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AUGUST 2014 • Issue 4

TV news celebrates Remembering Great (BBC) 60 years Bing Scots Page 2 Page 7 Page 8

NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BACK AT THE BBC TV news celebrates its 60th birthday Sixty years ago, the first ever BBC TV news bulletin was aired – wedged in between a cricket match and a Royal visit to an agriculture show. Not much has changed, has it?

people’s childhoods, of people’s lives,’ lead to 24-hour news channels. she adds. But back in 1983, when round the clock How much!?! But BBC TV news did not evolve in news was still a distant dream, there were a vacuum. bigger priorities than the 2-3am slot in the One of the original Humpty toys made ‘A large part of the story was intense nation’s daily news intake. for the BBC children’s TV programme competition and innovation between the On 17 January at 6.30am, Breakfast Time Play School has sold at auction in Oxford BBC and ITV, and then with over became the country’s first early-morning TV for £6,250. many years,’ says Taylor. news programme. Bonhams had valued the 53cm-high The competition was evident almost ‘It was another move towards the sense toy at £1,200. immediately. The BBC, wary of its new that news is happening all the time,’ says The auction house called Humpty rival’s cutting-edge format, exhibited its Hockaday. ‘We [were] beginning to fill in ‘an important member of the Play School newsreaders on screen for the very first the day. You wake up and you want to know cast, taking part in almost every single time just two weeks before ITN launched what’s going on in the world.’ episode and even receiving his very own in 1955. But , which launched in ‘There was no early morning news on fan mail.’ 1972, was certainly a BBC idea – the first television before Breakfast Time,’ notes Taylor, The large egg-shaped soft toy, which At 7.30pm on 5 July 1954, Richard Baker news targeted specifically at children. ‘and then you’ve got two channels doing it is dark green with checked trousers, was uttered the opening words. Topics included ‘It was a time when we realised that the within months – and it’s gone on to serve sold to a private bidder. the end of rationing and truce in Indochina. hunger for news and understanding was millions of people every day.’ It is thought as many as 20 were made The bulletin was 22 minutes long. And you not just something that adults needed’, says Technological improvements extended the during the time the show ran, but it is couldn’t see Baker in any of those minutes. Hockaday. ‘It was an instinct for children boundaries of what was feasible, ultimately believed to have been the first time an But it wasn’t too long before the BBC as well.’ leading to the launch of BBC News 24 in original Humpty has come on to the had its first in-vision newsreaders. Kenneth ‘The BBC has played a really important 1997. ‘You couldn’t run a rolling news open market. Kendall was the first, in 1955, later joined by role in tailoring a news service to children channel very effectively if you were still others such as Robert Dougall, who would in a way that doesn’t sanitise the world but shooting on film, waiting for it to come out all become semi-permanent fixtures of the communicates to that particular audience in of the developing bath,’ says Taylor. living room furniture. a way that makes sense to them.’ But audience viewing habits have changed This is quite literally the case in New But while Newsround is still going strong, too, with younger audiences particularly , where newsreaders such another significant innovation recently accessing news online and through mobiles, as Nan Winton – the first female presenter in perished. The service ran rather than TV directly. 1960 – are immortalised in the furniture of from 1974 until it was finally closed down ‘It’s just incredible in a way that people this building through specific rooms named in 2012. have said many times that television won’t be in their honour, says controller of BBC News ‘We still get people saying where there [in the future], it’s just been so strong Channel Sam Taylor. is Ceefax?’ says Taylor. As a precursor to the for so long,’ adds Taylor ‘For many of us working in television digital age, people would ‘watch’ cricket ‘The power of television, pictures and news or multimedia news, some of these matches by waiting for the page to refresh, storytelling is hugely there,’ agrees Hockaday. people are the people we grew up with,’ says he recalls. ‘At the heart of it, it’s [about] doing the Mary Hockaday, head of the newsroom and ‘You can also see in this the seeds of right journalism in the first place and then responsible for about 1,000 staff. personalisation,’ says Hockaday, ‘that I can thinking as innovatively and flexibly as ‘Whether it’s Richard Baker, Kenneth come to this and choose whether I want the possible about making sure we can offer Kendall or Robert Dougall, the profile of the travel and sport news, but I’m not interested people that quality however they come BBC newsreaders of TV news is so strong. , for example.’ to us.’ Those are the faces and voices of people In some ways Ceefax was also a precursor beamed into people’s homes, parts of to permanent news access, a path that would

The business of news Strictly stays put • BBC World News is currently in • BBC World News has 5m Facebook fans Shows like Strictly Come Dancing will not be its construction programme has been 30m homes in the US (was 6m • The BBC is the most shared news brand returning to Television Centre until 2017 extended as a result. two years ago) on (source: Newswhip), with its – two years later than planned. S&PP will remain at Elstree – its home • World Service gets about 11m listeners stories shared a record 2.71m times in BBC Studios and Post Production since moving out of TVC in 2013 – Toa comeweek in America April – almost 50% more than any (S&PP) is delaying the start of its 15-year until major construction work to the • BBC.com has 26m US users, making it other publisher lease of the revamped Studios 1, 2 and 3, ‘doughnut’ is completed. To comethe only foreign news site enjoying a • BBC World News is in over 200 countries which had been due to re-open next year. However, the move of BBC Worldwide top ten spot among websites in and territories worldwide, 380m Although studio refurbishment work to Television Centre is expected to go the country households and 1.8m hotel rooms is on track, the developer’s broader plans ahead next year as scheduled. for the Wood Lane site have evolved and

Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: prospero@.co.uk 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 October 2014. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The copy deadline is Friday 5 September 2014.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 BACK AT THE BBC 03

Moving back and staying put BBC staff (and Woman’s Hour is to move back to from Salford to reduce costs. ex-staff) show

The show’s production has been split A BBC spokesperson said: ‘As part of BBC support for Greste between bases in London and the North West Radio’s £38m DQF savings target, we have since 2002. One programme a week has reviewed the way we make programmes and BBC journalists and staff came out in been made in Salford since 2011, prior to decided that, by having a single production support of Peter Greste and his Al-Jazeera which it was made at BBC . base for Woman’s Hour, we can reduce costs colleagues and Baher Jenni Murray hosts the show three days a without affecting listeners’ enjoyment of Mohamed during a one-minute silent week – including the Salford edition – while the programme.’ protest at exactly 9.41am on Tuesday her counterpart Jane Garvey presents the The BBC will continue to produce about 24 June. other two. 3,500 hours of radio from Salford, including Both staff in the UK and those But the long-running show will move its Radio 4’s , which moved to working in bureaux around the world production base back to London full time BBC North two years ago. This figure tweeted pictures showing their solidarity because of a review of Delivering Quality does not include 5 live. to #journalismnotacrime. First savings targets. Some of them are collected here:

John Birt’s ‘BBC war stories’ John Birt reflected on some of the battles he faced – both internally and externally – as leader of the BBC, at a talk with Tony Hall in NBH’s Radio Theatre. Reporter Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped The ex-director-general was informally ‘It was the most difficult challenge that (to which Sky had vehemently objected and and held for four months while working as a BBC journalist in Gaza City, and producer Julian interviewed by the current DG, and their I ever faced in my whole life,’ he said. involved the government in the dispute). Miglierini in Rome. amiable relationship made for an interesting ‘What followed was an intensely grim and ‘I’m sorry, I feel like I’m telling a series of and candid discussion on the history of BBC miserable period for me personally until it all horrid BBC war stories,’ Birt said at one point. TV news, which celebrated its 60th birthday. started to come good.’ But on the whole he had only positive These were ‘two men who defined and Although there was ‘permafrost’ at higher things to say about the BBC. He remarked then redefined TV news,’ said head of news levels, Birt continued, ‘below that there was upon how repeatedly ‘astonished’ he is by James Harding as he introduced them. real talent and ability in the organisation.’ the brand around the world – in large part Birt joined the BBC as deputy DG in ‘But amidst this forest of talent, there thanks to BBC World and the World Service – 1987 after what was considered one of the was lots of mismanagement’, which was adding that the reputational strength it gives ‘biggest crises in its history’ after the forced ‘fantastically inefficient on a gargantuan scale’. the UK should not be underestimated. resignation of DG Alasdair Milne. ‘Others ‘The bitter battle to move the news from He also heralded the BBC as a pioneer were to follow,’ he quipped wryly. 25 minutes [running time] to 30 minutes throughout much of its history. ‘Over decades But as a bona-fide ITV man at a time when was just awful,’ he stated, while an argument it’s miles better than any other organisation ‘ITV was riding high [and] ITN had the more to place at a fixed time on BBC Two in the world,’ he added, pointing to its broad powerful news brand,’ his arrival at the BBC was ‘probably the rudest, most unpleasant, spectrum of offerings, while noting that it’s A large crowd gathered outside New was ‘profoundly unwelcome’ internally. most miserable hour that I have ever much harder to manage than its commercial Broadcasting House. ‘I was a Protestant-made Pope, absolutely experienced in my professional life.’ rivals. ‘The BBC is the best managed public nobody thought I was necessary,’ he said. But gradually the tide began to turn – sector organisation,’ said Birt, to which Hall Birt had been the first outsider brought in at although there would be future battles over clapped, somewhat tongue-in-cheek. senior level since World War Two. the moves into online and 24-hour news

CROSPERO 180 devised and compiled by Jim Palm BBC colleagues in Johannesburg including South devised and compiled by Jim Palm Africa correspondent Andrew Harding, who has written a piece arguing that Peter Greste 1 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words represents all journalists. running across. Then take these words in numerical order and

