The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online

Tales from a past era One of the oldest former BBC employees visits Salford – page 8

August 2012 • Issue 6

BBC financial Sketchy results memories Sale of TVC Page 2 Page 6 Page 9

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

executive board’s pay to the average BBC employee. The director general’s salary was 15.1 times more than the average BBC publishes 2011/12 median earnings within the BBC. This figure takes into account that Mark Thompson surrendered a month’s pay last year, along annual report with some others on the executive board and BBC Trustees. Thompson’s successor, George Entwistle, The BBC’s annual report, which was published on 16 July, ‘highlights a year of change for the will earn 11 times median pay. BBC, but also a year of outstanding creativity and achievement’, according to the outgoing Patten told journalists that the Trust is putting a cap on the difference between the director general, Mark Thompson. executive board’s pay and median earnings. But he said that it doesn’t have a specific target. ‘On-air this year we have seen a of their amazing summer with the most The total paid to stars earning more than ‘I don’t think it makes sense as we don’t strengthening of drama across television comprehensive coverage of an Olympic £1m was £9.69m – down from £14.65m know what talent we have to recruit,’ he said. and radio. Highlights have included Call the games we will have ever seen.’ the year before – while 16 stars earned more He said that many people will work at Midwife and Sherlock on BBC One, The Shadow than £500,000. the BBC at a 70% or more discount on Line and The Hour on BBC Two, along with competitors because, ‘while not perfect, it’s the epic Life and Fate on BBC Radio 4. BBC Highlights Management pay the best broadcaster there is’. radio has enjoyed yet another successful year The BBC generated £499m in efficiency The senior manager wage bill has been cut In terms of overall BBC staff, headcount and it’s been especially heartening to see savings, bringing the cumulative total saved by £7m, with 70 senior managers leaving was reduced by 384 from 17,242 to 16,858. BBC Radio 2 and English Local Radio do so since 2008/09 to £1.498m. the BBC in the last financial year. The report well in retaining quality and distinctiveness says 156 (24%) of senior manager roles have Television whilst finding new audiences and keeping Star salaries gone since August 2009, saving £21m. The average cost per user hour is 6.4p, down existing ones. The bill for on-screen and on-air talent has The BBC exceeded its target to cut the from 6.6p the previous year and 7.0p in ‘It has been an extraordinary year for BBC reduced by £9.5m. The BBC spent £203m number of senior managers by a fifth and 2009/10. News. Among the many news stories we in 2011/12 compared with £212.5m the the senior manager pay bill by a quarter More than 140 hours of new British covered around the world, the Arab Spring previous financial year. – something chairman of the BBC Trust drama were broadcast over the year. has stood out as a particular achievement. The BBC said in 2008 that it would reduce Lord Patten welcomed in his opening to In Libya we were the only UK broadcaster the amount it spent for on-screen and on-air the report. Radio to maintain a presence in the country stars, and in 2010 published the combined Director general Mark Thompson’s base Approval levels for BBC Radio have been throughout the conflict. On the back of this bill for stars for the first time. The following salary remained the same, at £613,000, but the highest ever, while digital audiences and other coverage the World Service’s reach year it reported just under £9m in savings with no additional remuneration for pension also grew. has grown to180 million adults this year. on talent. benefits, his overall salary dropped from Downloads for radio programmes also ‘Closer to home, our Current Affairs However, the report mentioned a £779,000 to £622,000. surpassed the billion mark. programming continued to have a real ‘resurgent market for talent’. BBC director The total pay for the executive board impact, not least Panorama’s investigation general Mark Thompson said competition fell from £5.71m to £2.56m. However, the BBC Online into abuse in a Bristol care home. BBC for talent was predominantly for comedy, reduction was mainly due to six of the 13 BBC Online reached a record 43m average Sport have just completed their brilliant entertainment and drama, following BSkyB members either leaving the organisation or weekly unique users in February this year, Wimbledon and Euro 2012 coverage making a commitment to make more stepping down from the board. while BBC iPlayer programme requests and are looking forward to the pinnacle original British productions. The report also compares the BBC reached 191.7m the same month.

News More than 80% of UK adults consumed Highest ever levels of trust in the BBC BBC News each week across TV, radio and The BBC’s annual report notes that trust in possible’. The bulk of savings, 29%, came It was a record year for BBC comedy, as online. BBC News continued to attract record the BBC has risen to its highest level since from improved technology. audiences gave Mrs Brown’s Boys 90 out of audiences, with 13.2m watching on the day current records began. He went on to highlight Panorama’s 100 in the audience appreciation index. It’s of the riots across England last summer, and Giving a nod to the Leveson Inquiry into investigation into abuse in Bristol care the best ever appreciation score for a BBC 39m using the BBC News website or the press ethics, it says ‘in a year when trust in homes as proof that investigative journalism One comedy. World Service. the media has been in the spotlight’ 67% can be a ‘potent force for exposing One area where audience appreciation of the audience say they trust the BBC. The wrongdoing and protecting the most has dipped is BBC Online. Appreciation Looking ahead report adds that BBC News keeps its position vulnerable in our society’. Added to this, fell from 80.5 to 77.1 this year. The report In future, the licence fee will additionally as the most trusted news in the UK. the report confirmed that the volume of attributes this to big changes, including the have to pay for BBC World Service and BBC The figures may assuage fears that current affairs programme on BBC One and bbc.co.uk front page redesign. It says that Monitoring, and for the BBC to establish a the £500m worth of savings made over Two wouldn’t decrease over the next year. audiences don’t like change on the site at partnership fund for new local television the financial year 2011/2012 would That’s despite a gradual decline in people first but get used to it. services (as much as an initial £25m in compromise quality of content. The chair watching them. ‘We know from experience that scores 2013, and £5m per annum in subsequent of the Trust Finance Committee, Rotha The BBC’s survey of the audience’s tend to drop following a change and recover years), establish a new partnership model for Johnston, pointed out in the report that perception of quality of output shows their as audiences become used to the new sites.’ Welsh language TV service S4C (contributing the ‘efficiency programme’ of savings appreciation of programmes on TV and The report promises that next year’s focus £76m each year in 2013 and 2014) and had ‘no negative impact either on overall radio have both slightly increased compared will be on monitoring the DQF savings, ‘in provide support for broadband roll-out. We audience numbers or on appreciation to 2010/2011. TV viewers’ enjoyment of particular to ensure efficiency savings are will reduce our current costs by £700m a of programmes’. programmes went up from 81.6 out of not made at the expense of the quality or year by 2017 to meet these new obligations. In his opening letter in the report, Lord 100 to 82.6, while radio listeners graded scope of BBC services’. Patten says this has been possible thanks programmes 80.6, rising from 79.7 the You can read the full report online at: to ‘greater back-office efficiency wherever year before. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ annualreport/2012/

Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Editorial contributions: Write to: Prospero, employees, or to their spouses and dependants. BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Prospero provides a source of news on former Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Email: [email protected] colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are issues, plus classified adverts. scanned at 300 dpi. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The next issue of Prospero will appear in October 2012.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 Update from THE BBC 03 George Entwistle named as Agius next BBC director general agitation George Entwistle will be the next director general of the BBC, No sooner had Prospero the BBC Trust has announced. gone to print than news broke

He was appointed Head and commissioning of ‘Rategate’, aka the Libor editor of Current Affairs in 2005. scandal. We received the Thompson announced in March that he following letters about the would be standing down from his position after the Olympics. With nearly eight years BBC’s non-executive directors: in the job, he has been the BBC’s longest- So just what possessed the BBC to appoint Few’ (as Ferdinand Mount describes them serving director general since the 1970s. Marcus Agius – of all people – to its in his new book of the same name) – a His tenure has seen the BBC suffer executive board? self-perpetuating oligarchy of people who scandals including the Sachsgate affair and a Only on 2 July this year Agius resigned as appoint each other to top jobs, sit on each series of budget cuts and staff redundancies. chairman of Barclays Bank in the wake of the others remuneration committees and have Entwistle will have to settle for a Libor scandal. He admitted that ‘unacceptable fingers in every well-paid pie. smaller salary than the £671,000 earned standards of behaviour within the bank’ had As last month’s Prospero tells us, ‘the Financial by Thompson. As part of a long-standing dealt what he called a ‘devastating blow to Times even has a non-executive director’s pledge to cut senior management costs at the Barclays reputation’. Agius said that as chairman club to match members with suitable Corporation, he will earn £450,000 per year he was the ‘ultimate guardian of the bank’s appointments’. Quelle surprise! The snag – £221,000 less than his predecessor. reputation’ and that ‘the buck stops with me’. with such taxi-ranks of ‘non-execs for hire’, A day later, despite this anguished ‘mea who aspire to be counted amongst ‘the great Expectations culpa’, Agius glided back into his Barclays chair and the good’, is that all too often they Director of BBC Vision since 2011, Entwistle In his new role, Entwistle will be responsible and it was his unfortunate CEO, Bob Diamond, turn out to be the not so great and the not is currently responsible for BBC One, Two, for the BBC’s services across television, radio who found himself out on the cobbles. much good. Three and Four as well as for BBC Films. and websites and for a global workforce Should Agius not have been devoting his What the BBC needs – like every public He will take over from Mark Thompson as of 20,000. entire attention to sorting out the mess in company in Britain – are non-executive director general on 17 September. His first priority will be to prepare the Barclays rather than accepting ego-burnishing directors of real talent and experience who Entwistle is ‘a creative leader for a creative BBC for the review of its Royal Charter. non-executive directorships in the BBC? are directly elected by the shareholders. … organisation’, said BBC Trust Chairman The original job advert asked for ‘an Remember Agius was actually ELECTED And in the case of the BBC, that’s us – the Lord Patten. inspirational leader with the strong, clear by Barclays shareholders to be the bank’s licence-payers. ‘His experience of making and delivering vision that will take the BBC through the next chairman. Salvaging the reputation of Barclays David Morris Jones great programmes that audiences love – built review of the Corporation’s Charter, ready for should have been his absolute priority. up through many years of working for the the world as it will be in 10 or 15 years’ time.’ Nobody elected him as a BBC director. REGARDING THE ARTICLE in July’s Prospero Corporation – will prove invaluable as he and While Entwistle has programme-making But it gets worse. Barclays Bank has on the BBC’s non-executive directors (NEDs), his team work to ensure the BBC remains the experience, this was not seen as an essential become a byword for stratospheric salaries featuring Marcus Agius, former chairman of greatest broadcaster in the world,’ he added. requirement in the job advert. Instead the and astonishing levels of bonuses – so why Barclays – how are the mighty fallen! Mark Thompson described it as a ‘brilliant advert stated ‘Candidates will bring extensive was Agius (again, of all people) appointed Maybe the range of NEDs should be appointment’, while his ‘excited’ successor experience of leadership in a creative to chair the BBC executive board’s sub- expanded beyond the purely commercial said it would be ‘a privilege’ to lead organisation, and demonstrate a clear committee on remuneration? Who made sector to include trade union representatives the Corporation. understanding of the public service ethos that decision? and independent experts from our Entwistle was previously controller of underlying the BBC.’ The BBC Trust and the BBC Executive has universities. This would perhaps give a Knowledge Commissioning and Vision’s It listed editorial judgement a ‘must have’, some searching questions to answer – not better balance. controller of editorial standards. along with an international mindset. only about Marcus Agius but about its entire Richard Walsh He joined the BBC in 1989 as a broadcast In an email to all BBC staff, Entwistle policy of appointing non-executive directors. journalism trainee, before becoming warned he’ll be quiet for a while: ‘You Who are these people? Who appoints them? I SHOULD’VE BEEN paying more attention, assistant producer on Panorama. In a career won’t be hearing a lot from me over the As last month’s Prospero revealed, they’re but to discover that the hugely discredited that embraced current affairs and factual next couple of months, because Mark will ‘proposed’ by none other than a ‘BBC chairman of Barclays is a scrutineer of the programme making, he was deputy editor be leading us through the great summer we nomination committee’ which comprises executive board is alarming, to say the least. of Tomorrow’s World, editor of Newsnight and have planned and I want to spend as much mostly – guess what? – other non- I suppose the line will be: ‘nothing to do executive editor of topical arts, when he time as I can listening to you and hearing executive directors! with us, squire’. launched BBC Two’s Culture Show. what you think the future holds.’ This sounds very much like ‘The New Adam Phillips

