adding interest from one year to the next. Why does it take over a assumptions to be ‘prudent’. What this means The Trustees’ choice of interest rate (or in practice will also depend upon the strength ‘discount rate’ as it is called) will depend on year to produce the of the employer’s ‘covenant’. By ‘covenant’, we their view of the BBC’s covenant; if they think mean the financial strength of the employer that the covenant is weaker than it was in 2007, valuation results? and, in particular, its ability and willingness to they will choose more cautious (ie lower) fund the Scheme in the future. discount rates, which will lead to a higher value Because it’s a long, complex process. The liabilities (the pensions currently being being placed on the liabilities. However, as with Much of the preparatory work has been paid and all benefits to be paid in future) need all the other assumptions, the discount rates completed. For example, we have looked at how to be valued. To do this, the Scheme actuary have to be agreed with the BBC.

CROSPERO 153 1 Editorial contributions Devised and compiled by Jim Palm 2 3 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words running across. Then take these words in numerical order and extract Write to: Prospero 45 the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, these letters BBC Pension and Benefits Centre will spell out a well-known festive first line. Broadcasting House 6 7 Cardiff, CF5 2YQ Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 8 Tel: 020 7765 1414 House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ by 7 January 2011.

910 Email prospero@bbc.co.uk Clues: 1. Having a lot to say (5); 2. Skin complaint (4); 3. Instrument (4); 4. Film star Shearer (5); 5. Eat away (5); 6. Relating to Earth’s extremities (5); 7. Stair post (5); 8. Poorly (3); 9. Give in (5); 10. Furious 11 Please make sure that any digital (5); 11. They go with buts (3); 12. North African capital city (5); 13. pictures you send are scanned Unspoken (5); 14. Lack of stress (5); 15. Author Nevil (5); 16. 12 13 at 300 dpi. Accomplishment (4); 17. Sussex river (4); 18. Laziness (5) Solution to Crospero 152: Ajar; Oases; Nor; Ant; Nil; Nag; Gee; Sly; 14 15 Anode; Rate; Nabs; Bloodsucker; Hast; Dado; Avows; Ale; Tin; Bop; Yes; Ate; Ore; Skews; Mend. 16 17

The programmes were Jennings at School and Toytown . The winner 18 was John Dean of London.

2 • • December • 2010 BBC Pensions MOONNEEYY MMAATTTTEERRSS the deficit Some important changes to State pensions Following announcements in the to wait to find out? Government’s spending review, cuts to funding and services are under way and of course, State pensions are in the Paying back the deficit before the valuation What happens next? ‘firing line’ for change. There is an accepted view that as we However big the fund deficit is, the BBC is is finalised? We have had a preliminary discussion with the legally obliged to eliminate it as quickly as it can BBC about the key assumptions for the are living longer and the growth in the reasonably afford, over a period agreed between There is no legal requirement for the valuation, to see what the ‘base case’ would be number of pensioners is likely to the Trustees and the BBC. This is called the 2010 valuation to take into account the if there were no Scheme changes. outstrip the growth in the number of ‘recovery plan’. BBC’s proposals and we would have Once we know the outcome of the workers, State pensions as they are Such a recovery plan would consist, at least in preferred the BBC to consider a range consultation process on the proposed changes today, will become unaffordable part, of additional cash contributions. However, of options with the Trustees within the the Trustees will estimate the impact of those in the future. if appropriate, some allowance might be made context of the valuation process. But there is changes on the liabilities, and we’ll need to agree Changes in the State Pension Age for the possibility that investments could no doubt, given the anticipated scale of all aspects of the recovery plan with the BBC. had already been planned but the first perform better in practice than the (deliberately the deficit, that changes are required to the We’ll meet the BBC again in early December, move, to increase the age to 65 for prudent) discount rates used to calculate Scheme for new and existing members when we hope to have further discussions on the deficit. The BBC could also assist the to address the future build up of liabilities. assumptions and agree a final timetable. both men and women, has been recovery plan by giving the Scheme rights over It is also clear that the BBC’s proposals To confirm, once this complex work has been brought forward to November 2018, named assets. will reduce the size of the deficit, which in done we will inform members of the size of the formerly April 2020. It is then proposed turn affects the recovery plan. deficit both before and after allowance is made to increase that age from 65 to 66 for Scheme changes. between December 2018 and Assessing the covenant April 2020. This does not of course affect anyone The Pensions Regulator expects trustees to who is already over the current age but assess the employer’s covenant as part of the A birthday to remember valuation process. An external adviser will help may well be a concern and a planning us form an objective view of the quality of the They came from all corners of the world to and became a ‘travel agent’ for BBC staff issue for those younger and likely to be BBC’s covenant, taking due account of the celebrate Freda Young’s 100th birthday. From visiting abroad. Not surprising then, that her affected. What it means, particularly for recent licence fee settlement. the Snowy Mountains in Australia, San Diego son and grandchildren have scattered across women, is that more of them will have in California, Singapore, Prestwick in Scotland the world. But 2 November 2010 was a date to bridge the gap between age 60, and even… Worthing. to bring them all together for a truly when they might have expected to What happens if I first visited Freda when she was a sprightly memorable celebration, including the receive their State pension, and the 88-year-old, offering to do shopping for any personally signed letter and photograph from time that they will actually receive it. markets improve after others of my ‘elderly’ pensioners! Elizabeth R. Anyone who is hoping to stop Freda spent her early years in South Africa, Margaret Steven, BBC Pensioners’ Visitor the BBC’s changes are was orphaned in her teens, settled in England working at an age earlier than State Pension Age should be looking at the implemented? most appropriate means of saving and investing, so that they can afford to This would obviously be a welcome fulfil that ambition without reducing development; although we have seen their standard of living. improvements in stock markets since the There is a sting in the tail however. valuation date, the underlying cost of providing Those who do save and who are on pensions has also increased. modest incomes in retirement, will see If the funding position improved, the Trustees would look to invest more in bonds and less in a freeze in the Savings Credit element equities, to reduce volatility in investments and of the Pension Credit. The maximum provide more certainty that benefits to members Savings Credit, currently £20.52 for a could be met from the fund without further single pensioner and £27.09 for recourse to the BBC if (say) stock markets couples, is to be frozen at that level for crashed again. four years from 2011/2012. Furthermore, future increases in State pensions and benefits are to be linked Do the BBC’s proposals to increases in the consumer price need to be implemented index (CPI), apart from 2011/2012, where the basic State pension is to increase by the retail price index (RPI) as part of a Government guarantee for that year only. Historically, increases in Still talking about details of changes the CPI have tended to be at a lower rate than RPI. to pension scheme Taken together, these measures are likely to impact upon hundreds of Talks between the BBC and union Management insists the talks are purely announced it has chosen Friends thousands of households throughout representatives over the fine details of clarificatory, while the NUJ hopes to Provident to provide the new scheme. the UK. Those who have the means the proposed pension changes took negotiate changes to the new scheme. Director of People Lucy Adams said: and can afford to do so should place in mid-November, as both sides At the time of Prospero going to print, ‘After a rigorous selection process we continue to look to make the best use searched for a settlement to the dispute neither side had offered any comment on believe they offer the best value and of their available capital and income. which led to thousands of NUJ members how the talks are going. flexibility for future members of the plan.’ Good income and tax planning remain taking strike action earlier in the month. Meanwhile the BBC has closed entry key elements to offsetting the affects of She also re-stated the BBC’s pledge to The talks began after the BBC agreed to to the existing pension scheme (on these changes. consider suggestions for further changes clarify certain aspects of how the 1 December). Staff who were eligible to to CAB 2011 which have come out of the proposed CAB 2011 scheme will work. In join but hadn’t yet done so had until that Bob Perkins DipPFS consultation process (which closed on response the NUJ called off strike action date to join up, after which they will be Technical Manager November 15) – providing they don’t add planned for 15-16 November. offered CAB 2011. New joiners will only Origen Financial Services to the cost or risks of the scheme. be offered CAB 2011. The BBC

