The newspaper for retired BBC Pension Scheme members • April 2018 • Issue 2 PROSPERO

BLUE PETER CELEBRATES 5,000 EPISODES PENSION PAGE 2 SCHEME | BACK AT THE BBC

WHEN FRED BECAME FREDA... by Matt Eastley

Blue Peter celebrated its 5,000th edition on 31 January. Ariel Editor, Matt Eastley recalls a reptilian mystery and pays tribute to a programme that, for most of us, holds a special place in our hearts.

loved my school days but Blue Peter sparked possibly the most useless educational exercise ever, prompted Iby the sex of a lazy and unenterprising tortoise. The tortoise in question was called Fred and was one of a long line of pets to have graced the programme down the years.

Fred was a spectacularly dull reptile, who never did anything. My older sister used to tell me: ‘You’re more boring than Fred,’ if she wanted to annoy me, which she did, frequently.

While other such as the dogs Patch, Petra, Shep, or Honey seemed to have a vestige of personality, Fred was a crashing bore. His party piece was falling asleep mid programme. He was desperately uninteresting.

Yet this lethargic creature found itself at the centre of a mini scandal when an eagle-eyed viewer spotted – and to this day I don’t know how – that Fred was Blue Peter presenters with the real stars: Meg (collie), Mabel (mongrel), Lucy (retriever) and Smudge (kitten). actually… female. The animal was quickly renamed Freda. the annual Blue Peter appeal, which didn’t ask for money with Freda. After having the additional ‘a’ but recyclable odds and ends like milk bottle tops and painted on its shell, it settled aluminium cans as well as used stamps and wool. Blue Peter launches back into a life of dozing, chewing lettuce in a desultory fashion and failing to entertain the nation’s children. I remember the highlight of each year being the Diamond Badge annual expedition to exotic and far-flung places and Yet, unless my memory is playing tricks, which it very They are one of the most the Blue Peter annual being a regular stocking filler possibly might be, this gender confusion was the source sought-after badges in at . of much debate at the time. the world. Currently I was never the most practical child so I would look on over 175,000 children, This was probably why our English teacher prescribed a with a mixture of fascination and bemusement when between 6 and 15, have at quite essay. ‘Imagine if you discovered your pet random creations were somehow crafted from an least one of them, together was not the sex you first thought. What would you do?’ eclectic source of materials like washing up bottles, with worthy people from I seem to recall my very short submission went along egg cartons and the ubiquitous ‘sticky-backed plastic.’ extraordinary viewers to the lines of: ‘Chastise it for dishonesty and take it back celebrities and even royalty. Of course, to save time, whoever was making the product to the shop.’ Now, a new Diamond badge has been created to would magically produce a finished article with the mark the show’s 60th anniversary in October. Yet don’t let this tortoisey-tale detract from the words ‘Here’s one I made earlier’ which became, achievement of Blue Peter reaching 5,000 editions and and has remained, a national catchphrase. Designed by international fashion designer, Henry I, for one, am delighted to see it still going strong. Holland and launched during Blue Peter’s landmark So hats off to Blue Peter and especially the hundreds, 5,000th episode, the Diamond badge is a limited I doubt there is a single person in the BBC – at least those perhaps thousands, of BBC colleagues who will have edition and will only be awarded within the special of us who grew up in the UK – who has not watched an worked on this show over the last 60 years. episode at some stage. 60th year. To get to 5,000 episodes is a quite remarkable The first was launched 55 years For me personally, Blue Peter was a mainstay of my achievement. And I’m sure even Fred/Freda would get childhood, a cosy reminder that all was well with the world. a little excited about it… ago and this is the first time in the show’s history that the iconic shield badge shape has been replaced. The show was the brainchild of producer, John Hunter Blue Peter will celebrate its 60th anniversary in October. Blue Peter’s young fans will need to complete Blair and launched in 1958 with and Special events are taking place to honour the occasion. as its first hosts. certain tasks to earn this exclusive badge, including telling the programme about an amazing experience Presenters since then roll off the tongue and include they’ve had, inspiring others to think about the John Noakes, , , world around them, explaining how they help other , , , , people, speaking to their friends and family about , , right through what they remember about Blue Peter, and what to ’s presenters, Lindsey Russell and they will do to celebrate Blue Peter’s big birthday. Radzi Chinyanganya. Blue Peter viewers can earn Blue, Silver, Green, For many years, the programme was characterised by a Purple, Orange and Sport badges. The programme’s safe, firmly middle-class tone and a mainstay in the highest accolade is still the Gold badge with Monday and Thursday teatime slots. the most recent recipients being the Duke and Down the years, it has had many trademarks including its Duchess of Cambridge. Thousands of children have Barnacle Bill theme tune, which surely resides immovably already downloaded the application form for the in all our minds, the much-coveted Blue Peter badge, new Diamond badge. devised by artist , the aforementioned pets and

2 | PENSION & BENEFITS PROSPERO Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Scheme 2018 MEMBER SURVEY: members, or to their spouses and dependants. Prospero provides a source of news on former colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension issues, plus classified adverts. It is available online at .co.uk/mypension To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. Complete the member survey for a chance to win an Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/feedback, to: iPad or one of two £50 high street vouchers. Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ Email: [email protected] • It’s quick and easy to fill in – no more than 11 questions Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are scanned at 300dpi. Please also note that the • Rate our pension website maximum word count for obituaries is 350 words. • Tell us what you think of myPension online

• Help us improve our service to you MEMBER SURVEY 2018 Contents • Return your survey by 31 May Back at the BBC 2 n March, we contacted BBC Pension Scheme - When Fred became Freda members by email and post to ask, primarily, about - Blue Peter launches Diamond badge Itheir experiences of using our pension website and the new member self-service area. The survey reflects

PENSION on the new Scheme branding that was introduced last SCHEME year (and it asks you about that, too). Letters 4-5 Once you’ve registered for myPension online, you can: The closing date of the survey is 31 May 2018 and we are offering a prize draw, where you can win an iPad • view your recent benefit statement Memories 6-7 or one of two £50 high street shopping vouchers. - Lime Grove remembered • view your pension-in-payment details So what are you waiting for? - The bravest man I ever met • update certain information we hold about you. Complete the survey online at: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ - The teamwork behind ENPS - Radio Stoke: Red tape and razor blades The Pension and Benefits Centre (the Centre) sends membersurvey2018/ or contact the Centre out a member survey every two years, so that we (029 20 32 2811) to be sent a copy of the survey can benchmark the service provided and identify to complete and return. improvements in the information we provide The results of the member survey will be published BBC books 8-9 to members. in Prospero later this year. The member survey will help us build up a picture of who in the Scheme is using the different communication tools we have made available. Obituaries 10-12 Your feedback will help us to continue to improve “So far, over 3,600 members have the information we provide to members – and the completed the survey - a great response. ways in which we provide it. If you haven’t used Your feedback will help us build upon Odds and ends 12 myPension Online yet, we’d like to know why so that and improve the service to members. - Caption competition we can better understand member apprehensions So if you haven’t completed the survey - Classifieds and communication preferences. yet, please do so - you have until 31 May.” This year’s survey has fewer questions (no more than 11 questions in total), so it should only take a Ian Cutter Prospero 2018 few minutes to complete. Head of Operations The next issue of Prospero will appear in June 2018. The copy deadline is Wednesday 2 May 2018.