2 3 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, these letters will spell out the name of a TV programme. 4 5 Please send your answers in an envelope marked ‘Crospero’ to The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 6 7 House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, by Friday 12 September 2014. The winner will receive a £10 voucher. 8 CLUES

9 10 1. Preclude in law (5); 2. Confusion (4); 3. Land measure (4); 4. Stop! (5); 5. European country (5); 6. Put off (5); 7. Florida town (5); 8. Poem (3); Delhi bureau. 11 9. Cattle food (5); 10. Ponder (5); 11. Hampshire river (3); 12. And one in Cornwall (5); 13. Egg-shaped (5); 14. Mountain range (5); 15. No time (5); 16. Wagers (4); 17. Back (4); 18. Attempt (5). Former colleagues from the BBC World 12 13 service show their support by addressing Solutions to Crospero 179: Ahab; Penal; Ram; Gin; Cay; Eli; And; Hie; an open letter to the Egyptian Ambassador 14 15 in London. They have set up the following Sedum; Ens; Eat; Arbitration; EMI; Mat; Newer; OBE; Ant; One; Baa; Cos; Facebook pages: Ron; Cruet; West. 16 17 www.facebook.com/freealjazeerastaff www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Peter- The winner of Crospero 179 was John Dean, who correctly named the Greste/811904132159423?fref=ts 18 programme Bargain Hunt and the presenter Tim Wonnacott.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 04 LETTERS

Corbet on Friday evening – to present what became the hugely popular Outlook current affairs Ground-breaking Quirke dialogue magazine programme on World Service. That and cricket was the time when I did my own ‘Corbet’! Jamaica Inn just as bad On Thursday morning the fog at Brussels Somewhat against the tide, I not only enjoyed Regarding the article about the complaints of airport was grounding all flights for most this programme, but applaud the production. low volume with Jamaica Inn, I found the latest of the day. The Editor of Outlook, dear old Yes, it was different from the norm, but series now showing entitled Quirke just as bad. Michael Sumner, was persuaded at the last refreshingly so. This was a dark and sinister With my TV volume right up I still could minute to present the programme in story, and so was presented as secretive and not hear the dialogue and again the scenes my place. mysterious. The pictures, though sombre, were very dark. John Tidmarsh were excellent; the sound had to be listened I turned over to another channel half way to intently. That the actors’ lips were often out through the first episode. IN HIS MEMOIR of Corbet Woodall, David of view and the wording indistinct, meant At first I thought it might have been just Morris Jones does not mention what a involving the viewer into the plot to an me, but on the following Bank Holiday wonderful cricketer Corbet was before he unusual degree. Is that so wrong? Sadly, these Monday at our village fete other people also was afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis. In the days, too much television is served up with voiced similar complaints about the series. early sixties he turned out now and then for bright pictures and loud noise, hence the Are the BBC going to issue hearing aids in the Bushmen, and was both a big-hitting protests at what I considered a superb and future for their series? batsman and a serious fast bowler. I played ground-breaking television drama. Roger Fleming with him several times. The Bushmen history Bill Brown records that in 1960, twice in a match he I FIND IT very strange that Quirke, and several hit five sixes, as well as taking 19 wickets in other series that have been shown recently, the season. In a match in 1965 as a bowler Jamaica Inn – are so dark, that is, in the lack of lighting, he took 6-14. Among those he played with that it becomes difficult to see the actors’ Great to read memories of Corbet Woodall were Patrick Gordon-Walker, briefly Labour a lesson for Ben faces, let alone the general surroundings. (Prospero, June). In spite of the habit of Foreign Secretary (described as once making I nearly fell of the chair at what I thought It would seem that if the lighting is bad turning up late – or not at all – he was ‘an imaginative 43’), Eldon Griffiths, a was a wind-up until I realised a controller enough, things like make-up, costume, props always good company and a magnificent long-serving Tory MP who died recently, really was serious when he said – about and the rest of the décor no longer have the cricketer. I remember a match when he and John Hatch, later Lord Hatch of Lusby, Jamaica Inn sound – ‘if you can’t understand same importance. hit five sixes in one over (or maybe it was who led team tours to the Isle of Wight. what they’re saying then there is a problem’. The need for a top make-up artist or six – can anyone else remember?) Alas, he Other more regular team-mates would have Controller of Drama Commissioning, costume designer becomes less important. was finally bowled out permanently by included Kenneth Adam, the BBC’s Director Ben Stephenson clearly has no idea of As for the set designer and their prop buyer, rheumatoid arthritis, which eventually put of Television, who kept wicket, and Trevor how productions are made – so Ben, painter and carpenters etc, these almost no him in a wheelchair. McDonald, an off-spinner who I once saw read and learn! longer really matter. I know at least one person who presented get a hat-trick in his first over. Firstly the actors do what the director tells Today, it seems to me, that if you want to the lunchtime news when Corbet failed to Peter Hill them – move, talk, act. The producer takes make a series, you can pick almost any ‘man turn up. It was me, rushed in almost at the the responsibility for what the director asks with a camera’, rather than a cameraman. last minute from another part of Ally Pally. I the actors to do. Actors are not in the chain Also I thought the sound was bad but we can’t remember the year – some time after of command, their every on screen action were watching the recordings as we tend 1957 – when, coming back from four great – directed! to go to bed at 10pm, your 9 o’clock. The months working at the UN in New York The production moves to a soundproof original may have been better, so I won’t alongside the correspondent Dick Walker, editing suite with top of the range comment on the soundman, or lack of. I was posted to Ally Pally to become the equipment, the director edits – knowing I was lucky enough to work with several of first presenter of Town and Around, the nightly every word, the producer then passes, or the top drama lighting cameramen at the BBC, weekday news magazine for London and otherwise a production with which he is also the best studio camera crews and lighting the south. The other main presenter was the very familiar and maybe at this point the directors. I will name just a few as the list is lovely Nan Winton, who would very briefly production is swamped with music. This is too long – Remi Adefarasin, John Hooper, Ron be the first woman to present the national where no one considers the viewer – who Green, Kenneth MacMillan etc…These, and TV news until the management decided that will be seeing it for the first time. This those like them, were the best the BBC had, women didn’t have ‘the necessary authority’ particular programme had many many which was why top producers and designers to deal convincingly with national and producers who took responsibility for every always asked for them. They all must be quite international events! I WELL REMEMBER the evening at facet of the production, so, for this to sick of the quality of today’s dramas. There was one other unforgivable AP relived by David Morris Jones, when the have been accepted as fit for broadcast I saw Diarmuid Lawrence’s name, and was omission from those memories of Corbet. TV newsreader failed to turn up. I’m pretty beggars belief as well as the qualifications amazed to see him connected with such a The first main newsreaders were Robert sure I know who it was but as it was a rota of the producers! low quality production. Dougall, Richard Baker and the excellent cock-up rather than a personal one, my lips One of the last films I worked on was Kenneth Kendall. Did you not have a picture are sealed. But I can say that the journalist a French film at Pinewood. The French of Kendall? Another great colleague who was who stepped in was Gavin Gray, acting Editor prop-master ‘Accessoiriste’ was Gilbert also there at some stage was , of the Day. He decided, unwisely most of Pieri who, when the production tried to though I’m not quite sure when. us felt, that it was his responsibility and under pay some of the crew, said, ‘If you pay I also read the national news occasionally certainly he did a workmanlike job. peanuts, you only get monkeys!’ in those years BC (before colour), though it Only then did the full dawn, when There were too many monkeys on this was not the career I was looking for. Being the peace and quiet of Studio B was replaced production of Quirke. a correspondent in France during the De by mayhem in the BBC Club as Fleet Street Martin Carley Gaulle Algeria crisis or thousands of miles descended on AP in their hordes, demanding away from Europe (Lebanon, India, Vietnam) to know who this rather odd figure was. The was much more my idea of the good life for following day, Gavin’s 15 minutes of fame Andrew Davis, a very well known and Last of the YITS a journalist. was splashed all over the pops. respected writer, admits watching one of his How pleasant to hear from George Nevertheless I had one more spell at Ally Many years later, I learned the lesson and dramas, another dialect piece, at home. He Mackenzie from Australia. I too joined the Pally, working alongside Gerald Priestland, in when Jan Leeming rang in to say she was knew every word, however his wife asked for BBC in Edinburgh as a YIT at the age of the first-ever two-handed late night TV news ill, I resisted the temptation and drafted in the subtitles to be put on. 16 about a year after George in 1943. The presentation on BBC2. It was very late on reporter Michael Buerk for his debut in the Jamaica Inn is only another in a long line of standard set by George was the one I that memorable evening, when we covered newsreaders’ chair. productions where the viewer is continually was constantly reminded I had to achieve. the whole of the Kennedy assassination from Having said that, I did have my own less winding the sound up or down, where Bryce McCrirrick the first shots heard in Dallas to confirmation heralded ‘15 minutes’ when I read the Light dialogue fights the ever present music, that he was dead and LBJ was now President. Programme hourly summaries on a couple the viewer either turning it off or as a last Gerald left Ally Pally some time later of occasions – one morning when Ronnie resort turning on subtitles. How long till we Sacking to become the No. 2 in Washington, and Fletcher fell asleep in the BH canteen and an get Hamlet with Music by A.N.Other and I love(d) the BBC and get very defensive I resigned from the staff (cashing in my evening when Bill Greenslade found himself Incidental Dialogue by William Shakespeare! when I hear it knocked. In response to Roger pension!) to set myself up as a correspondent unable, shall we say, to make sense of the Ben, all directors and producers remember Dowling and Tim Burrell… I am sure Senior based in Brussels. As a European commuter, I script. Sadly, no one noticed. television is Sound and Vision. Management know how much they keep flew to London every Thursday – back again Mike Broadbent Chris Cherry on shooting themselves in the foot. Would sackings cure it? I wonder. Charles Hutchison PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 LETTERS 05