December • 2010 • • 3 Letters Contacts This issue… The Research Department vs ‘Bits ‘n’ Pieces’; Visiting Scheme If you would like a visit or information on how to become a volunteer visitor, please ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged only as a local call. Queries Phone-ins For benefit and pension payroll queries, call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Prospero To add or delete a name from the & phone-outs distribution list, ring the Service Line (number above). Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC employees. On request, we will also send it to spouses or setting up and the clarity of the bits and pieces dependants who want to keep in touch unit, and demanded its use on his programmes. with the BBC. Prospero is also available on I believe the studio manager, Barry Taylor, audio tape for those with sight impairment. received the princely sum of £75 from the To register, please ring the Service Line tight-fisted management at the time, but his on 029 2032 2811. design rewrote the telephone balance unit book. BBC Club Joe Taylor The BBC Club in London has a retired I WAS FASCINATED by Tony Luke’s category membership costing £24 a year memories of the history of phone calls on radio for members; and £36 a year for family (Prospero , November 2010). membership. Pre-1997 life members are During my ten years as an instructor in the not affected. Regional clubs may have Local Radio Training Unit, I had the benefit of different arrangements. a number of valuable attachments. I wanted to Please call BBC Club London keep in-touch with the front line. I worked for administration office on 020 8752 66 66 or a few months on a couple of our local radio email [email protected]. stations and also Radio 2 Light Entertainment. That was under Con Mahoney and David Benevolent Fund Hatch…wow. This is funded by voluntary contributions I produced Late Night Extra once a week from the BBC and its purpose is to protect David Hatch, Richard Willcox (Producers of Late Night Extra ), John Simmonds under Tony Luke, the senior producer, for a the welfare of staff, pensioners and their (Chief Producer, Light Entertainment, Radio 1 and 2), CJ Mahoney (Head of couple of months. ‘Mystery Voice Challenge’ families. Grants are made at the discretion Light Entertainment, Sound), Mike Lennox, Bob Holness and Terry Wogan ran every night, but it was not a phone-in. It of the Trustees. They may provide (Compères of Late Night Extra ) was a phone-out. The calls were live, but they assistance in cases of unforeseen financial were set up to listeners who had sent a postcard hardship, for which help from other The letter from Tony Luke about the first live if someone should blaspheme live on air. to the BBC. The production secretary picked a sources is not available. phone-in ( Prospero , November 2010) reminded This of course caused further complications few cards from a tombola machine in Aeolian me of the night of the first Late Night Extra . I with continuity during news breaks. Dear Peter Hall and rang the potential competitors in the Prospero Society arrived for the rehearsal to find a new addition Haigh, the compère of the show, found this all afternoon to check that they would be available. Prospero Society is the only section of the to the studio’s equipment – the AMP160 quite acceptable in true BBC fashion. During the programme, we rang them to set up BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff telephone balance unit, the Research Now it came to pass that a new live phone-in the call. and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC programme, introduced by Robin Day, called I sat in on some recordings of the Don Davis pensioners to meet on a social basis for It’s Your Line , had found the quality produced pop music challenge. It worked on a similar theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings ‘…a God-like studio manager by the telephone unit not suitable for serious system and took half a day to record. With a etc. Prospero is supported by BBC Club discussions. limited number of outgoing lines to originate funds so as to make events affordable. had tried out his own balance Research Department was asked to produce the calls, it was very ‘stop-start’. The only conditions (apart from paying a something better and they rose to the challenge. I know there were live phone calls on air long small annual subscription) are that you unit, using some string and It transpired that at the same time, a God-like before Radio Nottingham in 1968. My claim is must be a BBC pensioner and a member studio manager had tried out his own balance that we were the first to take spontaneous of the BBC Club. Write for an application an old transformer..’ unit, using some string and an old transformer phone-in calls in the ‘What are they up to now?’ form to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries from a type-A desk. Word got out! A challenge programme. When we went on air we had no Avenue, Radlett, Herts. WD7 7EL. Department’s answer to balancing the low level match was proposed by his daring manager, idea what response we would get, unlike Radio Telephone: 01923 855177 distant end to the local studio end, which would who was the studio manager of the first Late 2 which was all set up hours earlier. I did Mobile: 07736 169612 be Don Davis on the microphone. Night Extra , now demoted to manager. something even more spontaneous in my Email: [email protected] It seemed all very simple – press this, twiddle The day arrived, Research Department Breakfast Show, which was self-op; but that’s that, and the result was pretty poor. A further entered the ring and demonstrated their even another story. BBC products complication was that the whole output of the more complicated AMP160. Next came the David Wilkinson BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% studio had to be put through a tape loop, so the ‘bits and pieces’ balance unit for demonstration. discount off the RRP of most products producer, John Simmonds, could stand by the The adjudicator, the producer of It’s Your Line , in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a tape machine, fader in hand, ready to fade out Walter Wallich, was amazed at the simplicity in postage charge of £2.95 per order (not Loudspeakers that per item). Pensioners must quote their BBC pension number when ordering. enjoy the music! Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, In response to Cedric Stansfield’s ‘speaker Television Centre, Wood Lane, London saga’ in the last edition of Prospero . W12 7RJ. Tel: 020 8225 8230. Nothing is guaranteed to generate emotion Email: [email protected]. like the views on loudspeakers! My article Other ways to order (quoting your (Prospero , June 2010) was primarily aimed at pension number when ordering): small, but accurate speakers for the domestic By phone: 08700 777 001 environment. 8.30am-6pm weekdays. By post: BBC However, like Cedric, I also have a pair of Shop, PO Box 308, Sittingbourne, Kent Spendor BC1s – and indeed they are both a ME9 8LW. Email: [email protected]. delight and also my reference speakers, but Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, not my domestic listening speakers, because Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or of their size, delicacy, and critical positioning! Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for I well remember when the Spendor BC1s telephone, post and email orders. first arrived in Manchester – an absolute Overseas: £4.50 for one item and £2 for breath of fresh air for their accurate each additional product for telephone, monitoring, and above all their musicality – post and email orders. the first speaker I had ever heard that seemed to actively enjoy playing music! BBC PA I’m still very happy to help colleagues with For details of how to join the Pensioners’ any speaker problems. Please email me at Association, see panel on page 5. Robin Day (right) discusses with producer, Walter Wallich, a question phoned in [email protected] by a listener to It’s Your Line on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, 3 September 1975. Ian C Reed MIET

4 • • December • 2010 Letters So who are the now-departed Exec Board members?

