New Chairwoman of the BBC Trust Page 9

The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online

New chairwoman of the BBC Trust Page 9

December 2014 • Issue 6

Pensions Film at Songs of Praise Liaison Meeting Lime Grove revamp Page 2 Page 6 Page 12

NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BBC PENSIONS 2014 Pension Liaison Meeting

Sixty-nine pensioners attended this year’s Pension Liaison Meeting, which was held in the Radio Theatre at New Broadcasting House, on Thursday 20 November. ‘Being a Trustee is more complicated Graham went on to explain a new code of practice which has recently been introduced and more interesting by the Pensions Regulator for defined benefit schemes, which provides a framework for pension schemes and employers to work than I thought together to provide the benefits promised. With our Scheme in deficit, a collaborative it would be…’ relationship with the BBC is especially important. This was the approach adopted by Graham Ellis, Scheme Trustee the Trustees when working through the 2013 valuation process. Finally Graham explained that there had Ajay explained that in terms of performance been some changes to the Trustee Board the Scheme was up 6% in the year to during the past year. Rhodri Lewis stood March 2014, outperforming its measure down after his six-year tenure as a member- of the liabilities and helping to reduce nominated Trustee and was replaced by the deficit over the year. In addition, the David Gallagher. Also, recently Geoff Jones performance has been better than the UK has resigned and this creates a vacancy which average pension scheme by as much as will be filled following an election. 2% this year. The last speaker of the day was Ian Cutter, An eye on investments Head of Pension Shared Services, who Ajay Ahuja, Pensions Investment Manager, spoke about how the Scheme communicates ‘…the deficit had provided an update on performance and gave with members: the pensioners an overview of the type of • Scheme website (bbc.co.uk/mypension) reduced to investments being made for the Scheme today. • Annual Summary Report Ajay explained the investment objective • Prospero is to ensure the pension scheme has enough • Volunteer Visiting Scheme, and £1.7 billion’ assets to pay the benefits that have been • Pension Liaison Meeting. promised, and a plan is in place to ensure Ian pointed out that the pension service line that by 2026 the Scheme has such assets took 15,000 calls and 8,000 emails over the that it does not rely on the BBC for last 12 months, and this is the main point oy Moore, CEO of the BBC Pension Why do we have a deficit? additional contributions. of contact for all members. All Scheme and Trust Ltd, began with an update on the Joy then explained that most, if not all, UK A key investment policy is to diversify the member information is available on request most recent Scheme valuation, which defined benefit pension schemes have deficits, sources of return; over the last few years the from the service line or can be found on the was reported in January 2014. which is partly due to lower expected returns Scheme has been reducing its exposure to Scheme website. JDated April 2013, the valuation showed on long-term investments coupled with public equities and buying more bonds and Ian mentioned that effective that the Scheme had a deficit of £2 billion, increasing life expectancy. It is also due to the other assets while being sensitive communication is vital and with this in based on assets of £10.3 billion and way pensions are valued in terms of pensions to valuations. mind we are keen to gauge how well we liabilities (its commitment to pay pensions in payment and benefits built up by current With equity markets having rallied 16% are doing in relation to this. Therefore we and benefits) of £12.3 billion. Joy assured members. Benefits are calculated in today’s per annum since the start of 2009 and bonds monitor the satisfaction of members in the pensioners that the Trustees undertake money and referenced to bond and gilt yields. offering low yields, the Scheme has had to respect of all Scheme communications via annual checks on the funding and she was When yields go down the cost of providing be a bit more nimble in what it invests in. our customer survey. This provides us with pleased to report that at April 2014 the pensions goes up. For example, in the Scheme Two investment themes the Scheme a useful snapshot of member satisfaction, deficit had reduced to £1.7 billion (partly a 1% decline in gilt yields adds about £1.5 is following include taking advantage expectations and understanding of the due to BBC contributions), with assets of billion to the cost of providing benefits, while of increased bank regulation leading to Scheme benefits. £10.8 billion and liabilities of £12.5 billion. every one-year increase in life expectancy attractive returns in some markets and The next customer survey to monitor Joy commented that the Trustees had adds £0.3 billion to the expected cost of investing in long-term, cash-yielding assets satisfaction is due in 2015, so look out worked hard with the BBC to agree a providing benefits. that will generate a good return and offer for news of this in Prospero in the New Year. new recovery plan to tackle the current Graham Ellis who became a Trustee just over some form of security. Ajay provided two The meeting then ended with a lively pension deficit. Joy went on to remind a year ago, told the audience that he has found specific examples at the meeting, which Q&A session, in which all speakers those present that the new recovery plan the role to be both more complicated and more included a senior secured property loan and answered a wide range of questions significantly increases the BBC’s deficit interesting than he thought it would be, and long-lease property asset. from the audience. contributions. For example, the payments that the work is much more varied than he The portfolio today is much better If you would like to take the opportunity due up to June 2017 alone, sees the expected. Graham is Deputy Director for BBC balanced to cope with a wider range of of attending next year’s Pension Liaison BBC’s additional contributions total Radio. He joined the BBC back in 1976 as a economic scenarios but the Scheme still Meeting and asking questions, then look out £740m compared with £375m under reporter with Radio Medway and he became a has risks, as is needed to deliver the returns for details in Prospero and the 2015 the previous schedule. Scheme member in 1978. required to meet pensioner payments. Annual Summary Report.

Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/ feedback, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: [email protected] Prospero provides a source of news on former Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension scanned at 300 dpi. issues, plus classified adverts. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. The next issue of Prospero will appear in February 2015. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The copy deadline is Wednesday 7 January 2015.

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 BBC PENSIONS 03 BBCPA Regional Meetings