Mystery Sudoku I N E L H J E Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the letters EHIJLNOWY in some order. E I J (BBC) Trust Fund One row or column contains a five or more letter – application window now open word, title or name with a BBC connection. Solve the W Y L Applications are invited for grants for educational Sudoku to discover what it is and send your answer to: and hardship purposes and should be returned by The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, 31 July 2018. Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ by Friday 4 May 2018. The winner gets a £10 voucher. Many thanks to L H O The Trust Fund exists to help those engaged in Neil Somerville for providing this puzzle. broadcasting or an associated activity, now or in the O H J past, as well as their children and dependants. The Sudoku winner in February was Bob Harrison, who correctly N L E W You can request an application form from the BBC WIN identified the BBC connection Pension and Benefits Centre or download one here: was Ben Rich. H O Y bbc.co.uk/charityappeals/about/grants/grace- £10 wyndham-goldie

PROSPERO APRIL 2018 | 3 | LETTERS

Saturday Club – revisited Radio I respond to Ray Liffen’s (December Prospero) comments about Saturday Club’s Many thanks for featuring my request anniversary in November. The reach of bands being reduced to ‘dead’ vocals, a lack of bass and ‘thin’ overall sound. for retired Radio Scotland staff to send the magazine is truly remarkable, photos from the early years of Radio resulting in a great response. It could just be that I might have been one of the studio managers responsible Scotland, which celebrates its 40th and perhaps he would be interested to know how it was in the early 60s. A new favourite example features sports, audio, presentation and OB staff at the The occasional Saturday Club for which I was responsible was broadcast live from Open in St Andrews in 1984. I really studio 3A in Broadcasting House. 3A was a small studio and the home of hope the current generation can enjoy Childrens’ Hour. Only ribbon microphones were available, AXBs and possibly a even half as much creative fun as that PGS, excellent mics at the time and still are. However, not exactly the first choice of their predecessors! for a pop/rock group. Having four available, they would be allocated one for vocals, two for guitars and one for drums. Positioning them was a challenge as the stands A former colleague who saw the in a drama studio were for actors standing up. Best mic position was achieved by picture said the number of people tilting the stand and leaning it either on the back or the seat of a chair. in the golf cart must have been worthy of an entry in the Guinness Book The mixing desk was a small BBC type A with enough channels for four studio of Records! microphones, presenter and grams (mono of course). Equalisation (EQ) didn’t exist and the only available means to modify the sound was by attaching a fag Mike Shaw packet to one side of the microphone. [email protected]

I wonder if, in the situation described, Mr Liffen could have done better.

He suggests that my talents were more suited to Music While You Work and Sing Something Simple. I own up to having worked on both as well as the very wide range of programmes serviced by my department, originally ‘Variety’ and latterly ‘Group 2 Programme Operations’. My CV includes early rock & roll through small It all started with good old bands, big bands, folk bands, Jazz Club, Billy Cotton Band Show, Old Time Dancing Harry Rogers to Friday Night is Music Night, , I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again and I imagine there must be many BBC Round the Horne. pensioners like myself, who joined What a privilege it was to have been able to enjoy the company of so many the BBC as ignorant teenagers and wonderful artistes, friends and dedicated workmates – and to be paid for it. through acts of huge kindness were led John Chatfield to careers of great satisfaction and joy. All this came flooding back through the death notice of Harry Rogers in Research unit February’s Prospero. I was heartened to learn (from February Prospero) the BBC Pronunciation Research When I joined the BBC in the early 60s, Unit is still extant and has not disappeared under some dubious cost-saving exercise. my ambition was to be the next Kenneth Wolstenholme. I had bought a mobile However, I am mystified as to why there is not more stringent filtering of what is issued tape recorder and used to stand on the on both TV and Radio. I have been listening for quite a long time to newsreaders mixing terrace at Southend United’s Roots Hall the verbs ‘to bring’ and ‘to buy’ – the result of this confusion is bought when they sports assistant and gained an doing commentaries to myself. mean brought. Yes, even newsreaders do it. interview with Alec Weekes. Working at News Information in Duchess I first became aware of this anomaly, early in the Iraq conflict, when an anxious Juliet His first words were, ‘Right lad. I have Street, I screwed up my courage and Bremner replete with helmet and flak jacket urgently told us that ‘The Americans have an FA Cup replay at Hull City next took me and my recorder into the Sports bought heavy weapons for their attack on Falluja’, leaving me, at least, wondering Tuesday night. Where are you going to Department at Broadcasting House, what was happening in modern warfare. From whom were they buying? place the cameras?’ where I was speedily shown the door. Since that first interest in this, I think it’s becoming widespread. Perhaps it’s developing Of course I hadn’t a clue but again, like street argot? Crestfallen, I returned to Duchess Street kindness – we agreed I had applied for and was stopped by a man from the the wrong job and what I needed to do I have sought an answer to this question from various quarters, even from a professor agricultural people upstairs, who asked was get into newspapers and then of a university English Department, who was a contributor to Radio 4’s Today programme what the recorder was all about. From come back to the BBC. but even he could not explain it. Perhaps Martha Figueroa-Clark from Pronunciation this brief chat, he said I should send it Research Unit could throw some light on it? to his friend, Harry Rogers, who was My experience of reading papers nearly every day in News Information saw me Matt Conway then based at BH as a light programme music producer. land a job as a reporter on the Southend Standard. Then, 15 years later, I became Not only did Harry find time to listen to the first and only Sports Editor of the my recording but also to invite me for new commercial station, Essex Radio. a chat. It was during this time that the It was a wonderful act of generosity to hugely gifted Helen Rollason worked an unknown 18 year old he had never as my assistant in her first job in met and led to what was the most sports broadcasting. invigorating half hour I have ever had. My job came to an end in 2000 when Scottish aspect Along the lines of ‘Don’t let the bastards Essex Radio was taken over and the To try to answer David Buckley’s letter in the February issue, I would add that get you down’, he told me I had some new owners had no use for sport. the aspect ratio of programmes originally made in 4x3 only seems to be shown ability but must work on it, work on it Then Margaret Hyde came to my rescue correctly, in the area at least, when viewed on the HD version of and work on it. Also do not let anybody from BBC Essex in Chelmsford, offering the channel. destroy your self belief. As he said, me the job of breakfast sports there were all too many people about Other examples that come to mind are episodes of Star Trek (Sky), Murder She presenter, where I spent eight happy with no ability of their own who took Wrote (ITV3) and Rosemary and Thyme (also ITV3). years to complete my working life. great delight in destroying the ability On cable, you have the choice of watching either version of these programmes, of others. And it all started with good old and so now I watch the HD versions of channels if they are available. Harry Rogers. Later, working at Lime Grove, I saw an Rex Palmer advertisement for a job as a television Roger Buxton

4 Radio 2 – a moan What has happened to Radio 2? Is it now just for the young? I have, in the past, Nottinghamian ale for always enjoyed listening to such programmes as Steve Wright in the Afternoon or a broadcasting legend the Jeremy Vine programme, which is still very informative, but the music included Dennis McCarthy, the London-born broadcaster who came to in these programmes is just awful. Nottingham as a wartime refugee and went on to become the Steve Wright has this terrible habit of saying ‘Joe Bloggs has asked me to give a city’s best-loved radio personality, is to be honoured in the pubs ‘shout-out’ to whoever’… a shout-out? When I worked in local radio (for 23 years), and bars of his adopted city with an ale brewed in his memory. we would never use words like that – it would either have been ‘a mention’ or ‘dedication’ or words to that effect. It just sounds so unprofessional.

On many occasions, I have had to turn the radio off because the majority of music played is not very soothing to the ear. Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid music lover and have varied taste but when I hear one line repeated twenty times to an unmelodic backing, it is more than I can bear. It’s a shame, because the content of these programmes can be very good. I fear Radio 2 is becoming too much like Radio 1.

Sorry to be an old grump, but feel better now I have had my say!

With thanks for Prospero, such an interesting read.

Bonnie Margo Can you help? David Cleveland I am a retired radio man, turned filmmaker, and I am researching a documentary about David Cleveland.

He trained in 1964 at Ealing on the BBC Film Course and worked at Lime Grove and In the first Nottinghamian Celebration Ale of 2018, ‘Dennis McCarthy’ was brewed in Bush. From 1968 until 1976, he was the Prof in a white coat on Tony Hart’s Vision in late December and has gone on sale at pubs across Nottingham, the East On. He left the BBC in 1972 and founded the East Anglian Film Archive in 1976. Midlands and Yorkshire. Its arrival coincides with celebrations to mark the 50th I would like to talk with anyone who worked with David in the BBC, particularly anniversary of BBC Radio Nottingham, which began making programmes on those who were on his course at Lime Grove and on Vision On. 94.8VHF and Rediffusion Channel C in Nottingham on 31 January 1968.