Mereworth, were brilliant at producing two minutes of pictures illustrating what I had warned them I would be saying. Thank Seeking Matt Monro goodness I never saw the results. Reg Turnill I am an audio restoration engineer working officially recorded and if there is only one with the estate of the late Matt Monro. In his show missing from a series he appeared in, you 30-year career he appeared in literally can bet it’s the episode featuring Matt (1964 hundreds of television and radio shows. Of Eurovision and 1966 Royal Variety, for Happy birthday these only a handful survive in official instance, are both missing where most or all archives. Over the past few years Matt’s others survive). Radio Medway daughter Michele and I have been attempting We are therefore hoping that someone I wish ‘Happy Birthday’ to the wonderful to track down and recover as much material as reading this may have air checks or dubs on team that came on air 40 years ago on possible. Some of this material has come to tape or acetate, video or film footage or even 8 December 1970 as BBC Radio Medway – a light from dubs made by engineers or photographs taken on set or in the studio that team that remained together for many years in producers on tape or disc (Matt was even in they would be willing to allow us to copy with Chatham in Kent and became BBC possession of a couple of these himself). the original and a restored version being Radio Kent. Matt’s career spanned from 1955 through to returned to you. The opening night was a ‘star’ night. With 1985 and he took part in the BBC’s Please contact: [email protected] or Adam Dell, Tony Blackburn, Frank experimental stereo radio and colour television [email protected] or write Chacksfield, Henry Hall, Peter Brough with tests, was a regular contributor to the BBC to: Richard Moore, Matt Monro Estate, 52 Archie Andrews, Vera Lynn, Bruce Forsyth and Show Band show, hosted his own radio series, Taywood Road, Thornton–Cleveleys, many more. radio and TV specials, etc. Lancashire FY5 2RT Many of the team still live in Medway and All of these have now gone or were never Richard Moore Kent, and BBC Radio Kent today still brings in a big audience. As manager from 1970 to 1985 I am very proud of such a wonderful team in those early years, 40 years ago. Pension changes ‘ill-timed and ill-judged’ What, no monitor? Harold Rogers OBE The Pensioners’ Association has a legitimate But Sarah Montague’s comment on the Today The story in the October issue about ‘Grisewood’ interest in the pensions crisis: current staff are programme that 10 out of the 20 best-paid (probably Freddie, not Herman) doing our future members. people in the country in human relations are commentating without benefit of a monitor, Neil Richardson The BBC argues it has to do something to employed by the BBC will pour petrol on reminds me of similar horrific experiences. May I add a postscript to Bill Bebb’s excellent limit its long-term liabilities as employer the flames. Covering the inaugural commercial flight of obituary last month of Neil Richardson. because financing the scheme could otherwise As I write in mid-November everything is still Concorde to Bahrain in 1976, Peter Sissons Neil, the son of a vicar, was our Director of cost around 10 per cent of the licence fee. But up in the air. Strikes are still on the cards if (then ITN) and I had to fly on to Kuwait to Music at ChristChurch Chorleywood. He had we believe the changes actually proposed were further negotiations fail with the NUJ. The have our film edited and transmitted for News the great gift of arranging a hymn such as ill-timed and ill-judged. union argues that if the actual deficit turns out at Ten and BBC 9pm . ‘Thine be the Glory’, for woodwind, strings The BBC’s contributions are negotiated every to be lower than predicted the BBC should Mine was not ready until 8.50pm and my and brass, of making each part fairly easy for three years with the pension scheme trustees think again. Lucy Adams (Director, BBC monitor failed as soon as we started. It was some us amateur musicians but when they came following the scheme actuary’s report. This is People) says disingenuously this is unacceptable seconds before I realised the transmission to together making them sound very grand. due to be published next year. But even if there because it would involve ‘breaking faith’ with London was continuing, and there would be no In rehearsal he had a lovely way of getting is a large hole in the scheme’s finances, the the other unions which have accepted the time for a second take, so I swallowed my what he wanted: ‘Don’t get me wrong, I like problem does not have to be solved modified BBC proposal. What a muddle! half-spoken curse and continued talking, what you’re playing but I think I’d prefer the immediately. Bizarrely, the uncertainty over the The BBC Trust has taken a back seat in the hoping for the best. The producer fed the result notes that are written.’ future benefits and staff contributions being process. We think this is unfortunate: what has unseen into the news bulletin two or three He composed incidental music for Nativity imposed on staff has made it more difficult for been happening has affected public support for minutes later. In those days it was hell for us but plays and played the clarinet or sax beautifully the actuary to predict what the BBC’s the BBC – crucial to its survival. fun for the viewers! for concerts. On one occasion, jazz in church contributions should be. Zarin Patel’s position as a trustee is untenable. During Apollo I frequently phoned live was a real innovation. The BBC sought to justify its tactics by She can either fulfil her responsibilities as BBC reports for bulletins and Newsround against For professionals – and amateurs – he was selecting its own assumptions and calculations Finance Director or as chair of the pension NASA film I had never seen, but some of the one of the very best, to be cherished. which were then worked on by KPMG. The scheme investments committee but not both. young women producers, notably Anne Robert McLeish National Union of Journalists has challenged What’s good for the scheme is not the same as the BBC on the validity of these calculations. It what’s good for the BBC. remains to be seen how closely the BBC/KPMG In recent letters to the Director-General and predictions match the figure from the pension the Chairman of the BBC Trust we expressed a scheme’s actuary. number of these concerns. The DG replied to Relations between staff and management say the BBC has no plans to replace Zarin Patel. reached a low point because of the peremptory He does, however, reassure us that pensions in way in which the pension proposals were payment are unaffected by the changes. The launched and because of widespread anger correspondence is on our website – inside and outside the BBC about excessive www.BBCPA.org.uk. Meanwhile, we urge executive pay and needless layers of non-members to join the association. management. Changes at board level are David Allen, BBCPA chairman obviously intended to take the edge off things. Picture perfect There are many interesting articles in the power so we have no idea what the luminaries November issue, but I am not sure if the of the executive board look like. We can picture feature on page 2 was meant to be a presume that the pictures on page two new competition or not. represent some of them - but which? Who is For those of us who left the BBC some time (or was!) who? ago and are thus not so familiar with the Photographs need captions...even more so current management, it is difficult to work out for the elderly and forgetful. which picture goes with which name in the Puzzled pensioner (aka Mike Chaney) accompanying article – except, of course, that of Mark Thompson! The lack of captions on the mugshots on page 2 Please give picture name credits in future so of the November issue of Prospero seems to have we can all put the right names to the right confused and bemused several of our readers. We faces. I should add that in the rest of the paper apologise for the oversight and will make more this was done, or it was obvious from the text of an effort to caption photographs going who was in the accompanying pictures. forward! For future reference, the names (from Rex Palmer top, left to right) were as follows: Erik Huggers, Zarin Patel, Jana Bennett, Mark Byford, Mark PLEASE REMEMBER THAT we no longer Thompson, Tim Davie and Helen Boaden – Ed. see the great and good in the corridors of

December • 2010 • • 5 Memories Play School Julie Stevens, one-time presenter on Play School , enjoys a nostalgic trip down memory lane as she reviews Here’s a House – a Celebration of Play School .

Play School was the first programme to be AND there is volume 2 in the spring taking up transmitted on 21 April 1964, launch day for the story from the 1980s. BBC2, as Battersea power station blew a fuse, I think of Play School as the best work I ever and the rest is history. did; and not work really, just a pleasure. I still Play School never moved from its remit; for miss it and would love to be there again, albeit three to five year olds, probably watching on a bit wrinkly. I am grateful to Paul, because now their own, with anchor points like the toys, I can pop back to those glory days of the Beeb windows, pets, calendar and clock. (three or four cameras, a dangly boom and a Reading this book from cover to cover, in one floor manager) whenever I want. May I say sitting I might add, I filled in the missing links. ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you’ to any of you I worked So much affectionate, irreverent information with over the years and do buy the book. Much about all concerned; the politics, the anxieties love, Julie Stevens, Provence, France. of the presenters, who never had a long running Paul Jackson and Julie Stevens. contract, just a casual booking when needed. Help! Pre- Play School , children’s programmes were just entertainment. Now the child could and did join in. It was ‘their’ Play School and such an innovation. I was amazed to read that the On 23 October, I was invited to the launch of viewing figures did not include the target Here’s a House – a Celebration of Play School . audience, presumably because they were ‘just’ This book, by Paul R Jackson, has been over little children and yet the figures in early 1965 20 years in the making and boy, is it worth were 1.35m to 1.7m, not bad for a children’s the wait! programme on a new channel. Besides being Play School’s biggest fan, keeper of Paul’s tenacity has paid off. The interviews in the Play School archives and sharing the same birth this book are revealing to say the least. I learned date as my daughter, Paul worked at the Beeb in a great deal about my fellow presenters, who the Duty Office for five years and since 1996 has trusted Paul with candid observations. The tie freelanced as a Stage Manager on the National that binds us all is the love of Play School and Television Awards and the British Soap Awards. Paul captures this brilliantly with hundreds of I presented Play School for 14 of its 22 years previously unseen photos. Personally, I have (600 editions) in the 60s and 70s and couldn’t never been quoted so accurately in nearly 50 wait to meet up with the old crowd, and I do years in the biz. mean CROWD. Paul tracked down 85 For those of you who worked with us then, presenters, directors, musicians, designers and get the book and find out what really went on. the programme’s originator Joy Whitby, who For those of you who watched the programmes named the programme Play School as ‘play is the as children, get the book and see how Play child’s first school.’ School came to be. A perfect Christmas present Carol Chell, Paul Jackson and Don Spencer. A new trainee cameraman joins the BBC producing optical sound prints for Hawthorn and Fangio who were heroes for a distribution. These vital operations were time generation of enthusiasts like myself. consuming – consequently, thousands of fans I’ve known Stirling since he was leading the had to wait until the winter months to see their British Vanwall team in 1958 but this is the favourite drivers and teams in action. first time we’ve been photographed together.’ I can recall filming the Grand Prix D’ Europe The programme included clips from the at Spa in 1958 and using just four cameras, and 1955 Monaco GP that Moss almost won until a lap in those days was eight miles! his Mercedes surprisingly let him down. They were all wind-up models, plus you were After 15 years with the BBC I left to become always adjusting the focus and checking the a freelance film director and amongst my exposure. As filmmakers we were allowed to documentaries were two films for The South stand next to the track to get our shots – in Bank Show, one on the Drama Group at what, looking back, were suicidal positions! Wormwood Scrubs prison and another on the Nevertheless they were wonderful days to be affinity between Max Wall and Samuel Beckett. filming Formula One, with drivers like Moss,

Paul Foxall was a film cameraman before The BBC arranged for Stirling Moss and me joining the staff of BBC TV, where he worked to be at the Silverstone Classic in July where as a film editor on programmes like Panorama , these pictures were taken. Tomorrow’s World and Braden’s Week . Now The producer was Tony Roe from BBC retired, he looks after a film archive that Nottingham and the film was shown on Inside belonged to the late David Clarke, a former Out last month on BBC East Midlands and on filmmaker and racing driver and friend of BBC East. Stirling Moss who enjoyed a sporting rivalry in The camera that Stirling is holding is a the fifties. Paul writes: 16mm clockwork Bolex of the type used The photographs shown above are stills taken extensively in those days. The big problem was from a programme about how motor racing that, although the films were in glorious colour, was covered in the fifties before television they took an age to complete with the labs, the became involved. editing, the dubbing and the process of Sir Stirling Moss.

6 • • December • 2010 Reunions Radio Oxford remembered It all started back in the summer when Sally Wright emailed to remind me and Mari Prichard that on 29 October, Radio Oxford would be reaching its 40th birthday and should we do anything about it?