For the October Regional Meetings in that the focus nowadays is on acting as a George Auckland introduced and Edinburgh, Brighton and Bristol, seven critical friend of the BBC hierarchy and of demonstrated the Memory Bank project on members of the BBC Pensioners’ Association the Scheme trustees. screen. Keen support had been shown in this (BBCPA) committee met some 50 other In discussion, a couple of members said by senior BBC executives and BBC historian, members of the Association. Fortunately, the they were not able to use a computer to take Jean Seaton. Whilst the procedures needed issue of the Scottish Referendum that had advantage of the website and Memory Bank concentration, once you had established your hovered over the Edinburgh meeting was project. Hugh said the committee would own section you could come and go as you Retired members’ newsletter dispelled by the outcome of only revisit the practicalities of gathering and pleased. George then used the fascinating The retired members’ newsletter is now days before. transcribing oral contributions. and extensive Memory Bank entry from merged with the Prospero Society Christina Hamilton reports that David Alan Bilyard summarises an enthusiastic member Roger Bunce to demonstrate its newsletter and is available to all members Allen welcomed everyone at Edinburgh and Bristol meeting, eager to catch up on the search facilities. via email and to Prospero Club members briefly set out the latest BBC Pension Report. news of the Association. After introductions, All three meetings were felt to be very via post. With news, puzzles offers and He then set an informal tone for the concerns were raised over the projected worthwhile and concluded with tea and suggestions, it is a great way to stay in meeting by inviting those present to deficit of £1.7bn, leaving the Scheme as conversation in the customary BBC style. touch with the Club wherever you live and introduce themselves. 86% funded. However, the BBC’s proposed The demonstration of the online recovery plan over the next 14 years however mobile you are. Do keep your Memory Bank project prompted a series of provided some reassurance. Concerns letters coming in, and contact the Club to recollections and discussions. Whilst some emerged about the pending charter renewal BBC Carol Service be added to the subscriber list. Contact present were encouraged to use it, others in 2017 and licence fee issues. Some details below. thought it too formal; rather than personal members felt the BBC did not sufficiently The BBC W1 Carol Service will be held Lottery entries, the feeling was that there should be publicise itself and its good value for money. this year on Monday 8 December in All BBC Club Extra is proud to announce the space for anecdotal and theme-based pages. Some remembered previous campaigns when Souls, Langham Place (right by New and return of THE BIG ONE! Our £10,000 Alan Bilyard spoke of the improved staff were provided with facts and figures Old Broadcasting House). jackpot is back in December. Our September financial position following an increase in BBC booklets to pass onto associates and The guest speaker is Reverend Canon in BBCPA subscriptions. This prompted a friends to whip up support. One member Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride’s Fleet draw had prizes for eight lucky retired discussion about recruitment and some of said that there should be a study of the true Street, ‘The Journalists’ Church’. members, from a total prize allocation of the group were very helpful in providing comparison of BBC costs and those of the Time: 13.05 to 13.50 26. Will the December draw repeat this new contact details for other BBC pensioners independent broadcasting sector, especially trend? To be in with a chance of winning, in their area. ITV, which the public perceived to be free, join via the website: [email protected], David Campbell recorded appreciation of ignoring the cost of advertising paid for by select Club Extra, Lottery and click ‘join the the city-centre Friends Meeting House as the the public. Also the BBC’s high broadcasting Lottery’ or call the Club on 020 8752 6666. Brighton venue. standards were largely responsible for those Minimum entry is £5 per month. Those present recalled a wide range of the whole industry. These would soon of BBC roles, including former staff from deteriorate with no BBC. Events the World Service, pensions and finance Members were thanked for their Our events calendar is bursting at the departments, television make-up and hair continuing support and especially seams! In November we were given lunch styling, engineering, radio and television for accepting the recent increase in followed by a very entertaining talk at production, while an 87-year-old lady subscriptions. This will keep the Association’s Western House by our Chairman John recalled being advised to join the library funds stable for the next four or five Winfield. The topic was ‘computing for at Alexandra Palace before the war ‘because years at least without the need for a retired members’ and this potentially dry television might expand’. The committee further increase. subject was brought to life in a most members also recounted their BBC careers. BBCPA’s various publications were informative manner with much amusement Hugh Sheppard explained the background appreciated, especially those relating to and entertainment. of the Association, which primarily members’ working lives. Praise was also The whole Club has also been reserved represents those on the old and new final heaped on Albert Barber for the improved until 6pm for a retired members’ Christmas salary schemes. With annual increases tied to presentation of the newsletter and Prospero buffet lunch on 13 December, giving our the advantageous RPI rather than the lower cartoons for which he is responsible as members the opportunity for some West CPI, the Association would lobby to keep resident artist, graphics designer and End shopping, a relaxed lunch and things that way. He and Albert Barber said committee member. afternoon in the Club with old friends and colleagues (and a chance to meet some new!), and perhaps a glance at the Christmas lights in Regent Street and Oxford Street on the way home! You MUST devised and compiled by Jim Palm have pre-booked to attend this event. CROSPERO 182 devised and compiled by Jim Palm We have tickets for Madame Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall in March and will 1 2 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words precede that with a tour of the venue and running across. Then take these words in numerical order and extract tea in February. As well as the tour of New 3 4 the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, these Broadcasting House, 2015 will see a river letters will spell out the name of a classic Ghost Story for Christmas. cruise lunch, more theatre trips and tours of 5 6 Please send your answers in an envelope marked ‘Crospero’ to historic buildings. The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 7 8 9 House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, by Friday 9 January. The winner will receive Prospero Society a £10 voucher. Membership is growing as more and 10 11 more people realise the benefits of an extended range of activities and subsidised 12 13 CLUES prices. To join only costs £10 per year and 1. Woodland god (5); 2. Owned (3); 3. Brave soul (4); 4. Sloping letter (6); 14 15 5. Northern town (5); 6. Take shape (3); 7. Main (3); 8. Put to a purpose (3); the Society is a great way to meet up 9. Armament (3); 10. Land measure (3); 11. Devour (3); 12. Decidedly chilly (4); with friends old and new! For details or to 16 17 18 13. Worry (4); 14. Highway thief (3); 15. Flying mammal (3); 16. Implore (3); join, contact the Club: BBC Club, Media 17. Heir (3); 18. Titfer (3); 19. Bolt companion (3); 20. Upper air (5); 21. More Centre MC4 C4, 201 Wood Lane, 19 20 elevated (6); 22. Woody perennials (4); 23. Water block (3); 24. Transmits (5). London W12 7TQ. Tel: 020 8752 6666. Email: [email protected] 21 22 Solutions to Crospero 181: Stem; Viola; Apace; Aga; Led; Thame; Ree; Joe; Esk; Run; Dishonestly; Tom; Amy; Icy; Lop; Alate; For; Eke; Rouse; 23 24 Got a question or comment? Erode; Ness. The progamme and presenter were Top Gear and Jeremy Email us at [email protected] Clarkson, and the winner was Miss J Grimley from West Yorkshire. or call 020 8752 6666.

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 04 LETTERS

holding his pipe in his hand. On hearing the Last visit to TVC comment he lazily put his pipe to his mouth, I recently had the opportunity of visiting BBC drew on it, puffed out a large cloud of Women and war Television Centre with my son (a television smoke and said, ‘Well then, you’d better find I recently acquired a 50-page booklet entitled House, killing six people whilst Bruce cameraman) to view the equipment being it.’ The command ‘Run TK’ was given and BBC at War, price sixpence. It cost £3 in a Belfrage calmly continued to read the news. auctioned. This is the final auction (one had we all waited for the zero; TK sound came secondhand bookshop. It was published by There is a mass of information on the already taken place) of some 2,000 odd lots. up as usual! Sighs of relief all round, apart the BBC, undated but from dates given in the BBC’s work at home and in keeping It was really quite sad to see TV Centre in an from Sailor who just grunted his approval text, it was probably in 1942. Nazi occupied nations in touch with the almost derelict state (the last time I visited was followed by another puff of smoke. Talking It tells of the incident when a bomb free world. The many pictures include on a special BBC employees’ day trip in the of smoke, where did the expression ‘Tune for came through the roof of Broadcasting one of evacuated children speaking into eighties) as even the letters ‘BBC’ were missing maximum smoke’ come from? an NBC microphone for the Children Calling from the frontage. Iain King Home programme. After quite strict security procedures and Edinburgh One of the pictures is of a young woman being fitted with a ‘high visibility’ jacket, as operating what looks like the switchgear there is so much building work being carried of a high-powered transmitter. The caption out to erect a new development, we were Could you write a says a lot about the attitude towards escorted to the drama department. female staff in those days. It was not much What an amazing and fascinating Christmas carol? different ten years later. When I joined the experience this was. The sheer volume The Prospero headline caught my eye. I read staff at the Rampisham transmitter station of equipment was mind-boggling and Susan Hill’s poem ‘Can it be true?’ and loved in 1953, the only women on the premises very nostalgic. Most of it was really old it, and decided to have a go. were secretarial and catering staff. All the and historic, which brought back many I divided the poem into three verses and rest, including the cleaners, were men. memories of equipment I had seen during spent roughly a day on each verse whilst Last night, on Look North, Harry Gration my working life, even though it was in radio my husband undertook the chores. He then revealed that he was the only man in the and not TV. patiently listened to a demo of each day’s studio. His fellow presenter, the weather There were several rooms of every kind composition on my keyboard. reporter and the three camera operators of equipment and machinery that had been On showing the completed carol to a were all women. (Not girls!) used in making television programmes. There colleague whose husband, like me, is a BBC Bill Rhodes was even an enormous washing machine, retiree, she asked if I had checked the relative Thanks Bill – coincidental to your letter, spin drier and fridge! The enormity and information on the website. I do not have a we received a request from a researcher at weight of some of the equipment made you computer. She reluctantly added that it was Bournemouth University who is looking into the wonder how you would be able to store a ‘national competition’ not really aimed at In war-time, girls do some engineering jobs. role of women at the BBC during WW2; see the such items, like satellite dishes, sound desks retired staff and ‘did not fit the bill’. panel on the next page. and stacks of technical equipment, most of Maybe I can adapt my piece to suit my which, I, of course, had no idea what they hand bell team, but I did enjoy our project. were used for but were obviously important Perhaps Prospero can include information parts of TV production. for computer illiterates in future. really). I put my gun mic between the bars My son felt like he was in Disneyland as Joan Bullock Lion attack recorded to record the growls, when the animal lashed although he had bought several items in out and grabbed the mic. There was then the first auction, he felt there was still more in log a tug of war between beastie and me. Lion ‘memorabilia’ to be had. The whole auction is Parallels in history I was interested in Graeme Aldous’ letter ‘It’s won of course and gun mic disintegrated actually done online and all the items listed, Now it has been reported in the national alright leaving me’ about the importance of into its several component parts. but he wanted to view everything ‘in the flesh’, press that Danny Cohen, head of BBC TV, has using the log in Belfast Control Room. Afterwards, in the ‘Action taken to repair which enabled me to have a lovely day out and announced a whole series of programmes to I worked alongside Graeme (hello fault at location’, I wrote: ‘Shouted ‘go away’ to visit TV Centre for the very last time. mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation Graeme) in that control room in the 1960s to Lion. Ineffective’. Sad, but very enjoyable. of Auschwitz (on 27 January 1945), perhaps but would disagree with him over the Brian Willis Thought I would share this experience he should also consider marking another relative importance of the log. I think the with you. tragic event, the 100th anniversary of the element which was even more sacrosanct Bonnie Margo mass deportations and killings of Armenians was the broadcasting of the ‘pips’, aka the Ian Nairn? by the Ottoman Turkish rulers in 1915. Greenwich Time Signal. I well remember David Collard, a London-based researcher, These murders, acknowledged by our venerable and delightful boss, John hopes through the pages of Prospero to The smoke’s alright most historians as constituting the first MacConachy, explaining to us newbies the hear from any members of the BBC who genocide of the 20th century, resulted in the importance of those pips. ‘Ships rely on them worked with the architectural writer and leaving me! annihilation of up to a million and a half of to set their chronometers and help navigate,’ broadcaster Ian Nairn on the series Nairn In the October issue of Prospero, Graeme Armenians and their expulsion from their he would tell us. Then, throwing his arms up Across Britain (1972) and Nairn’s Travels (1975), Aldous attributed the expression ‘It’s alright ancestral lands in what is today modern in a most alarming way, he would say: ‘Mis- and in particular the sound recordist leaving me!’ to the staff in the Belfast Control Turkey. The tragedy is compounded by broadcasting just one pip and ships would Malcolm Hill, cameraman Robert Sleigh Room circa 1968. successive Turkish governments’ denial that lose navigation. Hundreds would flounder (credited as Bob Sleigh) and the producer In my time in the early sixties it was and be tossed up on the rocks.’ It may not Barry Bevins. We have passed David’s premeditated mass murder ever occurred. common for engineers, whether in studio have been quite true but it was a salutary tale details on to Bob Sleigh, but if anyone An eminent Turkish scholar and historian, or OB van, to query the level of the to ensure the pips were regularly broadcast else can help please contact David at: Taner Akcam, is the latest academic to signal (sound or vision) coming from a on our watch – and all of them, too. Email: [email protected] contribution source to the programme, say provide evidence of the deliberate, planned Talking of pips. Before Belfast, I worked Tel: 07807 768 668 VT, TK, OB or another studio. nature of the Armenian genocide in his in the Control Room of BH London and Quite often the reply was the quoted book The Young Turks’ Crime Against Humanity. was there the day the generation of the pips phrase, so it predates Graeme’s time. I could His research is based on more than 600 changed from Greenwich to Herstmonceux. Ed Hayward be wrong on this as I have been corrected on secret documents from the Ottoman archives Now that was fun. Few of us PTOs on the Sad to read of the death of Ed Hayward. the veracity of a statement I made in the past that he has newly unearthed. Bays knew how to spell that place for the Though we never met we were both, at the in Prospero viz. the name of the opening show The parallels between the fate of the logs but there were some very imaginative same time, BBC TV producers (Ed at from TC3; however on this point I consider Armenians and the Jewish Holocaust are attempts at it. Open University and me at Children’s TV) myself to be on safe ground. obvious. It would thus enhance the BBC’s I was also in BH Control Room when who were regularly performing on the As an aside, I remember being in the control reputation enormously, as well as serving the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet in 1959. London Music Hall scene (which was very room in Lime Grove on a very hot summer’s the idea of ‘keeping the memory alive’, if There were a considerable number of Dahlia active in the seventies and eighties) and day just before the start of Grandstand. During BBC TV (and radio for that matter) were to Lambas found their way into the logs too. also seriously researching and collecting. the countdown the sound supervisor came on make a few programmes to mark the 100th Perhaps that would make an interesting It sounds as if Ed’s collection was bigger talkback to the engineering manager saying, anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It is theme for Prospero’s letters page – the most than mine. I am very interested to hear ‘We’ve lost telecine!’ surely not too late for such a project; the date interesting/silly thing written in a log. of his song card-index file and would Sailor Wright, who had been at Ally commemorating the start of the tragic events I shall kickstart it with the episode when like to get in touch with Carol Hayward about Pally before the war and returned to the is 24 April 2015. I was a news film sound recordist and we this. Could you possibly either let me have her Corp afterwards, was sitting in his singlet Diran Meghreblian went to a circus where a lion had mauled email address or send her mine? and trousers with his braces over the top, Twickenham its keeper (well, more of a publicity scratch Peter Charlton