I would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact me on [email protected]. Dennis McCarthy was a family man, most proud of his children and of the award of his MBE, given in 1991 for services to broadcasting. Prior to his time on the wireless, John Howden he had been a decorator, washing-machine salesman and dog-breeder. It was an interview he did on spec at dog show that convinced radio bosses to give him a job on air. And so, by the mid 1980s, his Sunday morning show, co-presented Donut Bricking it by daughter Tara and produced by son Owen ‘Digger’, attracted one in six of On seeing the news in the Evening Standard Thanks so much for publishing my Nottinghamshire’s public. (9 Feb 2018) that the TV Centre was about piece on Max Wall. It has gone down Tara and Owen are pictured above with brewer Dan Mason as preparations are to be opened in its new incarnation, with well with Bricks and we hope that made to brew ‘Dennis McCarthy’. apartments etc, my 47-year-old son emailed anyone who worked with Max at the this to me: ‘Yeah, but MY Dad took me to BBC will be tempted to become a see this, the Blue Peter Garden, lots of TV member of the MWS. shows, loads of sets and the BBC Canteen. Sofa so good Paul Foxall Bet you don’t get that on the tour!’ Prospero readers may be interested to know that I have written and will appear in a radio play celebrating the life and times of the illustrator, Raymond Briggs. ‘Raymond David Daborn Brigg’s Sofa’ is being staged at the Pelham House Hotel in Lewes on Sunday, 8 April, in aid of the Mayor of Lewes’ charities.

Raymond, who lives close by our town, gave me the go-ahead. The play contains extracts from his hilarious book Notes From The Sofa, and features a talking sofa and music chosen by Raymond during appearances on two Desert Island Discs.

Tickets are only £10 and I am also hoping there will be a guest appearance by a writer from The Oldie magazine. You can contact me on 01273 478070.

John Henty Lewes

Nostradamus Thirty-six years ago, when the rebuilding of Broadcasting House was first proposed, Ariel published this letter from me (18/08/1982).

It said: ‘If Broadcasting House really does have to be replaced, may any Power That Be, who may chance to read this letter, please consider calling it anything but a ‘centre’?

Every retail outlet, every office and now even kiosks, all call themselves ‘centres’. It’s only a matter of time before people will say, ‘I’m just popping out to do the centering’.

I know. How about ‘New Broadcasting House’?’

BBC Pension Number Maybe a Power That Was did read my letter, but my memory of my time at the Please make cheque payable to BBCPA and send it to: BBC is that no-one ever listened to me. Membership Secretary, BBCPA, PO BOX 142, BUXTON SK17 1AX Email: [email protected] Please put your pension number on the back of your cheque Roger Ordish Foissac, France

PROSPERO APRIL 2018 | 5 | MEMORIES LIME GROVE REMEMBERED I found Austin Ruddy’s article in February’s Prospero, The Right Place at the Right Time, both interesting and moving. I joined the BBC five years before him, and reading his reminiscences took me back to September 1955, when I commenced my career at Lime Grove.

t was just a couple of weeks before sitting at the same table to pass the salt depending on their backgrounds. Some the launch of commercial television. or pepper, depending on which dramas were dressed formally, even sporting IThe opening was upstaged by a fatal were currently being rehearsed for regimental ties, while others were more stable fire in The Archers, which got all transmission that evening. casual and arty. They didn’t mingle easily. the media publicity. There was a certain ‘air of mystery’ The staff in those days came from a around the film side of television and for The Corporation had many of its variety of backgrounds. Some were many, the closely guarded engineering experienced staff poached to join the freshly demobbed national servicemen, side was an enigma. Newly qualified newly established companies who’d others came from the dwindling make-up artists practiced their coveted won those early commercial franchises. provincial repertory or from the craft alongside those in the costume and Consequently, recruitment was in full mainstream theatre and the progressive wardrobe department, who exercised swing and I was one of the lucky ones art schools of that era. And, of course, range of channels, which spring up like their precise and imaginative skills. to be accepted. there were the general trainees, mainly mushrooms, beamed from satellites, Nevertheless it was a young, vibrant and whose programmes are peppered Lime Grove buzzed with activity. Its from Oxbridge, who did various with commercials. studios hosted a variety of programmes, attachments before most of them settled enthusiastic workforce with broad and from the early ‘lightish’ TV soap opera, into current affairs, some of whom were diverse skills, which with time and Those days when Austin and I joined were The Grove Family, to hefty and intense to become broadcasting executives of developing technology would shape itself very much the pioneering days, which current affairs programmes, all of which the future. While westwards in Ealing, the into a close-knit community, resulting in many of us feel privileged to have been were transmitted live. BBC Film Unit, slightly distancing itself the industry we enjoy today. part of. We have our views on things as from the electronic side of things, was they are now, we criticise and compare In the steamy restaurant, in the Sangers It was a very different world from now, recruiting people from the then-ailing then and now, but none can deny the block, where you could enjoy the chef’s with one channel of BBC television, limited British film industry. advantages and sophistication that special, three courses for one shilling and hours of transmission and invariably close technology has given to television. 10 pence, you could find yourself asking a In those days, there was a significant down well before midnight. Today, we Roman centurion or a German SS officer difference in how people dressed, have 24-hour schedules across a whole Brian Hawkins RED TAPE AND RAZOR BLADES It’s 5.30am and striplights shine out from the fourth floor of a 1960s steel and concrete Conway House in a street just off Hanley city centre.

wo small dot matrix printers the local radio reporter, a portable Uher office across the corridor, the breakfast in the upcoming bulletin and the SA slices wobble on their stands as tape recorder – cumbersomely heavy and programme presenter is also hard at work the tape into individual items, using a Tseemingly endless yards of thin questionably portable. A bank of similar preparing for three hours in front of the razor blade and a steel editing block with paper spew out from them, filled with the machines in their robust leather cases sit mic, introducing pre-recorded interviews, a 45-degree angle cutting guide in it. latest news. And a grey monster of a in wooden pigeon holes charging up taped ‘packages’, live chat and the Exactly where to cut is marked with a teleprinter nearby clatters into life, clunkily ready for the day ahead. regular news bulletins. very soft chinagraph pencil. More yellow printing the day’s weather forecast. The next hour or so is filled with frantic tape at the beginning, red at the end, and This is the 1970s newsroom of BBC Radio Around 6.30am, it’s down a flight of stairs activity. The journalist telephones local each tape labelled up ready for the Stoke-on-Trent as the early-shift journalist to the breakfast show studio to listen to emergency service control rooms to find bulletin. The local tapes are added to the arrives to start the day. No computers, reports from the BBC’s journalists around out whether they’ve been involved in pile now on the control desk in the studio no mobile phones, no internet, no digital the country and the world, played out to anything newsworthy overnight. The and the first news bulletin of day is technology of any kind – like something all local stations across a circuit from answerphone might have messages that almost ready to go. The journalist finalises out of an old black and white film BH in London from the imaginatively lead to more calls and more stories which the running order, shares it with the SA, compared to today’s never-stop world named GNS or General News Service. need to be typed up. A check call to the checks the total timing and then leaps of news. Telephones with dials and big They’re recorded onto more of that AA control room to find out the state of into the studio in time for the pips from ‘sit-up-and-beg’ typewriters are on each quarter-inch-wide magnetic tape by the the area’s roads – a possible source of London, an opening announcement from of the half dozen or so long wooden duty station assistant. Nothing to do with more news. The yards of paper are torn the breakfast show presenter and the first desks; an answerphone is blinking away trains, the SAs, as they were called, were off the printers, sifted through and news bulletin of the day from BBC Radio asking to be checked and a filing tray sits the people who operated all the studio individual national, international and local Stoke-on-Trent is on the air. on the end of one of the desks, piled up equipment, but this being local radio, stories ripped out and stapled onto with five-and-a-quarter-inch plastic reels they could equally be presenting Times have changed, the technology sheets of A4 paper. The tapes from the filled with quarter-inch-wide brown programmes, reading farm market sale certainly has, but I’m proud to have played tray are hastily laced up in turn on a magnetic tape; each has a sheet of paper prices (a much-valued service), taking a very small part in the 50 years of a massive Studer or Ferrograph tape pushed under its plastic body. the radio car out to locations all over the much-loved local radio station serving machine, each of them with a few yards area or a multitude of other tasks. North Staffordshire and South . These are the local inserts for that morning’s of yellow leader tape on the beginning, Happy birthday BBC Radio Stoke. news bulletin. Some are sound bites from and listened through until an equally long Once recorded, the journalist decides interviews recorded on the workhorse of tail of red tape marks their end. In an which stories are going to be used where John Roberts