Historical Monuments Commission, a distinguished biochemist, BBC engineers, former secretaries, former radio and TV bosses – one of whom had just arrived back that morning from Zambia – and journalists and broadcasters of the calibre of Bill Rennells, Tony Adamson, Garry Richardson, David Bobin, Libby Purves and Hugh Sykes. Well, this was vintage Radio Oxford after all! Twenty-two of the company had agreed in advance to give a one-minute reminiscence of their time at the station and tell how the experience had shaped or informed their later careers. It was amazing that with the wealth of broadcasting talent present, very few managed to keep to the 60-second limit but all were Since Sally had had a big hand in organising forgiven as the stories poured out, bathing us reunions to mark the 21st and 25th in a warm tub of nostalgia. anniversaries, and in Mari we had an inspired Why was Radio Oxford so special for us? We organiser on the spot in Oxford, it wasn’t had the most benevolent of bosses in Donald surprising that a celebration lunch at the who would offer gentle advice and comment Plough in Wolvercote was soon arranged for whilst practising his golf swing in the corridor. the birthday itself. But we also had the most extraordinary What was surprising was the turnout of as amount of freedom to make programmes and Pictured are from left to right: Anita Wright, Penny Scrivener, Gerald Sacks, Cliff Wright, Nick many as 48 former staff, contributors and to recruit and develop the hundred or more Utechin, Chris Rogers, David Bobin, Phil Rapps, Susie Bobin, Liz Simpson, John Skrine, partners mainly from the era of the first keen contributors who gave the station its John Simpson, Angela Rennells, Tony Adamson, Bill Rennells, Giles Woodforde, Sanchia manager of the station, Donald Norbrook. His special flavour. No layers of editorial Phillips, Derek Ashton, Richard Stanley, Andy Finney, Roger Main, Kip Warr, Nick Shrimpton, two sons, David and Hamish, represented the bureaucracy stifled our creativity. There is Sharon Amos, Mif Warr, Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, Peter Esnouf, Sally Wright, Hugh Phillips, family, and amongst the others attending were maybe a lesson in those early years for the Mari Prichard, Angie Straker-Nesbitt, Owen Bentley, Hugh Sykes, Annie Utechin, Angela two former Lord Mayors of Oxford, the powers that be who run local radio today. Hassall, Ita Sacks, Tony Williamson, Hamish Norbrook, Barbara Williamson, Tom Hassall, current Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Owen Bentley (Programme Organiser Radio Jill Bentley, Mary Walter, Ann Spokes Symonds. (Photo credit: Chris Rogers.) a god-daughter of Charles de Gaulle, a brace of Oxford 1970-72) Missing from group shot though present at the event: Libby Purves, Thomas Prag, David mathematicians, a former head of the Norbrook, Jane Rogers, Garry Richardson, Jill Adamson. Technical trainees celebrate gold

The trainees then… Back row (L-R): Brian Potter, Dave Gilroy and Dave Lancaster. Front row (L-R): Bill Seymour, Mike Lawton, (three inserts – At the reunion, 50 years on… (L-R): Guy Martin, Bill Seymour, Brian Potter, Alan Edginton, Ron Arnett, Guy Martin and Nigel Phillips), Roy Vitty and Alan Eginton. Andy Jones, Dave Lancaster, Roy Vitty, Nigel Phillips and Ron Arnett.

In September 1960, 13 teenagers century of progress later, the practical catch up on how things have changed the visit to Wood Norton this was an reported to the Langham to embark on a skills that were learnt on that course are since the early 60s. occasion for sombre reflection on how three-year Technical Trainee sandwich probably more use now than any of the In the evening The Angel Hotel, things have changed over 50 years. course run by the BBC. valve and circuit theory studied later. Pershore was the venue for a celebratory Those meeting up again were: Ron Six months of each year were spent On 1 October 2010, eight of these meal and overnight stay. Arnett, Alan Edginton, Dave Lancaster, studying at Hendon Technical College ex Technical Trainees (and wives) met The next day a visit was made to part of Guy Martin, Nigel Phillips, Brian Potter, and six months training at Radio and TV for a weekend of events to celebrate the the Wood Norton site no longer owned Bill Seymour and Roy Vitty. Studios, Outside Broadcasts, 50 years. Four couples were already in by the BBC, including the empty Hall, the Of the original 13, two (Dave Dillon and Transmitters, and Engineering contact, but others were traced and one dilapidated accommodation blocks and a Mike Laughton) are deceased and one departments throughout the BBC. The was found with the help of the BBC last remaining training hut. This was a (Clive Wapshire) was unable to attend. goal was a Higher National Diploma in Pension Department. sad experience. A reprise of the course Dave Gilroy and George Nixon are still Electrical Engineering. The reunion began with lunch at the photograph in front of the Hall was missing. If you are out there, please get One of the first steps was a workshop Anchor Inn, Wyre Piddle, Worcestershire. followed by a river trip at Evesham. in touch. course at Wood Norton, the idea being to In the afternoon, the group were On the Sunday the reunion concluded Tempus fugit! teach some practical skills to these entertained by a talk from the Head of with a visit to the technical areas of a Bill Seymour ‘college students’. Ironically, half a the Training Academy, Andy Jones, to virtually deserted Television Centre. Like