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 LETTERS 05

Valerie Pitts CONTACTS To add more confusion to the saga ‘was Valerie Pitts a TV presenter or a newsreader?’, here Visiting Scheme is a photo taken in Southampton BBC TV If you would like a visit or information on Studios at Christmas time in 1962. how to become a volunteer visitor, please The programme was a local news ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. programme called South at 6 and she was a Queries guest presenter as it was the programme’s For benefit and pension payroll queries, first birthday. call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811 I was on camera 2, which really needed or email [email protected] a zoom lens (but that is another story!) A Prospero local viewer brought in a large birthday cake To add or delete a name from the to celebrate the occasion. Martin Muncaster distribution list, ring the Service Line on was the newsreader at the time. 029 2032 2811. Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC employees. More information on Southampton On request, we will also send it to spouses TV Studios was in Prospero in June 2006, or dependants who want to keep in touch including a picture of camera 2 with a with the BBC. Prospero is also available on transplantable zoom lens! audio disc for those with sight impairment. BBC TV Southampton, Christmas 1962. Clive South To register, please ring the Service Line. Alternatively, it is also available online at www.bbc.co.uk/mypension, under ‘Documents’. Today in Scotland The passing of BBC Radio Scotland’s Women, Wartime and the BBC BBC Club John Milne in July brought back many The BBC Club in London has a retired category membership costing £30 a year memories for those of us who were in at The Centre for Media History at in the military and other government or £39 a year for family membership. the start of Scottish opt-outs from network Bournemouth University has initiated an organisations such as the Women’s Land Pre-1997 life members are not affected. radio programmes. exciting project on ‘Women, Wartime and Army. Women assisting in broadcasting, a Regional clubs may have different I started as a News Assistant at Queen the BBC’. Kate Terkanian has been recruited vitally important part of the war effort, have arrangements. Please call BBC Club Margaret Drive in 1966 when Jim Herd as the PhD researcher to look into women’s received limited academic attention. This London administration office on 020 8752 was in charge of a bi-media newsroom employment at the BBC during the Second project aims to bring to light the important 6666 or email [email protected] – bi-media before the term had been World War. contributions made by women across the Benevolent Fund invented. Under the leadership of SENCA During this important era in the history many varied departments of the BBC. This is funded by voluntary contributions (Scottish Editor, News & Current Affairs), of the BBC, staff numbers rose dramatically, As part of this project, Kate is keen to from the BBC and its purpose is to protect the welfare of staff, pensioners and their James Kemp, we produced news bulletins for and woman-power was crucial to the success include the voices of women who were families. Grants are made at the discretion radio, television – and Gaelic programmes, as of this expansion. Staff numbers rose from part of the BBC during the war years. of the Trustees. They may provide well as editing and scripting short television just under 5,000 in 1939 to more than If you worked at the BBC during the assistance in cases of unforeseen financial reports for local or national transmission. 11,500 by 1945. While women continued Second World War, or you know women who hardship, for which help from other sources When Alastair Milne arrived as Controller, to predominate in the clerical sections, did, your contribution to the project would is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 2811. Scotland, he took Gaelic lessons and swifty particularly as secretaries, some of the new be most welcome. This could be a personal Prospero Society stopped the Gaelic newsreaders from ending and growing sections of the BBC, such as recollection or written materials, anything that Prospero Society is the only section of the their bulletins with reminders to their other the Monitoring Service, the Overseas and can help form a full picture of what it was like BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff halves to be at the station or ferry port at a European Service employed as many women to be a woman at the BBC during the war. and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC certain time to meet them! as men. As men left to serve in the military, Please contact Kate Terkanian: by post pensioners to meet on a social basis for theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. Radio was my preferred medium and it many hundreds of women were also trained c/o Jan Lewis, Bournemouth University, was a tremendous challenge to be teamed as engineers, vital to keep the BBC on the air. The Media School, W129 Weymouth The Prospero Society is supported by with Geoff Cameron and tasked with Research into women’s employment House, Dorset BH12 5BB; by email at BBC Club funds so as to make events affordable. The only conditions (apart from producing two 20-minute opt-outs each during the war years has focussed primarily [email protected], or weekday to be billed on the Scottish Home paying a small annual subscription) are on factory workers, and those serving call 07532270109. that you must be a BBC pensioner and a Service as Today in Scotland (TIS). Mike Russell member of the BBC Club. Peter Mirams was a regular contributor along with Donny would be happy to answer questions from MacLeod, Ron Neil, Renton Laidlow and potential members (email: pmirams@ Mary Marquis, herself a main presenter of the btinternet.com), but if you would like an evening TV news programme, Reporting Scotland. application form please contact: David Findlay, Harry Grey and Bill Jack Wai Man, BBC Club, MC4 C4 - 201 Media were among the continuity announcers/ Centre, Wood Lane London W12 7TQ newsreaders who also helped establish Tel: 0208 752 6666 the programme. Email: [email protected] Our post-programme inquests were BBC SHOP discount usually done quite informally in the canteen Get 10% off your order at BBCShop.com over full breakfasts, often absorbing critical Enter code BBC0001 under ‘redeem comments or compliments from listeners a promotion code’ at checkout such as Magnus Magnusson, Kenneth FREE UK Delivery McKellar and Moira Anderson who were Orders can also be placed over the phone filming their own shows or documentaries. by calling 01788 821 107 and quoting TIS broke new ground by covering stories code BBC0001. in Scotland for Scottish listeners by opting out Terms & Conditions: Discount code of what was becoming a national treasure. BBC0001 entitles BBC pensioners to 10% That it evolved into Good Morning Scotland off your order at BBCShop.com. Offer is not (GMS. Another three-letter acronym! Doesn’t valid with any other promotional discount the BBC – oops – love ‘em?) is an extremely or offer and subject to availability. Only one discount code can be used per transaction. satisfying outcome for those of us associated BBC Shop reserves the right to change, with its embryonic sibling. amend or discontinue the offer at any time I moved briefly to Edinburgh’s Queen without prior notice. Products are available Street studios where, with Catherine Smith as whilst stocks last. Free delivery to UK only. programme secretary, I produced the weekly Standard BBC Shop Terms & Conditions Current Account programme until the adventure apply. Promoter: BBC Worldwide Ltd. of being involved with the launch of local Contact (UK) 01788 821107 (charged at basic rate) with any queries. See website radio in England in the early seventies lured for full Terms & Conditions. me south of the border for the remainder of my BBC career. Great days. BBC PA For details of how to join the Pensioners’ Allan Muirhead Association, see the panel on the left.