Crospero 168 devised and compiled by Jim Palm Barclays

1 2 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words chairman to running across. Then take these words in numerical order and 3 4 5 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, keep BBC post these letters will spell out a classic film of yesteryear and the music The BBC has confirmed that the Barclays 6 7 8 that went with it. chairman is not going to stand down from Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The Editor, 9 10 his position as the senior non-executive Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff director on the BBC executive board CF5 2YQ by Friday 17 August 2012. 11 despite resigning at the bank. CLUES Marcus Agius announced his resignation 12 1. Not here (4); 2. Shine (3); 3. Spirit (3); 4. Pollinator (3); 5. Fish (3); from Barclays in the wake of the Libor 6. Rear of boat (3); 7. Biblical character (3); 8. Peer Gynt’s mother (3); inter-bank lending rate scandal. The 13 9. Stretch out (5); 10. Muses (4); 11. Leave out (4); 12. Hair dressings (7); bank was fined £290m for attempting to 13. Nymph (4); 14. Run away (4); 15. Express a view (5); 16. Single (3); manipulate the inter-bank lending rate. 14 15 17. Precious stone (3); 18. Bird’s sound (3); 19. Top flyer (3); Agius was appointed as the BBC’s first 20. Wartime service (3); 21. Day before (3); 22. Eat away (5); 23. Poems (4). ever non-executive director in 2006 and 16 17 18 is currently serving his second three- Solution to Crospero 167: Bankrupts; Pale; Arts; Abash; Ariel; Pesto; year term. 19 20 21 Stony; Lot; Red; Ira; Car; Dyb; Pasha; Lache; Allay; Egham; Dual; Rags; A BBC spokesman said: ‘He will Mythicals. The programmes were Up the Pole and Ray’s a Laugh. continue to discharge his duties as senior 22 23 The winner of Crospero 167 was John Dean of London. non-executive director until his second term expires in November.’

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 04 LETTERS Canned carols and Experimental stereo recordings, canteen legends I’m not sure I really agree with Albert percussionists (and tomatoes) Barber that today’s producers fail to match up to the great names of the past, although Ian Reed’s energetic pursuit of our early using this huge acoustic produced an I think he’s onto something relating to the stereo heritage has stirred the sludge of awesome sound. role of the canteen in passing on the BBC memory for me too. Don Hartridge ethos (Legends in the canteen, Prospero, Ian was a good colleague during my time July). Of course there are dangers with any in Manchester (72-97) and I wonder if he THE LETTERS IN July’s Prospero ‘canteen culture’, as we see in certain police remembers another two exciting projects (Experimental stereo recordings) reminded stations where racism, male chauvinism, that were undertaken at this time. me that I had produced a programme in bullying and corruption have thrived, often First was a specially commissioned 1962 expressly for inclusion into the series perpetuated through blokeish ‘banter’. work for performance in the vast edifice of of trials. However, it doesn’t need to be like that, as I Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral for orchestra Titled Percussion and All That Jazz, it was a great found when I joined BBC Further Education chorus and solo voice. pleasure to create, for having been allocated as a researcher in 1969. It was recorded on 8-track on site a healthy budget, my brief was to make it I was immediately welcomed into the using an encoder to capture the ‘vertical notable – so I spent the money on notable thriving Villiers House lunchtime canteen component’ for subsequent remixing, the music makers and achieved a show that was community. Conversation ranged far and encoder being supplied by Bob Harrison totally unique. wide, from immediate programme matters from Maida Vale. The whole process was I hired Walthamstow Town Hall for the to larger questions of life, not forgetting little called Matrix H, and the producer was the recording and contracted five arrangers – We enthusiastic and noisy juniors were sent bits of gossip. I heard some of the best BBC legendary Jim Langley. Eric Cook, Dave Lindup, Roland Shaw, Bill out to test studios on night shift, primarily anecdotes there, sadly mostly unprintable. The other major avant-garde project Shepherd and Dennis Wilson – to write as a way of keeping the control room quiet What was so valuable was the relative lack was the 8-track recording of the BBC for a band formed of eight musicians: while the more senior staff took a nap. of hierarchy at the table, with production Philharmonic Orchestra of Wagner’s Bill McGuffie (Piano), Johnny Scott Studio testing consisted of finding an assistants and secretaries participating alongside Rienzi opera for the first time, with the (Woodwind), Judd Proctor (Guitar), Jack empty studio and checking that all the senior producers, directors and managers. I orchestration completed by Ted Downes and Collier (Double Bass), Tony Kinsey (Drums) facilities were working correctly. At the learned so much from those sessions, almost the then Head of Music Ernest Warburton. plus three further percussionists, Stan Barrett, time, Schools’ Programmes came from the by osmosis. I was determined as my career It too commanded huge forces of full Roy Davey and Roy Webster who played studios in 5 Portland Place, which we also progressed to keep that spirit alive, having seen orchestra, choir, five soloists and (in an every piece of percussive equipment they had to test. The building housed the stereo for myself how a positive form of canteen adjacent studio) a countermarching brass possessed. The percussionists were on the control room, which we regularly explored. culture can nurture a collegiate spirit. band. This, as you can imagine, sorely tried move the entire time and, although the From memory, the tape machines were EMI In the more pressurised 1980s and 1990s, our meagre resources with demands for stereo of the day could be very much a ‘ping- TR90s with two sets of amplifiers and two canteen life often degenerated into a rushed foldback, two-way feeds and vision monitors pong’ effect, the result was quite magical. LSU10 speaker cabinets used for monitoring. scramble for the least off-putting fast foods as in both locations. Whatever could have happened to that The control room was inhabited by, among the idea spread in the BBC and elsewhere that Although the acoustic of the concert recording? Stereo effects aside, it made an others, Dave Stripp – famous for wearing a ‘lunch is for wimps’. You could see younger hall at Salford University was adequate, the enjoyable listening experience that I would thick tweed suit in all weathers long before programme makers on short-term contracts insistence of the fire station across the road so love to hear again and to revel in the John Lydon started advertising butter in one. desperately trying to show how hard they on piercing the air with the klaxon of the sounds of those musicians, all of whom The stereo control room was also famous were working by grabbing sandwiches and departing appliances was surely not, and are now legendary names in our radio for a remarkable tomato plant. The control eating at their desks. That was a way of living I the number of retakes occasioned by this musical history. room was at least 12 feet high. The tomato constantly tried to discourage. put us seriously behind schedule. So much Brian Willey plant, supported on a shaky scaffolding of When I was an executive producer and so, in fact, that the recording was pushed bamboo canes lashed together, went up then head of department at Community & into an extra day over the new year at very I JOINED THE BBC in BH Control Room in one side of one of the large windows to the Disability Programmes in the Nineties, I considerable expense. Indeed, it would March 1962. On Saturday mornings, which ceiling, across to the other side and down lunched in the canteen as often as I could, not probably have been cheaper to buy the were usually quiet, it was the custom for the again – a total run of about 30 feet (or, for just – as some thought – because I loved BBC fire engines! junior erks like me to use a pair of Control younger readers, over nine metres). I don’t custard, but to encourage staff at all levels to As far as I know, neither of these two & Monitor to listen to the experimental know how many tomatoes were harvested, join me. I believed people worked better if epic recordings still exists, and Matrix H stereo broadcasts using two headsets – one but it was an impressive sight. It beat any they had a proper break and ate proper meals died a dignified but unremarked death listening to Third Programme and the other aspidistra into a cocked hat! and I’d try to encourage conversation on all soon afterwards, but the five-speaker array to TV sound. George Boston sorts of topics, to draw out the younger ones and encourage esprit de corps. Of course many people were already drawn to C&DPU through their commitment to public service TNT troubles values, but I thought it was good to give them Please can you tell us why you have started provide the logistics for the journey). At the Joint statement for TNT and APS Group continual endorsement. to use TNT to deliver our copies of Prospero? destination the carrier passes the bag over to (BBC Print Manager) I should hasten to add that canteen culture I have recently received a letter from Royal the Royal Mail, who then acts as the delivery In April, TNT Post began delivering mail wasn’t only about worthy team building as Mail to remind us that if we use alternative agent. Royal Mail then invoices the carrier direct to households and businesses in West there could be plenty of other attractions, postal companies, their service will suffer the fixed cost for delivery and sorting. The London. The size of this delivery area is 1% of especially in TV Centre or the North Acton even more than it is at present in the carrier then invoices the poster for the cost the available delivery addresses across the UK Rehearsal Rooms canteen. All sorts of stars presence of emails. They remind us that firms of delivery and the cost of the logistics. and has allowed us to create 400 new jobs. If casually passed through, such as the late Sir like TNT are cherry picking the easy delivery The benefits of DSA are: the mailer has agreed to use our service and John Gielgud who gave me a radiant smile jobs in cities but are unlikely to deliver to • It’s cheaper UK postage when compared with we have recipients of Prospero in this area, our when I once congratulated him on some the thousands of houses in the middle of the Royal Mail (cost savings of up to 12%). posties (TNT) will deliver the newspaper. recent performance, aged in his 90s. The only country to which they have to deliver. • Guaranteed two-day delivery time (it’s Outside of that area we pay Royal Mail a smile to match Sir John’s was Twiggy’s, as Andrew Dixon currently three days with Royal Mail’s commercially agreed fee reflective of where enchanting as ever decades after her Sixties Mailsort 2 equivalent). it is being delivered. TNT Post is creating heyday as a model. And I hadn’t said a word. Jeff Webley, Pension Communications Since we have been using TNT we have had new jobs in the UK and has plans to create However, my favourite canteen moment Manager at the BBC replies: Over the last no issues with the service provided. I should 20,000 over the next five years. involved Warren Mitchell, one Christmas four years we have done a lot of work and also point out that we have Scheme members Royal Mail’s reduction in staff is an time. Some ghastly canned music carols of analysis with the BBC Print Manager, APS, based throughout the UK and we have never ongoing process as a result of the need to the most soulless kind were being played to help us make savings on all Scheme had any issues with TNT being unable to modernise in an increasingly digital age, not obtrusively loudly when Warren caught communications. We currently use TNT for deliver to a particular area. as a result of postal competition. Competition everyone’s attention by standing up with the all our large mailings (benefit statements, On balance, the most efficient and cost is creating jobs and innovation and we want words, ‘The BBC...’ With all eyes upon him, Prospero and summary report). effective way for us to deal with bulk mailings to be part of a modern postal industry that we he continued in his best Alf Garnett mode, Under Downstream Access (DSA), a is to utilise a DSA provider in partnership with can all be proud of in the UK. ‘The BBC has one of the finest collections carrier collects the post rather than Royal the BBC Print Manager. However, I should of recorded music in the world. It includes Mail. They are then responsible for taking point out that we still use Royal Mail for all some of the greatest composers and the the mail to the destination town (i.e. they our general day-to-day post. finest musicians the world has ever seen.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 LETTERS 05