December • 2010 • • 7 Back at the BBC

020 8752 6666 BBC CLUB Time to dance in praise Lottery Winners September: Richard of older women Payne, Helene Clochard, Louise Panton, David Cowan, Kenneth Ann Widdecombe, unlikely star of Strictly Come Ackerman, Beatriz Redondo, Dominic Dancing , whose performances to date have Casciani, Caroline Barker, Stephen Rose, Zenaida Machado, Sarah Daley, prompted the judges to compare her to ‘a pink David Durham, John Woodward and Roger Jattan. Special congratulations toilet brush being flung around’ and more to Richard Payne who scooped the £10K quarterly jackpot! recently ‘a sick canary who never manages to October: G Carter, Julie Foster, Gisele take off’, believes she is making a stand for Della Bella, Mark Waters, Karl Schneidau, Michael Drake, Joan Hole, ordinary older women. Gary Duffy, Rostam Kilgour, Mari Deghy, Kenneth Morris and Janet Bone. ‘I feel I’m flying the flag for older women who own pace. Second, I retired and suddenly are not gorgeous, or agile or look amazing for I had time.’ their age, and showing them that they can still She also says that while she was an MP, she Membership have fun,’ she told Ariel . believed she had a duty ‘not to behave in a way The cost of pension membership per As to whether this group gets a tough deal on that might be considered inconsistent with the annum is £30. This was amended in television, Widdecombe points out that her dignity of the office’. August. own broadcasting career did not start until she But after retiring at the last General Election, was in her 50s and that ‘some of the best of it and deciding finally to give Strictly a whirl, she has come in my 60s’. predicted it would go one of two ways: ‘Either BBC: ‘It should chase excellence rather than Young At Heart Now 63, she has presented documentaries, I would get knocked out very early on or, if ratings,’ she states firmly. BBC Club’s new initiative for retired been a TV agony aunt and hosted Have I Got people wanted a bit of entertainment, I might ‘Having said that, I’m as bad as anybody and staff was trialled on Wednesday News for You . ‘I really don’t think there is stay in it for quite a while.’ the first thing I inquire about on Mondays is 3 November at Club West One with ageism,’ she declares. ‘I think it’s a bit like And stay she has. ‘I’ve enjoyed it beyond all the viewing figures. I’m not going to pretend great success. There were eight sexism. If you go looking for it, you’ll find it. If expectation,’ she laughs. ‘It is tremendous fun. I’m above that.’ attendees who all thoroughly enjoyed you don’t go looking for it, you just accept that Part of it is the freedom from responsibility. A fan of Radio 4, World Service and Songs of themselves. The next Young At Heart, some things are bad luck.’ When I was an MP everything I did had the Praise , she also finds plenty to enjoy on BBC Invited every year since 2004 to do Strictly , potential to affect people – for better or worse. Four, regularly choosing it above the planned for 7 December, will have a she had always turned it down as she thought it This doesn’t.’ mainstream channels: ‘Because I know the main festive focus of scrumptious warming would be too physically demanding and Despite Strictly’s popularity, and her delight at channels will have swearing, sex, violence, food. We’ll let you know how it went in time-consuming. being involved in such a big hit, the former irregular living, people shouting at each other the next issue of Prospero . For more ‘Then two things happened. First, John politician who served as shadow Home and estuary English.’ details on January’s event, please Sergeant proved you could do it at your Secretary has not changed her views about the She confirms that she and fellow contestant contact [email protected] Patsy Kensit have bonded over prayer sessions. ‘Patsy and I both pray to St Jude, patron saint See Potted Panto for £10 of hopeless causes.’ ‘For a glorious dose of silliness, you can always rely on Dan and Jeff. There’ s a very real danger of children wetting Success for themselves with laughter.’ The Guardian . Seven classic pantomimes in 80 minutes! The great British festive local stations tradition returns to the West End, in a Radio Lincolnshire’s listeners are whistle-stop tour for all the family tuning in for longer than any other radio starring CBBC presenters Dan and Jeff. audience, either local or network, an Hot on the heels of their smash hit astonishing 18 hours a week on Potted Potter, this is their most average. Managing editor Charlie extravagant production yet – now in Partridge said: ‘I don’t think it’s a amazing 3D! Vaudeville Theatre, The coincidence that this increase mirrors Strand. From Friday 10 December 2010 the work done over the last 12 months.’ to Sunday 9 January 2011. The station has made on-air changes, A vision in pink: Ann Widdecombe and partner Anton Du Beke. www.pottedpanto.com. For details of and employed Tim Johns to take how to redeem this offer please go to charge of trails and on-air promotion. Club Save www.bbcclub.com Johns said: ‘To have these positive results and to come out number one in Roast offers Hundreds of World Service the UK is a real boost and says to all 10% off and complimentary cocktail, the staff we are performing well.’ and 2-for-1 on breakfast. Not only that – the breakfast show, jobs to be cut fronted by Rod Whiting, has overtaken New Britannia meets Britain’s oldest Lincolnshire’s commercial rivals for the food market at Roast (Borough Market), World Service director Peter Horrocks says Asked how many jobs would be lost he first time in a decade. a restaurant and bar dedicated to hundreds of staff jobs will go and services will said: ‘It will be broadly in line with the level Radio London now has 560,000 classical British cooking using the finest close because ‘we cannot continue to of savings we need to make – more than 16%. people tuning in each week – the seasonal produce. Our dishes, wines do everything.’ Our staffing is 2,000 so you can work it He was answering questions from the out relatively straightforwardly. It will be highest audience for two years. And and cocktails are constantly evolving Commons Foreign Affairs select committee hundreds of jobs.’ Gaby Roslin joining Paul Ross on the and wherever you sit, there is a view – about how the switch of funding from the As for service cuts, he said: ‘We will breakfast show at the start of the year either into our open kitchen, over Foreign Office to the licence fee might affect want to propose that some services should close has given the programme its highest Borough Market or onto St Paul's World Service output. He told the committee – not just because of the settlement but also audience, up 51% year on year to that even before the BBC takes over its funding, because of competitors and the patterns of Cathedral. T&Cs: 10% off & 268,000. David Robey, managing editor, complimentary cocktail: Offer valid up World Service has to make substantial savings our services.’ because of a reduction in the Foreign Horrocks explained that in some places Radio London, welcomed the results: ‘I to tables of six persons. 10% offer NOT am delighted with the way we have valid with breakfast offer. Office grant. short-wave radio audiences were dropping, so Committee chairman Mike Gapes said the the cost of those transmissions could be cut, and performed across the station, and Breakfast 2-for-1: Offer available foreign secretary had told them he wanted a he thought editorial costs would be reduced clearly part of that has been the anytime during breakfast hours. settlement that would ‘allow’ the World Service when the World Service moved into W1 and breakfast show. I think we have found Cheapest food item free. Any number to become more efficient without affecting worked in close collaboration with News. But he the right format and Gaby and Paul hit of guests allowed. services. Gapes asked: ‘Is that possible?’ Horrocks said: ‘There will be real changes that audiences if off instantly.’ replied: ‘We can’t continue to do everything.’ will notice, undoubtedly.’ 8 • • December • 2010 Back at the BBC We’ll do more to make Passion, determination and shows ‘fresh and new’ an extraordinary journey Jana Bennett, director of Vision, has pledged to After a decade as head of BBC Wales Menna continue to strengthen BBC One, Two and Four Richards leaves a ‘creative critical mass’ as following a BBC Trust review that found all three her legacy. channels are performing strongly but could do the drama village in Cardiff Bay, in due course. more to make themselves truly distinctive. ‘We know the importance of a critical creative mass. Having people excited by The main conclusions of the service review are: make a greater contribution to the the possibilities of a new building in a • BBC One should be more ambitious and take corporation’s reputation for quality fabulous location is bound to make a more creative risks in peak time. In particular, and distinctiveness difference to how creative we can be. it should increase the range, variety and • BBC Four, where 80 percent of output is rated That’s important for Wales and the surprise in pre-watershed peak time, and show original or different (the highest margin for entire BBC.’ greater creative ambition at 9pm. The Trust any channel), should find ways of increasing Even before last month’s radical says it expects to see signs of improvement in its impact. To help it achieve this, the Trust audience perceptions by the end of 2011 wants the Executive to signpost and promote licence fee settlement, which includes a • BBC Two should do more to re-establish its BBC Four content more effectively on partnership with S4C whereby the BBC position as a channel that viewers recognise as other networks. will contribute £76m a year to the costs being manifestly different from BBC One The review’s interim findings were published in of the Welsh language channel from • Daytime output on One and Two should July. In their final report the Trust notes the 2013, Richards was already exploring progress made by management since the ways in which BBC Wales and S4C summer, particularly in terms of axing could cut costs by sharing resources, some long-running daytime lifestyle including moving into a single new shows, and developing ‘robust plans’ for media centre. Despite opposition from current affairs on BBC Two. She is the leader Mark Thompson credits Bennett points out that BBC TV the S4C Authority and Welsh politicians, with a ‘creative transformation’ at BBC Richards is optimistic about the increased both its reach and share over Wales. But ten years at the top is the past year, and that viewers already partnership’s chances: ‘I’m confident say that it leads other channels for enough for anyone, says the nation’s we’ll get to the right place,’ she says. quality, originality and distinctiveness. outgoing director Menna Richards. ‘Both organisations care a great deal But: ‘Audiences continue to have a Under her tenure, Cardiff has grown about providing the best possible tv strong appetite for ‘fresh and new ideas’. into a powerhouse of network drama – service in the Welsh language. There’s a This is a reflection of the TV industry from the catalyst of Doctor Who to brand lot to talk about, a lot to get right.’ more broadly, and expectations are new daytime series Indian Doctor , via The former managing director of HTV rightly highest when it comes to the Torchwood, Merlin, Sherlock, Being Wales took over as the BBC’s national BBC. We will be taking the leading role Human, Whites and Upstairs Downstairs . in meeting audience expectations.’ controller in Cardiff with a view to staying The expanding BBC Wales factual slate five years: ‘But when that time came, has produced network hits like Tribe and there was still a lot to achieve and it was Last Chance to See , as well as too exciting to move on. Ten years is O’Reilly awaits tribunal decision ground-breaking series for Welsh probably about enough,’ she concludes. audiences like Coal House and the The employment tribunal hearing Miriam O’Reilly’s The director has talked recently about recent Snowdonia 1890 . ‘unprecedented financial pressures’, discrimination case against the BBC has concluded with the And last year, the BBC National panel members reserving judgement. Their decision could which even before the new licence fee Orchestra of Wales moved into their new deal, saw BBC Wales having to find £3m take up to six weeks. state-of-the-art concert hall and recording O’Reilly claims she was the victim of sex and age savings this year. There had been ‘tough studio in Hoddinott Hall, part of the Wales decisions’ to balance shrinking budgets discrimination because she was dropped as a presenter on Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. Countryfile when the show was revamped and moved to a with creative ambition, she says. Richards, who leaves in February, Emailing colleagues last week she peaktime Sunday slot. The BBC denies the claims. won’t be around for the opening of the Heather Williams, QC for O’Reilly, said that the 53 year old acknowledged her teams’ achievements: new Cardiff Bay drama village which will ‘I never had any doubt that Wales had was ruled out from working on the new look show ‘in one be home to Doctor Who , Welsh language sentence’ from former BBC One controller Jay Hunt. the talent to make a real difference and soap Pobol y Cwm , The Sarah Jane it’s your passion and determination that Williams was referring to evidence from Andrew Thorman, the Countryfile editor who Adventures and Casualty by the end of replaced O’Reilly and two other older female presenters with younger people, while has taken us on this extraordinary next year. journey together.’ keeping on John Craven, who is in his late 60s. Thorman told the tribunal that when She says: ‘I’d like to think the whole of he asked Hunt about retaining the three women, Hunt replied: ‘I think their BBC Wales could be relocated alongside experience is mainly radio. No.’ Hunt told the tribunal: ‘I am a 43-year-old woman, I have had my own difficulties surviving in this industry… the last thing I would ever do is discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender or age.’ Charity Christmas cards NEWS BITES READY STEADY COOK , the TV in-flight entertainment will offer channels show in which chefs create meals BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge and from ingredients brought in by celebrity BBC Lifestyle. Young travellers will be guests, has been axed after 15 years, offered a Cbeebies service. 