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 06 MEMORIES Dubbing and ‘dirty film’ at Lime Grove

Stuart Drake wrote in, too, with Reading Nick Jennings’ piece in the last issue about the dubbing theatre at Lime Grove his memories of a dubbing certainly brought back memories, writes Dave Hawley. almost-disaster when a was in the telecine section of the only ever picture medium, processed Newsnight special went awry… Television Recording Department in to directly produce a positive image, i.e. the 1970s, and I well remember the no film negative, and that same film was our article on film dubbing in theatre pictured. physically put through the entire post the last issue of Prospero revived IOur supervisors often used to mutter production process, editing, dubbing, memories of a fraught evening about the late arrival of transmission film and final telecine run directly through the in Glasgow concerning the inserts for Nationwide, and the perceived state studio onto air. NewsnightY programme. of some of them when they did arrive, for It was in the mid-seventies during the instance often with a lot of dirt on the film, Edinburgh Festival. In those days Newsnight so it was eventually decided to give us all often included items from the festival. the opportunity to spend a day seeing just ‘I saw what film and if necessary music and additional To record these items there were two what this material actually went through sound effects would be added from discs Manchester mobile VTs at Edinburgh BH. before it got to us. went through...’ or tapes, all run in as live from decks in However, on the night in question, the Nationwide prided itself on always the theatre. whole 50-minute Newsnight programme featuring a ‘one-day shoot’, which was an The film would then be re-wound was to be on film. The plan was for the film item that was completely shot, processed, I saw what that film went through, after through a cleaning cloth, before being to be dubbed across to Edinburgh and edited, dubbed, and transmitted all on the being processed by the in-house labs. It rushed down to telecine with its associated recorded on the two VTs. They would then same day. This was routine in News even was physically cut up and spliced together final dubbed magnetic sound track. transmit the programme. The film was due then of course, but not so in Current Affairs, with tape by the editor (who had a cigarette I have to say, after seeing this process to be dubbed over at 8pm, thus giving time where the items could be lengthy and hanging out of his mouth!) with my own eyes, I never complained for the tapes to be reviewed. relatively complex. After this ‘cut’ was watched and passed about the film being a bit dirty ever again! Due to difficulties in the film dubbing Bear in mind that we are talking about by the programme editor, it was then Working with digital media today theatre, the film did not arrive in telecine material acquired in those days on 16mm taken to the aforementioned dubbing obviously has its own potential problems, until 10pm! Now the film would have to reversal film. This was a system where theatre, where it would be run through the but compared with what people did be transmitted from Glasgow telecine. TXN there was no film negative, the film that machines shown in the last issue, with the routinely every day with film back then, Time 10.35. originally ran through the camera was reporter adding his narration voice-over, it looks like a walk in the park! At the first run-through of the film, a film join broke and the film jumped off a sprocket wheel. The effect of this is to show the film frame line across the centre of the picture. The join was remade and the film run Andrew Barr, who began his BBC life in 1964 as an assistant film recordist and retired as Head again. Two more joins pulled apart. A film of Education and Religious Broadcasting in 2000, wrote in with the following memories of the that has jumped a sprocket can be ‘put back on track’ by lifting slightly one of the rollers old dubbing theatre at Lime Grove, unlocked by Nick Jenning’s piece in the last Prospero. in the film path – whilst the film is running!

n the mid-1960s, far above the a terrific amount of strength, and if not, all search cutting rooms for Joe, or Gerry, or disused studio with long lost would be well until the sound was replayed Graham (for some reason, always ‘... the film jumped props including a Tardis and the on air when it would literally speed up. These answering to ‘grauncher’). Some came original revolving globe from early ‘runaways’ were the ultimate humiliation with large spanners, protesting our abuse off a sprocket wheel’ Ipresentation, I worked many happy shifts in for me as the recordist. And if no good for of the gear. the old dubbing theatre; the Keller was then production reasons, then the 35mm or But they always remedied the fault and only a pipedream. 16mm roll would have to be erased by a especially seraphic Gerry whom I later A telecine machine is normally run with In those days, we were required to ‘calm’ physical manipulation. Beware the featured in an ITV film playing a small all the mechanism and CRT safely behind deliver very fast and furious physical wrath of the gods if you were the nervous organ in a nearby huge church. a closed cabinet door. Not knowing how manipulation of a system which needed operator who created an audible erase bump My final act was to write a report for many more joins might part, there was only brawn as much as brain if Tonight film on the tape. Stewart Crombie at Ealing describing the one, very unorthodox way, to transmit the stories were ever to make it on air. Many layout of this ancient installation, which programme. The cabinet safety interlocks times, I remember film editors dashing went back to Gaumont days. This revealed were overridden and the cabinet door opened down from our fourth-floor, windowless the absolute absurdity of a chain which wide. I explained to the film director what eyrie with only seconds to spare, a dubbed ‘... the dubbing included bits that Maintenance claimed ‘did we would have to do in order to run the film hot from the attentions of Dave not exist’! It made oddly hilarious reading, film. I showed him the technique of lifting Simpson, the dubbing-mixer. theatre became like so unsurprisingly, shortly after I was the film roller – should a join come apart. Dave was a swashbuckling operator, an ‘promoted’ and then removed totally from The film was 16mm colour reversal which antiques expert and a jazz pianist. So spare a warship’ the scene. would require colour correction using the time was easily filled for his team who The Keller was installed and even T.A.R.I.F joystick controls. accompanied him, Allan on trumpet and came with a window and daylight, unheard The film jumped the sprocket during the myself on clarinet. But when a Tonight film Film maintenance was a law unto itself, of in the old regime. Yet Richard Dimbleby’s two first two minutes, but was ‘put back on appeared, the dubbing theatre became like although I surely (?) remember Nick as a ‘Spaghetti Harvest’, Fyffe Robertson’s track’ immediately. The rest of the film was a warship preparing for action. Everyone calm and rational miracle maker with our roving reports and Harry Carpenter’s ‘K.O.’ transmitted perfectly. jettisoned the fun – and woe betide the venerable apparatus. When breakdowns moments all made a mark on the team When it was all over I never heard a single recordist if the sepmag machines were not occurred, increasingly frequently in the pre- based in this network of tiny rooms comment from anyone! I think everyone was properly locked together. Keller days, I had to run up the stairs and I learned much from them. And thank so relieved that it had gone off so well. The Selsyn lock was only engaged with to the attic where they were based and then you, Nick. If the phrase ‘all’s well that ends well’ has any meaning then this was surely it.