Yet here you play...this, this shit!’ He got the the BBC MLO for many years and wrote a deal But worse was to come in later years. I once recently had the opportunity to visit TVC for round of applause he deserved, a legend in of music for them to play – he later became made a one-off music programme with a ‘last look round’. his own lunchtime, speaking up for culture the orchestra’s producer when it became the the band Magna Carta and others; it was This sentimental journey coincided in the BBC canteen. Radio Orchestra. recorded as live, no miming, no backing roughly with the excellent show Tales of Giles Oakley However there is one thing in your article tracks. A teacher phoned me saying how Television Centre, and I was wondering if there I must pick you up over. Roger Eckersley was impressed he’d been with the show, loving were any plans to make that programme not the BBC’s first chief engineer; that was the fact that it was actually ‘live music’ (this available as a DVD, if not to the general End credits – again his brother Peter. Roger was chairman of the was at a time when all the bands on Top of the public, then at least to the many staff who Former film editor Michael Freeman, and programme board. A year or two ago my GP Pops mimed). He asked me if I would come will want something to remember their others, complain about TV Presentation gave me a book to read that had been written to his school and watch the show with his time at TVC by. I have the show stored in my Department when it ‘abuses end credits – by a patient of his – Miles Eckersley, the son of class (14-15 year olds). They watched in Freeview recorder but would like something because it can’. I disagree, and admire the Peter Eckersley. Peter was a brilliant engineer almost total silence. The teacher then asked in a more permanent format. way BBC Presentation has developed in who was involved with the setting up of all ‘Well, any comments, class?’ One boy put up If there are no plans to make it available, recent years with brilliant trails, clever cross- the European broadcasting stations and was his hand, ‘Please sir, it was crap.’ ‘Oh come on perhaps someone has a DVD recording I trailing and distinctive channel-branding. instrumental in drawing up a protocol by lad, you can say a bit more than that surely.’ could have a copy of? The principle of audience focus – the which they would not interfere with each There was a short pause, then the crushing I can be reached at: henry_morris@ cornerstone of all channel success – applies others broadcasts. He was involved with the reply: ‘Yes sir, boring crap.’ hotmail.com here as with programme content. Essentially development of cable broadcasting and did a Peter Charlton Henry Morris it means everything we put on the screen great deal of secret work for the Ministry of must work for our target viewers. In a multi- Defence – that is until it was discovered that channel environment, where the hand-held his wife was a member of the Nazi party! Who are they? 71 years at controller is used by nearly everyone, the Peter left his wife for another woman and moment the credits start to roll is shown by Miles, his son, never forgave him, but as the Bush House? audience research to be a dangerous time, as years went by he came to realise what an As an avid radio listener, I have scarcely millions reach for their zappers. It is essential important man Peter was, so Miles wrote a missed a news bulletin or comment to keep people tuned with a live voice-over biography of him, which is what my GP lent programme in the last few days about about what’s coming next, and to move me. I then discovered that he had lived only a the departure from Bush House. Without swiftly into a sophisticated trail for the kind few miles from me and I eventually went to exception, announcers, commentators, of programme this audience might want to see his wife and bought the only remaining interviewers and interviewees have referred watch later in the evening, or on another copy of the book (which, Sod’s law, I can’t to the 71 years of the World Service in BBC service, or later in the week. find now). It is called Prospero’s Wireless and is With regard to the question posed by Martin Bush House. When I worked there, from Films traditionally credit everyone available on Amazon for around £80! Grainger (Prospero letters, July), I think that 1953 to 1955 in the Spanish Section of the including the second best boy, because of Alan Ward the photograph is of five of the ‘secret six’ European Services, ‘Overseas Broadcasting’ union agreements, and because the cinema announcers, the names of which the BBC (i.e. anything destined for outside Europe) audience can choose to stay and see these MAY I JUST add my thanks to Brian Willey tried to keep secret from the public in was based at Oxford Circus above Peter names or walk out. On TV it’s an old- for his admirable and well-researched article the late 1920s. I think that the one in the Robinson’s department store. Early in 1956 fashioned idea that we must credit everyone on composers within the BBC. I can add back row middle is Godfrey Adams. Third during my training to be a studio manager, involved in case they feel undervalued. I a modest one to his pantheon of gifted from the left in the back row is Freddie I spent six weeks there myself. I don’t know edited about 200 editions of the Nine O’Clock producers – one Alan Owen, light music Grisewood. The sixth, Jack Cowper, who was how long they had been there or how long News, and my name never appeared at the producer based in London but frequently an announcer in the Birmingham studio, is that arrangement continued – obviously they end. No names appeared. It was a team gainfully employed with the Northern not shown. Five of the six graduated from moved to Bush House some time later when effort by BBC News, and the names would Ireland Light Orchestra. His nom de plume Oxford. Guess who didn’t? I was not looking – but 71 years can’t be have meant nothing to the 10 million was Alan Langford. James Smith right, can it? viewers, with the exception perhaps of my Don Hartridge Margaret Etall mother. Sorry Michael, hardly anyone reads the credits. Tales of TVC We received a large number of letters Rick Thompson Sad times but have not been able to print them In July’s issue of Prospero, ‘Anonymous’ – on DVD? all in this issue. We will publish them in complains that he/she couldn’t find out any I worked in Scenery and Props between 1984 October’s Prospero. Aeolian days info on Colin Mcintyre’s funeral arrangements and 1994. I live on the Dorset coast now and To Brian Willey: It is good to see from your when ringing ‘our employer’. I’m not surprised article in Prospero that you are still very much and I don’t think a whinge is justified. alive and kicking – there can’t be many My first port of call would have been survivors now from the Aeolian days in the their local Volunteer Visitor – they have 1950s. It is good to hear again of so many information to hand about retired staff or of those from that wonderful era. You, I access to those people who have; to expect remember as one of that elite bunch of current staff to help is asking a bit much. studio managers under Harry Morris who And why are you ‘Anonymous’? Should used to teach me their art when I was trying Prospero be publishing unattributed letters? to move from being the engineer in H7. Dave Johnstone Treb I remember well, because the girl who became my wife, Rita King as she was then, was his secretary for a time. But there are Painful ‘childhood’ other names that could be added to your list, including four from the Midland Region. Staff memories conductors of the Midland Light Orchestra Reading the report of Dan Flint’s audience (MLO) included Gilbert Vinter, who composed research with children brought back a few so much for the orchestra and a great deal of memories, some of them a bit painful. music for Brass Band and also Jack Coles, also a During my time with Play School, directors prolific composer of light music – whatever has were expected to go and watch some of the happened to that genre nowadays! programmes they had made with children One of the sad things in life for me is and we had to vary the environment we that so much talent in the BBC never had visited. Thus it might be with a nursery school the chance to flower because there was the class one day and a family at home another. I continual need to feed a family and pay the liked nursery schools best when, on a good mortgage. Two Birmingham studio managers day, the entire class would get up and join in to whom this applied were Jim Langley and the movement item you had devised. Once Ron Gardner. Jim composed for the BBC I decided to watch with my own children Northern Orchestra (as it was then) and after and their friends in my house. Couldn’t be a his death his wife found a large number of better environment, surely? After about five scores for light music which have now been minutes of the programme, led by one of my catalogued and are appearing on CDs. daughters, the whole group left the room and Ron was the studio manager who balanced went to play with their toys!