Standards CONTACTS In 1965 I was a member of an installation team from Avenue House (Equipment department) Visiting Scheme doing refurbishments at Manchester’s If you would like a visit or information on Dickenson Road studios. Whilst watching a how to become a volunteer visitor, please rehearsal of Top Of The Pops, I casually mentioned ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. to Cecil Kora (studio manager at the time) Queries how the ITV pop programme (at the time) For benefit and pension payroll queries, always showed cameras. The BBC didn’t. He call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811 replied, ‘Anyone can put on a TV show showing or email [email protected] cameras!’ and now look at BBC News! How Prospero standards have dropped! To add or delete a name from the distribution Bryan Pope list, ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Female newsreaders BBC employees. On request, we will also The June issue of Prospero carries a very good, interesting Tony Hall on ‘Living send it to spouses or dependants who want article by David Morris Jones. to keep with the BBC. Prospero is On a point of information: he writes ‘there were no with Creativity’ also available on audio disc for those with sight impairment. To register, please ring the female newsreaders in 1965’. There was one to my certain The BBC Pensioners’ Association is delighted Service Line. Picture shows (l-r) knowledge – Valerie Pitts later to become Lady Valerie Solti. that director-general Tony Hall has given Ann Ross, Valerie Pitts Bryan Bayliss permission for a transcript of his John Donne BBC Club in studio. The BBC Club in London has a retired Memorial Lecture, given in April at Hertford category membership costing £30 a year College Oxford, to be published on the or £39 a year for family membership. BBCPA website. Pre-1997 life members are not affected. He has since made a case for the BBC to Regional clubs may have different Robert Dougall Cover cameraman do away with production quotas, and with arrangements. Please call BBC Club The article in Prospero (June 2014) on I’m sorry to have to disappoint John Dean Charter Renewal in mind, readers may like London administration office on 020 8752 newsreaders reminded me of an amusing (Prospero, June), but it isn’t him, it’s me. to think about how this dovetails with his 6666 or email [email protected] experience involving Robert Dougall and The photo was taken by a Nuffield passion to safeguard creativity. Benevolent Fund a friend of mine. Foundation photographer in TC5 in Please follow this link to This is funded by voluntary contributions She was founder and teacher at about 1967. We were working on a series http://www.bbcpa.org.uk/ from the BBC and its purpose is to protect Marylebone Birdwatching Society and was which was part of a training course for It is available to all online and not just the welfare of staff, pensioners and their very knowledgeable about London’s wild camera crews in third world countries. to members of the Association. families. Grants are made at the discretion birds. She lived in Hampstead but had The photographer was there to take official Hugh Sheppard of the Trustees. They may provide (from choice) no TV. One morning on photos for the accompanying written course assistance in cases of unforeseen financial the heath she struck up a conversation material, and I was the in-vision guinea hardship, for which help from other sources is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. with an amiable gent and they exchanged pig cameraman, so one week he took a Change to Prospero information about local birdlife. As they special picture which he gave me on the Prospero Society parted he said ‘You don’t know who I am, next show. I still have the original. Secretly, Prospero Society is the only section of the letter style BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff do you?’ To which Kate answered ‘No, I wasn’t really a cameraman but a very In response to a request from a reader, we and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC should I?’ He answered ‘I’m Robert Dougall.’ junior camera assistant. It was called pensioners to meet on a social basis for have decided to change the letters page Horrified at her gaffe, Kate gasped, ‘I do ‘crewing down’ and was an essential part theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. apologise, I should have realised – you’re of training us. On the smaller shows the style to include names, locations and/or job titles, where these have been supplied. The Prospero Society is supported by President of the RSPB!’ The gent smiled but senior members of the crew took a break BBC Club funds so as to make events If you only wish to have your name didn’t embarrass her further by divulging and let the juniors operate, keeping an eye affordable. The only conditions (apart from published, then please make this clear in the nature of his ‘other’ job. on us from nearby. There – a reason to paying a small annual subscription) are Shirley Banham run the photo again! your letter. We will begin printing these that you must be a BBC pensioner and a Bernard Newnham details from the October issue onwards. member of the BBC Club. Peter Mirams would be happy to answer questions from potential members (email: pmirams@ About sound btinternet.com), but if you would like an In the last issue, Ian Reed’s application form please contact: last paragraph (Nice TV Wai Man, BBC Club, MC4 C4 - 201 Media - pity about the sound) Centre, Wood Lane London W12 7TQ neatly summarises the Tel: 0208 752 6666 BBC’s difficulty. In the days Email: [email protected] when there were manned BBC SHOP discount BBC transmitting stations, Get 10% off your order at BBCShop.com their staff performed the Enter code BBC0001 under ‘redeem essential function of end- a promotion code’ at checkout of-chain monitoring; often on low grade FREE UK Delivery or domestic type equipment. They would Orders can also be placed over the phone also have dealt with the problems that by calling 01788 821 107 and quoting Tim Burrell raised in his letter (Network code BBC0001. control losing control?). The recent loss Terms & Conditions: Discount code of the and News Briefing on BBC0001 entitles BBC pensioners to 10% Radio 4 would also have been resolved off your order at BBCShop.com. Offer is not sooner rather than relying on the likes of valid with any other promotional discount Twitter to raise the alarm. I would have or offer and subject to availability. Only one thought that a serious broadcaster would discount code can be used per transaction. have replicated the transmitting station BBC Shop reserves the right to change, amend or discontinue the offer at any time monitoring facility after it sold off its without prior notice. Products are available transmitter network to the private sector. whilst stocks last. Free delivery to UK only. The present management needs to Standard BBC Shop Terms & Conditions re-establish the BBC’s former role apply. Promoter: BBC Worldwide Ltd. of broadcaster and Contact (UK) 01788 821107 (charged at stop thinking of itself basic rate) with any queries. See website as just another for full Terms & Conditions. media company. BBC PA Barry Rosindale For details of how to join the Pensioners’ Association, see the panel on the left.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 06 BACK AT THE BBC

MONEY MATTERS Ugly East Tower is Pension or NISA? designer’s muse Radical changes to pensions and ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) have Many regard it as an ugly Sixties tower block, but one former reopened the debate on ‘Where is the best place to save for retirement?’ Does BBC designer has taken East Tower as an artistic muse. the pension’s upfront tax relief trump the tax-free growth within an ISA? And what if ilary Hayton has created day and producing and directing a number of a client’s tax rates change between saving night screen prints to celebrate programmes, until computer animation and retirement? The numbers will give you the former home of BBC took a grip of the industry. the hard facts on which gives the best net children’s programmes at ‘I gave my film equipment to Chelsea return, but there are other factors which HTelevision Centre. College of Art and returned to my original could come into the equation. ‘I wanted to portray the energy once roots in art – painting and screen printing,’ generated by this building,’ she told Ariel. she says. What’s new? ‘It was such an exciting place to work in the The latter involves creating a negative or For pensions, from April 2015: Sixties and Seventies. TVC was bursting with black image for each colour on the print, • Anyone of pension age has complete creativity and opportunity; there were so developing that image onto a silk screen, freedom to take as much (or as little) many highlights.’ printing and then registering each colour from their DC (Defined Contribution) It was where Hayton established a separately on archival paper. pension savings as they choose. The first department of 16 artists and photographers For those of a nostalgic bent, Hayton’s 25% will still be tax free. The balance will dedicated to the images used on limited edition Television Centre screen be taxed as income in the year it’s taken. children’s programmes. prints are a chance to remember the And the Budget revealed some She designed titles for the likes of building as it was. The children’s fundamental changes for ISAs too: Play School – they were the first transmission department moved to Salford in 2011 • The annual amount that can be saved in on BBC Two – Jackanory and Play Away. and the TVC site is being redeveloped by an ISA rose 30% to £15,000 from July She also created cult children’s cartoon its new owners. this year, with no cap on how much can Crystal Tipps and Alistair – dialogue-free stories The much-maligned East Tower, be invested in cash within that allowance. about a bushy-haired girl and her pet dog. meanwhile, is being razed to the There will no longer be a restriction on She left the BBC after 16 years in 1977 ground before it is reborn as an elegant what can be taken from a DC pension to start her own animation studio, creating, residential block. – just like an ISA – and the maximum savings into each are moving closer. These We would like to thank Hilary for allowing us to use one of her changes mean pensions and ISAs have become easily comparable as long-term TVC screen prints as our cover image in this issue. You can see savings vehicles. But it’s unlikely that the more of Hilary’s work on her website: www.hilaryhayton.co.uk tax position of savers will remain constant, both at the point of saving and when it comes time to accessing those savings. The tax breaks BBC publishes Annual Report Pensions and ISAs enjoy the same tax privileges on their underlying investments. The BBC’s Annual Report and going to have an impact on how people feel around 2% from 16,534 to 16,672. Both investments pay no additional tax about things’. Bulford attributed this to reinforcements on any investment growth and income. Accounts for 2013/14 was The BBC paid out more than £1m less brought in ahead of the Commonwealth Where pensions and ISAs differ is on the published on Monday 21 July. on its highest earning talent and on senior Games and Scottish Referendum, as well as tax breaks given when payments are made, manager pay-offs than it did in 2012, while the recruitment of key technical and online and when funds are accessed. It showed that the Corporation is spending there are 34 fewer senior managers on the specialists needed to deliver the BBC’s Money in less on stars, severance pay and senior Corporation’s books than a year ago. digital ambitions. • Pensions enjoy tax relief on contributions. managers, but that audiences are also Around 80% of staff work in roles directly • There’s no tax relief for ISA payments spending a little less time with the BBC. Savings ‘on track’ related to content, with 32% in journalism, Money out BBC One to Four suffered a decline The savings agenda has continued at pace, 27% in content making, 11% in technology • Up to 25% of the pension fund can be in reach, time spent watching and with the report noting that £374m of and 10% in content management. The year taken completely tax free. The balance is audience appreciation. Delivering Quality First cuts had been made ended with 34 fewer senior managers (an taxed at the saver’s highest marginal rate in the financial year. 8% fall), with those earning more than of income tax. Anne Bulford, finance and operations £100k down from 245 to 232. Some of the • All withdrawals from an ISA remain managing director, said the BBC was ‘on BBC’s biggest stars – those earning between tax free. ‘The number of staff track’ to deliver the requisite £700m a £1m-5m – cost £4.2m, down from £5.6m rose by around 2%.’ year savings by 2017, having gone past the last year. Other considerations halfway mark. An ISA can be accessed at any age – there’s Overall talent spend decreased by just over ‘I want to thank everybody [at the BBC] no need to wait until age 55. An ISA will £6m from £200m in 2013/14 to £194.2m, BBC One, for instance, reached 74.9% for all their support and hard work,’ she said, form part of the estate on death unless continuing the downward trend that started the underlying stocks and shares qualify of the UK population – down from 77.6%. acknowledging that it was a ‘serious stretch’ in earnest in 2008, since when the talent bill for business property relief. The rules for Viewers spent an average seven hours and to make 4.5% annual savings against the has dropped by 15%. pensions are currently being reviewed as thirty minutes with it each week (down backdrop of a six-year licence fee freeze and At the briefing, Tony Hall focused on part of the ongoing consultation. from 7:51), while its viewer rating fell from growing funding obligations. content and the teams that produce it. While 82.6 to 81.5. Paying for its new responsibilities – S4C, conceding that the BBC ‘can do better’ in the Summary Speaking at the press briefing in London, Monitoring and World Service – next year coming year, he pointed to ‘a lot to be proud In the majority of cases, the benefit of director of television Danny Cohen said will, at least, be aided by the £0.5bn in cash of’ in the year just gone. upfront tax relief and the ability to take a the figures had suffered by comparison reserves with which the BBC ended 2013. ‘The BBC is an organisation brimful of 25% tax-free lump sum will outperform with 2012 – ‘one of the finest years in BBC Coffers were also boosted by £157m in talent. Every week I meet teams who share an ISA on a like-for-like basis. But advice history’, with the Olympics and Diamond profits contributed by BBC Worldwide (up a passion for the BBC and what it stands for. on taking retirement income is essential. Jubilee spearheading the attack. by £1m in ‘difficult markets’). Very often, they are achieving above and He also cautioned that ‘if you take 26% Despite recent announcements of large beyond what you’d expect… I’d like to say Roger Hatherell, Consultant, Lansdown of your spending out, there’s no doubt it’s scale job losses, the number of staff working thank you to all our teams and all the people Place Financial Management Limited in public service parts of the BBC rose by outside the BBC who work with us.’