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 MEMORIES 07

Memories of the BBC experimental MONEY MATTERS colour transmission Pensions, death by Eric Spain and taxes The treatment of death benefits was one of the key aspects of the planned pension reforms which was left unresolved after the initial post-Budget consultation process. The Treasury had said that this was ‘a complex area and any changes have the potential for unforeseen and unintended consequences’ and promised to ‘confirm its intention at Autumn Statement 2014’. It was therefore a surprise when the Chancellor made an announcement on pension death benefits in his speech to the Conservative Party conference at the end of September. The Treasury duly issued out a press release, but its contents were far from clear, suggesting that the whole process had been rushed. The intended position for payments of lump death benefits made after 5 April 2015 appears to be as follows: • If you die before age 75 with a money purchase pension fund which is uncrystallised (i.e. untouched) or in drawdown, the fund can be paid to anyone as a lump sum completely tax free. Currently a 55% tax charge applies to funds in drawdown, but uncrystallised funds are untaxed. • On death on or after age 75, it will be possible to pass the remaining fund (uncrystallised or in drawdown) ‘to The photograph shows everyone who was any beneficiary who will then be able involved in the production in April 1956 on the to draw down on it at their marginal occasion of an international conference on the rate of income tax.’ The Treasury says future of colour television standards. ‘beneficiaries will also have the option of receiving the pension as a lump sum payment, subject to a tax charge of t was sometime around early 1955 helpful to get one of the jobs in the colour – and left it to John to put the light 45%.’ However, this would seem to be when the BBC decided to take colour studio. For the telecine expertise, Ken Howe where it was needed. Not so easy because an interim measure for 2015/16 only as television seriously. was also taken on board in the technical the incident illumination needed was the Treasury states that ‘The Government The USA had adopted the NTSC team headed by Tony Stanley and Willie West. 350-foot-candles – about ten times that intends to also make lump-sum systemI that compressed the colour signal Before we started real work, there were of a monochrome studio. It was hot! The payments subject to tax at the marginal into the existing signal bandwidth so that an interesting few days at the Evesham BBC, of course, had established a spirit rate (not a flat rate charge of 45%). It it could be received on existing black-and- training school. Quite rightly, the director towards high-quality sound and pictures will engage with pension industry in white receivers. So the decision was made of engineering, Douglas Birkenshaw, and Ken and I did our best to maintain the order to put this regime in place for to follow this example and tailor it to the decided that he and his senior staff should standards, even though we were on the 2016-17.’ At present all lump sum death existing UK 405 line system. understand something about colour borderline of quality. One of our greatest benefits arising on or after age 75 are Studio A in Alexandra Palace had television. (He had been the first senior rewards was an American technical man subject to 55% tax. remained empty and was chosen as the Engineer at Alexander Palace in the 1936 who expressed astonishment at the pictures These proposals only apply to place for learning more, operationally, about start-up.) It was also decided that Ken we were producing when we were alleged uncrystallised money purchase funds and it. The Marconi company built two cameras and I should join them which was, itself, to have a lower definition system! drawdown funds: they do not apply to and control equipment based upon the one an interesting experience for two young There are a lot more stories to tell, defined benefit pension schemes, scheme developed by RCA in America and used men near the bottom of the pack! See the such as the demonstration to members of pensions or most types of annuity. On three image orthicons. Apart from the lens photograph of us all. Parliament, a grand party in the Festival the face of it, their end result is likely to turret and the viewfinder, they looked rather The fun really started when full-blown Hall and the international standards be that pensions will play an even greater like a small coffin. productions were made and transmitted meeting, outside broadcasting and when part in your estate planning. But given the There was also a 16mm film scanner, after regular transmissions had finished we dropped a camera! confusing nature of the announcement, slide scanner and, producing the best at about 11pm. There were different I cannot remember how long it lasted for now it is very much a case of ‘watch moving pictures, a Cintel flying spot programmes every month transmitted for but it was decided to end the studio work this space’. 35mm scanner. four nights covering the usual genres. and move the telecine machines and me Chase de Vere is one of a panel of independent financial The aims were to learn about the I’m racking my brains for the names of to Lime Grove to transmit the morning advisers selected by the BBC. Further details can be production and operational issues that colour the production people but, alas, nothing technical trade broadcasts. found on the Benefits site of Gateway. Chase de Vere would bring, together with seeing how comes up. However, I well remember, We made the best of it but it was a bit Independent Financial Advisers Limited is authorised people rated the pictures both in colour and because they were already my friends, the boring and, when I was offered a job in and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For in the compatible black-and-white. first lighting director Ben Palmer followed, Rediffusion, at twice the salary, to work a free initial consultation to discuss your financial I had joined the BBC a couple of years full-time, by John Treays. under Basil Bultitude, also ex-BBC, I left. planning call Chase de Vere on 0845 300 6256. before as a direct entry C engineer and put in Lighting was a very important factor There, I met Phil Parker who asked me to Please note: The value of your investment can go down as charge of the maintenance of studio in achieving good pictures because the join him to help start Irish Telecision in well as up and you may not get back the full amount E – the only one with cameras using the cameras weren’t sensitive and prone to Dublin. This was like being reborn! But you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator rather extraordinary image-orthicons noise. As a result, we developed the very doing new things took me to Uganda, then of future performance. Investing in shares should be camera tubes. So this, with a passion for simple concept of not fiddling with the Singapore and Hong Kong where my Irish regarded as a long-term investment and should fit in understanding colour perception, was knobs of the cameras – even exposure wife and, now, her Irish husband live. with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances. Tax laws can change. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax advice.

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 08 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE Heritage on the move with North 3 The Llandudno Transport Festival on the early May Bank Holiday weekend was a fresh entry to the calendar for this year’s summer tour by the 1969 vintage OB mobile control room, CMCR9/North 3.

he truck is privately owned and Sunday. This proved to be a good move as the maintained by Steve Harris and his rain was just as bad as forecast and the show small team, and the early May event drew to an early close. meant a frantic rush to get the In August we were at Onslow Park Steam Ttechnical side up and running in time Rally near Shrewsbury, where the weather for the first public show of the year. was somewhat mixed, with some very heavy Fortunately, North 3 had already done showers. On Steve’s arrival, it was raining more a 100-mile tour as part of the Cheshire heavily in the cab than it was outside! This was Commercial Vehicle Run on 27 April, found to be due to a blocked drain tube from completing the course without a problem, so the aircon compartment above the cab. at least there was confidence in the vehicle Another busy year for North 3 was side of things. We had a good pitch for the rounded off at the University of Salford first appearance at Llandudno and enthusiastic Media Centre, on Salford Quays in October, Health checks that see right visitors flocked to come and look around. as part of their annual technology exhibition, The second outing of the year to the ‘From Semaphore to Smartphone’. through you Kelsall Steam Rally in June was also a bit We had the use of an excellent generator different as it was the first time that Steve provided by the University and, for the first The BBC has negotiated a discount for Lifescan has a team of Patient Advisers, exhibited both his scanners! North 3 was time, an original 1969 Pye PC80 camera was retired members of staff, for potentially who use specially designed clinical accompanied for the first time by the former shown working into the scanner, thanks to a life saving health checks which can help checklists which help to establish which Unit 23, which Steve saved from the cutter’s tremendous restoration effort by Steve Jones. diagnose the early signs of heart disease, health check is the most appropriate for torch earlier in the year. Inside the exhibition hall, Steve Harris and lung cancer, colon cancer and other any individual, based on age, personal North 3 was one of the earliest BBC colour Eric Hignett displayed a collection of working serious illnesses, before any symptoms history and family history. OB units and Unit 23, formerly BBC LO 23, TVs from various decades, including a 1957 are apparent. As a retired BBC staff member you are was one of the last, before the takeover by SIS- 17-inch Bush TV56 working very well on A Lifescan check is easy and painless entitled to a special discount across the Live. The trucks arrived at Kelsall in convoy, 405 lines! Steve also provided a working and each scan only takes a few seconds. entire range of Lifescan CT health checks. Unit 23 being driven by Martin Dilworth, a broadcast studio camera (dare I say it? … ex- In the UK, more than one in three This could save you up to 20% on your professional driver who helped Steve through Granada!) for the public to play with under people in the UK will be diagnosed with health check. his HGV driving course a couple of years ago. supervision. From conversations with them, some form of cancer during their lifetime Full details of the Lifescan health Unit 23 Type 7/CMCR54, was on show our contribution was much appreciated by the and in any given year around 175,000 checks are available on their website at Kelsall as a ‘work in progress’ alongside many visitors, young and old. The university people in the UK will have a heart attack – www.lifescanuk.org. North 3. It was saved from the scrapyard at said afterwards that 1,500 people had visited that’s one every three minutes.* Before any booking can be confirmed, the last minute and is going to be restored the exhibition over the two days. The good news is that in the last we will need to ensure you comply with digital equipment, much as it was after North 3 and its crew will now hibernate 20 years there has been a dramatic with the clinical referral criteria for the its refit to digital in 1999. for the winter! improvement in the treatment of such appointment you have chosen. Much help has been given to Steve by Jerry Clegg illnesses. This means you are much more former Manchester staff who worked on the likely to survive many types of cancer digital conversion in 1999 and crewed Unit or heart disease – provided you are 23 right through to the end of the SIS years. diagnosed early enough – in fact ideally Eventually LO23, resprayed in original BBC before you have any symptoms*. grey, will be shown alongside North 3 to show Lifescan has pioneered a range of health how TV technology changed in 20 years. checks in the UK, including the use of CT Lifescan is registered as a provider Wilmslow Show in June was the next scans and specialist blood tests, some of of diagnostic and screening services outing and as in previous years we had which are currently being offered to BBC with the Care Quality Commission the benefit of the excellent 45kVA silent employees as part of the BBC’s MyChoices and fully complies with the generator provided by the organisers. benefit scheme. Ionising Radiation (Medical July saw us at the Astle Park Steam Rally Since its launch in 2003, Lifescan has seen near Chelford. We had a really good day on over 70,000 people. They’ve identified the Exposures) Regulations 2000 the Saturday, but pulled out in the evening At Kelsall. risk of potentially life-threatening illnesses (and subsequent amendments). due to a very adverse weather forecast for the in thousands of people and as part of Spire Healthcare, can offer their pioneering health *CancerResearchUK and British checks throughout the UK. Heart Foundation

Call Lifescan on 0800 180 8023 or visit www.lifescanuk.org. To ensure you receive your BBC discounted price, please remember to quote BBCPM.