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 06 Memories CONTACTS Bush House memories Visiting Scheme As the former home to World Service closed to staff, Brian Willis sent in his memories of working at If you would like a visit or information on how to become a volunteer visitor, please Bush House 40 years ago. ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged at was a technical operator, recording the local rate. and editing programmes, and was also Queries a continuity operator. In those days, For benefit and pension payroll queries, call recordings were made in two ways: the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. I78rpm discs (gramophone records) and on 1/4” tape. Discs were declining and tape was Prospero in the ascendancy. To add or delete a name from the distribution list, ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. The 78s only lasted three minutes each, Prospero is provided free of charge to retired and I used to literally cut the groove on the BBC employees. On request, we will also disc using a (sapphire?) tipped tool, which send it to spouses or dependants who want dug a groove out of the soft shellac surface. to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is Quite a skilled job, which even involved also available on audio disc for those with a microscope to ensure you did not cut sight impairment. too deep and made a ‘washer’ instead of a To register, please ring the Service Line. recording. Mind you, the cutting tool could BBC Club not have been very robust, as I remember, The BBC Club in London has a whilst being taught disc-cutting at Evesham, retired category membership costing the instructor, Percival Guy (now why do I At pre-arranged times, I would throw a key memory of the canteen was the elderly lady £30 a year or £39 a year for family remember that name?) sharpening one with and broadcast the ‘Int Sig’. This was the Morse who every day would stand at the entrance membership. Pre-1997 life members are his penknife. code ‘V’ sign played on a drum. This was on a to the canteen and silently count us all. I not affected. Regional clubs may have On night shift we used to amuse ourselves tape loop. I think this started during the war never saw her sitting down for a meal. I different arrangements. by making our own discs. None of my to identify the General Overseas broadcasts. was told she was a survivor of a German Please call BBC Club London family had a telephone so I used to rig up We also broadcast the ‘Lily Bolero’ tune too – concentration camp. Who was she? Has any administration office on 020 8752 6666 a microphone and send a message home but was probably done from the studio. Prospero reader memories of this lady? or email [email protected] on these discs by ‘snail mail’ (I still have a The whole operation was run by a Benevolent Fund couple of these). complicated series of switches, a uniselector, This is funded by voluntary contributions It was also a rather dangerous operation, which controlled the distribution to the Album captures the sound from the BBC and its purpose is to protect as the swarf which came off the recording various transmitters. of Bush House the welfare of staff, pensioners and their was extremely volatile and could easily catch The Portland stone and high ceilings of families. Grants are made at the discretion Bush House provided the acoustics which of the Trustees. They may provide fire. Needless to say, one night we filled a Crash Start inspired studio manager Robin Warren to assistance in cases of unforeseen financial paper bag with the stuff, set it alight and Of course, this was the Cold War era, so create an album capturing the sounds of hardship, for which help from other sources threw it out of the window to land as a a lot of the effort went into broadcasts to is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. roaring, flaming device five floors below in Russia. I don’t think it is a secret any more, the iconic building. the courtyard. but occasionally we would do a Crash Start. Far from the radio broadcasts that Prospero Society Normally a transmitter is prepared with signals, have transmitted all over the world, he has Prospero Society is the only section of the turned his ear to the creaks and murmurs BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff Tape editing tones etc but with a Crash Start, sometimes 16 around the building. and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC This was fun, because we were working with different transmitters would all power up with pensioners to meet on a social basis for 41 different languages. The producer would the same programme simultaneously. This was The album of two tracks, both over ten theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. nod where he wanted you to cut, then nod done to try and outfox the Russian jammers. minutes, bends the atmospheric hum of Prospero is supported by BBC Club funds again where he wanted you to come back We used to re-broadcast the Voice of America Bush House’s corridors and crevices. so as to make events affordable. in again. I loved tape editing. You really programmes and often you would hear these Recognising that the sounds may not The only conditions (apart from paying felt you were actually handling language jammers trying to home in on the material as keep everyone’s attention, Warren has split a small annual subscription) are that you and sentences. it arrived on the receivers. You could hear their up the tracks to ‘make them more palatable’ must be a BBC pensioner and a member of But with a foreign language I often call signs over the cacophony (white noise) to form the album ‘Ghosts of Bush’. the BBC Club. For an application form write wondered what sort of hash I was making they were transmitting. Warren recorded the album in the to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries Avenue, of the item. In one language (forget which downtime during night shifts as a studio Radlett, Herts WD7 7EL. manager for the World Service language Telephone: 01923 855177 – might have been Indonesian), the way to Night shift services, where he has worked for almost Mobile: 07736 169612 make a noun plural was just to repeat the Night shift was enjoyable. The building Email: [email protected] word. Somali had no written language. The never rested, with programmes being four years. scripts were in English and the announcers broadcast throughout the night. Bush House He explains that in between programmes BBC products and contributors would translate as they overlooked the Strand and it always intrigued there can be up to two hours when there BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% went along. (In the early Seventies, Somali me that no matter what unearthly time of the isn’t anything to do. discount off the RRP of most products became a written language, based on Latin night, there was always traffic rushing past. ‘Some people sleep, some people watch in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a characters, for the first time.) I was also fascinated by the light at the top iPlayer, I nip downstairs and fiddle with the postage charge of £2.95 per order tape machines and make funny noises.’ (not per item). Pensioners must quote A Swedish producer would often arrive of Big Ben. We were several floors up so had Warren says Bush House has been the their BBC pension number when ordering. with a brown paper bag full of lengths a nice view out over London and across to perfect place to record these atmospheric Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, of tape. These were sentences which he Westminster. That light was put on whenever Television Centre, Wood Lane, London had saved from a previous editing session Parliament was sitting. I was able to look tracks because ‘everything creaked and W12 7RJ. Telephone: 020 8225 8230 and which he wished to add in to the across and sympathise with those also squelched nicely.’ Email: [email protected] current programme. working in the wee small hours. He is the first to admit that he is Other ways to order (quoting your ‘completely obsessed’ with sound, pension number when ordering): By phone: Continuities Split shifts something he hadn’t been able to 08700 777 001 8.30am-6pm weekdays. There were about eight ‘continuities’, each During some of my day-time shifts, I would get experiment with in his day-to-day job. By post: BBC Shop, PO Box 308, being a small room with a mixing desk two hours off and then go back to work. Two ‘We don’t get to flex our muscles Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8LW. and loudspeaker. They were colour coded, hours off was not long enough to get home, creatively as studio managers at the moment Email: [email protected]. but couldn’t be named by language, as in so I was ‘forced’ to wander London. What joy. so it was a chance to do that,’ he explains. Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, ‘There’s a history in the BBC of people Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or any 24-hour period one continuity would I visited museums and art galleries, walked being a bit frustrated by what they actually Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for telephone, handle many different programmes in along the embankment, watched the river, and post and email orders. Overseas: £4.50 for many different languages. Here the various sketched. (You can see some of my sketches have to do and then doing their own side one item and £2 for each additional product programmes would be joined together and from my time at Bush House by putting ‘Bush projects while no-one’s looking,’ he adds. for telephone, post and email orders. sent to the transmitter. I would sit there House Continuity’ in a search engine.) Warren pinpoints the central block listening to some exotic language until stairwell as creating the scariest sounds BBC PA it was time to change to another studio Canteen but says ‘it’s amazing how little effort For details of how to join the Pensioners’ and language and – even if they were still The canteen at Bush House was an amazing you have to make to make Bush House Association, see panel on page 5. chatting away – would cut them off and start place, full of different nationalities and sound spooky’. the next studio. Ah the power! languages. But perhaps my most abiding www.thefogsignals.com