21 series and nearly 2,000 episodes. No more episodes will be made, A TOTAL of 21.2 million people watched although repeats are likely to be shown BBC News TV coverage of the for at least the next year. comprehensive spending review on 20 October. The main news programmes BRITISH AIRWAYS For the first time, you can buy Radio Times Charity Christmas cards based on some of the most passengers will soon all had above average audiences, the iconic Radio Times Christmas covers ever. be able to watch their favourite BBC News Channel had more viewers than There are two packs to choose from, with 10 cards in each. Each pack has five different designs. programmes while flying. From Sky News, and the BBC News website Prospero readers can get a pack of 10 for just £3.50 (normally £3.99) plus £1.50 P&P, with 10% December, more than 100 BA planes with had around 4.2m unique users. going to BBC Children in Need. And if you buy four packs you get a fifth one free. To order call 0844 543 9804 quoting offer code Prospero. December • 2010 • • 9 Obituaries Bach scholar and talented From Welsh presenter music producer to Controller, BBC Wales Richard Butt , who has died at professional, his popularity dominated Welsh experiment but as an integral part of the fabric the age of 82, was screens during the 60s, first of all as presenter of broadcasting and of Welsh life in general. The one of the most of Granada television’s Dewch I Mewn and then ploughed a new and independent furrow in the important and as a presenter of BBC Wales’ long-running daily history of Welsh language television with influential people programme, Heddiw . remarkable success. During the 70s he deserted life in front o the Throughout his career, Owen displayed great in the history of camera for the more sombre existence of an loyalty towards public responsibility and service. the BBC’s music administrator, first of all as a programme He had inherited from his father and output in the organiser and subsequently the BBC’s Head of grandfather a remarkable understanding of the Midland Region and far beyond. Programmes, Wales. Though never completely meaning of ‘duty’ in public life. It guided him He was a music producer in comfortable in either role, they served him well throughout his years as a broadcasting executive, Birmingham for 25 years and was the as an apprenticeship for his subsequent and the sadness is, because of illness, he was senior music producer for the last 16 of appointment as controller, BBC Wales, where unable, in retirement, to extend his experience them. As such he worked with, and he flourished once again as a popular public and expertise to pastures new. became the friend of, many of the figure and careful and fair manager. He fought gallantly with a serious and It was during his time as controller that Radio debilitating illness for over 20 years, and at the world’s greatest artists who all came to Wales and Radio Cymru were launched. A time, end of it all, perhaps, the most forceful memory appreciate his gentle guidance and his too, of linguistic turmoil which called for all his I have of him is of the enormous courage he deep knowledge of the world of music. diplomatic skills as he led BBC Wales showed in doing so. He brought into the studios and successfully in the run-up to the creation His wife Rosemary, and daughters Elin and concert halls a care and understanding of S4C. Mari, were a source of joy and comfort to the of the needs of musicians that led many Owen Edwards will be remembered by a It was no surprise, therefore, that on the end. They, together with Owen’s grandchildren, to ask for him in particular to produce generation of viewers as one of the most creation of the new channel he was invited to his brother Prys, and all the family, grieve for their broadcasts. He was softly spoken, successful, charismatic and popular television become its first chief executive. Owen and his his departure. As do we all. always had a smile on his lips, modest presenters in the Welsh language. team laid solid foundations for a channel which, Coffa Da Amdano. Fond memories. A consummate communicator and before long, ceased to be looked upon as an – perhaps overly so – but at the same Geraint Stanley Jones time he was a perfectionist who expected those around him to work to Londoner turned in Manchester. It was a move he never regretted. which 26 people died, including eight his own high standards. He was a man On a BBC staff-training course in London, in Manchester United footballers. Captain Thain, of high moral convictions with a great ‘Northcountryman’ 1949, he observed: ‘It wasn’t until I left London the captain of the BEA aircraft, was blamed for sense of humour, sometimes naughty One Friday in 1975, an ashen-faced Brian that I really began to live. By going North I have the crash and, as a result, lost both his pilot’s but never cruel, that was enjoyed by all. Redhead walked into the Manchester office of left behind some of the most licence and his job. Stanley became convinced Richard was born in Salisbury where Stanley Williamson , the producer of Redhead’s parochially-minded people under the sun. that Thain was simply a scapegoat and that vital Radio 4 programme, . Londoners as a whole can’t see anything that’s evidence had been suppressed. He and Thain he attended the Bishops Wordsworth’s A Word in Edgeways ‘I’ve just resigned my editorship of The happening more than twenty miles North or travelled to Munich, via Stuttgart so they would School from which he graduated to the Manchester Evening News ,’ announced Redhead. West of Oxford Circus unless it’s happening at not be recognised by the airport authorities, and Royal Academy of Music in London. ‘Not again?’ Stanley responded wearily. the other end of the world. They don’t know interviewed two key witnesses who confirmed There he studied conducting and the ‘Yes, but this time they’ll not let me withdraw how the rest of Britain lives and works, and they that the plane had been unable to become violin and in due course became it. They want me out!’ don’t bother to find out.’ air-borne because of icy slush on the runway. apprentice conductor of the Yorkshire ‘Don’t worry, Brian, journalism’s loss will be By joining a seriously under-resourced part of The broadcast of The Munich Air Disaster was Symphony Orchestra. After a period broadcasting’s gain. Let’s go and record another the BBC, he discovered there was virtually acutely embarrassing to BEA, the British Board teaching the violin in Norfolk he good programme.’ unlimited scope for his talents. Within months of Trade, and the German authorities – none of became music director for the Stanley Williamson’s laconic prophesy proved he was fearlessly diving into the 300-foot depths which wanted their previous decisions correct. Redhead became a ‘national treasure’ of the Gaping Ghyll pothole at Ingleborough in questioned. Nevertheless, the British Inquiry Leicestershire Education Authority and on Radio 4’s Today programme and was only North Yorkshire. Later he was reporting from had to be reopened and eventually exonerated it was from there that, in 1961, he one of many BBC contributors who were the strike-bound mining village of Captain Thain. moved to the BBC. comforted, cajoled, nurtured and supported by Grimethorpe. Neither of these assignments Colin Shaw CBE, a former North Region He had many other strings to his bow, Stanley – whose own career covered four would have been possible for a continuity colleague and subsequently chief secretary of the most notably his work as conductor for decades in radio and television. announcer in London. BBC and founder-director of the Broadcasting 26 years of the Birmingham Bach Joining the BBC in 1941, at the age of 20 After promotion to producer, Stanley Standards Council said: ‘Stanley’s devotion to Society. During that time he conducted during the London blitz, Stanley Williamson Williamson became responsible for the radio North Region was exemplary and he produced many notable concerts but, perhaps, worked as a recorded programmes assistant in series, The Northcountryman , which began in some very good programmes for both the none more so than a memorable the underground studios at 200 Oxford Street. 1952 and was broadcast continuously for over Region and the network. I fear that his like is His first job was retrieving and cueing-up ten years. not very easily found these days.’ performance of Bach’s B minor Mass in transcription disks. He progressed to become a In this period Stanley also found himself Stanley Williamson married his Bach’s own Church in Leipzig just before studio manager, occasionally (and unofficially) working with two talented filmmakers, Norman life-companion, Margaret Elizabeth (Bettie) unification. From that he was invited to ‘filling in’ for continuity announcers who failed Swallow and Denis Mitchell, who he helped Emerson, in 1948. She survives him together conduct the Leipzig Gewandhaus to appear on time. In 1946 he was appointed a with the Prix Italia-winning documentary, with their daughter Elisabeth. Orchestra on several occasions. A noted continuity announcer for the BBC North Region Morning in the Streets . He made his own Robert Houlton Bach scholar, Richard collated and pioneering programmes including the first-ever published a catalogue of Bach’s live radio rock-climb broadcast during which he Cantatas which still serves today as a was almost killed because of the effect of wind Joan Barnard reference book for Bach scholars. on the unexpected weight of the microphone-cable. Joan Barnard died recently at her home in He was a close personal friend of As an interviewer, Stanley Williamson was Bristol and will be fondly remembered by many Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and sensitive, thoughtful and seemingly unhurried. of her colleagues. Joan joined the Corporation Imogen Holst who used to ask Richard’s His 1956 profile of LS Lowry, at a time before the (as we called it in those days!) in 1944 in advice on the performance of Bach. artist became famous, is a classic of its kind. Transcription Service and when that He leaves his partner, Stanley Sellers, Recorded in Lowry’s home, his studio and Salford department closed she moved to Music Library and his brother David who, for many City Art Gallery, it captures the essence of a quiet at Yalding House, where she remained until years, was principal flute for the BBC man who is unsure about the sources of his own retirement in 1984 – 40 long years of service! Symphony Orchestra. talent and the appeal of his paintings. After the For me, Joan was a very special friend and we recordings had been completed, Lowry said, ‘You have kept in touch all these years thanks, I personally, having worked with can take a couple of paintings home with you, if especially over her latter years, to her husband Richard throughout the whole of his you really like any of them.’ Under pressure, Ron, who regularly drove her to a midway time with the BBC, will remember him Stanley chose two modest pencil sketches. hostelry betwixt Bristol and Birmingham. most of all, apart from his wonderful Stanley Williamson’s most important Thanks to Ron, also, Joan was able to stay at musicianship, for his kindness, gentle programme was The Munich Air Disaster , first home for many years longer than would have guidance and for all I learnt from him as broadcast in October 1967 as part of his Trial been the case but for his constant care. I am sure we sat together at the control desk. by Inquiry series. Having studied German at we would all wish to thank him for that and to Alan Ward Cambridge, he was able to carefully review the express our deep sympathy in his great loss. German report into the 1958 BEA crash in Joan Green 10 • • December • 2010 Obituaries Radio Stoke jack-of-all-trades John Abberley was well-known print journalist operatic societies like the North Staffs. He was potbank owner in one of David Harding’s from the Sentinel before Harold Williams also a perceptive but friendly critic in the dramatised schools programme and hosting the recruited him into the original team preparing halcyon days of the Peter Cheeseman Saturday afternoon Sports programme. When to launch Radio Stoke. productions at the Vic in Newcastle. John’s elections local or national came round he was We first met all together in the Potteries in way with words were telling in those theatre the natural choice to anchor the live results the summer of 1967. At some point on that day reviews illustrating so well how he had adjusted programme because of his encyclopaedic I walked through the centre of Hanley with to the spoken word after years of dealing knowledge of the local political scene and his John and it seemed that every second person in only in print. phenomenal memory for names and events. He the street greeted him – so well known was he One radio discipline on which John was a bit also did the big political interviews with the from his time on the local paper and as a of a maverick was timekeeping. You gave him a likes of Enoch Powell, Ted Heath and Margaret sportsman and an entertainer. What should live microphone at your peril because you could Thatcher. However his greatest love was in have been a two-minute stroll took a good half never get him off air. I can remember a Stoke making documentaries where he could craft his hour, for John stopped and talked to them all. City game when they were playing a South carefully edited interviews and beautifully From the start he was the mine of information American side and I think Pele was in the team. written linking scripts into little masterpieces on Stoke and north Staffordshire that the rest As I left my seat to go home, John, who’d been of the broadcaster’s art. of us quarried gratefully. To have someone so commentating, started his summary of the John stayed for 22 years at Radio Stoke but well-known on the station in those days when game. A half-hour later when I got through the within a week of his retirement in 1989 he was we were on VHF only was a huge asset. He crowds to my car he has still going strong and back at the Sentinel where he rekindled his fame alone must have added thousands to our when I got back to my flat in Burslem 45 as a columnist celebrating the history and life audience. The people of north Staffordshire minutes later he was still in full flow. God of the Potteries and contributing his last loved him, and we, his colleagues were soon knows when he finished. column only weeks before his death from captivated by this gentle giant both on and off In those early days of Radio Stoke we had to cancer of the oesophagus. mic’. He was such good company. be jacks of all trades. In a single week John John was married three times. He leaves his Not only was he knowledgeable about North could be heard presenting the breakfast show wife, Tessa and his four children, Stephanie, Staffordshire but he was exceedingly well-read. The Clock on Club , spinning discs for a record Tom, Joe and Will. He was our theatre reviewer in the early years request show, chairing a discussion on local Owen Bentley and a huge supporter of the amateur stage and politics on Platform 7 , playing a 19th century