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 MEMORIES 07 Memories of Bing Crosby by Brian Willey

In 1972 I began planning a series of radio programmes Retired members’ newsletter detailing Bing Crosby’s life Sadly, for logistical reasons, we are no story, with the intention of it longer able to post the retired members’ newsletter. Instead it will continue to be being told by Bing himself emailed to those who provide an email plus many of his friends and address and posted as part of the Prospero Society newsletter to Prospero Society fellow stars. members. If you would like to add your n 17 November 1972 I was just email address to our database or join the one in a crowd of about 1,500 Prospero Society at a cost of just £10 per people all wanting to greet him. year, please contact Michelle on There was a momentary gap 0208 752 6666 or email Oin the crowd of , photographers and [email protected] autograph hunters for me to poke my head through and shout ‘Hi Bing – I’m the guy Events! from the BBC.’ ‘They migrate at this time of the year and it I like to think I played a small part in After the extremely successful studio tour Bing turned and looked for the source is such fun to watch out for them.’ I would resurrecting Bing’s recording career. In a and tea event in March, we had TWO trips of the voice. ‘Well hello there – glad to have quite liked to stay and watch out but my casual conversation one day I had said what last quarter! The first was a theatre outing know you.’ Amidst the general hubbub we really big fish was ready to talk. a delight it would be to end the series with to see ‘Good People’ starring Imelda somehow managed a brief conversation and Bing, amidst a cloud of smoke, began. a new recording. ‘Aw, nobody wants to hear Staunton. This was less well attended but then with his words ‘Be seeing you’ the gap He talked casually, sometimes with the me sing anymore,’ was his reply. enjoyed by all. The London Eye and closed and Bing was engulfed once more. pipe clenched between his teeth, and had My next appointment that day was with Thames river cruise in June was a great The occasion was a luncheon presentation no difficulty in recalling events of the past. Sonny Burke, one of Bing’s former record success and gave a chance to wander the at the Hollywood Palladium. Bing, Suddenly the phone rang. There was an producers. I mentioned my conversation South Bank as well as enjoy the London commemorating 30 years’ involvement with appointment for him to keep. We had been and Bing’s response to the idea. ‘Is that what Eye ride and River cruise. the American Armed Forces Radio Service, talking for two whole hours! he reckons?’ said Sonny; ‘He was just being Our late summer schedule includes a was to be presented with their trophy and modest. Leave it to me.’ I heard nothing visit to the London Transport Museum in I had been invited to lunch and look up at more and the date for the final show was set Covent Garden and a theatre outing to the top table. So went my first ever meeting but, the morning before the transmission, with ‘The Old Groaner’. He knew I was due ‘Aw, nobody my phone rang at around 6am. It was a the National Theatre Production of Alan to arrive, for he had received a letter from representative from Pye Records who had Ayckbourne’s A Small Family Business. me seeking permission to ask questions wants to hear me just flown in from Los Angeles with the To get the newsletter and join the club, about his life story and had agreed – and the record I had been promised. ‘Tie a Yellow email [email protected] or Hollywood event offered a good chance for sing anymore’ Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree’ and ‘It’s Not call the club on 020 8752 6666. me to say hello. Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish’ were The main interviews with Bing himself the two tracks – it was great to have them Prospero Society would take place in January 1973. By then ‘Haven’t got any more time today – see but I was bothered about how they could be Prospero Society members have an he would be captive in one location for a you for a couple of hours more tomorrow fitted in, for the final programme was timed extended range of activities as well as while on the Monterey Peninsula hosting his though – how about ten in the morning?’ and ready for transmission. My first call subsidised prices, early notification and Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach, With a handshake and a smile he was off out was to Doug Fairbanks – fervently hoping priority booking to all retired members’ Carmel, California. onto the greens to host his galaxy of golfers. that he was still in London. Luckily he was, events. To join only costs £10 per year and A modest apartment in Cypress Point On the following day he said, ‘I’ve only and able to come to the studio. Then a call the Society is a great way to meet up with Golf Clubhouse was the setting for the got till midday. Where did we get to to Brian Tuck, my recording engineer, for friends old and new! For details or to join, marathon interviews. yesterday?’ Out poured the smoke from essential edits were required to make space contact the club. ‘Hi, make yourself at home – I’ll be right the pipe and we were off again. for Fairbanks’ announcements. It proved with you,’ he said, and then seated beside a He invited me to the TV studios for his impossible to use both tracks so I chose ‘It’s Disco Heaven for BBC Club’s crackling log fire, he busied himself stoking 1972 Christmas Special. His whole family Not Where You Start’ – it seemed a more 90th birthday up his pipe. I took him at his word for a few took part and while he sang some songs his appropriate lyric. The glad rags were on as we strutted our minutes and wandered out onto the balcony. wife and kids threw plastic snowballs at him. The broadcast was heard by Ken Barnes, stuff to celebrate the BBC Club’s 90th Fairways lined with pines and cypress trees It was all great fun. an independent producer, who thought, ‘If birthday on 27 June at Bush Hall. greeted my gaze and beyond, the Pacific My resulting radio programmes – Bing can still sing like that, I want to make Attendees were able to get their groove Ocean. Bing’s wife, Kathryn, joined me in fourteen of them, each of one hour duration an album with him.’ The rest is history. on in style with Disco Divas providing admiring this breathtaking view. ‘I saw three – were first broadcast on BBC Radio Two The series was repeated during late 1974, entertainment, Burger Bear doing the whales spouting yesterday,’ she informed me. in mid-1973, with Douglas Fairbanks Jnr again in 1975 and, in the late summer of guiding the listener through each show. that year he and his family were in London catering, a paparazzi wall and glitter balls and I was able to persuade him to record an galore. Check out some photos on August Bank Holiday Special for Radio Two. Facebook and the BBC Club website: When the recording was complete he was www.bbcclub.com. off on a date with a golf course. In October 1976 I purloined some Lottery extracts from the series and, with Bob Hope Now is the time to join the lottery to be in with as host, made a one-hour special titled a chance of winning the big £10,000 quarterly ‘Solid Gold Bing’ to commemorate his 50th draw! There are an additional 15 monthly anniversary in the record business. The series prizes too; these are in amounts of £50, £100 featured again in the autumn of 1977, but and £1,000 – so to be in with a chance, join this time as a tribute to the passing of a the lottery today! Call Michelle on 020 8752 never-to-be-forgotten legend. 6666. Minimum £5 per month entry. For me, getting to know him was a huge highlight of my life. Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] or call 020 8752 6666.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 08 MEMORIES Great (BBC) Scots!