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 Memories 07

Sprocket holes and an F1 strike by Paul Foxall With the Belgian Grand Prix taking place in September, I’m reminded that when I was a staff film editor at Lime Grove I offered to cover a story at the Spa circuit in 1969 which resulted in the rare phenomenon, a strike by Formula One drivers. could see a high-octane story brewing and More recently I’ve become the owner of a managed to persuade the Head of Sport small private collection of Grand Prix films that I should make a trip to this event and shot in the Fifties and Sixties in colour, Money matters that Sportsnight would run the film a few which the BBC uses from time to time in days later. their programmes. I filmed some racing scenes but On occasions, the producers ask yours concentrated on interviewing GP drivers to truly to explain on camera how we managed A few economic try and get both sides of the argument. These to shoot three-hour GPs with clockwork included Jacky Ickx, Jo Bonnier and Michael cameras that need constant winding up. Not Parkes who represented the Formula One a problem – it simply took careful thought home truths drivers, plus a journalist and the owner of and cautious use of film stock. As the rolls Much has been said about stagnant the circuit. of 16mm were expensive, this taught you a investment returns and low interest rates, The Porsche, Ferrari and Lola sports cars certain discipline, rarely shooting anything and how they are affecting living standards. were big, powerful beasts and almost as that you felt wouldn’t make the final edit. We all rely in some way on the UK’s quick as F1 cars, the only difference being Until this year the BBC have been the economic growth to bolster our income, they had wider, streamlined bodies. So what main user, but now SKY F1 has become a savings, pension funds and investments but The Corporation sent me off as cameraman, was the problem? I don’t think I really got customer. In fact, they included a shot of the upturn in growth seems to be getting producer and interviewer to talk to the key all the answers, as Belgian politics played a Jackie Stewart in their opening titles which no nearer. protagonists. (Incidentally, I still own the major part in this drama, but nevertheless the I filmed in 1969. For those in financial hardship, there is 16mm Bolex camera which runs as well GP was cancelled that year by the Grand Prix Other drivers that I’ve met through the always the temptation to borrow money, today as it did 40 years ago.) Drivers Association and didn’t return to Spa broadcasting of the archive include Stirling but short-term expediency comes at a cost, The scenario was as follows: in 1969, F1 with one exception, for more than a decade. Moss, Tony Brooks and commentators with extremely high interest rates. drivers decided that Spa was getting much The film was actually shown on 24 Hours Murray Walker and the late great Raymond So what else can we do to improve too dangerous and needed vast amounts and anchored by a studio discussion with Baxter, whom I already knew from working our finances? of money spending on improved safety John Surtees. I was delighted to be given the with him on Tomorrow’s World. As we have said in the past, it is measures, yet they were willing to take part chance to bring this issue to the TV screens – I feel this is the ideal retirement job, important to ensure that we are making the in the annual 1,000km sports car race held only at the ‘flexible’ BBC of the Sixties would combining as it does my love of motor best use of the funds that we have and that at the same track a month before the GP. I this venture have been possible. racing and those dear little sprocket holes! includes reducing exposure to tax where it is appropriate to do so. Sometimes, rearranging assets and income between A summer student placement like no other partners can reduce tax bills and increase household income. A young Willy Cave (21) had just finished his engineering degree and was waiting to begin his There is still no substitute for reviewing interest rates and making time to shop National Service, when he was lucky enough to be taken on as a summer student at the BBC. around for the best deals. That means That just happened to be the summer of the same time’, and about a dozen recording on credit cards as well as savings, and 1948, so Willy spent most of his time at the booths, which had to be pre-booked. It was there are many comparison websites that three Olympic venues – The Palace of Arts, only ever a problem when the order of events may help. the Olympic stadium and the Olympic pool. at the stadium changed, and suddenly people Whether you are retired on a fixed He explains how he got the job: ‘I found themselves without a booth to record in. income or working, there are tax credits spoke to someone called the Engineering ‘The TV set-up was much smaller, and was and benefits that you might be entitled to Establishment Officer and convinced him in one smallish room, with just two channels but do not claim. Furthermore, there are that I understood what a 405-line picture – one from the stadium and one from the Government grants that may be available to was made of. pool, so there were only two monitors. help reduce fuel and energy bills. ‘They took me straight away and said ‘The Head of OB would decide when to Many of us are finding that our come and spent a couple of months with go to the stadium and when to go to the children, struggling to get a foothold on us and then we’ll decide if we want you pool, using a rather crude switching system the property ladder, have come home to permanently or not.’ between the OB vans.’ live. Though this is a cheaper option for them than renting, we need to ensure that Security Cameras they are making a proper contribution to It seems security The whole operation, recalls Willy, used at household expenses. Sometimes having was not so much most seven cameras. Some of the cameras There was nowhere to sit in the old van, but somebody else sharing your home can of an issue in (those set up at the pool, with the new OB the new van had two rows of chairs, and those days. Willy van) were the ‘latest’ CPS Emitron cameras each camera had its own monitor – so it was actually cost money, for example you might recalls: ‘I worried that had been used at the Royal wedding the much easier to work in. not be entitled to Council Tax Benefit. about how I previous year. The others were the pre-War Painful though it may be, it is important would get into the cameras that, although ‘a tiny bit modernised’, Austerity? to understand how the household is Olympic area. We were nowhere near as easy to use. ‘Everyone in Britain was pleased we got the affected and that every member makes a had these metal ‘The picture quality of the new cameras Olympics, but it was a fairly minor affair,’ fair contribution. BBC badges and was definitely better, capable of showing says Willy. ‘There wasn’t a tremendous Over the years, we accumulate many that seemed to be light and shade indoors very well indeed.’ amount of fuss about it, and you could live things that we needed at the time but all – you showed your badge and you could One particular snag, though, was that your life and ignore that the Olympics were which have now outgrown their usefulness. go anywhere.’ occasionally the stability went wrong if the going on if you didn’t have television.’ There is an old truism that says ‘one man’s Willy was able to wander freely between camera caught a flash of light. In the pool, Despite the Games being labelled as the rubbish is another man’s gold’, so it may the Palace of Arts, the pool and the stadium. if someone dived in, the camera would ‘Austerity Olympics’, Willy doesn’t recall that be worth getting down to the local car boot He was told to find his own way around, and sometimes catch the light bouncing off the the BBC scrimped and saved to get it on air. sale, holding a garage sale or selling things talked to people when they weren’t too busy, ripples, which would cause the picture to ‘I don’t think there was anyone saying we on the internet to raise additional money. asking questions about what they were doing. begin to peel off the screen. couldn’t afford that.’ Some of these things may seem like He remembers the Palace of Arts, the In the old OB van, there were only two John Escolme, BBC History Manager, interviewed stating the obvious but in these austere Olympic broadcasting headquarters, being camera channels (one for transmission and Willy at his home in London. The full interview, from times, no stone should be left unturned. ‘mainly a radio job, apart from one tiny one for preview), so you could only look which this article is drawn, can be found on the BBC Bob Perkins DipPFS television area’. at two cameras at any one time. ‘The third history site: www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc, and Technical Manager There were rows of about 30 radio camera you had no idea what it was doing!’ then follow the link to ‘Televising the London 1948 Origen Financial Services positions, ‘all recording and transmitting at says Willy. Olympic Games’.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 08 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE

BBC North director Peter Salmon and Jack A BBC badge in Hollinshead look through BBC memorabilia. Hollinshead’s collection. Jack Hollinshead being interviewed by Lucie Leigh. Tales from a past era At the age of 96, Jack Hollinshead (seen far left with headphones) is one of the oldest former employees of the BBC. ast month he visited the Salford Unfortunately I was posted to White What do you remember most throughout the world as the finest offices near his home, where he Waltham (near London) and I was kitted about working at the BBC? broadcasting organisation. For the whole was interviewed by one of the BBC’s with all this overseas equipment. Programmes like The March of the ‘45 (a feature world I am sure. youngest employees, 17-year-old So I got hold of my fiancée and said: ‘I am about Bonnie Prince Charlie) which we did LLucie Leigh. Below is an edited transcript of going abroad at the weekend – what do we in 1936. We had no facilities to record so it What BBC programmes do you their conversation, where he spoke about his do?’ And she said: ‘We get married.’ was decided that we should do it live for the enjoy now? work, what he thinks of the BBC now and So she got it all organised and we married Empire programmes. With my eyesight not being very good, the move to Salford. on 24 August 1940 when the Battle of Val Gielgud, who was head of features I have to get close up to the television. Britain was at its height. and drama at the time (and brother to I can’t really read the captions but I listen to When did you work at the BBC I went off to Egypt and didn’t see my wife the actor Sir John Gielgud), came up to quite a lot of sound programmes. I always and what did you do? for over three years. (In Egypt) I maintained Manchester especially. listen to the news on the radio – I often I worked at the BBC from 1930 to 1975. I the radio equipment and electrical I also worked with Violet Carson, who was listen to BBC 24-hour news and the was interviewed by the principal assistant to equipment for the liberators. on Coronation Street (where she played battleaxe morning news. the North regional director, who decided I Ena Sharples), and she came along to my I only watch special programmes – I should take charge of the ‘effects room’. It What do you think of the daughter’s wedding. I have got several letters thought the celebrations for the Queen was part of the set-up for drama, which was BBC moving into your local from Violet. were excellent. called the Dramatic Control Panel at the time. community? I feel there is too much music and Well it is remarkable really – I am amazed by Did you ever meet Lord Reith drums over announcements. Often the What did you use to create it. The conditions in the early day – how it – the BBC’s first director announcement isn’t clear due to the music sound effects? compares to now is unbelievable. I retired in general? content. More control should be made over We didn’t have any facilities to record so we 1975 just as the BBC in Manchester moved Yes, I met him but he wasn’t ‘Sir’ then, he speech levels. had to improvise. I remember a scene which from Piccadilly to Oxford Road. was just John Reith. He also came to see the involved a ship sailing in a storm, where part staff once and stayed for the BBC dance when Do you have any advice for of the deck cargo went overboard. Are the new studios very I was on the committee for the BBC Club. the next generation of BBC One person was winding the wind different from what they employees? machine for the hurricane, someone used to be? What were the BBC values For younger staff – I think that if they work was shaking the thunder sheet, another Yes, the drama studio for instance, the when you worked here? really hard then they have a wonderful was rocking the lead shot in front of the acoustical treatment has altered over the years. Well the BBC was highly regarded opportunity for promotion in the BBC. microphone for the sea wash and I was beating out the engine’s rhythm on a drum. For the sound of cargo going overboard, someone wrapped two bricks in a canvas, A centenarian celebration which he thrust into the water tank, Anthony Lawrence, the former BBC Far East Correspondent, will celebrate his 100th birthday displacing most of the water over our on 12 August this year. scripts…they all tore as we were trying to turn the pages over! With two of observation and empathy to bear on that Radio/TV Hong Kong, including a series Not that I could turn my script over distinguished vast area of the world. In 1960 his base was of memoirs in the My Century series. He anyway because I was banging on the drum. journalists in moved to Hong Kong, where he still lives, remained in Hong Kong with Irmgard and his family, my and from here he went to meet most of the became very involved with International Did you always work for the uncle Tony was major Far Eastern political figures of the Social Service, a body helping migrants BBC in the north, and how keen to enter time, witnessed a Christmas Island nuclear from mainland China and Vietnam to long have you lived in Salford? that profession test, and reported on the Vietnam war, settle and find work in Hong Kong. He I have lived in Swinton, which is part of from an early whilst also regularly contributing insightful was also a founder member of the Foreign Salford, all my life. I worked in Leeds and age and started despatches to Radio Newsreel and From Our Correspondents Club there, where he still Newcastle and I remember we did a feature work on a Own Correspondent. attends dinner once a week. programme on Grace Darling (who helped Wembley local He always believed that the best way During this period he wrote several rescue crew from a wrecked ship in 1838). newspaper to understand a country was to get to books, including Foreign Correspondent about The BBC closed down programmes immediately after leaving school. But with know its ordinary people, a technique his early years in that job, The Fragrant at the outbreak of war. They played the outbreak of WWII, he enlisted in the he used to great effect. Many journalists, Chinese, about the residents of Hong Kong, gramophone records and made news Royal Artillery and then five years later, in particularly expert interviewers such as and The Long March, a large, well illustrated announcements instead. Germany, re-entered journalism, helping to John Humphreys, have cited Tony as a book about the epic journey that led to the Senior engineers were exempt from war set up and run the prestigious Die Zeit weekly major influence. Certainly over the years founding of communist China. service but junior programme engineers in Hamburg. It was here that he met his he acquired a reputation as the ‘doyen Throughout his retirement, he would could volunteer for the forces if they wished. wife Irmgard and also made the connections of foreign correspondents’; in his last regularly visit the UK, where I and other My colleague Terry Cox, who was also that got him into the BBC. years in post this was featured in the TV relatives would relish his stories of, and best man at my wedding, and I went to After working as an editor for the documentaries Born Chinese and Richard insights into life in the Far East. Sadly both volunteer for the Air Force. They accepted World Service for several years, he Cawston’s 1972 documentary Our Own Irmgard and his only son Alex have now me but turned Terry down because of his achieved his ambition of becoming a Correspondent. That same year he was also a pre-deceased him, but he still enjoys a life eyes – so he continued working for the BBC foreign correspondent and was posted guest on Roy Plomley’s Desert Island Discs. surrounded by many loving and supportive through the war. to Singapore in 1956. Here he began a Anthony ‘retired’ in 1973 but kept friends. We all wish him a very happy I took a six-month radio course and lifelong exploration of the Far East in all its on contributing occasional pieces for 100th birthday! I was due to be married at the end of it. facets and brought his inimitable powers many years after, both to the BBC, and to Andrew Lawrence

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 Back at the BBC 09 Last Bush bulletin leaves staff in tears The applause was prolonged, the hugs heartfelt and the tears irresistible as well-wishers crammed into offices outside the third floor studio to witness, photograph and celebrate the final broadcast from Bush House.