6 THE TEAMWORK BEHIND ENPS The electronic news production system, ENPS, was installed by the BBC in 1996 across all of its newsrooms the world over. Ian Hare, a news ‘newbie’ at the time, recalls the work behind the scenes to roll ENPS out across the BBC.

This meant, for instance, that the Then came the staff training of how to backup server for Millbank might be in use ENPS; and then the ENPS was Bristol’s newsroom. delivered or rolled out to that newsroom. Rollout meetings often exposed weak As an aside, I was told that the ‘green links which had to be resolved – and they balls’, which featured on the folder were, often at short notice but with buttons, came about because the two typical good humour. principals of AP and ENPS were addicts of the Prisoner TV series and had I recall that there were three levels of incorporated the deadly green bouncing training. I distinctly remember the first ball theme into ENPS! level – it was ‘mouse’ training! Many old hands had never come across this strange One of the strangest days was when we device and so were duly enlightened. were all invited to an award presentation, where the BBC received the ‘Technical Head of News at the time was one innovation award to British Industry’. Tony; I remember one afternoon, after This was awarded for the BBC’s ENPS, much of ENPS was well under way, but some smirking behind hands was all of the team were invited into his office, noted as this was actually an American where we were all thanked for our hard technical innovation! work and a toast to the success of the project was taken. The rollout of the ‘BBC Desktop’ was the first prerequisite and so the pressure was It was the teamwork that made it all alking into the team office in on for this first stage for each newsroom happen, and I was proud to have played White City one morning, there in turn. a part in it all. Wwas our chubby, grinning American leader heavily manacled in chains inviting us to secure his padlock. A typical start to an ENPS day! The bravest man I ever met Mel and his henchman John, who both hailed from the States, were hired to Ray Liffen was prompted to write in deliver this successor to the old BASYS as a follow-up to the BBC system beloved by News. Michael Buerk using EPNS. article in February’s Prospero, with a After a round of applause as he adeptly memory of Reg Pidsley, who went wriggled out of the metalwork, it was with Wynford Vaughan-Thomas on totally different cultures in each. time for the team of 10 to get ENPS rolled the famous wartime broadcast. Whereas Radio 1xtra was a young, out to all the BBC newsrooms in the UK fast-moving, multi-ethnic bunch of guys, The bravest man I ever met was also and across the world. the likes of WATO and PM were a little the first man I met when I joined the I’d joined the team in 1996, I think, just more strait-laced. BBC. I was reminded of this by the when News and the ENPS team were BBC Wales article in Prospero for News24 was the new boy on the block starting out on this major upheaval to the February 2018 which mentioned and had excellent organisational skills, friendly man who by then was nearing way news was accessed and presented in the commentary by Wynford so much so that my work was made retirement. From a hook above his the newsrooms. Vaughan-Thomas from a Lancaster simpler, but late-night visits were still maintenance bench hung an acetate bomber while flying through the News-bie needed to check all was well. recording disc with the normal hole in flak during a raid over Berlin in World It was an exciting time to be involved as the centre and a second hole in the AP (Associated Press) was the contractual War Two. a newbie to News; a News guru told me, middle of the playing surface. partner with the BBC and I’m told that ‘Just keep smiling and they will trust you That commentary wasn’t ‘live’ in the the software was designed by ‘a couple Only later did I realise the significance to do the right thing.’ true sense of the word – it was of guys in a garage’ in the States. I don’t of the second hole. It was a rejected recorded on a portable disc recorder Rashly, our project leader, Pat, put me in know how true that is, but it is a familiar disc from that bombing run 20 years by Reg Pidsley, the man I met on charge of the rollout to TVC, LBH and story with other breakthrough ‘products’ earlier. A bullet from a German fighter Monday 20 May 1963. Millbank; other colleagues would do (to use the jargon). must have passed through the fuselage World Service and the regions. He was in that Lancaster along with AP fielded a strong team based also at and through that disc (and narrowly Wynford, cutting discs for later The work was hard and as the rollout to White City, and their techies were mainly missed Reg). A very apt souvenir. transmission. All the airmen on that the individual news proceeded, it meant concerned with the rollout of all the The BBC Wales article also mentions bomber, would have been conscripts many a long hour and many a tense servers across the country to deliver the Wynford Vaughan-Thomas’s recordings – they had to be there. Wynford and moment; one I remember was when ENPS service. of risqué limericks ‘waiting for a I needed to install an update to the Reg took a chance on death to make Instant backup transmission at midnight on Radio 4 Six Newsroom studio computer with that historic recording. A clever setup was used whereby there when time considers them suitable’. the presenter logged in – as normal, were two servers at each newsroom My BBC career started with four months Surely there are the makings of a series they arrived 30 seconds or so before centre but only one would host the ENPS of attachments around London Station when that time comes, with old transmission and so that was the time for that newsroom; the other was the at BH. On that first Monday morning, favourites like John Snagge and Jack I had to do the update – phew, made it! ‘buddy’ for another newsroom I went to Sound Maintenance in the Hulbert reciting Eskimo Nell, plus The One of the joys was meeting so many geographically distant. That gave instant basement of BH Extension, where I Firestone Tyre Factory, Listen With different News teams and seeing the backup if your local server malfunctioned. was introduced to Reg. He was a quiet, Mother, etc.

PROSPERO APRIL 2018 | 7 | BBC BOOKS EVERYONE HAS A BOOK INSIDE ‘EM We know that BBC folk are a creative bunch – as evidenced by the steady influx of letters and emails to the Prospero postbox announcing a newly published book. Here’s a selection of reviews of recently published books – historical, biographical, confessional – to whet your appetite and maybe just inspire you to write a book, too!

FIRE! IS ANYTHING The cotton mill disaster that HAPPENING? echoed down the generations My life as a news man In the days before mobile phones, the internet and Former BBC Radio journalist and producer, Dave Hulme has 24-hour news channels, the easiest way for a British become a first-time author with a book describing the mill fire which killed foreign correspondent to find out what was going his great-grandfather. on in the world was to phone the local office of FIRE! tells the story of the fire which destroyed one of the two Vernon news agency and ask: ‘Is anything happening?’ cotton mills in his home town of on 5 November 1902. That’s how veteran BBC reporter and presenter, His great-grandfather, Isaac Peet, was one of nine victims of the blaze. Robin Lustig started out in journalism, working for Reuters as an agency man.