In February, Prospero published an interview with Jock Gallagher, former head of network radio at Pebble Mill, following the publication of his book, Scotland’s Global Empire, which ‘highlights a vast array of lesser-known Scots and the staggering number of their contributions to the world’. In light of next month’s Scottish Yes/No referendum, Jock has kindly allowed us to publish excerpts from the book that tell the stories of just a few of the Scots who have Jock Gallagher. worked for the BBC.

very schoolboy and schoolgirl knows As DG, Professor Ogilvie made what was later by jury and appeared in the dock, charged John Logie Baird invented television described as an inspired appointment. For the with stealing a carton of cream and a tin of in 1926 and many will also know job of head of the German service, he recruited tuna. She was found guilty. Four days later, that John Reith was the man who an academic colleague and fellow Scot, Lindley alone in her large home, she killed herself. Einvented the BBC in 1922. Less well known is Fraser (born Edinburgh, 1904–63). Fraser One of the key pioneers of post-war how the Corporation has been sustained by a was given leave of absence from Aberdeen television was the BBC’s Jimmy – later Sir line of Scots throughout its short history. University. He spoke German fluently – with James – Redmond (born Falkirk, 1918–99) Having been an inmate there from 1966 a distinct Edinburgh accent – and soon won a who joined the Corporation as a £3-a-week to 1990, I had the privilege of working for large following among listeners in Germany. By trainee and rose through the ranks to be or alongside many of them. the end of the war he had become a national director of engineering (1968–78). He I served under five director-generals and institution to his German audience. He was so was one of the team that made possible my favourite by far just happened to be the convinced the BBC’s German service could play the development of live outside broadcasts, fiery, bagpipe-playing Scot, Alasdair Milne a valuable role in the rebuilding of post-war satellite transmission, 625-line television, (born India to Scottish parents, 1930–2013), Germany that he resigned his chair at Aberdeen colour television and BBC2, and he helped who had also been controller of BBC University in 1945. He was promoted to create the Eurovision Network and the Scotland (1968–72). director of the German service in 1947 Open University. He also initiated digital Surprisingly, I think, he was the first and head of German programmes in technology and the Ceefax service. Frederick Wolff Ogilvie. television producer to reach the top of February 1948. He was succeeded as director of the pile when he was appointed in 1981. One of the earliest superstars of British engineering by fellow Scot Bryce fully entitled to his lordly title! For 20 years When he became DG, he quickly found television was the redoubtable Lady Isobel McCrirrick (born Galashiels, 1927) and he had produced The Week in Westminster and just how hot the hot seat could be. Crises Barnett (born Glasgow, 1918–80), who, radio’s chief engineer during my period many party political broadcasts, but when I and controversies seemed to come along as with her upmarket glamour and husky at the Corporation was another Scot, arrived in 1966, he was head of radio talks regularly as London buses. Popular with the voice, enchanted viewers and critics alike in Duncan McEwan. and documentaries (1967–72). lower ranks (including me), he stood up for her weekly appearances on the BBC’s most One of the great influences on me as a At Broadcasting House, radio’s HQ, the the BBC’s independence in a series of rows popular programme of the 1950s and 1960s, young producer was Charles Maxwell editorial corridors were stalked by a bevy with government. What’s My Line? (born Fife, 1910–98). Although he’d of Scots and one was Andrew Boyle (born been around for some time, he was Dundee, 1919–91), who in 1965 created appointed chief producer of Radio 4 one of BBC Radio’s most successful current light entertainment in 1966 (just as I was affairs programmes, . He ‘...my favourite by far arriving to take up my news producer post persuaded one of the giants of Fleet Street – in Birmingham). He originally qualified as William Hardcastle, previously editor of just happened to a solicitor but somehow caught the theatre The Daily Mail – to present and it quickly bug and abandoned the dusty legal tomes gained a reputation as one of the best be the fiery, bagpipe for a career as an actor. Between acting roles, informed programmes and won an audience he signed up as an announcer on Radio of four million. -playing Scot, Luxembourg and found himself presenting Even that most English of institutions, a gramophone record programme. When he Radio 4’s long-running soap opera, Alasdair Milne’ finally joined the BBC after wartime service , owes much to its Scottish in the RAF, he produced a string of successful connections – but here I must tread warily: programmes such as Take it from Here (with as head of the network radio output from Of course the first DG, Lord Reith, having Jimmy Edwards, the singer Alma Cogan, Pebble Mill, I was responsible for the daily clashed with successive prime ministers, was June Whitfield and, of course, The Glums) serial for about 20 years (1970–90) and I unceremoniously deposed in 1938. Out of which was announced as ‘half an hour was always getting confused between the a rucksack of possible candidates, the board Alasdair Milne. of laughter… every minute packed characters and the actors who played them. of governors chose another Scot, Frederick with seconds!’ One of the early writers was John Keir Wolff Ogilvie (born Edinburgh, 1893– Those were the days when people liked to After becoming the Light Entertainment Cross (born Carluke 1914–67), an amazing 1949), to succeed Reith. He was described look up to their stars, when idols were still boss in 1966, he raided the Cambridge personality who quickly became part of the by the newspapers as the ‘dark-horse secure on their pedestals. Lady Isobel had a Footlights to bring in the bright new talents Ambridge folklore. As an enthusiastic young candidate’ for the £37,500 job, but the board solid background that added to that security. needed to create the long-running I’m Sorry writer, he had set out in 1935 to seek fame had previously decided that they wanted an She was the daughter of a Glasgow doctor I’ll Read That Again (1964–73): John Cleese, Tim and fortune and left home on his bike with academic – an educator, they said – and the and went to the city’s university when Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden two ventriloquist dolls in the saddlebag. He 45-year-old Professor Ogilvie clearly met she was just 17. She was the youngest of and David Hatch, who in time would himself made an early unplanned stop for a night in their requirements. He was a distinguished only 19 girls among more than 200 first- become managing director of BBC Radio. He the cells of Paisley jail after being arrested economist and academic who had lectured year medical students. At 21, she was the did much to fire both my imagination and on suspicion of murder! In good soap-opera at Oxford and Edinburgh before becoming youngest Scot to ever qualify as a doctor and my hitherto limited ambition and he showed style, he beat the phoney rap and continued president and vice chancellor of Queen’s specialised in obstetrics. She gave up that there was plenty of scope for being different. his journey into broadcasting history. University, Belfast. He was also a First World career when she married into the English When I graduated to documentary There have been many more Scots War veteran who had lost an arm in battle. squirearchy. making, one of my London bosses was prominent in the Corporation, on both sides Despite that, wrote the clearly admiring There was a darker side that few knew a tall craggy Scot called Archie Gordon of the screen and microphone, and in this journalists, ‘he drives an automobile, flies about. Her Presbyterian upbringing and a (born Aberdeen, 1913–84). He was a sphere as in so many others, this small nation a plane and plays a fair golf game.’ They Quaker education gave her firm resolve but vaguely aristocratic soul and some people – has punched well above its weight. seemed unperturbed that he had never her obsessive self-discipline clearly gave mockingly, I thought – called him broadcast and the nearest he’d so far got to way to anxiety and insecurity, which in turn Lord Archie. Scotland’s Global Empire: A Chronicle of Great Scots the BBC was when his 12-year-old son had led her shockingly into shoplifting. It’s an It was only later that I learned he had (ISBN 978-1849951029) is published by Whittles written a play that won a spot on a Northern inexplicable lapse and it had a devastating inherited the family title to become the fifth Publishing (RRP £20). Ireland children’s programme. effect. When caught, she opted to go for trial Marquess of Aberdeen in 1974 and was thus

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 MEMORIES 09 Creating a visual style Oliver Bayldon reflects on a life in television production design.