Staff brought their children to the historic Saudi Arabian women to compete at the event, while retired employees returned Olympics and about a Taliban attack on with their memories as Iain Purdon read police in Pakistan. June Lottery winners the World Service midday bulletin with But he went on to reveal the significance June’s lottery winners have been customary poise. of that lunchtime’s broadcast, introducing announced…congratulations to Cheryl who The five-strong bulletins team are the a specially recorded despatch by scooped the £10k prize! If you would like last journalists to make the move from Bush Mark Thompson. to win £10k or £1k or £100 or £50 then – home to the World Service since 1941 The director general hailed Bush House as sign up to the Club lottery NOW! The next – to their new base alongside BBC News ‘an enduring beacon of truth and objectivity £10k draw is in September but you need colleagues at New Broadcasting House. in a troubled world’ which had been to be signed up by the end of August to be eligible so don’t delay! In many respects, the last five-minute home to ‘so many great broadcasters over (E: [email protected]) bulletin was unremarkable. Purdon told the years’. listeners around the world about protests Purdon signed off with an assurance to This month it’s all over a new German law against the audiences that ‘the World Service and the about lunch! circumcision of infant boys, about the first news goes on… Just not from here’. It’s not been a picnic-perfect summer so far but that doesn’t mean one can’t indulge in some summer lunching. Every Tuesday, Club retired members are Two trustees appointed for BBC Trust invited to come to Club Western House (99 Great Portland St W1A 1AA) for lunch – a main, dessert and cup of tea/coffee – all for Aideen McGinley and Sonita Alleyne will start their four-year terms, where they will represent the meagre price of £5. the interests of license fee payers, on 1 November. The menus to whet your appetite… 14 August: Rosemary roast chicken, Trustees are expected to spend roughly two She is on secondment from her post as including at the British Board of Film served on smashed sweet potato with days a week with the Trust. For that McGinley Permanent Secretary of the Department Classification and Archant regional wilted spinach and a lemon butter cream will be paid £37,660 a year and Alleyne will for Employment and Learning Northern newspaper group. sauce; Knickerbocker Glory be paid £32,952. Ireland, and will take early retirement McGinley will replace Rotha Johnston as 21 August: Slow cooked pork belly McGinley will chair the Trust audience later this year. Trustee for Northern Ireland, and Alleyne served with mini roast potatoes, steamed advisory body – Audience Council for Alleyne is the founder of production will replace Mehmuda Mian as Trustee. vegetables and cider jus; strawberry and Northern Ireland. company Somethin’ Else and was Meanwhile, the chairman of the Trust’s vanilla panacotta She is currently Chief Executive of an previously a radio journalist. She holds Finance Committee, Anthony Fry, has been 28 August: Club-made chicken Kiev urban generation company called Ilex. a number of non-executive roles, reappointed for a further three years. served with double-cooked chips and salad garnish; chocolate and banana mousse To book your space, please contact Nuy (E: [email protected], Sale of Television Centre Departure of T: 0207 7650971) The great outdoors! The BBC has exchanged contracts for the sale of Television We are keeping our fingers (and toes) Centre to property developers Stanhope Plc for around £200m. Jana Bennett crossed that our soggy summer will turn into a scorcher! Most of us have been Jana Bennett, who is hunkering down and praying for sun but not our Connect groups! They have been responsible for the pilot of donning their rambling boots, life jackets, the BBC’s global iPlayer in checked trousers and flying goggles and 16 countries, will leave BBC facing our sludgy summer head on…a couple of rain spots are not going to Worldwide in the autumn. beat these lot! If you want to join this brave and heroic lot, Her departure will follow a restructure of sign up now: BBC Worldwide – the BBC’s commercial arm Rambling (E: [email protected]) – which is reorganising its business from divisional to geographical lines. Golf (E: [email protected], The company is increasing its focus on T: 0208 4332956) international markets, where its headline Sailing (E: [email protected]) UK programme sales grew by 8% to Yachting (E: [email protected], £1158 million in 2010/11, returning T: 0208 5767676) £182m to the BBC. Canal cruising (E: [email protected]. As president of Worldwide Networks, uk, T: 077 899 08491) Bennett has overseen BBC Worldwide’s 33 Flying (E: [email protected], channels across 100 countries, which is the T: 030 304 09587) company’s biggest revenue-generator. She said she ‘fully supports’ the changes, Gliding (E: [email protected], Contracts were exchanged on Saturday domestic television news and weather who adding, ‘I am delighted to have grown the T: 0208 34 87016) 14 July. The BBC promise for more details to will move to New Broadcasting House at the BBC’s international channel portfolio at a Check out our website for full details of be available on completion of the sale. beginning of 2013. time when global markets are so highly Connect and Club events: The BBC announced in June 2011 that it Eventually the aim is for BBC staff competitive and to have brought quality www.bbcclub.com was putting Television Centre (TVC) up for to leave West London entirely. The British programmes and events to new sale and plans to move most staff out of the movement of staff already means that for audiences around the world, both through Got a question or comment? site by April 2013. the first time over half of BBC staff work our worldwide networks and the Global BBC Email us at [email protected] Among the last teams to leave TVC is outside London. iPlayer pilot.’ or call 020 875 26666.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 10 obituaries 1917, he completed formal education at Maggie took a career break in 1967 and Ken stepped up to editor (News & Current ‘Unruffled dignity’ of Boulton Road Senior Boys School at the age completed a course in social work at Bristol Affairs, Television) in 1988, adding the Radio Local Radio general of 14 and commenced an apprenticeship as University. After qualifying in childcare she operation to his portfolio in 1994. (He was a confectioner. That trade took him through went on to work for the probation service. even, for a time, in charge of Sport, though manager to September 1939 when he volunteered for Then in the early Seventies, she joined the never seen engaging in it.) Peter Redhouse, the army and became a telecoms mechanic in newly formed BBC West, where she quickly He could be short tempered and impatient the former general the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. found her versatile talents and knowledge with those less adept than himself. His manager of BBC He ultimately served at Dunkirk; North Africa of the West Country ideally suited to the entry in Who’s Who in Scotland admits to Local Radio in the battle of El Alamein; and in Italy at young upstart station. This was the golden ‘heckling, hectoring and harrumphing’ as (1976-1987), has Monte Cassino – miraculously surviving the age of regional television, and in any given some of his recreations. died suddenly at conflicts and being demobbed as Sergeant week Maggie could find herself working on a Ken’s last three years in the BBC were the age of 80. Bert Fisher in December 1945. studio quiz show, dealing with audience and spent as project director for the design and Peter had It was then he commenced his BBC career contestants, and then setting out on location construction of the BBC’s new headquarters impeccable in the Transcription Unit, later becoming a to film a profile of Cecil Beaton. on Pacific Quay. He revelled in the change editorial radio recording technician in BH. Maggie was the indispensable heart of BBC and rose to the challenge of matching an credentials from his time as editor of Today, We first met during the mid-1960s, West and she remained there until she architectural landmark to the complicated where he ensured that life beyond Watford when he was tape editor in command of the retired in 1989. But she had many interests technical demands of a broadcasting centre formed a significant part of the output. A editing suite in Aeolian Hall, the building outside the Corporation. She had a great love with the right ambience for a place of major task awaited him in 1970 when he that housed Radio’s light entertainment of books, theatre, art and gardening, loves employment. By common if not universal became the first manager of Radio London – output. He led a busy life but always found which she was able to share with a wide consent, he succeeded. devising an attractive, professional mix for a time to talk to his many producer customers circle of family and friends. She showed Matt Spicer diverse population. Peter fended off network about his photographic interests. Everyone great fortitude in coping with periodic ill critics who didn’t want their audiences or was snapped and he turned his workplace health, particularly cancer in the Seventies their budgets depleted by this cuckoo in into a veritable portrait gallery. and latterly a debilitating lung disease. It Producer who received the nest. During his retirement, Bert and his wife is a mark of the love and affection that we an MBE By 1976 Peter, as general manager, and Kathleen travelled extensively until her death had for Maggie that when she went to a Gillian Hush, I were newly established in the Langham in 1992, just six months after celebrating restaurant for what she thought was a small one of the BBC’s Local Radio HQ. Now there were 20 stations their Golden Wedding anniversary. He later retirement party, she found it bursting with most distinguished and we were keen to complete the chain. found a friend with whom he was able to colleagues who had travelled from all over and appreciated But along came Lord Annan who, in his resume travelling, and during a visit to Rome the country to be with her. network producers, report on Local Radio, wanted to rip our they were honoured by an audience with Keith Sheather died on 28 June stations away from the BBC and give them to Pope John Paul II. after a short a new authority. This was the first of many Another enthusiastic hobby was ‘Ham Pioneering Head of illness. Trained as a threats and Peter’s well-honed arguments Radio’. Having passed his Morse Test in 1983 journalist with the helped win the day. He could be a tough and becoming a full licence holder with the News who unified Middlesborough negotiator when managers were submitting call-sign G4VBH, from his little flat his great radio and TV Evening Gazette, she joined the BBC in their budget bids. ‘In the end we were always joy was contacting fellow amateurs from Newcastle upon Tyne as a news assistant, thwarted by his unruffled dignity,’ claimed over 200 countries. Ken Cargill, who has died at his home in going on to develop a career as a highly Derek Woodcock. And he loved his station Active to the end, although living in Angus after a short but devastating illness, regarded producer in Manchester until her visits – particularly to Cornwall, where he Heston, Hounslow, he joined my local BBC joined BBC Scotland in 1972 as a humble retirement in1995. was once offered a transmitter map and Pensioners’ Luncheon Club in the Esher area researcher and moved steadily through the No one who worked with or for Gillian promptly asked for all the good restaurants and attended regularly, still driving himself ranks to become a pioneering Head of News would forget the experience. New contributors, to be marked on it! there, the last time being in March this year. and Current Affairs. His main achievement seasoned broadcasters, sound engineers and The last time I saw Peter was in June, He passed away on 23 June at the venerable was to bring together television and radio colleagues respected her inexhaustible search standing on Lime Street station next to a age of 95 years and five months, to be sadly news units into a unified service and to for excellence, her warmth and elegance. massive bronze of Ken Dodd. We’d been to Rex missed by his many friends and family. develop a working relationship between As well as producing Woman’s Hour when it Bawden’s funeral and the Liverpool anthem Brian Willey News and Current Affairs. came from the north, she edited and often should have been ringing in our ears: ‘when Ken was educated at Arbroath High commissioned short story strands from you walk through a storm…’ for that’s exactly PA at the heart School before graduating from Edinburgh Manchester. Regular series of Conversation Piece what we’d all done back in the formative University. After a recommendation by presented by Sue MacGregor; Word in Edgeways years of Local Radio. With Peter’s rock-steady of BBC West Magnus Magnusson, I became his first presented by Brian Redhead discussed major presence we never walked alone. BBC Local Margaret employer in the BBC – as his file records in issues with a stable of contributors after a Radio was immeasurably better off for his (Maggie) Darch an administrator’s scribble: ‘£110 per week. civilised dinner. She was asked to produce Desert wisdom, passion for public service, tireless (died 8 February Working for Matt.’ Island Discs at a low spot in the strand’s history, enthusiasm, his friendship and good humour. aged 78) was Even as a researcher working on Current restoring its quality. Tragically, Peter’s wife June died ten years the consummate Account, he showed an admirable capacity for Everyone who came into contact with ago in Singapore and more recently he lost a professional. sheer hard work, allied to sound judgement. Gillian was made to feel special, and at her very close friend and travelling companion. She was the He quickly graduated to making half-hour lunch table in New Broadcasting House We send our deepest sympathy to son production films as a reporter. It is fair to say, however, everyone was welcomed. Jeremy, daughter Diana and Peter’s beloved assistant you that he was not the most natural of television Music, most notably opera, was central to granddaughter, Phoebe. wanted on your performers, and it was probably a relief to him Gillian. She was an early supporter of Opera Michael Barton team. She showed infinite adaptability and when he became a director and subsequently a North and a loyal supporter to the BBC Phil. resourcefulness, qualities well suited to producer on the same programme. Retirement brought a new range of interests Remembering Albert regional television where inventiveness By the mid-80s, Television News and and challenges. She chaired the governors often made up for lack of resources. She was Current Affairs had been amalgamated, and of Manchester Girls High School, and she George Fisher efficient, patient and perceptive in everything his biggest challenge lay ahead. As deputy was a member of the Victoria University of Upon retirement she did, but it was her calm unflappability editor (News & Current Affairs, Television), Manchester Court, serving on the board of the in 1977, he that we all admired. On one occasion while Ken was initially regarded if not with Manchester University Press for ten years. insisted on being filming a news story about buses, a bus outright hostility then certainly with some She was the longest standing Trustee called Albert, caught her a glancing blow. Luckily she suspicion by the newsroom. Some in News both of Cartwheel Arts and of the Arvon but to me and wasn’t injured and she carried on as though regarded Current Affairs as Poet’s Corner, foundation for creative writing. She was all his working nothing had happened. while some in Current Affairs considered a judge, chairman and selector for the colleagues he Maggie joined the BBC in Bristol in 1957 the newsroom a nest of Neanderthals. Sandford St Martin Religious Awards. On her was ‘Bert’ and as a clerical assistant in the Design Unit. But Neither was completely wrong. His first retirement the University awarded her an one of life’s it wasn’t long before she was working as a efforts were directed towards staff training honorary MA while she was made MBE. characters. Born PA in the OB Unit and travelling all over the and deployment and BBC Scotland’s flagship Above all Gillian had a gift for friendship, in Handsworth, Birmingham, on 28 January region as the assistant to producer Peter Bale. programme, Reporting Scotland. and her many friends, together with her sister