In the 45 years since he began, he has watched the world of news change beyond all recognition, as he It broke out in a cotton spinning machine known as a before his fourth birthday,’ explained Dave. ‘I believe reported on stories from every continent on the mule and quickly spread to the entire factory. Isaac this was the start of my family’s problems down the planet except Antarctica. From coming under fire was among a handful of men who stayed behind to generations, resulting in my own birth following a in Pakistan to reporting from Berlin on the day fight the fire with buckets of water and a hosepipe. liaison between my mother and my American soldier Germany was reunified; from meeting Nelson There was no outside fire escape – it had been taken Mandela to covering Princess Diana’s sudden down when a new mill extension was built with a death, Lustig has lived and worked in more than ‘fireproof’ stone staircase. But it filled up with smoke ‘I believe this was the start of my family’s problems 80 countries, reporting on terror attacks, wars and and heat, blocking any escape. down the generations.’ political coups. The trapped men and boys slid down ropes tied to father, something I only found out about in middle age. machinery to an extendable fire brigade ladder which It is the reason for the book’s subtitle – it connects couldn’t reach the upper floors of the five-storey mill. ‘This is a wonderfully evocative and sympathetic my great-grandfather’s death and my mother’s One man fell to his death, and a local doctor’s surgery memoir. Robin Lustig, a prince of BBC journalism dysfunctional background. While still in her teens and was described as ‘like a slaughterhouse’ as it filled up as reporter and presenter for more than 20 years, unmarried, she had already given birth to a boy with the injured and dying. Among them was Isaac tells his stories with a range of brilliant and often several years before becoming pregnant with me – Peet, who was badly burned and injured, and who witty anecdotes, sharp observation and an and this was in the 1940s, when it was unacceptable died the following night. unstinting generosity of spirit.’ in society then.’ Mark Damazer, Master, St Peter’s College, Oxford Dave knew of his great-grandfather’s death in the fire Dave explains all this in a postscript to his book – an and former controller, BBC Radio 4 – he was aged just 42 – but decided to investigate unexpectedly personal glimpse into the author’s own further only last year when he was carrying out Lustig describes growing up as the son of refugees background. He has adopted the pen name David extensive family research. That research was part of from Nazi Germany and retraces the journeys of his Edwards Hulme for his first book, Edwards being his his quest to identify his American soldier father, which immigrant forebears to find the very spot where his American father’s family name. he did so in late 2016 after more than 25 years of grandmother was murdered by a Nazi death squad. searching. He is now in touch with a half-sister in Now 72, Dave, who left the BBC in 2000 after more After more than 30 years of reporting from and about the Middle East – including three years Michigan, USA. than 25 years as a freelancer and staffer, has four based in Jerusalem for – he reflects more books in development – one a humorous look ‘My great-grandfather’s dreadful death left his wife, on the continuing conflict between Israelis and at archery, which he has been involved in for 45 years, Eliza to look after their seven children. My grandfather, Palestinians and reaches a startling and rather and three on poetry, one a first collection and two Jim, was the youngest child, losing his father just controversial conclusion about the establishment others of children’s verse based on fantasy birds of the State of Israel. and animals. In his personal and poignant memoir, Lustig casts He lives in Stockport with his wife, Ann, and has a son his eye across his award-winning career, which took and daughter, and two grandchildren. him from London to the Middle East and on to the Balkans and USA during some of their darkest hours. He also lets us in through the back door of the BBC studio for a candid FIRE! The cotton mill disaster that echoed down the generations, by David Edwards behind-the-scenes look at broadcast Hulme, was published by Troubador on 28 January 2018. It is available in bookshops, journalism, and revisits the triumphs from the publishers and from the author by emailing [email protected] and disasters he has experienced along the way.

8 OXFORD BOY: A Post-War Townie Childhood BBC Club W1 The best place to meet friends and This is one boy’s tale of growing up in It is a picture of parents providing a rock relax after a visit to the West End, the Oxford in the 1940s and 1950s. It is a steady home as they improved their ‘A very enjoyable read. Joyful and often BBC Club offers a retired members’ foreign land of being caned on hand and position in life and encouraged their son very funny, the story moves along at a lunch at the special rate of £5 for one bottom, of teachers washing out a child’s to catch his ‘golden ball’. He was fortunate constantly entertaining pace. It’s a great course and £6.50 for two courses, mouth with soap as punishment for in being guided by gifted teachers through celebration of growing up.’ available Monday-Friday 12-2pm. swearing. It was a time of conkers, fag the teenage years of discovering music, cards and prozzie watching, when grappling with frothy petticoats, untold Canal cruising children asked strangers to take them in hours of sport and wasting time trying to BBC Club is proud to announce the to the ‘flicks’, of collecting autographs in imitate . purchase of a brand new narrow boat! the parks where that nice man asked the Christened ‘Savoy Hill V’ it is available way to the gents… from 7 May and will sleep up to seven. This is a remarkable memoir. Oxford Boy offers us a complete picture of a family’s It will be moored in Anderton in Cheshire For this boy, a scandalous act opened the way of life. Aunts and uncles crowd its pages: tales of bricklaying, betting, school and is available to hire by all Club door to everything important in the life friendships and corner shops… all recalled fondly and evocatively. This is not members. Training is given at the start that followed. His mother, who looked up academic Oxford, but the Oxford of Cowley workers and ex-servicemen. And, at its of your week! See the website for details: to the ‘proper gentry’, was from a large , a petty crime that launched Will Wyatt towards his remarkable BBC career.’ bbcclub.com/connect/canal-cruising Oxfordshire family in which several of her apparent siblings were her nephews and Club Connect nieces. There was Aunty Daisy with her Golf Society missing finger, who liked the American The first open event of the new season servicemen, and Uncle Stan, who took will be on 27 April. The Golf Society costs cash to buy his Jaguar while his brother Will Wyatt worked for the BBC as a producer, head of £30 per year for Club members. For rode passenger with loaded shotgun. documentaries and managing director of television. details, visit bbcclub.com/connect/golf He has been on the boards of a bookmaker, a manufacturing or contact [email protected] The boy’s father, wary of those who company and a media consultancy, and was chairman of the ‘talked poundnoteish’, came from an even BBC Rambling Club University of the Arts London and the Teaching Awards. larger, East Oxford family in which the Organised rambles (usually circular) of He has written two previous books: The Man Who Was boys were bricklayers whose hobby was between 6 and 12 miles take place every B. Traven (Cape, 1980) and The Fun Factory: A Life in the diddling bookmakers and some of the 3rd Sunday in the Home Counties. BBC (Aurum Press, 2003). girls provided R and R for undergrads. Lunch will be at a local pub or bring your own. All abilities welcome! Visit bbcclub.com/connect/rambling or contact [email protected] QUEER AND CATHOLIC: Music BBC Ariel Orchestra plays Dvorak’s A Life of Contradiction Slavonic Dances Op.72, both sets, on 27 April. This is a ‘scratch’ session in BBC Panorama editing suite, late October 1992. I’ve been in Arkansas for what seems an eternity, Maida Vale; the music is available making a documentary about Bill Clinton’s bid for the US Presidency. We’ve called the film, beforehand. We’re a very friendly group The Comeback Kid. It’s been a Herculean labour of love, but once it’s safely on air at 9.35pm, of players (about Grade 7 upwards), I slump into a chair in the office and watch the finished product going out ‘live’ on TV. The opening and offer a warm welcome whether sequence featured a paddlesteamer on the Mississippi River and a country and western guitarist you’re brilliant, rusty or learning! pitching his musical satire at the incumbent president, George Herbert Walker Bush. Strings particularly welcome. Contact [email protected]