The BBC has launched a free, online, Alumni community for former staff. If you would like to stay in touch with the BBC and your old colleagues or win tickets to BBC shows and special events, please send an email headed ‘BBC Alumni Prospero’ to [email protected], with your name, BBC staff or pension number, last BBC office location and the first half of your home postcode.

Steve’s TV stand at Salford. Visit us at www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/whoweare/alumni

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 BACK ATMEMORIES THE BBC 09 Famous faces, historic moments If 90th anniversaries are meant to be a warm up for the 1. ‘2BE calling...’ That was how it all began 4 back in 1924, with a brand new call sign and centenary, BBC Northern Ireland hasn’t held back. the voice of Tyrone Guthrie, pictured (fifth right) with colleagues at the opening of the Belfast station of the British Broadcasting After a gala concert in Belfast’s Ulster Hall in Company in Linenhall Street. 2 October, selections of archive programmes 2. Engineer James Burns adjusts the transmitter online and nostalgic BBC NI logos playing control desk at the new Lisnagarvey transmitting on air and in trails all week, a special station, opened in 1936. For the first time, programme from 1974, revealing how BBC specially commissioned radio programmes Northern Ireland worked ‘behind the scenes’ were broadcast to audiences across 40 years ago, was used to mark the official Northern Ireland. anniversary on Friday 24 October. 5 To mark the milestone, Ariel raided the 3. No hot-desking for Ursula Eason, assistant Belfast photo archive for a flavour of BBC head of NI Programmes, pictured in 1948 in NI’s nine decades on air. Ormeau Avenue’s Broadcasting House. The new £250,000 HQ had opened seven years earlier and, with the end WW2, came a new emphasis on regional voices and lives. BBC 1 Television arrived in Belfast in 1953. 4. Renowned breeding ground for talent of all kinds – from Paxman and Jeremy Bowen 3 to Gloria Hunniford and Patrick Kielty – Belfast’s rich drama tradition gave a young 6 Kenneth Branagh exposure in 1982’s Too Late to Talk to Billy. 5. Presenter Mark Carruthers was in the Radio Ulster studio on August 31, 1994 to hear reaction from the Northern Ireland community as the IRA announced its historic complete cessation of violence. 6. Controller Richard Francis surveys the devastation after a bomb exploded at BH Belfast in 1974. The Troubles inevitably had New chairwoman of the BBC Trust a profound effect on the BBC, its coverage of the conflict provoking often fierce audience Rona Fairhead CBE, the new chairwoman of the BBC and political reaction. Trust, is the first woman to lead the Corporation’s governing body. NEWS BITS

‘I plan to visit as many different parts of aged 51, but older women had continued the organisation as possible in the months O’Reilly: Let older to disappear from News. ahead and hope you take the opportunity ‘I’d like to see a much older woman to introduce yourselves,’ she told staff. women read the news reading the news in peak time. And I’d She said she would be giving ‘space’ Former Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly like it to be consistent,’ she told the Lords, to Tony Hall and his executives to pursue told a Lords select committee that BBC but argued against quotas to get more their ‘clear vision’ for the BBC. News was still lagging behind other parts of over-50s on air. ‘They understand that they need to television in putting older women on air. operate efficiently and to rectify some of The anti-ageism campaigner, who won the high profile issues of the past, while a landmark age discrimination case against When Tony Hall met building this compelling future.’ the BBC at employment tribunal, said And as leader of the trust, she other women had told her they had been Terry Walsh promised to ‘defend vigorously the ‘sidelined’ and ‘forced out’ of their jobs at Terry Walsh decided that he couldn’t let BBC’s independence while holding it BBC News because they were over 50. 40 years at Radio Stoke go by without accountable to its audience and to its Giving evidence to a select committee informing the DG of his imminent public service mission’. inquiry into representation of women in broadcasting milestone. Fairhead – who was chief executive at news and current affairs broadcasting, she Rather than send a standard Her appointment was approved by the the Financial Times between 2006-2013 – quoted from a number of women who’d congratulatory reply, Tony Hall decided to Queen’s Privy Council on 8 October 2014. will be based at the trust’s Great Portland corresponded with her after they left the visit the radio veteran, who’s ‘just about The government had previously named Street headquarters in central London, News division. presented every programme going’, the former head of the Financial Times just round the corner from New One felt ‘women over 50 should never according to his biography. Group as their preferred candidate to Broadcasting House. show their faces or necks in public’, another Walsh, who is currently a presenter of succeed Chris Patten at the end of August. The former executive director of that ‘men were able to get old and peculiar, Good Times – a nostalgic Sunday afternoon The Culture, Media and Sport Select FT’s owners Pearson and non-executive but not women’. show – says ‘it was great to meet Tony Hall Committee added their unanimous director at the Economist Group stated at ‘One woman said she simply ran out of and to be able to introduce him to the backing after a hearing in September. the start of her most high profile job yet: the will to fight and wanted to go while she brilliant team here at BBC Radio Stoke’. In an email to staff on her first morning ‘The BBC remains one of the UK’s most could hold her heard high,’ O’Reilly said. He adds: ‘Local radio is an incredibly in post, Fairhead said she was delighted important cultural institutions and an Another had been ‘broken down over time important part of the BBC’s public service to join ‘such a talented group of people’ essential part of what defines us at home to point where she wanted to go.’ remit, and I’m as enthusiastic and proud who were responsible for ‘the enduring and abroad. O’Reilly observed that representation to work here at BBC Radio Stoke as I was excellence and appeal of the BBC’s ‘As the future of the BBC is debated of older women in entertainment, factual forty years ago. Here’s to the next 40 years!’ programmes and services’. over the next few years, I look forward to and documentary output from the BBC The DG also visited Birmingham while She admitted to being a broadcasting working with you all to make sure it stays had improved since she was dropped from he was in the Midlands, meeting some of novice who was ‘eager to learn more’. that way.’ BBC One’s Countryfile programme in 2009, the BBC’s apprentices and trainees.