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 obituaries 11 Carol, take comfort from their friendship Marmion joined Radio Merseyside at its he made many friends, even giving financial He passed away in June 2012 after a fall and with a unique person for whom friends were launch in 1967. As programme organiser, support towards the further education of one finally deep vein thrombosis which caused a family and family were as her friends. and deputy station manager, he enjoyed a friend’s son. pulmonary thromboembolus. A celebration of Gillian’s life is to be held wide-ranging brief running from programme George remained a bachelor and retired Sadly missed by his wife, stepson and on 23 September in Manchester. For further commissioning to presenting. Drawing from the BBC in 1984, moving shortly daughter and grandchildren, who all information, email david.masasi@btinternet. upon a deep well of local talent, he was the afterward to a flat in Folkestone where he loved him. com (tel: 0207 624 3296). first person to commission work from Alan devoted much time to his beloved garden. He was always very proud to have had such David Craig Bleasdale (the Scully series) and he also He adored classical music and even owned a long and distinguished service with the BBC. helped to launch the career of Kenny Everett. a grand piano, which he would occasionally Sylvia Paddock His musical In 1974 he left allow local young musicians to practise on. Radio Merseyside George was a private, independent, hard compositions live on to become a working, some would say rather dour man, Tomorrow’s World Gareth Walters, producer on BBC but this disguised a deeply sensitive, playful producer a much respected national radio, and generous spirit. Anybody who knew him Richard Collin, a speaks of his wonderful sense of humour. colleague whose working on former producer It was a real joy to witness that glum face services to music The World at One on Tomorrow’s World, explode into a wide grin and watch him extended far and PM, before died peacefully shake with silent chuckles when something beyond his 32- becoming a on 20 June after witty caught his interest. He is famous for his year BBC career, Current Affairs a long illness. He beautiful hand-made Christmas and birthday died on the last producer for BBC TV in 1978. He worked was 81. cards signed with fine calligraphic writing. day of May. initially on the Tonight programme before Richard came George is survived by his nephew John Gareth was becoming part of the founding production to the BBC by an Gross, who took great pains to give this born in December 1928 and always team for Question Time. He was seconded to unusual route. special man a respectful send-off. considered Swansea as his home. His family Nationwide to oversee its election coverage He was born in Cornwall where he acquired Maggie Partington Smith lived there, he received his education in 1979 and 1983, including the famous a lifelong love of the sea and sailing, and there, he always held the town high in his moment when Mrs Thatcher was caught became a boy soldier in his teens. affections and, fittingly, it is the centre for his giving a misleading reply on air about the Head of Richard showed such aptitude last musical production. direction the General Belgrano was sailing and initiative that he was selected to He came to the BBC in 1956 as a producer when it was sunk by British forces. After Communications go to Sandhurst, from where he was in Music Department, and if you were asked Question Time he went to Panorama before Department commissioned into the Royal Artillery, to select one man whose work epitomised moving on to The Money Programme. In 1988 he his beloved Gunners. Frederick the current buzz-phrase ‘Delivering Quality left the BBC and returned to Liverpool to run After taking a course in Chinese at SOAS, Paddock (known First’, you would certainly put Gareth’s name an independent production company. Richard saw active service in the Malayan as Paddy Paddock) on the shortlist. In 1994 he rejoined the BBC to work in Emergency before finally leaving the army as joined the BBC His skills were based on a sound academic the Programme Complaints Unit, where he a captain. in 1941 in the musical training, which was firmly launched would regularly defend the organisation at He joined the BBC as an administrative Maintenance when Benjamin Britten, who stayed with hearings before the Broadcasting Standards assistant before becoming part of the Department of the family in Swansea on several occasions, Commission. He also maintained a financial Tomorrow’s World production team when the Transmitters. He saw the young Gareth’s compositions and diary for the Corporation: a key reference programme was presented by Raymond first worked there encouraged him to continue. After the Royal point for reporters and production staff to Baxter. He also worked on the moon as a youth, was Academy of Music, who awarded him a access the latest financial data and indices landing programmes with James Burke and sent to evening classes, where he studied for Fellowship, Gareth won a scholarship to study for reporting purposes. He continued at the Michael Charlton. seven years to become a Chartered electrical at the Conservatoire National in Paris, where Programme Complaints Unit until 2003. Eventually leaving the BBC to go freelance, engineer, which required much perseverance one of his teachers was Olivier Messiaen. In 2004 he moved to Hastings where he Richard formed Team Two with his South at the end of a hard day’s work. The studies From here he took further courses at the lived until his death on 12 May 2012. He is African wife Sue Levy, making documentary were the equivalent of an engineering degree. Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, before survived by his widow Naomi (his second films. He also occasionally directed ITN’s He then started work in the Telephones returning to London in 1954 to take up a wife) and his four children. News At Ten. Line Department, later known as the teaching post at the Royal Academy of Music. James Marmion When his first marriage broke down, Communications Department, and When I joined Music Department in the Richard resumed his ocean going sailing, communicated from an outside backing line 1960s, Gareth was already a highly experienced taking part in the Fastnet and the Sydney to First male costume with Broadcasting House; later proceeding senior producer. He was always exceedingly Hobart race. He subsequently qualified as an to become Head of the Communications modest about his achievements and the acclaim supervisor amateur pilot, studied at the Sorbonne where Department in 1990, retiring as their manager. with which his compositions were received. BBC costume designer George Ward had a he took a course specialising in the Battle A tall, distinguished looking man, during Many of his works have been broadcast and prolonged struggle with illness and finally of Verdun, and, after his second marriage his lifetime with the BBC he helped to many are on commercial records. The most bowel cancer. He was blessed with good to Clarinda Herbert, took a history degree make a success of many outside broadcasts, success was probably attained by his five- neighbours including a young family man, through the Open University including Princess Margaret’s wedding and movement ‘Divertimento for Strings’. Michael Williams, who kept a tender eye on His last television programme was one Winston Churchill’s funeral. He also assisted Originally commissioned by the BBC for him until his last hours. about Saigon in World War 2 for Timewatch with the Royal Christmas broadcasts. the Welsh Orchestra, it was added to the George was born in Islington but his in which Richard’s narration was read by Although, as his wife stated, he was repertoire of the celebrated English Chamber parents and four siblings, Nicky, Rosa, Gladys Charles Wheeler, the only time, I think, brilliant at mathematics, he was always quiet Orchestra who recorded it in 1970. Others and John later moved to Tottenham. His Charles read someone else’s words. that have won a place in the repertoire are the father being a very dominating presence, and modest regarding his achievements. Having become, as he put it, ‘a red Overture Primavera and the attractive ‘Gwent George really blossomed when he joined the A colleague of his, Vic Howett, said: ‘I wine member of the Bushmen’, Richard Suite’ – which he based on Welsh folk tunes. Merchant Navy in 1944, serving happily as a worked with him for many years with the subsequently returned to Malaysia for Our warmest thoughts are now with his radar operator on HMS Crane until 1946. knowledge that he was always there to help the BBC World Service’s Assignment in widow, Glenys, and his family, who, I hope, George lived variously in St John’s Wood and if needed. He was a friend and colleague I 1998 to make some radio programmes to will find some comfort in the knowledge Hampstead, and having absorbed some of his was proud to know.’ mark the 50th anniversary of the Malayan that their sense of loss is shared by his many sisters’ seamstress skills, he eventually landed Another colleague, Rhys Lewis, speaking Emergency. In southern Thailand he was BBC friends. a job with the BBC Costume Department in of the many happy memories of working able to interview Chin Peng, once the John Meloy 1956. He became the department’s first male with Paddy at the BBC, commented that ‘as world’s most wanted man, who had started costume supervisor, then later a costume a companion at work he was always very the insurrection against the British. A copy designer, with a string of highly successful understanding if anything went wrong and of Richard’s interview with Chin Peng is From Radio Merseyside programmes to his credit: Dad’s Army, Are You how to correct it.’ now held in the archives of the Imperial to TV Current Affairs Being Served, Barmitzvah Boy, Wings, Shoestring, Triangle, During WW2 he joined the Home Guard War Museum. Last of the Summer Wine, Warship and Bergerac. He and part time helped to defend Broadcasting Mike Popham producer travelled widely to Australia, Hong Kong, and House, extinguishing fire bombs, etc. He also After an early career in teaching, Victor in particular to Dubrovnic in Croatia where spent a year in the mines as a Bevin boy.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2012 12 BOOK REVIEWS