‘No the trickle down didn’t, and the team appeared from out of the blue and family had known I was up against the Prospero Society events well is running dry, and the man at the drew up a chair. ‘Are you feeling strong?’ clock at Panorama, hence an expected Forthcoming events include a second top don’t even know why. I guess the was the question. I’d hardly slept for three radio silence. I pull the phone on my visit to the . This trip joke’s on us, I guess he was only kiddin’. days. A simple shrug of the shoulders was desk closer and ring that number in proved so popular that it is being ‘Cos the rich got richer and the trickle all I could muster. She then resumed, ‘… for the five thousandth time. repeated in April. Future trips planned down didn’t.’ because we’ve had a phone call from one are to the Chelsea Physic Gardens, But never like this time. It’s now 10pm. of your relatives. I’m afraid your Dad’s Turner’s House, The Magic Circle and a At this juncture, our newly discovered passed away. I’ve never had to do this ‘Hello, Swinton 8199.’ West End show. Further details can be artist from Little Rock looked straight kind of thing before. It feels a little crass, found in the newsletter: into the camera and delivered, with A voice beyond the grave. It was my bbcclub.com/ but I can’t think of any other way to tell perfect timing. father. I said nothing. connect/prospero/newsletters you. Mark, I’m so sorry.’ ‘Read my lips.’ So who had died? And what on earth Prospero Society AGM What the …? I’d spoken to him before the was all this about? They say life is This takes place at BBC Club W1 on I’d seen the sequence about 40 times, United game at the and he’d stranger than fiction… 17 April 2018 at 11am. It is open to all but I still managed a fatigued smile, seemed as right as rain. This is the BBC Club Prospero Society members. before a member of the production pre-mobile era of course, and all the This year our Chairman, Peter Mirams, is stepping down. BBC Club would like to thank him for all his hard work and This memoir of a gay, working class boy from Manchester exploring how to reconcile his sexuality service over the years and wish him the with his Catholicism is all the more powerful because of his deep knowledge of and commitment very best for his Prospero retirement! to his faith. Spanning the late 1960s to the present day, Mark Dowd’s Queer and Catholic chronicles a changing attitude to same-sex attraction over more than half a century and is packed with stories in turn funny, deeply moving and spiritually insightful, including: coming out to his parents BBC Club Broadcast Centre, BC2 B3, by talking in his sleep, training to become a Dominican priest before eloping from a religious 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP order with an ex-friar, and attending the funeral of his father – accompanied by his father! 020 8752 6666 [email protected]

PROSPERO APRIL 2018 | 9 | OBITUARIES

remained at Crystal Palace until his retirement in 1987. Kathy joined the BBC in the early 1960s, first as a Scenic supervisor and Sadly, his wife Mary died in 2001. secretary, then a studio manager at BH. She enjoyed several relief attachments to the regions, including Union rep Ian always gave his fullest support to the wellbeing of Northern Ireland and Plymouth, which is where I first I am sad to say that the station and was well respected by staff, most Patrick Brown met her in around 1965. Her strong character and sense passed away in late October notably in the way that he gave them help and of fun is well remembered, and her mainstream after some months of having encouragement, particularly the younger members. professionalism taught us provincials a thing or two! health problems following a Bert Gallon, in his early career on mobile maintenance, hip replacement. remembers Ian’s considerable help during the transfer Those attachments were invaluable in both directions – of a team to Crystal Palace, which at that time required with us at the time of the Torrey Canyon oil disaster in Pat was born and bred in the some very careful handling. 1967, she gained her first experience of outside White City area and was proud broadcasting. She recalled her debut as a reporter, using of it. He started his BBC career From his school days, Ian’s love of cricket never abated. a portable tape machine for the first time. in the 1960s in the Scenery A bowler of considerable merit, he captained his local Department. He worked at team for many years. He took great delight in being a Having married Jimmy Kingsbury, 1970s Head of various scenery stores, before member of the MCC – having waited 25 years to join! Radio1/2 Presentation, and following retirement in the 1980s, the couple moved to Cornwall. They travelled finding his forte in the studios The large gathering at his funeral service gave an extensively, particularly to opera performances, and at Television Centre as a indication of the high regard felt for him by his much enjoyed the unique open-air summer productions scenic supervisor. many friends. To his family and Phyllis, we send our at nearby Minack Theatre near Land’s End. Sadly, Jimmy During his time as a supervisor, he served as the Branch heartfelt sympathies. died 22 years ago. Secretary for the Day Scenic branch of the then union, Norman Shacklady N.A.T.T.K.E. Pat was always able to separate the two roles Chris Blount of supervisor and union rep in his day-to-day work and was always the professional. Programme Indexing In the planning and setting of major Dickens and TRU Shakespeare dramas, Pat was second to none. He always career chartered liked the challenge and was highly respected by all the Barbara Papworth (Bob) spent her long BBC career in designers and still kept in touch with most of them after Programme Correspondence, responsible for the engineer he left the BBC. Programme Index. Alan Ferne was on a trip He became a scenic operative manager in 1985. At that She was meticulous in her work, ensuring as much detail to the Red Sea last time, the TVC studios were always very busy with the as possible was typed (long before computers!) on her December, when he died turnarounds, and Pat’s knowledge and experience were record cards. This was invaluable information for unexpectedly while on a invaluable. But like the forward planner that he was, Pat researchers and programme makers. snorkelling expedition. was already planning his exit from the BBC. In 1993, Pat Bob loved opera and was also passionate about all An inveterate traveller, Alan and his partner Wendi found a lovely house in a rural animals, particularly horses. Among her other interests ventured far and wide and part of France, so off they went. revelled in sharing his were the works of the Brontë sisters and for some years, He made new friends and lived life to the full. I was lucky she owned (with a close friend) a house in Haworth, experiences. In 1974, returning from the Galapagos enough to visit him there, as were many old friends from Yorkshire, near The Parsonage. Islands, he put on a slideshow in his lounge – which home, and everyone always had a good laugh. Pat was doubled as a sound studio from where he and Michael Bob had a very gentle nature and was immensely kind always the best of hosts. McCarthy ran a sound recording company in their to everyone, often taking newcomers under her wing. ‘spare time’. Notable on the extramural front was his Pat was known for his wearing of nice clothes – he would I personally much appreciated her guidance many involvement with David Fanshaw’s productions of always look the part. On his visits to , Pat would years ago. African Sanctus and also the National Children’s Orchestra. always visit his old jazz haunts and try and get to watch Her recent Christmas card indicated that she was unwell his beloved Arsenal. Joining the BBC in October 1963 as a direct entry and had become housebound. Sadly, she passed away engineer from Bristol University, Alan spent most of Pat always kept very close to his roots at home. He will on 1 January and will be greatly missed by all those the next 31 years in Television Recording Unit SCPD, be sadly missed by his family and his friends in both privileged to have known her. until his early retirement in 1994. England and France. Maureen A Stevens There he became the ‘resident expert’ in linear Martin Smith videotape recording equipment and standards. This earned him a seat on several International Standards Committees and thus travel to Europe and Japan. Middlesborough YiT Kathleen Kingsbury I was so sad to hear the news of Kathy’s passing. As the I met Alan when joining TRU in 1971 as a ‘green horn’ IT. I worked for him on the build and installation of Ian Leisk Blanthorn died on 18 December 2017 following BBC Pensions Visitor for West Cornwall, I have the a lengthy illness. VT 36, 37 and 38 in TVC’s VT Area 2. It was the first happiest memories of my many trips to St Just and the three-machine, multi-purpose, two-inch quadruplex, He was born in West Hartlepool in 1928. As a direct cosy little home she had shared for many years in the time-code editing suite. ‘All singing, all dancing,’ result of a recruitment visit to his school by a BBC devoted company of two small dogs, first Sammy and he said gleefully from behind a sheaf of drawings. engineer, he joined the BBC as a Youth in Training at the latterly Ellie. Both were as welcoming as Kathy herself. There wasn’t another edit suite of that type and Middlesborough wartime ‘H’ Group Transmitter. Born in Portsmouth on 1 October 1935, Kathy took ballet complexity, to my knowledge. His career was interrupted by National Service in the lessons after school and began a brief career in the Civil Alan’s skills took him on VT projects across the English Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. On his return, he joined the Service before joining the Royal Opera House Covent and Welsh Regions and to the OU in Milton Keynes. Planning and Installation Department Aerial Unit (later Garden in the late 1950s as a member of its hospitality staff. Tim Moore remembers that, in Cardiff, Alan had a VR to become Transmission Capital Projects Department), Running the Green Room, she looked after many Gold 2000 craned out through the first-floor window of a where he became involved in much site work. It was on row of terraced houses – all the excitement a chap Star Visitors, including Frank Sinatra – ‘I was so privileged installation work at Tatsfield Receiving Station that he could want! met his wife Mary, a secretary there. They were married and, in these young and stage-struck years, thrilled to in 1957. He subsequently moved to Transmission get his autograph!’ At a time when recording standards were changing fast, Alan’s Chartered Engineer expertise undoubtedly Department Head Office, Duchess Street, where he was Working alongside the greats, one of Kathy’s favourites helped to guide the BBC’s adoption of new video engaged in organising transmitter maintenance teams, was the internationally famous Italian baritone, Tito recording formats that were both rugged and durable. which at that time were being increased due to the Gobbi. She admired his ‘sensitive musicianship as well as expansion of unattended stations. his acting talent and interpretive insights’. Working Alan spent a lot of time in New Zealand with his wife Kathy, who predeceased him in 2012. He was also In 1962, he was promoted to Assistant Engineer-in-Charge closely with the Austrian maestro, Herbert Von Karajan, involved in charity work for Age Concern and his of the Crystal Palace Station. With the creation of a was another highlight of Kathy’s time at Covent Garden; local schools. mobile maintenance team at Crystal Palace in 1980, his the experience further consolidating a lifelong passion title became Transmitter Manager Maintenance, and he for the world of opera. Jerry Goodman