t the age of five, I was taken to see The BBC TV studio system was a merciless Rudyard Kipling, Gaudy Night by Dorothy L sea-sickness cure – ‘How else could I film for Where the Rainbow Ends at the theatre 24-hour turnaround of competing routines, Sayers, to Constance Kent (the very first docu- days on end?’ he said as we dressed Exeter as a Christmas treat and was wildly striking one show overnight, cleaning and drama about this real Victorian murder). But harbour back to Victorian times, turning impressed by the decor. When I painting the plastic floors, then moving in first comes the script. Everything begins with Kingswear and Dartmouth into anywhere gotA home I started making model stages of the scenery for the next day’s show. Painted that. In TV terms the printed script often from the USA to China. All this filming was cardboard and Plasticine and announced I carpets and floor effects were first, because means simply dialogue plus minimal crammed between studio dates by dressing was going to become a theatre designer! heavy cameras depended on a flat surface to description, e.g. Bedroom. Night. Enter Paul. the design staff and scene crew in period True to my word, after college I found run. It was an in-out process and nothing Marianne is in bed … costume to mingle with extras so they could myself at the Theatre Royal Northampton could halt it. Floor plans and schedules Sometimes dialogue only appeared as reset as the unit continued to shoot! With as an assistant designer, designing both ruled because sets were first built on a rehearsals unwound! Under pressure, Till tight schedules and only one assistant per costumes and sets and learning the trade workshop floor to one’s elevations and plans, Death Us Do Part writer Johnny Speight would designer, we relied on such art directors’ from the roots. then dismantled, loaded into several vans, explain on the phone what he wanted – support. Many like Laurence Williams, One day, out of the blue, I was forwarded unloaded onto flat trolleys, then wheeled ‘Some kind of doctor’s. Surgery, right? Know Malcolm Thornton, and Donal Woods of an advertisement from BBC Television to into the studio before being reassembled. what I mean? Dunno what’ll happen. Lot o’ fame, are now hugely successful apply for a design assistant post for the This could not be more different from film talk. I’m working on it.’ designers themselves. forthcoming opening of BBC2. Reactions sets constructed in the studios from start to Although TV scripts can sometimes Nautical problems arose again on Poldark of my friends were unwavering: ‘We never finish. No. This was television. You played it be basic, with classic novels you do have and on The Fight Against Slavery, involving watch TV ourselves’, ‘Won’t even have a set by ear on the day. The chippie shouted out recourse to the book but, equally, imagining more ships, sea, and Cornwall (two of these in the house’. A distinct sniffiness hung on ‘There’s no bloody door-furniture, mate! ... a world out of nowhere is very fulfilling: famous historical ships later foundered at the air but despite missing the first intake And where’s the bleedin’ curtain rails? ... Or the settings, images, characters, moods; the sea). Sadly, I only worked on the first Poldark I was accepted as a very junior, trainee don’t you want it ready on time?’ You had to shadows, reflections and angles; the drama. series. Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees were design assistant in the days of Dick Levin have your wits about you. Art deco hotels, Georgian prisons, Victorian interested in all that went on as we tried and Stephen Bundy who raised the whole homes – though I use sketches, other to recreate 18th century family feuds and status of design within an emphatically Inevitable problems designers worked mainly through models, romances while keeping a down-to-earth technical culture. Later, when asked about As production designer, you’d turn up early especially for abstract designs. No digital mood which seemed to take on a life of my occupation, I’d said I designed sets for TV. expecting inevitable problems, making lists visualisation in those days! its own. ‘Really?’ someone responded, ‘Do you decide of broken panels, torn wallpapers, missing In 1970 I designed a pilot episode for where to fit all those sockets and knobs?’ mouldings and all the impedimenta of a possible period drama set in Victorian Insurance negotiations fixtures and fittings. The construction crew Devon. This turned out to be The Onedin Line, So much so that on the very last scene Exciting times sets to work as trolleys of furniture and produced in 1971 by Peter Graham Scott and of the first series the action got carried In the early 1960s, some drama serials were properties are trundled into the studio, with starring Peter Gilmore. away! The setting for Trenwith House still transmitted live, reminiscent of repertory set-dressers questioning your furniture plans I was lead designer for the first two series, was furnished with genuine antiques and theatre but with human prompters lurking and buyers checking their property hire lists. dashing back and forth on crowded roads expensive paintings. For a climactic riot, behind the cameras. Even some ‘repeats’ were This façade of chaos masked an invisible wax reproduction vases, fake books and live! Stacks of cue cards were flashed in front drive. Out of confusion came order. Layer balsawood furniture were supplied to be of performers’ faces then scattered over the was added on layer. A plywood world was ‘Imagining a world smashed and everyone carefully rehearsed. studio floor. It was nerve-wracking. It was treated with light-fittings, paintings, drapes, Cue rioting vandals! Within half a minute exciting. furniture, mutating into houses, courtyards, out of nowhere is they had trashed the selected props with a I worked mainly in drama, which quickly landscapes or abstract arenas for dance vengeance. Still, there were 30 seconds to seized on videotape. We welcomed recording, routines. After minimal rehearsals it was time go. By now everyone was on a high – ‘Keep even if post-editing was minimal and there to record, whether one liked it or not. very fulfilling’ going!’ yelled the director. ‘No, wait…’ were few electronic effects. Studio backings The pressures are greatest on soaps like shouted the designer, ‘They can’t smash the were painted in emulsion paint on canvas Granada’s Coronation Street or BBC’s Eastenders, from Dartmouth to TV Centre, trying to ….’ But by now they were living the part, cloths by scenic artists turning them out always chasing the clock. With naturalistic co-ordinate a visual style and evoke some rampaging on until recording time ran out. by the day. Other effects were achieved by drama, the designer’s problem is creating sea-going spirit on land-bound budgets The net result: insurance negotiations for using mirrors, projections or gauzes. It was believable ageing. One needs that sense of and schedules. months. Which all goes to prove that no all a learning experience. As a designer, one pre-existence as if dipping into a moment On Day One, filming out in Plymouth matter how well planned, things don’t always had to transcend the mechanical process, of time. That’s why I started doing Sound as the Charlotte Rhodes crew work out. And these are the things one pushing the boundaries despite a health and storyboards or visuals despite a fierce desperately tried to tack, the cameraman always remembers! safety regime which later began to take over. schedule because that’s what one had done (a sailing enthusiast) had to demonstrate Everything was still a challenge. Exciting. As in the theatre. how to trim sails to the wind. Only then Extracted from an article which first the director Peter Hammond said, we were One of my earliest classic series was The did we realise that the ship’s captain was appeared in THE VETERAN, the magazine of creating the medium. We had to make studio Railway Children starring Jenny Agutter in 1968, an ex-British Airways captain, not ex-Royal the British Cinema and Television Veterans. exteriors and interiors believable within directed by Julia Smith, which proved to Navy. However, as our top-sail schooner the confines of an industrial process be an inspiration for the feature film. bucked into a breeze, it was Peter Gilmore while somehow giving it style. We did Jenny starred in both. Later, I designed who taught me to keep my eyes fixed on the not always succeed. many others, ranging from Mill On The Floss horizon or lie flat on my back. That was his by George Elliot, Stalky & Co by

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 10 OBITUARIES During his career with the BBC, from which ‘diplomatic troubleshooter’) before retiring Lawrie was a formidable talent scout A gentleman engineer he retired in 1983, Bill quickly forged in 1981, enjoying a lively leaving do – and and well ahead of the curve. He appointed Of the many engineers that worked in a reputation as an outstanding camera I’ve got the photographs to prove it! three female breakfast presenters in the first Service Planning Section at Kingswood operator among seasoned international June and he lived devotedly in their four years. Warren, Trevor Madoc Jones must have correspondents such as Michael Clayton (for London flat for nearly 50 years, and although After that memorable retirement party been one of the most remarkable. work in Vietnam and Cambodia) and Michael they had no children Frank took pleasure Lawrie travelled with the Thompson As someone who flew RAF Mosquitoes Cole (Kurdistan). Clayton describes him as watching June’s nephews and nieces grow Foundation, training young journalists at the end of the Second World War he one of the best TV cameramen in the world, up. He became Chairman of his Residents’ in Africa and elsewhere. He later returned brought that same unassuming authority, while Cole remembers Bill as being ‘the best, Association, until the need to provide to freelance at BBC Radio Shropshire, composure and dedication to his role that consistently turning in great work’. continuous care for June forced him to producing, presenting and reporting. few of us possessed. His duties involved long Bill’s coverage of the Aden Crater pass that baton on. She passed away in 2013, He leaves a widow, Alison, and son spells of duty away from base, transmission Operation, reporting on the activities of having been crippled by arthritis for Colin who is breakfast presenter at testing new sites for television and radio Lt-Col Colin ‘Mad Mitch’ Mitchell and the many years. BBC Radio Derby. stations, then surveying the coverage once Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders won him Christmas 2013 was spent with his Henry Yelf commissioned to ensure performance was a prize in the 1968 British Television News godson’s family – his only request being ‘a as anticipated. Film of the Year competition. A copy of pint at lunchtime, and a whisky before bed!’ I will always remember those pioneering his work is held in the Imperial War – little knowing, I suspect, that cancer would Opening up the West days, valuing his help while erecting Museum, London. claim his own life soon afterwards. When the BBC headed out west to start temporary masts on often bleak hill tops, In 1975, he broke several ribs when Frank died peacefully, on 16 May 2014, regional television, John Tanton quickly or spending many days working together he fell down an open manhole in with his godson’s family at his bedside. became a leading pioneer. A Devon man, in a cramped field strength van. Then often Lebanon while covering the civil war and A longer version of this obituary, complete he joined the BBC as the Plymouth-based sharing the same hotel and continuing to ‘backtracking’ with a camera, filming with with the poem specially written in his regional radio reporter in May 1957, when enjoy his special company throughout Michael Cole and his soundman, Albie honour, is available on www.ex-bbc.co.uk, news involved a massive Humber Super the evening. Charlton. He was repatriated on a former under ‘Notices, obituaries and tributes’. Snipe recording car with an engineer always As someone rarely seen in the office, North Sea trawler, held firmly between his John Westbury present, recording and editing items on disc. often returning to South Wales to pursue two colleagues acting as temporary splints, his passion for fly-fishing, he knew very while sleeping on board the deck. few members of management – never more Much of his leisure time was spent sailing Radio Shropshire apparent than at his retirement party when, on the Solent on board his beloved boat, managing editor introduced to the then head of research Louise-Mary, where he enjoyed relaxing with department, he replied: ‘Oh so you’re an his many friends. HRD, I’ve never met one of those before.’ He died as a result of pneumonia and In his late eighties and while resident in a Parkinson’s disease on May 9, 2014, aged 88. Swansea nursing home, Trevor passed away John Beverley on 25 June. Although we lost touch over the years I will never forget his tolerance, support and friendship, especially when London Control Room things went wrong. father figure Malcolm Harman Born in Hull on 24 August 1925, Four months later, when the spotlight Frank George Crombie was a Yorkshireman switched to pictures, John was chosen as one through and through. ‘Hard news’ of four television newsreaders in Bristol. He Joining the wartime navy at 17, he drove up for a few days’ stint every month. cameraman became a radar and sonar operator, trained Lawrie Bloomfield MBE, the first managing But the West Region wanted to get closer From early beginnings as a sound engineer at Gosport with the torpedo and anti- editor of BBC Radio Shropshire, who has to viewers by splitting into smaller areas. It after joining the BBC in 1943, William submarine branch. He was his Captain’s ‘ears’ died at 80, once confided in a friend that created a Plymouth studio and news team, (Bill) Hanford became a camera operator in (though known to his shipmates as ‘The one of his ambitions was to sing ‘New York with John heading the operation. ‘hard news’, working under extraordinary Maniac’). On one occasion, sent astern to New York’ in front of a ‘big band’. At his John’s inspirational leadership was key conditions, including the Vietnam conflict, make up a depthcharge crew, a depthcharge retirement party in 1994 a big band was laid to the new region’s success. Plymouth now civil wars in The Congo and Lebanon, Iraq exploded on impact, blowing Frank and his on as a surprise and he sang the song – out had facilities to feed direct to London, and it and the Portuguese Carnation Revolution. colleagues overboard! Picked up – after more of tune but with gusto. often led the monthly scoreboard of ‘injects’ than an hour in the water – Frank returned It was typical of his exuberance and sense from the regions as its team reported floods, to listening for pings. of fun which will be remembered by friends blizzards and shipwrecks. South West at Six also After the war Frank joined the BBC, and colleagues. distinguished itself with audience approval. initially in Manchester’s Comms Centre. A A measure of the affection for Lawrie John’s early days on regional newspapers keen rugby player, (he also loved cricket!) came in the many tributes to him. ‘He was had given him great local knowledge with he’d ‘go over’ to the Isle of Man to help with one of the greats…’, ‘a lovely boss to work a clear idea of what would interest the coverage of the TT races. He got to know the with and a great team-builder…’, ‘there was people among whom he grew up. In 1962, riders well; they’d sometimes take him for a never a manager like him’. Audience Research reported Plymouth’s spin, and Frank would undoubtedly be the Lawrie started his career at the Portsmouth ‘positive reaction’ index of 72 was top of the one leaning out as they went round those Evening News and spent more than ten years eight regions, concluding that ‘the smaller bends – with his understanding of ballast! freelancing. The city was a rich source of and more homogeneous the area, the more It’s not known how Frank met June stories for him to sell to national newspapers. likely the success of its local news and Godden, but once Cupid’s arrow had Lawrie also spent many hours in the press news magazine’. struck home much rubber was burned boxes at Fratton Park and county cricket Known for boundless energy, John between Manchester and London in her grounds. He made his first broadcast on often crawled along the studio floor with pursuit. Married in September 1967, Frank Radio Newsreel in 1959 and featured regularly last-minute changes, reaching up to the transferred to London Control Room. on Sports Report through the sixties as well as newsreader’s desk in mid-bulletin to swap He would regularly talk to his erstwhile often appearing on BBC South Today. over scripts. Once, as he rushed down colleagues in ‘Manch’ via the SB phone; He joined BBC Radio Solent as sports editor Plymouth’s ornate sweeping staircase, a however, when things didn’t go ‘quite to when it launched in 1970 and later became straight-laced administrative assistant was Bill was born in Tongham, , and after plan’ he’d throw down the headset in disgust news editor and programme organiser. heard barking: ‘Stop running’ – to no avail. marrying Hilary, who died in 1987, they had and roar ‘I wouldn’t pay those bu**ers in After a spell as BBC Radio Lincolnshire He was reprimanded, too, by Britain’s first two daughters: Susan, who lives in Australia brass washers!’ How we all laughed! manager he put together the new team at woman MP, Lady Astor. As he enjoyed a with daughter, Holly, and Diana, who A relative newcomer himself, Frank kept Radio Shropshire. scotch and soda at a reception marking the passed away in 2005. In 1958, Bill moved to a fatherly eye on the many youngsters who The station gained some of the highest naming of a warship after her, she glanced at Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire where he joined LCR. Incredibly proud of anyone who listening figures in the country thanks to his glass and remonstrated: ‘That will be the lived until 2005, after which he moved to a shone, his face would beam as he declared Lawrie establishing a more modern and death of you.’ local care home as he needed closer care to ‘That’s my boy!’ He spent a couple of years bright style of local radio. However, the team Fortunately she was wrong. After treat the onset of Parkinson’s disease. in ‘the office’ supporting Roy Honey (as his was always aware of his roots in journalism. creating a blueprint that the Plymouth news