Don’t bring Lulu Classifieds Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Quality by Ron, Doris and Sarah Onions one-bedroom apartment with balconies Any jazz enthusiast will recognise the allusion in the title of Ron and private roof terrace. Stunning beaches and lagoons nearby. £295pw. Onions’ book; any family friend of his will recognise a second and Tel: 01428 653127. sadder allusion. Somerset holiday flat, near coast Three joint authors are named on the or the emotional reaction I know he felt. and Exmoor National Park. Sleeps two. cover: Ron, his wife Doris and his daughter The Aberfan disaster underlined to BBC Affordable rates. Sarah, and the eponymous Lulu is Louise, TV News the need to have field producers www.cottageexmoor.co.uk their second daughter. Ron takes the lead organising coverage of big breaking stories. throughout this account of their lives, Onions’ aptitude got him the newly created opportunity to develop managerial skills Niton, I.o.W. Holiday chalets in peaceful orchestrating the other contributions. All job of TV News Organiser in New York and and also, though he’s modest about his own and secluded landscaped gardens. three give complementary perspectives subsequent involvement in the momentous achievement, to introduce fresh thinking into Ideal base for walkers. on their progress as they combine events in the US then, among them the the presentation of radio news, born of his Tel: 01372 462732. demanding professional lives with assassinations of Martin Luther King and experience in the United States. Then came providing a caring environment for Louise, Robert Kennedy and the moon landing. a call to help rescue an ailing LBC/IRN. As www.westcliffechalets.co.uk born with hypothyroidism, leaving her Overseas postings appear glamorous but IRN’s editor-in-chief and later Jazz FM’s first severely handicapped. they have their challenges, especially to one’s programme controller, Onions provides an Lagos, Algarve, 2-bed townhouse, The book spans the 47 years of Louise’s domestic life. For Onions and his wife and insider’s account of a fascinating period in roof terrace, from £150pw. Also 3-double- life and the four decades of Onions’ career daughters, it was much more of a challenge British commercial radio, full of opportunities bed apartment. Both inside city walls in broadcasting. In many ways it was the than most. In her early years in England, and failures, alliances and betrayals. and near beach. industry’s golden age, one of innovation and Louise could be disruptive, and her care and Unusually for a book about broadcasting Tel: 07956 181613. expansion, and Onions had the good fortune treatment ever more demanding. Doris recalls politics, there is always the counterpoint Email: [email protected] and talent to be involved in many aspects her difficult decision in letting Louise go family story, with Doris and Sarah lending of it. His easy style, honed on the subs desk into residential care, and her concerns over detail and colour to the narrative. The return at the Brighton Evening Argus, makes for easy the varying standards in the places on offer. to the UK renewed the task of seeking Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and reading but on occasion leads to his doing How much more difficult then to commit to care for Louise, whose condition needed Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, himself less than justice. His self-effacing a move overseas with two young children, ever more delicate and dedicated handling. Cardiff CF5 2YQ. description of his role when sent by BBC TV one handicapped, and a husband often likely Battles ensue with the bureaucracy and Please enclose a cheque made payable to: News to organise coverage of the Aberfan to be away from home. unpredictability of Britain’s provision for BBC Central Directorate. disaster in which 116 schoolchildren died One of the happiest parts of the book is the severely handicapped: at one level Rate: £5 for 20 words. In a covering letter gives little hint of the pivotal part he played the family’s relief and pleasure at eventually buck-passing, bean-counting and continual please include your pension number. finding an ideal place for Louise in the USA, upheaval; at another level, the caring looked after by Sisters at a Roman Catholic kindness of nursing professionals. residential school. With regular school visits This dual aspect, dealing compassionately it allowed the family to get on with their with the challenge which Lulu presented Reunions professional and social lives in New York. and chronicling an eventful life in broadcast On his return to the UK, Onions, frustrated news, gives the book its particular attraction. Retired Engineers at a lack of opportunity in the BBC, became It is so sad that Ron Onions was not to live to Luncheon Club ‘desperate to clamber over the BBC barbed see its publication. The BBC ‘relics’ have booked their wire’ and entered the burgeoning world of Tony Crabb next lunch at the Miramar Hotel in commercial radio. Invited to become Head Bournemouth on Thursday, 13 September of News at the newly formed Capital Radio, Don’t Bring Lulu is published by Book Guild 2012. Bars are open from 10.30am and all he describes his six months there as perhaps Publishing, Pavilion View, 19 New Road, members and friends are invited to gather the happiest time of his life. It gave him the Brighton BN1 1UF. Price £17.99. in time for a 12.45pm lunch. Contact Russell Horne to reserve your place (Tel: 01590 624389; Email: russell@ the3hornes.com). by Susie Nott-Bower The Making of Her BBC Cashiers BAFTA winning Susie Nott-Bower (aged 59) worked in Television News and later in Schools For approximately the last 10 years, ex-BBC Cash Office staff have been successfully Television for over 16 years. This, her debut novel, is set in the world of television at a fictional holding a reunion at the Black Horse station called ProDoCo. Public House, Oldfield Lane, Greenford Middlesex. This year’s reunion has been The Making of me smile. It was a shame, I thought, that he set for the evening of 1 November 2012 Her tells the didn’t appear later in the book – I wanted and we would like to take this opportunity story of three him to see the re-made Jo and get a shock to reach out and extend a warm welcome 50-year-olds and read Susie’s descriptions of that scene. to any ex-BBC cashiers, both London and – apparently I thought Jo was very much a wimp and I regional based, who would like to come past their sell- desperately wanted her to stand up to Iain. along to meet old friends. by dates in a I liked the fact that the chapters alternated For further details, please contact either culture which between mainly Clara and Jo, and enjoyed Richard Holmes (Tel: 020 8248 1884; values youth following their lives which seemed quite Email: [email protected]) over age and real. (I used to live in Chiswick and know or Alan Robinson (Tel: 01992 620157; appearance the area well, so I enjoyed that aspect of the Email: [email protected]). over book from my personal perspective.) experience – whose lives collide and are I thought the story was well thought BBC Television Design & transformed during the production of a ‘10 out and all the way through I hoped the Scenic Services Group Years Younger’ style makeover programme. conclusions would be satisfactory, which The 32nd Annual Reunion Lunch for My usual reading leans more towards they were of course. I usually read in the ex-members of BBC Television Design & thrillers, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading afternoons if I am free, and found myself Scenic Services Group, spouses, partners Susie’s book, and finished it in about a week. looking forward to getting back to the book and friends will take place at noon on I thought it was very well written, and to find out how the story was developing. The Making of Her is available from Linen Friday, 12 October 2012 at Ealing Golf Susie’s descriptive powers are excellent. At I organise a reading group, and this Press Books (www.linenpressbooks.co.uk), Club, Greenford, Middlesex. For further the beginning of the book I particularly liked certainly would be a book I would £8.99 (paperback); £5.99 (digital), or from information please contact Hilary Worrall her descriptions of the horrible husband recommend, if I hadn’t already read it! any good bookshop. (Tel: 020 8677 3067). Iain; it brought to life a ‘real’ man and made Dixie James ISBN 978-0-9570050-0-6

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