10 Doolan’s mixture of fearless consumer championing, Engineer Valve Section A lady of fun coupled with probing, well executed interviews with the 1953-1982 and efficiency leading politicians of the day, produced a singular mix of the important and the apparently trivial that was soon was a radio William A Tweedie, better known as Allan to his Carol McShane widely imitated, but never surpassed throughout local drama studio manager who colleagues and friends, served in the RAF during the and national broadcasting. war and joined the Corporation on 16 January 1948. exuded confidence, not just It is almost certain that he undertook the Engineering her own but confidence in His ratings breakthrough was hugely accelerated by an Training Course at Wood Norton before being stationed all those who worked with incident in 1989. A prisoner on the run, who feared at Burghead Transmitting Station. her. She wasn’t only police might shoot him on sight, rang the show. Doolan supremely capable, she offered to escort him back into custody and did so, Allan joined Valve Section in 1953 and worked as an was a partner in the earning himself a parking ticket outside Wedsnesfield engineer in the Test Laboratory, testing the many creative enterprise, a police station for his pains. The incident was televised different types of valves in use throughout the trusted friend, an honest and made both BBC and ITV peak-time news bulletins. Corporation’s transmitting stations and studios. judge of ideas and These included receiving valves, large transmitting After that he never looked back. Awards followed, enormous fun to be around. valves and klystrons, etc. Sonys, an MBE, a Hall of Fame induction Carol was born on 9 January 1945 in Witney, and honorary degrees. Celebrity interviews there were As time went on, the use of broadcasting equipment Oxfordshire. She joined the BBC in 1963, becoming a aplenty; important folk beat a path to his studio door. He with receiving valves was slowly displaced by the radio studio manager in 1968. Before long, she joined loved it all but could still be impressed, most notably by ever-expanding range of discrete semiconductor and Nelson Mandela. Group 4, the radio drama team, and over the years integrated circuit equipment, which began to make worked with many of the stars of the time, including Sadly, his regular broadcasting came to an end in 2011 with its appearance during the late 1950s and early 1960s. , Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave, the onset of dementia, a condition he bore bravely and even Allan more than kept abreast of these developments , Derek Jacobi and Dirk Bogarde. broadcast about. He was loved and supported by his wife and took over management of the Test Laboratory as Christine, who was magnificent in his last declining years. Working as a Spot SM, a Tape/Grams SM and finally as a well as maintaining and updating much of the Valve Panel SM, Carol was always efficient but her strength Ed died in his sleep at home. At his funeral there was Section equipment. was not just her technical ability but also her personality standing room only. A memorial service is planned for May. He was always an amiable, quiet Scot, very approachable, and her skill at sparkling repartee. She forged many Conal O’Donnell and extremely thorough in his work. He became strong relationships, not only with studio manager specialist assistant transmitting valve engineer until colleagues but with everyone she worked with. She retirement in May 1982. treated everyone the same, from inexperienced BBC Data GM Sadly, Allan passed away in Kingston Hospital, Surrey, on secretaries to distinguished producers and actors. Former colleagues will be sad to learn of the death on 18 June 2017 and is greatly missed by his daughter Lorna. In 1987, Carol married Ian Sheward from BBC Television, 9 January of Richard Hewlett, former general manager a loving relationship that never faltered. In 1993, Carol Geoffrey E Morgan of BBC Data. Known as ‘Dick’ to avoid confusion with decided to take early retirement and, being Carol, left another Richard when he joined Secretariat in 1959, the BBC in style. ‘I always said they didn’t notice me he had already had a varied career, first in the Colonial arrive but with that leaving party, they sure knew Service as a district officer in Northern Rhodesia, and If you seek his memorial when I left.’ later as publications officer with the Royal Institute of then look around you Carol and Ian moved to Suffolk, where Carol, who had Public Administration. John Tomlins joined P&ID (later TPID) in the very early always loved animals, went to work in a local vets Born in 1931 in Plymouth and with a degree in Modern 1960s. He rapidly rose from transmitter mechanic to practice and retrained to become a veterinary nurse. Languages from Cambridge, he moved easily between installation technician, where his training in the RAF She subsequently joined Framlingham and Saxmundham corporate administrative posts and production roles in during National Service proved useful. Cats’ Protection as a homing officer, where her enthusiasm, the African, World and Rhodesian Services, covering UDI, commitment and constant jokes enlivened the many The job had an element of risk, working on masts and before becoming Head of Reference and Registry Services. fundraising events she helped to run. towers up to 1,000ft high and in terrains, especially in Responsible for an eclectic mixture of library, news Scotland, which were remote and stormy. There was no Carol died on 29 November 2017 after a short battle information and document management areas in and way to ascend the structures except by climbing the with cancer. Her funeral service was packed with many around London, as well as the Pronunciation Unit ladder and this could take up to half an hour. Climbing ex-BBC friends and local friends, especially those from and the office supporting Asa Briggs’ History of with tools and components required careful thought Cats’ Protection. Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Dick promoted because it was a long way down again for anything Carol was a respected colleague, a much-loved friend better communications and co-operation between the forgotten. The wind, too, blows harder as the height and a joy to be with. A little light has gone from all our large number of units all over the BBC, including increases, and life on these structures is always cold and lives now she is no longer with us. regional centres, which had grown up to deal with unpleasant. The work was demanding and not a job for archives and information of all kinds and in all media. the feckless and faint hearted. It was work that John Michael Bartlett Well ahead of many others, he foresaw their future value enjoyed and at which he excelled. and began the development of commercial services based John’s ability was recognised when he was appointed to on BBC news, programme and research information. He lead a construction team, in partnership with Deutsche Legendary Midlands also recognised the wider importance of broadcasting Welle, to build a transmitting station in Antigua. radio presenter information, working on statistics with UNESCO and the During his years with the BBC, covering changes in EBU, with the British Library Newspaper Library Advisory broadcasting from 405 to 625 lines and from black and As an Aussie and democrat extraordinaire, Ed Doolan Committee, and eventually in 1983 setting up World white to colour, 400 relay stations were built, bringing would have loved the 350-word ration for each Prospero Reporter, an online, full text, English language current TV reception to valleys that were in a broadcasting tribute, be it a doorperson or DG, or the man who affairs database later acquired by the Financial Times. shadow. The work of John and his colleagues is rarely invented BBC local talk radio in the 1980s. A tall man with a rich voice, the injury to his right shoulder ever mentioned but, in all weathers, they built, repaired Edwin Meyer Doolan MBE was born in Coogee, near sustained at birth never cramped his style – he merely and maintained the broadcasting system and improved Sydney, in 1941. He grew up listening to and loving the presented his left hand turned for the convenience of a its service. radio, be it ABC or the BBC World Service. right-handed handshake. He was very good to work with As I travel around this island of ours, I pass masts and In the 1970s, Ed left Australia to seek his fortune as a – fair-minded and supportive, with a flair for speaking towers, on many of which John worked. As is said of radio broadcaster with Deutsche Welle. From there, and writing, and a nice line in self-deprecation. Sir Christopher Wren on his memorial in St Paul’s he took up a teaching post in Scotland before getting Following a reorganisation in 1987, he retired from the Cathedral, I would say of John too: ‘If you seek his a presenter’s job on the new Birmingham commercial BBC but moved to be secretary to the Broadcasting memorial then look around you.’ station, BRMB. Complaints Commission until 1993, responsible for John, aged 86, a bachelor, died during the Christmas dealing with government and with senior managers in His potential was recognised by John Pickles, manager period in hospital, suffering from a serious blood disorder. all the broadcasting organisations. at BBC Radio WM, who was keen to revive WM’s poor WF Patrick Smith listening figures. His gamble paid off. Jacquie Kavanagh