Peter had a full and satisfying career in With his extensive list of contacts, he Colour pioneer Designs Department, transferring to the Radio Oxford stalwart became the station’s acknowledged expert on Peter Tingey was bitten by the radio bug at the Transmitter Section of TCPD at Brookmans Roger Clark , a long-time radio freelance trade union activity, especially at Cowley age of 13 when he received a copy of ‘Aeroplane Park in 1982/3. He developed a radio journalist, died on 27 October at the age of 73 during its many troubled times. Roger was also Spotter Weekly’ containing three circuits communications system for the M25 Dartford after fighting a year-long battle against cancer. a regular producer and presenter of describing a radio receiver. This early interest Tunnel and worked on a number of confidential He began his career on the Northamptonshire programmes covering city and county council was to set the stage for the rest of Peter’s projects for BBC Transmission. Following his Evening Telegraph during the 1960s, and long affairs. professional career. official retirement in 1989 he continued remembered travelling with The Beatles on a Outside journalism, his great love was for the While a teenager in Southend he would designing and developing projects for the BBC, four-week tour just as they were rising to turf. An expert on form, he had been abidingly regularly pass the huge EKCO television factory. Sony, Phillips, Westland Helicopters, Ford prominence. grateful to a colleague who gained him It was his dream to be an engineer at the works, motor sport and a number of other companies. When BBC Radio Birmingham opened in eligibility for entrance to the Royal Enclosure a dream which he fulfilled in 1953 when he On a personal level he revisited his love for 1970, Roger made the transition to broadcast at Ascot for the first time in 1976. joined EKCO (from the Royal Electrical & caravanning after retirement, travelling with his journalism and became the station’s news He never married, but his long-time Mechanical Engineers) as a TV design engineer. wife Kaye mainly to the south of France, but also editor; but he soon rejoined the freelance world, companion was another Oxford character, His first contact with the BBC came when the visiting places in the former East Germany such working at the country’s first commercial radio Ailish Hurley, who for many years managed Queen opened the BBC Television Centre at as Colditz, Berlin and Peenemunde (the site of station – LBC in London. the bar at the Randolph Hotel. Her death in White City: a domestic EKCO 405 line colour the V1 and V2 factory). He also continued to In 1976 his recognisably gruff, but always 2005 was a serious blow to Roger. receiver was set up and an entertainment enjoy radio communications, (this time as an friendly, voice, started to be heard on Radio It is especially poignant that he died in the programme was relayed from Studio H, Lime amateur), and daily music sessions on his baby Oxford. A quintessential ‘rough diamond’, same week as founding members of Radio Grove for her to view. Peter and a BBC grand piano. Peter died suddenly in July last year, Roger’s knowledge and advice was always freely Oxford gathered to celebrate its 40th colleague were standing behind a curtain just in leaving his widow Kaye, two children Gail and offered to younger journalists who came to the anniversary (as reported on page 7). case anything went wrong… Graham and a grandson Thomas. station in the late ’70s and early ’80s, among Nick Utechin While still at EKCO Peter became a member John Sykes (from Kaye’s excellent them Peter Grant, Mike Curtis, Gordon Rogers, of CCIR UHF Working Committee No. 5, briefing notes) myself and many others. where he met Tom Worswick, then a section head in BBC Designs Department. It was in his section that Peter started his BBC career in Western House in 1963. Peter was one of the pioneers of colour television, having worked Stills photographer and talented artist both as a designer of the first generation of colour TVs and participating in the James Matthews-Joyce died in October. He pioneers who helped to established Jackanory , the Japanese prison camps. On demobilisation standardisation process for the entire system. was 88. He was known as Jimmy to those of especially with the stills he took for ‘the photo he continued his photographic career with In November 1964, Peter was one of a group us he worked with in Children’s Programmes, stories’ in places as far afield as Norway and more congenial assignments, such as weddings of BBC engineers who were sent to Moscow to as a stills photographer in the 1960s. Berlin. and portraiture in studios in Scotland and help the Russians develop their television With today’s sophisticated technology we Recruited by Hugh Tosh, Jimmy joined the Bristol before joining the BBC. broadcasting. Peter was sent out again in tend to forget the days of black and white BBC in 1962 and, shortly afterwards, was Jimmy had an aversion to filling in forms and January 1965 where he came to the aid of the photographs mounted on caption cards, adopted by Children’s Programmes as their attending meetings, a common trait in those BBC correspondent Eric de Mauny, as together with the hand-crafted graphics of the photographer. However he was equally at with an artistic temperament, but he was described in Prospero October 2006. time when ‘cut and paste’ meant literally to cut home when photographing either a concert totally reliable when it came to deadlines, to Prior to the 1967 launch of BBC2 with colour and paste. All of which demanded considerable pianist or Jemima, Play School’s ragdoll, and the extent of taking material home to process TV, he was asked by Tom Worswick for design skill from those like Jimmy who worked in even on one occasion a live panic-stricken and print for a studio recording the next day! ideas for a test card suitable for colour TV. graphics. Jimmy made a valuable contribution cockatoo trying to beat a hasty retreat, from Jimmy took early retirement in 1978 and he Initially rejected by the UHF committee to Children’s Programmes, in particular to the Play School studio, via the lighting grid! and his wife Belinda, together with their two meeting, Peter’s idea was later accepted as the Play School and Jackanory . He was one of the Jimmy was born in Wales but shortly young daughters, started a new life in basic starting point of the famous Test Card F. afterwards moved to Barnstaple Cornwall, where Jimmy went back to his first I first met Peter in 1973 when I joined the in Devon. From school he was love of painting in watercolours. He had a long Radio Frequency section of Designs Department, apprenticed to a painter and and happy retirement and was a familiar figure then headed by Johnny Johnstone. Peter was a decorator. In his spare time he in the port of Looe, the subject of many of his prolific designer of broadcast equipment: he was attended evening classes in art, pictures. He achieved a very productive ‘life the engineering equivalent of a hyperactive as his first love was painting and after Auntie’. His pictures were widely youngster, ever on the move, rushing between lab drawing. On being called up for exhibited in the West Country. and office, and turning around development war service he joined the He will be greatly missed by all of us who had projects faster than anyone in the department. photographic side of the RAF the pleasure of his company, remembering his However, he always had the time and patience to and saw service in Singapore, wit and generous smile. It was a privilege to assist others with thorny problems, technical or where he had the harrowing have worked with him in those formative years otherwise. Similarly, he had much patience with task of, for record purposes, of Children’s Programmes. training new graduates who showed promise. photographing Allied ex- Brian Hawkins Many trainees went on to have successful careers internees newly released from in the electronics industry. December • 2010 • • 11 History Help tell the BBC story Classifieds Portugal, Quinta do Lago. 20 When faced with a long list of anniversaries marking big minutes from Faro airport. Fabulous 3-bed villa with pool, unexpectedly events in the BBC’s history, it’s not immediately clear why available Saturday 26 March until Tuesday 5 April 2011 or part thereof the public would get excited by them. (because school Easter holidays fall late this year). Fantastic facilities, But there’s one BBC department which believes the BBC’s including wifi, gym, indoor pool and past is the key to its future – BBC History. History golf. Close to beach and national manager, John Escolme explains why he wants to engage park. Soak up some sun and relax in staff past and present with the BBC story, and he needs our favourite Easter getaway your help to do it: destination. See what you’re missing With an organisation that dates back to the 1920s, it’s at www.fourseasonsfairways.com. hardly surprising that there’s plenty to celebrate. £1,200, contact Every week we mark a key moment in the BBC’s history [email protected] or on our website www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc but call 01225 891972. increasingly the main radio and TV networks are looking to us as a place where there’s a good story to be had. Kalkan, SW Turkey. Apartment BBC local radio and regional TV are getting particularly for sale. £60,000 ono. Lounge, excited as the stations themselves are becoming more kitchen and 2 bedrooms with own aware of their own heritage, with many of the stations bathrooms. Shared pool. Pictures turning 40 over the next few years. www.kalkanapartment.org.uk. To make these anniversaries work on radio or TV, real Tel: 01643 841602. Typical weekly life stories from people who were there at the time are summer rental income ranges from essential, and that’s the difficult bit! Recent successes £200 to £450. Winter rates return include tracking down a trainee sound engineer who was about £150 per month plus water in Broadcasting House when the building was bombed in and electricity. October 1940. John Longdon gave BBC London a wonderful insight into what happened, and was able to Betty’s Bay, South Africa. Corner paint an evocative picture into how the BBC coped at plot 1,344 sq metres. Full services the time. present. 1.5 hours’ drive from Cape Anniversaries coming up include Jackanory’s 45th Town. Two blocks from glorious birthday in December. In January 2011 it’s the 70th The pic of the boy was taken in the music library, beach. Mountain views, fynbos. anniversary of the Brains Trust, and the 40th anniversary where staff were clearing up bomb damage to the £60,000. Phone 01803 762215 of the Open University, and at the end of the month The music library in Broadcasting House. A delayed for more details. Email: Week’s Good Cause is 85 years old. Were you involved in action bomb came through the telephone [email protected] any of these programmes? Get in touch, your story is switchboard room on the seventh floor, at 8:10pm. important, and we want to hear it! It exploded at 9:20pm and blew through the News Venice, Giudecca apartment, Contact: John Escolme, BBC History Manager, The Department on the west side of the fifth floor. sleeps 5. Fully equipped, very Director-General's Office, Room 5126, White City, Listeners to the nine o’ clock news heard the quiet, vaporetto to St Mark’s. London W12 7RJ. Tel: 0208 752 6400 (Mon-Thurs announcer pause, and then continue with his Tel: 01260 227262, Email: inclusive) or email [email protected] readings. Seven people were killed in the building, [email protected] and others injured. Menorca. Detached villa sleeps 2-7. Private pool. Close Es Castell/Mahon. Brochures/prices BOOK REVIEW 01621 741 810 pr visit www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk