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 OBITUARIES 11 programme still follows, John joined the the 1970s he produced several innovative and staff from Head Office visited the site He is survived by Christina and by his Visnews New York bureau, moved to the history series, each accompanied by often and they all spoke very highly of first wife, Colette, their sons Eric and communications team at the UN and on a book, including The Parkers at Saltram him. During his time at Wenvoe there was Martin and their families. retirement remained in New York, his home (1768-89), Mistress of Hardwick, and The Case a flourishing BBC Wenvoe Club and we ‘They don’t make them like that for more than 40 years. of Eliza Armstrong. Events were recreated on all remember the marvellous Christmas any more!’ Tony Byers the actual locations with Outside Broadcast parties for children. Outside work he was an Peter Fraenkel In his tribute to John, Donald Kerr cameras or in the studio, with dialogue enthusiastic golfer who was on the driving recalls that the West Country in those days strictly based on primary sources. In 1978 range only a few days before his death. His was a holiday hotspot: Tourists came by car Victor embarked on the long-running series, wife Nancy pre-deceased him in 2005 and Gram Library’s ‘Connie’ down the narrow winding country lanes, Shakespeare in Perspective, when presenters such they had three sons, two of whom live in Constance James (more usually known enduring hours of jams through Exeter and as Anthony Burgess, Germaine Greer and America. There was a large attendance at the as Con or Connie in her office) spent the Okehampton, that made a red film parcel introduced the plays in the funeral, including many ex Wenvoe and BBC major part of her long BBC service in ‘Gram’ by train to Plymouth station faster than BBC’s mammoth Shakespeare project. Victor’s Tx HQ staff to pay their last respects to a fine Library at which came under reporters and cameramen could get back greatest love was opera and his last major man and colleague. The World Service. On retirement she was to base. series was about Mozart. He retired in 1986. Peter Condron the librarian. The editorial staff of six was also Central to Victor’s life was his loving She was known for her infinite kindness responsible for The Isles of Scilly and The partnership with Anthony Sumner, whom he and gentleness, and not least for her amazing Channel Islands. They were backed up by a met in 1967. They bought a weekend cottage Head of Central fund of little jokes and stories which first-class team of cameramen working with in the Cotswolds in 1974 and became Talks & Features lightened certain office pressures. Many of new faces Hugh Scully, Angela Rippon, actively involved in the community, latterly her younger colleagues notably referred to Victor Price, broadcaster, novelist and Sue Lawley and David Lomax. settling there permanently. Victor had a gift her as a ‘real lady’ in the English sense. Con poet, died of a heart attack on 16 May 2014, The news was exciting, with shipwrecks for friendship, and was a star at legendary left with a fat leaving book holding 327 aged 84. from French trawlers to the Torry Canyon, Villiers House canteen lunches when warm messages from close colleagues and Dartmoor prisoners on the run, and weeks conversation flowed far and wide. I owe him numerous foreign nationals. of blizzards with trains trapped on the a huge debt of gratitude for offering me a What many did not know about Con was moors. After end credits, the team would researcher job out of the blue in 1969, based that before joining the BBC she was in the walk to the Penguin Inn to drown sorrows on the word of a secretary who knew me WRNS and worked in the vast Bletchley or to celebrate. from university. I worked on five series with Park (‘Enigma’) complex. Details of all work John died on the eve of one of his regular Victor and learned an enormous amount there remained officially ‘secret’ until about visits to family in North Devon and BBC from him and from his devoted assistant the 1970s. friends in the West Country. He was still, at over many years, Barry Bright, a shy, reticent Con relished the international and the age of 82, working shifts in the press woman and an endearing contrast to Victor, cosmopolitan atmosphere of Bush House. office of the United Nations in New York. with his life-enhancing ebullience. By nature modest, Con did have a feisty side: He was leaving to catch the plane home Giles Oakley always punctual for work, she chose latterly when he collapsed and died outside his to travel the 15 miles from her home in front door. Barnet to the Aldwych on a Honda 90 ‘motor His prodigious appetite for hard work YiT to EiC in bike’, (full helmet and protection clothes) was memorable. His good humour and Transmitters through traffic and most weathers. helpfulness left him with an army of friends Peter Pallai of the Romanian Section Earlier this year the funeral of on both sides of the Atlantic. He will be said she was a ‘lovely, loveable, fun-loving Mr David Thomas, known to all as sorely missed. person’. He saw Con on her Honda bike and Dai Thomas, took place in Cardiff. He Born at Newcastle, County Down, he termed her ‘Hell’s Granny’. was almost 90 years old. studied French and German at Queens, Patrick Harris, who later became the Victor Poole Dai was Engineer in Charge at Wenvoe Belfast – the start of a lifelong fascination librarian, describes how one rainy night, Transmitting station from 1969 to his with languages. His first BBC post was as on going home, Con kitted herself out for retirement in 1984. an announcer and sports commentator a soaking by leaving the office with plastic His career in the BBC started off with at Belfast. Later he moved to Bush House, record sleeves over both feet, each printed a Youth in Training post at the Aberdare London as a scriptwriter in the Central Talks ‘BBC’ and held by elastic bands. H Group Transmitter in South Wales. His and Features department and eventually When Con left the BBC she did much parents kept the White Lion Pub (which became head of department. He then moved voluntary work both in Barnet and at the still exists) in the town. This was followed to head the German Service. Language Community Centre in South by service abroad in Royal Navy signals. On For his colleagues he was not only their Kensington run by Nancy Thomas, a retired post-war re-instatement into the BBC he manager but also a caring friend. They colleague from Television. She had numerous was posted to the high power Ottringham regularly enjoyed his company in the interests and travelled with educational Transmitter in Yorkshire, which is where canteen and his vast erudition. groups to Europe, Africa, Israel, and he met his future wife Nancy who was the French was usually spoken at his home as more. Con did mention at one time that she ‘Confidential Secretary’ to the EiC – a his first wife, Colette, was French. He was, would like to try white-water rafting, but post which she had to relinquish on however, also perfect in German and Italian happily was dissuaded from trying this. her marriage. and had a working knowledge of many more Anne James Posts at Tacolneston (Norfolk) and languages – Greek, Norwegian, Swedish, Gaelic and Samoan among them. Victor Poole, who has died aged 88, Sandale (Carlisle) followed and then he was appointed EiC at Wenvoe near Cardiff Four of his novels were published: Patricia Mort enjoyed an outstanding 38-year career at The Death of Achilles, The Other Kingdom, the BBC, producing a phenomenal range in 1969. Patricia Mort, who died on 8 July, was Due to its location on the South Wales Caliban’s Wooing and Chinese Opera. So were two employed by the BBC for 24 years all told. of programmes, from cookery with Fanny volumes of his poetry: Two Parts Water and Cradock to the high arts. Passionately coast, Wenvoe served a large population in For her last eight years she managed the South Wales and the West Country, and a Confessions of a Centaur. Even poems he wrote Television ID Unit. She was very highly committed to public service broadcasting, he in Gaelic found their way into collections. was a witty, kind-hearted, inspiring figure. separate high power TV service on Ch.13 regarded by all who came into contact was introduced for BBC Wales in 1964, in Among his longer translations are the plays Victor was born in 1926 in Newport, with her. She always had a ready smile and addition to the Ch.5, previously shared, high of Georg Buechner. South Wales and early acquired a love of happy-go-lucky manner. power TV service. This made Wenvoe the One of his own many and varied plays, the performing arts. Lacking funds to go She suffered a long and painful illness, biggest TV/FM station in Europe for a time. Love among the Tulips, won first prize at a Scottish to university, he was called up in 1945 and but she never complained and took what life In addition to the shift staff there was also competition and was performed on the became a radio announcer serving the forces gave her on the chin. a rigging team, a Transmitter Maintenance fringe of the 2001 Edinburgh Festival. in Ceylon and India. On his return to Britain Her life since her retirement in 1990 team and various other staff who covered a After retiring from the BBC, he freelanced in 1948 he got a job at the BBC, working as a was full of joy and happiness, first with her large area. as the London theatre and music critic for radio announcer for over a decade. grandchildren and then great-grandchildren. Mr Thomas was an understanding, The Scotsman before moving back to Northern He switched to television, and joined She is so sorely missed by her husband sympathetic and ‘old BBC style’ EiC who Ireland with Christina, his second wife. There the Education department in the 1960s, Wally, her son and daughter and, as she always had the best interests of his staff he was active in the Ulster Literary Society producing Basil Taylor’s The Painter and His World called them, her ‘little people’. at heart. Over the years he saw many and thanks to him a number of new blue and the instructional guitar series Hold Down Wally Mort technical innovations being introduced plaques have appeared. a Chord and Finger Picking, with John Pearce. In