PROSPERO APRIL 2018 | 11 | OBITUARIES | ODDS & ENDS

Publications openness to change. After spending 40 years in SW1, about five years ago she CLASSIFIEDS stalwart moved east to a flat in Limehouse, with It is with great sadness that I report the wonderful river views. She also travelled Majorca. Menorca. passing of Ronnie Helmont, who died annually to the Greek Islands, where she Stunning townhouse. Pedestrianised Stunning detached villa in peacefully on 10 February. He was 92. had a wide circle of friends. She did this beautiful old town Alcudia. Close to Es Castell with private pool. as recently as last May. beaches. Ex-BBC owned. Sleeps 12. Close amenities. Sleeps 2-7. Ron was a man of great conviviality who 20% discount for BBC. Brochure: 01621 741810. was much loved and respected by all who She will be greatly missed by her son Website: cangrandealcudia.com Website: menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk knew him. A colleague of some 15 years, Nick Freeth, who is a writer and editor, he was already well established at BBC and by her many friends from the BBC Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Publications when I joined the Corporation. and beyond it. I shall always remember Cardiff CF5 2YQ. He served many years as assistant the lunches at her local, ‘The Narrow’ Please enclose a cheque made payable to: BBC Central Directorate. circulation manager, Scotland, and in Limehouse: she would invariably be Rate: £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter, please include your pension number. maintained excellent relations with the doing crossword at the table John Menzies group, which at the time when I appeared. held the monopoly for wholesale magazine distribution north of the border. Mike Lucas Caption competition Outside of this ambassadorial role, Ron The winner of a £10 shopping voucher is Judith Bruce, with was a great golfer and a stalwart of the ‘Mr Humphreys is playing cricket this weekend. They’re Publications team in their annual matches Today deputy putting him at inside leg...’ with Menzies. Always the raconteur, his editor depthless fund of jokes enlivened many Post your entry to Prospero When you listen to the Today programme, a meeting. by Friday 4 May. Or, you can email a great deal of how it sounds – and the Before joining Publications, Ron had been your entry to [email protected], voice of one presenter in particular in Engineering and during that time had with ‘caption competition 2’ in – comes down to the work of its former been a keen ballroom dancer. He enjoyed the subject line. deputy editor, Jolyon Monson, who has an active retirement in with his Please include died at his home in France aged 77. wife Jill, to whom we send our WIN your BBC sincere condolences. Jolyon learnt his journalism in newspapers £10 pension number. Good luck! Peter Shaw in Sussex and Lancashire. He sharpened his talents in the radio newsroom, then moved onto current affairs and Today.

Doyenne of In the early 1970s, Jolyon worked in New Appointments York as a radio current affairs producer, where he met his future wife, Sherry. He CONTACTS Department worked in the same role in Northern Barbara Todd, who died in January at the Ireland in the 80s, treading carefully Visiting Scheme Benevolent Fund age of 91, will be best remembered for between the warring factions. Available to BBC pensioners over 70, This is funded by voluntary those recently bereaved, and anyone contributions from the BBC and its her work as a chief appointments officer. Jolyon was charming and urbane; a In the 1970s, she moved from Programme in poor health, the scheme is a method purpose is to protect the welfare of gentleman and lover of classical music, with Planning in Bush to 5 Portland Place, of keeping in touch and operates staff, pensioners and their families. an infectious laugh and a penchant for frequently travelling to White City to throughout the UK. Visitors are BBC Grants are made at the discretion of cravats and a pipe. He was a joy to work with chair boards for some of the most senior pensioners themselves. If you want to the Trustees. They may provide on the seemingly endless 12-hour day/night posts in television. be visited, receive a phone call or meet assistance in cases of unforeseen shifts which put Today on the air. It’s where up somewhere mutually convenient, financial hardship, for which help For many years, Barbara presided over the I first met him, and he became a loyal call 029 2032 2811. The contact is the from other sources is not available. Television Production training scheme, friend and ally. I don’t remember a cross same if you would like to become Tel: 029 2032 2811. which attracted more than 2,000 word in the nine years I worked with him. a visitor. applications annually, mostly from Prospero Society It was Jolyon who enticed students finishing university. She would Queries Prospero Society is the only section onto Today, when John Timpson took draw up a shortlist for relevant Heads of For benefit and pension payroll queries, of the BBC Club run by and for retired retirement. A simple phone call from Department and hold preliminary interviews call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811 BBC staff and their spouses. Its aim Jolyon was enough to get John on board. across the UK before the selection board. or email [email protected]. is to enable BBC pensioners to meet To survive this gruelling process, she Everyone who worked on Today owed on a social basis for theatre visits, Prospero needed an in-depth knowledge of Jolyon a great deal. A source of wisdom luncheons, coach outings, etc. programmes, current affairs and the arts, To delete a name from the distribution and kindness, he would take time to talk an empathy and interest in people, and list, ring the Service Line on Prospero Society is supported by over problems, both work and personal, incredible administrative skills. Barbara 029 2032 2811. Prospero is provided BBC Club funds so as to make events with anyone who might seek his counsel. had all of these by the bucketload. free of charge to retired BBC Scheme affordable. If you would like an He was delightful company at meals we members only. Prospero is also application form, please contact: She could spot talent, giving feedback and all took, as members of a close-knit available on audio disc for those advice to unsuccessful candidates, many programme unit. Gayner Leach, BBC Club, BC2 B3 with sight impairment. To register, of whom subsequently found jobs in TV. Broadcast Centre, 201 Wood Lane, Jolyon left Today to edit Eurofile, before please ring the Service Line. London W12 7TP She was held in very high regard by everyone becoming the editor of LBC’s London rolling Alternatively, it is also available Tel: 020 8752 6666 she worked with – as was evident from news station. He retired to live in Sussex, online at bbc.co.uk/mypension, Email: [email protected] their affectionate comments about her. and then moved to France, where he settled under ‘Documents’. in a lovely village in the Burgundy region. BBCPA Key to successful board chairing is finding BBC Club The BBCPA was founded in 1988 to a delicate balance between the different He was, without doubt, one of the best The BBC Club in London has a retired promote and safeguard the interests agendas of opinionated professionals in journalists I ever worked with. He taught membership costing £3 per month or of BBC pensioners. It is independent order to reach a consensual decision. all who met him to take important issues £36 per year. Members can also add of the BBC. For details of how to Barbara’s tenacity and determination were seriously, but also knew the value of friends and family to their membership key to this – sometimes helped along by join, see the panel on page 5 family, friends and fun. for a small additional cost. Regional the shortbread and flapjacks she baked. or download a membership form clubs may have different arrangements. He is survived by his wife Sherry and at bbcpa.org.uk. Barbara was an avid reader and, unlike Please call the BBC Club London three sons, Guy, Ben and Jamie. other 91 year olds, a lover of Scandi noir office on 020 8752 6666 or email on BBC4. She retained a remarkable Peter Gallimore [email protected] for details, or to join.

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