Lake District. Historic watermill, Blitz Boy: Testament secluded in woods and fields, sleeps 6, beautiful all year for walking, climbing and sailing. Tel: 020 7387 6654; of an Evacuee Email: [email protected] In this autobiographical account of the London Blitz and The story Prospero Classifieds, life as a childhood evacuee, veteran journalist and continues with BBC Pension and Benefits broadcaster Robert Trevor recalls his childhood Bobby’s brief return Centre, Broadcasting House, The next issue will experiences in London during the Blitz and as a to London – where Cardiff, CF5 2YQ six-year-old evacuee in the English countryside. the lack of schooling Please enclose a cheque made appear in February The first quarter of the book vividly describes life in opportunities leads to payable to: BBC Central London in the last months of the 1930s, before the him being shipped Directorates. outbreak of war – and how little changed during the off once again, this Rate: £5 for 20 words ‘phony war’, before the Blitz. time to Liverpool to In a covering letter please include Robert recalls how the Blitz arrived in London the day stay with relatives. your pension number before his 6th birthday, with an attack on Woolwich The book, which is Arsenal, which would surely have taken the life of his peppered with this grandfather, but for the fact that he had left work early to young boy’s take his young grandson out for a birthday treat. recollections of the Recognise Robert’s writing brings a clear sense of what it was like war and of life in this logo? to be in London in those days, in a ‘close-knit community general, would be an of eight million’. When his father joins up, ‘Bobby’, his interesting read for people who lived through it, and also If you do, then you mother and baby sister are sent to Pangbourne to sit out for those of us born later who would like to understand were one of the pioneers of Radio the duration of the war, where they share a single room in what their parents and grandparents endured. Humberside. Next year, 2011, it will a dilapidated old Rectory, struggling to survive on their be 40 years since the radio station first meagre wartime rations, with the philosophy of ‘make do Blitz Boy: Testament of an Evacuee is available on went on air from the studios in and mend’ very much in evidence throughout. Amazon and through any good bookstore (RRP £9.95). Chapel Street Hull, and the landmark This is where Bobby is persecuted by the village anniversary will be celebrated with a schoolchildren (Fat Boy, Ginger Girl and others), who About the author huge party for the 1970s team. attack him relentlessly. The daily playground battles Robert Trevor joined the BBC in 1970 as part of the team If you worked or were associated mirror the hostilities taking place in the wider world. that put Radio London on air, and three years later went with Radio Humberside between ARIEL SUBSCRIPTIONS However, things take a turn for the better when the to World Service as sports editor. After nine years in the 1971 and 1984, and would like to Royal Canadian Engineers arrive in Pangbourne and job he moved back into news and became editor of Radio remember that special decade at a UK: 6 months £26 Bobby is befriended by a trio of native Canadian soldiers Newsreel. In 1984 he was the Corporation’s first Eastern party on 30 April at The Country (‘How exciting to meet a real live Red Indian!’) They take Mediterranean Correspondent based in Ankara. He ended Park Inn, Hessle, please send an email 1 year £50 him under their wing and provide a protective escort to his career in 1994 as managing editor World Service TV to Chris Cooke (nee Waddington) Overseas: 6 months £36 and from the school gates. They teach him, and the other News. He is currently writing a book about the life of his [email protected]. 1 year £60 Cockney kids who are being bullied, to defend themselves, grandfather Joe John, the lightweight boxing champion of uk or Jill Hopkins (nee Ward) Please phone: 0161 485 6540 and Bobby enjoys spending days in the outdoors, learning Wales, who volunteered for the army in 1914 aged 20 and [email protected] for a ticket to track wildlife and build makeshift igloos. came home a broken man. application form. 12 • • December • 2010