PROSPERO AUGUST 2014 12 THE Moving On Helen Scholfield, a visitor in the BBC Volunteer Visiting Scheme, recently published a book written by her late husband Bob, a widely travelled Australian journalist. Moving On is the story of the late Sir Rupert Grayson, a fascinating character who ‘roamed the world as a seafarer, author, talent scout, king’s messenger, eccentric, romantic, epicure, wit, and friend of the colourful, gifted and famous’.

Intelligence in the Second World War. Why did you decide to of achievement, and the feeling of doing I passed this over to respected author Adam publish the book after something for my late husband. Incidentally, LeBor as he had experience in writing about your husband’s death? Rupert’s family have been fully supportive of such matters, and an article based on Bob’s It was a promise I made to Bob before he died, the project. research and notes was published in the Mail as he had only just completed the writing. For In all, this has been a fascinating on Sunday on 29 December last year. a few years I was on a mission to find someone experience for me and has led me down In 1991, with Rupert now 94 years old, to whom it would appeal as a film. I had much paths I would never have ventured along! Bob adapted the colourful memoirs for the positive feedback, but nothing definite ensued. Now that all the hard work has been done, BBC Radio Four programme. I then caught the interest of a literary agent I am enjoying introducing the story to It was read in, I think, six episodes by specialising in biographies. With his help I met a wider audience – and getting my own Tell us a little about your the late Michael Dennison. The editor, with several published authors keen to co- life back! husband’s background. David Benedictus, reported that it was author a biography. For various reasons these Apart from being a BBC Visitor, I How did he come to write enthusiastically received by the listeners. came to nothing. continue to cover teach English to foreign this memoir? Being a bit of an amateur scribbler myself students at a local language school, I Bob was a freelance journalist in the UK, Your husband must have I then decided to try to adapt the script. For run a small massage therapy business having worked for newspapers in his native met many fascinating people nearly two years I made some progress but (www.indianmassagetherapies.co.uk) and Melbourne, Australia, before coming to in his career. What do you the enormity of the task overtook my own I enjoy all sports including playing tennis London. He moved to Spain for nine years, think inspired him to tell this life. I decided it was time to ‘Move On’! and horse riding, pilates, swimming, plus continuing to freelance, and it was there particular story? Last year I thought it was now or never, travelling (16 trips to Australia) and the that he met Rupert. There was a large ex- Rupert was such an intriguing character, to get Rupert’s story ‘out there’, so I decided theatre. Perhaps I shall now find time to do pat community and, possibly both being with so many stories to tell and such an to self-publish the script in its original form. my own writing too! writers, they became friends. They certainly amazing life, that Bob felt it should be This has finally happened, 14 years after Bob Moving On (ISBN 978 1783060 108) is both shared the same sense of humour! ‘seen’ in a visual way. Hence, he wrote it passed away. published by Troubador/Matador and is as a filmscript. available on Amazon (RRP £15.99). Did you ever meet Sir Rupert? Who do you think the book I met Rupert many times in the UK, where will appeal to? he came frequently. Bob returned to live and There seems to be a wide audience for CLASSIFIEDS work in London, and we met and married nostalgia – witness the popularity of (in fact re-met by chance, having first Downton Abbey and other historical dramas. Altea, Spain. worked together in the 1960s in the Press Perhaps it is an antidote to the troubles in the Beachfront apartment with jacuzzi, Office of the International Wool Secretariat!) world, people enjoy harking back to gentler two bedrooms, air-conditioned, I was by then working for the World Service times and being transported out of their day- underfloor heating. Contact Sandra. in the Bush House Newsroom, filling to-day existence. Moving On is in such Email: [email protected] various support roles including shiftleader a vein, and I believe it will appeal to people Mobile: 0034 663657411 and production secretary. Rupert often of all ages who enjoy biographies of Venice, Giudecca. came to our house for dinner. interesting characters. Beautiful apartment in quiet private courtyard, sleeps 5, fully equipped. Had your husband written any Have you enjoyed the Experience the real Venice. other books before this one? process of getting the Tel: 01260 227262 Bob had many unpublished manuscripts. book published? Email: [email protected] Last year I unearthed the story of Donald Bob Scholfield It has been a long, hard, emotional – and MacLaren who was involved in British expensive – slog, but I feel a real sense Paphos. A/C studio apartment, sleeps 2/3, spectacular balcony view, from £95pw. Amenities adjacent. Taxi/car hire arranged. Website: www.stayincyprus.co.uk Reunions CAPTION competition Tel: 01455 635 759 South of France. Yorkshire Region – correction Several sharp-eyed readers spotted our mistake in the last issue Great opportunity – buy a share in a villa Please note that the annual Yorkshire Region of Prospero. The picture was of course not of Bebe Daniels and in Provence. 7/8 weeks p.a. Spectacular Reunion/Pensioners’ Lunch takes place on Ben Lyon, but Eric Sykes and Sid James. The winner is Alan views, sleeps 8, swimming pool, garden, Thursday, 4 August 2014, and not 14 August Avery whose caption was: games room. £55,000 for shares as previously advised. Prospero apologises for ERIC: ‘Sid, someone at of freehold. Not a time share. any confusion caused by this error. Prospero thinks we’re Tel: 07867 505275 Ben Lyon and Bebe

Regular Ruislip get-together Daniels!’ SID: ‘Should have gone to SpecSavers!’ Costa Blanca, Spain. Rural detached casita, sleeps 5, private On the first Tuesday of each month (Tube Thanks also to Andrew Godfrey (‘Look, you have your pool, close amenities, near beaches. strikes permitting), there is regular get- poncy French wine, I’ll stick to a nice glass of South Photo and info: www.homeaway.co.uk/ together of ex-staff at Miller and Carter African plonk’) and Albert Barber (‘Cheers! But these p1155539 or call our agent. Restaurant, Bury Street, Ruislip HA4 7TH. glasses are empty. BBC cutbacks mate!’) The nearest underground station is Tel: +34 965 77 0826 Ruislip, Piccadilly/Metropolitan Send your witty caption entry to the Prospero postal (Uxbridge Branch). address by Friday 12 September 2014 (see page 2) or Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and email [email protected] with ‘caption competition 4’ The H.13 bus from the station – towards Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Ruislip Lido – stops nearly opposite the in the subject line. Good luck! Cardiff CF5 2YQ. entrance to the car park. We meet around Please enclose a cheque made payable to: 12 noon in the rear bar and go into the We are fairly confident that the picture on the left shows BBC Central Directorate. restaurant about 12.40. If you want to join Delia Smith, on her cookery programme Delia Smith’s Rate: £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter us you’re more than welcome. Cookery Course, 1981. please include your pension number. Neville Withers

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