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 10 OBITUARIES Sheila Tracy – Governance expert A successful application in the mid-60s for a pit closures. John was a stickler for accuracy post in Light Music Department, Radio found and grammar but his news team all recall his a reminiscence and founding director him producing key programmes fierce loyalty to them if ever complaints for all networks, mostly with the BBC were made. of Broadcasting Concert Orchestra. John was well-read and a lover of Standards Commission When ‘Broadcasting in the Seventies’ was classical music but he shared a birthday with Elvis Presley; on hearing the news of Colin Shaw CBE one of television’s most implemented, David shunned the daytime DJ presented area and began offering material the singer’s death, he charged into the radio senior bureaucrats, has died, aged 85. station at dawn to completely revamp the Shaw, who wrote plays, principally for to Radio 4. The subject matter was always apposite, the speakers well chosen and the breakfast show – absolutely the right thing radio, joined BBC Radio in 1953. His first job to do. Pop music he could take or leave with at the Corporation was as a drama producer research both exhaustive and accurate. He one exception. He absolutely adored Status in Leeds. had a way of dealing with artists that quickly Quo (it was the music played at his funeral.) In 1960, Shaw was called to the Bar. His inspired trust and confidence and many of The other lifetime passions that must be legal mind was to prove invaluable at the BBC. those he directed became firm friends. His mentioned were bird-watching, cricket and Sir Paul Fox, the former BBC One Controller, BBC days officially ended in 1997, and it was Aston Villa. said: ‘If you had a problem, you could go to then that his second career took shape and Shortly before the Falklands War, John was Shaw and he wouldn’t come up with a snap blossomed. The same skills that had made him attached to the Islands’ broadcasting service answer – it was his lawyer’s training. [Instead], a respected radio producer stood him in good to train Patrick Watts, the station’s only he would reason it out for you.’ stead as an author and his total of published full-time broadcaster. Patrick’s memorable Shaw was appointed Secretary to the BBC in books eventually exceeded 40. Many of these broadcasts on the day of the Argentine 1969 and promoted to Chief Secretary in 1972. were on his favourite subject – cricket – invasion are testament to a job well done. At the BBC, part of his time was taken up and included biographies of EW Swanton, In 1980 John was recruited as programme by corresponding with Mary Whitehouse. C Aubrey Smith and, most significantly, of organiser to launch Radio Northampton. She was convinced the Corporation was John Arlott, who became a close friend. Success at Radio Northampton made John responsible for what she regarded as the I was with him when the De Montfort keen to run his own station and he achieved Sheila Tracy was born in Cornwall on country’s ‘moral decline’. University acknowledged his broadcasting this goal in 1985 with Radio Stoke. The 10 January 1934 as Sheila Margery Lugg. When Whitehouse complained in 1970 and literary achievements by offering him station prospered under his stewardship, but She was not a child of a musical family and that BBC drama was full of nudity, Shaw an Honorary Degree in Literature. He was a few years later the ‘one size fits all’ policy responded by pointing out that nudes deeply and genuinely touched by the gesture we must thank Truro High School for her of Local Radio’s new senior management had been ‘a feature of art for a great many and justifiably proud to accept it. musicality, for upon leaving she went straight team led to a parting of the ways. years’. He added: ‘No one could describe The MCC and BBC alike have lost a loyal to the Royal Academy of Music to study In his time at the BBC John morphed from Michelangelo’s David as an unseemly work.’ and dedicated supporter and those of us violin, piano and trombone. a conventional suit-and-tie journalist who He left the BBC in 1977 to become who knew him will, I am sure, extend our The trombone took precedence and would always stand his round in the pub at Director of Television at the newly founded sympathies to his wife Rosemary and his she commenced professional life with Ivy lunchtime, into a richer character, taking up Independent Broadcasting Authority. daughters Lindsay and Briony. Benson’s All-Girl Band in 1956. Two years marathon racing in middle age, acquiring a His distinguished career culminated John Meloy later she formed a vocal/instrumental duo taste for colourful apparel, sporting a wispy in his becoming founding Director of with a fellow trombonist; naming themselves goatee beard and sauntering the streets the Broadcasting Standards Commission ‘The Tracy Sisters’ they became a successful of the Potteries swinging a silver-topped from 1988-1996. This position admirably Local Radio news act in radio and television variety shows. cane. He would have taken pleasure in this suited his strong belief in the positive Due to a serious domestic rift within her editor/station manager tribute from Nigel Kay, one of his long-term influence which properly supported quality partner’s family the duo was short-lived and colleagues: ‘Beneath that mildly eccentric broadcasting could have on underpinning by 1962 Sheila Tracy, carrying her stage name exterior was a bloody good journalist.’ stable democracy and national identity. with her, moved to BBC TV as an ‘in vision’ Owen Bentley network continuity announcer. Colin also served as Chair of The Voice Being right at the end of that era she of the Listener Trust (VLV) and for many was soon to join BBC regional TV in years as a VLV Board member. Even after his Crystal Palace EiC Plymouth where she gained experience as an departure from the VLV, he was frequently AW Busby (Bill) died earlier this year at interviewer and presenter, which served her consulted by the other Board members the age of 96 following a long illness with well for her later radio career. for his knowledge of the media and of prostate cancer, and will be best remembered In 1974 she read the news on Radio 4 – broadcasting governance issues. as Engineer-in-Charge of the Crystal Palace the first woman to do so and suddenly she Colin was, in the best sense, erudite and Transmitting Station. was in the news herself! cultured – with a historical awareness and He joined the BBC in 1939 following an Radio Two was soon to embrace her, a strong family loyalty. A strong family – as apprenticeship with Ellison (switch gear initially with the Late Show until 2am but well as a distinguished career – belongs manufacturers), serving at both the Daventry eventually she would host the weekly show intimately to the legacy he leaves. and Droitwich transmitting stations. He later Big Band Special and, with the job lasting for We extend our deepest sympathy to saw wartime service with the RAF in Africa 21 years, nothing could have been better for Colin’s family, including six grandchildren and Italy before rejoining the BBC at the her or the programme. and one great-grandchild whom, sadly, Bartley transmitter. Spending many decades with musicians Colin just missed meeting. Following a period as Assistant EiC at the resulted in her meeting and interviewing Sutton Coldfield Television Station, he took the majority of the famous and she put Radio producer and up a post in Ghana, West Africa, where he their stories into two books. Bands, Booze supervised the setting up of a local radio and Broads (1995) featured the greats of cricket aficionado service. It was on his return to the UK in the American musical firmament, followed Some time in the latter half of the 1950s 1958 that he was appointed EiC Crystal by Talking Swing with stories from David Rayvern Allen made what later proved Palace. His time there covered numerous British luminaries. to be a life-changing decision: faced with the technological advancements in television In 1962 she married John Arnatt, an actor choice of accepting an invitation to play with transmission, of which many were trialled and some-time sports reporter who died in an orchestra arranged by Geraldo on a luxury at Crystal Palace. As well as being a first- 1999. It was a happy union, producing a cruise liner, or take up a job in the Television John Collard first made his mark on the BBC class engineer, he was also of that breed son, Richard, who although a boy chorister, Music Library, he opted for the latter. It was at Radio Leicester, which he joined in 1972 who can only be described as gentlemen, spent his life in the financial world. a decision that opened up two careers, both as the station’s first news editor, wresting was scrupulously fair in his treatment of the Sheila died on 30 September 2014, aged of which brought him the distinction his control of the news away from Roland staff who worked for him, and was much 80. Her funeral was a family ceremony enthusiasm, dedication and sheer hard work Orton’s news agency – a hard enough task respected. He retired in 1978. followed by a loving celebration of her life, richly deserved. in itself. His funeral was attended by family which gathered together friends, musicians His BBC days began as a studio librarian These were changing times in the city members and a number of ex-BBC colleagues. and BBC ex-colleagues. She will be greatly and he at once proved that any task he was and county and John’s newsroom reported Bill never married and is survived by his missed by so many. given would be undertaken with the care and the influx of East African Asians, the rise of younger brother Don. Brian Willey attention to detail that became his trademark. the National Front, industrial unrest, and Norman Shacklady and Eric Picketts

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 OBITUARIES 11 In 1967 he moved from this remote location team in tournaments as recently as three Engineer who to the bright lights of the West End of years ago. In retirement Tom maintained From office boy to developed job London and joined staff administration contact with a group of his work colleagues audio supervisor on attachment. on monthly rambles and pub lunches and Tommy Anderson joined the BBC in evaluation schemes After a successful attachment to the maintained his lifelong interest in classical Glasgow in 1949 as an office boy with the then Organisation, Methods and Grading music with regular attendances at concerts in aspiration of becoming a studio manager – Department, Tom obtained a permanent the Reading area. something he achieved upon his return from post in what became the Pay Relativities Tom died on 11 August 2014, aged National Service. Department. Here he mostly specialised 84, after several months in hospital. He is He spent his whole BBC career in in job evaluation, eventually becoming a survived by his wife Sheila, daughter Val and Scotland and his fortes were music and Head of Section. Concentrating initially son Steve. He will be greatly missed by all drama. He worked with the BBC Scottish in job evaluation in engineering areas, his friends. Variety Orchestra and its successor, the BBC he made a substantial contribution to the John Groom and Ray Bell Scottish Radio Orchestra, on a wide range rationalisation of the grades of engineers of programmes including those of Kenneth in Transmitter Group. He subsequently McKellar and Moira Anderson as well as extended his activities over a wide range London film despatcher countless editions of Music While You Work and of BBC departments and activities. and researcher Morning Music. He made a substantial and noteworthy With the creation of audio units in contribution to the development and the 1970s, Tommy’s title changed to introduction of a new job evaluation scheme ‘audio supervisor’ but, like several of his for catering staff, and as a Section leader colleagues, he wisely chose to remain headed a small team whose role was to working exclusively in radio, although the research and present pay relativities cases to demise of the BBC’s light orchestras meant the Corporate Inter-directorate Committee. that he concentrated mainly on drama Towards the end of his career Tom with occasional forays into Glasgow Studio was a member of a two-man delegation 1 to balance the BBC Scottish Symphony to Cyprus Broadcasting with a view to Orchestra. He retired in 1993 but continued helping to rationalise grades throughout working on a casual basis for several years. the organisation. This included interviewing Back in his hometown Carlisle after serving Away from work he had a passionate some 700 staff over a period of two weeks his National Service as a radio/radar interest in the cinema – not just the films, and contributing to discussions with the mechanic, Tom Small was recruited into but the cinemas themselves, together with management and Trade Unions in Cyprus Transmitter Division and posted to nearby their projection equipment, and he was a Broadcasting and the managements of other Skelton as a technical assistant. long standing member of the Cinema Theatre national and governmental organisations On successfully completing the Association. Ironically, it was while visiting within Cyprus. Engineer Grade C course, he went to the Glasgow Film Theatre in October 2009 Tom was an enthusiastic tennis and table Stagshaw in Northumberland as a senior that he suffered a fall which damaged his tennis player, representing his table tennis maintenance engineer. spinal cord and left him paralysed from the chest down. Mark Whyberd left school aged 14. After Tommy died in June 2014 and is survived Radio Humberside star Betty Smith dies at 93 National Service in the RAF, he joined the by his wife Bunty, son Christopher and Ealing Film Studios as firefighter working on grandchildren Honor and Oscar. Radio Humberside star Betty Smith (below ‘She certainly achieved that,’ he said. many feature films. When Ealing Studios was Alan Bunting right in the photo) has died at the age of 93. ‘I, along with her family and friends, will taken over by the BBC in 1956, Mark joined She became a hit with audiences miss her dearly and the joy she brought the film despatch team. In 1957 he was alongside Beryl Renwick, five years to the Radio Humberside audience appointed head of film despatch and then Prospero obituaries her junior, on David Reeves’ Saturday every week.’ became film researcher for 24 Hours, Tonight, evening show. Beryl and Betty first went on air in Midweek and Panorama. – a reminder The pair went on to be the oldest ever 2006, giving their unfettered take on His ran a busy team of two despatch If someone you know has passed winners of a Sony Radio Award, receiving anything from pop music to latest news, riders, who would pick film rushes from all away and you would like to supply an the entertainment prize in 2012 for with the show running for six years. over the UK as well as material sent from obituary to Prospero, please either email their ‘joyous, entertaining double act’. They disappeared from the airwaves all over the world that arrived at Heathrow it to [email protected] or post it to (Prospero reported on their success in in the summer of 2012 due to Betty’s Airport, deliver them to the film laboratories, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, June 2012.) failing health, but returned for a then to Lime Grove to be edited; this also Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Reeves, who discovered his co- Christmas special. included copying the sound tapes. To ensure that we can include as presenters when they gatecrashed his ‘Since the programme finished, Betty’s His other role was getting copies made many obituaries as possible, please studio during a tour of BBC Hull, paid daughter Elaine would often tell me that from Movietone, Pathe and Reuters, ready keep your draft to a maximum of 350 tribute to a ‘woman that cared deeply the six years on air were the best years of to be edited on the day. This also included words. Obituaries that are longer than about making people happy’. her life,’ said Reeves. copying 35mm feature films from the latest 350 words will be edited down by the Hollywood film promotions. Prospero team. He mentioned once that on the day John F If you have a photo you want to Kennedy was assassinated, he was on his way include, you can send a print to us to be home, when he turned around and through scanned in at the appropriate resolution his contacts was able to provide the archive (and we will post it back to you), or if for a 60-minute Special that night. you send us an electronic image please In those days Mark would have a cigarette try to make sure it is print quality in one hand and the choice of three phones (300dpi). Generally speaking, images to pick up, which shows how hectic his job that have been taken from a website will was, and a daily visit to the Lime Grove bar not be print quality, and we also cannot would definitely be on his schedule. Mark use photocopies of photographs. also became captain of the BBC Darts team. We sometimes receive more than In 1980 he joined Newsnight and finally one obituary for the same person. It retired in 1992, working later on various is always a good idea to check with us ‘Specials’ until he moved with his wife Carol first if anyone has supplied an obituary to Dorset and retired. for that person. In these cases, we will Mark was a great character and believed always use the family obituary first and in the values of the BBC. He would always be then, if there is space, we will include friendly to new staff and make them welcome. additional information from the He will be missed by all those who met him. second obituary. Adam Gotch

PROSPERO DECEMBER 2014 12 SONGS OF PRAISE Songs of Praise changes format as part of relaunch The BBC’s flagship worship show,Songs of Praise, has In contrast, increased immigration – for week to week, not just on a Sunday – and example from Eastern Europe – has led how their faith informs their approach to life updated its programme as part of a relaunch. to the growth of younger congregations, and how their faith transforms lives.’ such as those at Catholic churches and at The programme will still feature the more Pentecostal and black majority churches. traditional choirs and hymns of worship for its Mr Ahmed said: ‘At the heart of this, really, current audience, in the hope that it will be able is the fact that Christianity has changed in to celebrate many more years in good voice. Britain. Songs of Praise has been going for But Mr Ahmed, the BBC’s first Muslim head over 53 years, and no TV show can stay the of religion, said the new Songs of Praise would same for ever.’ not include other faiths. He added: ‘We want to appeal to a ‘Not in a million years. There are lots of different Christian audience, who may not other multi-faith shows on the BBC, but necessarily have seen themselves every week Songs of Praise is a Christian music show. on Songs of Praise in the past. Sometimes you Though if you come to it as not a Christian, have to find a way of reaching out to that you’ll also get something out of it.’ audience to say, ‘this really is for you.’’ In the new format, rather than going to CLASSIFIEDS one church a week, the programme will feature music performances from various Altea, Spain. different denominations, and different Beachfront apartment with jacuzzi, presenters for some of the segments. two bedrooms, air-conditioned, underfloor heating. Contact Sandra. Those who have grown up watching Email: [email protected] Songs of Praise say they are looking forward Mobile: 0034 663657411 to a more inclusive programme each week. Theology teacher Dr Dulcie Dixon, who Paphos. is also a religious broadcaster, told the BBC: A/C studio apartment, sleeps 2/3, spectacular balcony view, from £95pw. ‘I’ve always watched it, and I’ve always loved Amenities adjacent. Taxi/car hire arranged. it more when they’ve had gospel singers and Website: www.stayincyprus.co.uk choirs on, and it’s nice to know they’re going Tel: 01455 635 759 to widen their range of churches and singers. Music to faith is like a hand in a glove – it’s a Menorca. From Sunday 16 November, it dropped The show will also change to a magazine part of it. Detached holiday villa. Sleeps 2-7. Private pool. Near Es Castell. Short drive gorgeous its traditional format of an Anglican format that reflects what the programme ‘For Songs of Praise to include more beaches. Brochure 01621 741810. service recorded in a cathedral, parish, describes as the reality of Christian faith choirs and more black majority church Website: www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk or other church. across the country. congregations is a great move, and that will Each edition will now feature a range This is not the first makeover for Songs of perhaps enhance their audience. Turkish Riviera. of churches, locations, congregations, Praise – which was created in 1961. ‘When you hear the radio or watch TV it’s Ciftlik, Fethiye. Luxurious four-bedroom and choirs. Over the years, the face of Christianity in nice to hear somebody who looks like you villa, sleeps eight, private pool, £500- £600pw. Details: www.anchorvilla.co.uk The BBC’s head of religion and ethics, Britain has changed significantly, along with and sounds like you.’ and www.holidaylettings.co.uk/179513 Aaqil Ahmed, said a ‘different form of the UK’s population, and the programme’s There will also be more segments every Tel: 01344 425219 Christianity’ had emerged in the UK. audience has aged. It is now in its mid-70s. week featuring current issues that affect the Email: [email protected] faithful, such as the persecution of Syrian Christians and other religious minorities in Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and the Middle East. Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Reunions The change was welcomed by the Church Cardiff CF5 2YQ. of England’s director of communications, the Please enclose a cheque made payable to: The London Lunch 2015 If you’ve change your email address since Reverend Arun Arora, who said: ‘The new BBC Central Directorate. The London Lunch 2015 Reunion March this year, please send your current format will welcome in something about Rate: £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter for colleagues from engineering and address to: londonlunch2012@ people living out [their] faith, day to day, please include your pension number. operational departments, together with btinternet.com friends and guests, will take place on Tuesday 10 March 2015 at the Victory Take Two of the Light Services Club as usual. Entertainment Television CAPTION competition WIN Our guest speaker will be Richard Tate, reunion late of BBC TV Current Affairs and Channel Open to all who have worked in and for The winner of a £10 Four News. If you wish to receive further Light Entertainment Television. Another £10 voucher for information and booking details, please opportunity to meet up with former the most amusing send an email to: londonlunch2012@ colleagues. To be held at the BBC Club caption was btinternet.com or a stamped addressed Western House, 99 Great Portland Street, Sylvia Moore, with envelope to: LL12, PO Box 208, W1A 1AA on Wednesday 21 January 2015 ‘Sorry it’s taking Havant PO9 9BQ. Booking details will from noon onwards. time but it’s the be available in the New Year. Those of RSVP Tony Newman(Email: tonynewman Marie Antoinette you who attended the 2014 lunch @live.com) or Lesley Begley (Email: one – full of will be contacted automatically. [email protected]). tomato ketchup as usual.’ Notable runners-up included Peter Sheridan (‘try BBC East reunion this one, it’s better than the one you’re wearing’) and Michael Flanagan (‘I’m sure Nearly 100 retired and senior members of BBC East staff attended a dinner at The this was a beard in one of the last scenes’). Sprowston Manor Hotel in Norwich on 27 September to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the regional news programme, Look East. Post your witty caption to Prospero by Amongst the guests was former News Editor, Dick Robinson, who started his broadcasting Friday 9 January 2015 (see page 2 for Picture shows Keith Bentley having his career at the Norwich studios when they opened in 1959. Also in attendance were presenters address) or email [email protected], pulse, heart beat and respiration rate tested from the 1970s onwards including, Penny Bustin, Louise Priest, Kim Riley, Jane Saggers, Ian with ‘caption competition 6’ in the subject after riding a bicycle from Alexandra Palace Masters, Claire Bishop, and the current senior male member of the team, Stewart White. line. Good luck! to Lime Grove (a distance of 12 miles) in Highlights of the evening included some humorous memories from 94-year-old Peter record time, in July 1952. With are (from Battle, who was gardener at the St Catherine’s Close studios for 36 years, plus a slide show left) Roger Bannister, Dr L Bernstein and and specially made video compiled by Andrew Holland (picture editor) and Paul Cort-Wright Dr B Cardew. (director/producer) covering the memorable moments of Look East over the decades.

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