The newspaper for retired BBC Pension Scheme members • April 2021 • Issue 2 PROSPERO

PENSION GARDENING ON THE BBC SCHEME PAGE 2 | BACK AT THE BBC GARDENING ON THE BBC 9 May 1931 was arguably the date on which the BBC discovered how to talk to its audience. From the BBC’s inception in the 1920s, the idea of the ‘talk’ was one of the Corporation’s regular features. An expert would address the audience, reading formally from a script, but few ‘real’ people ever got behind the microphone.

hen, the mould was broken, with the arrival of CH Middleton. Selected from a list of potential Tgardening broadcasters, supplied to the BBC by the Royal Horticultural Society, this gently spoken son of a Northamptonshire gardener threw out broadcasting convention, and dared to speak from notes alone.

‘Mr Middleton’, as he was known on air, got the full support of BBC management, although in the early years he did provide a script as backup. Ultimately, this was seen as unnecessary, when it became clear that Mr Middleton was a broadcasting natural. A memo at the time from Mr Fielden of the BBC General Talks Department is revealing:

‘There really is no need for you to submit a manuscript every time you talk, so long as you have sufficient notes and can extemporize – would be happy if you would ‘Mr Middleton’ with Elizabeth Cowell. endeavour to tell and not read your garden talks.’

This he did with relish. His first talk set the tone that would become familiar for the next 15 years: This down-to-earth approach lent itself to open approach with his Gardening Club series. Rarely did the ‘Good afternoon. Well, it’s not much of a day for communication with the audience. For example, the programme stretch to outside locations. Instead, an gardening, is it?’ question of when Mr Middleton’s In Your Garden improvised studio set, complete with a greenhouse was programme was to be heard was of great to concern preferred, constructed in a decaying cinema converted to him in the early days. Was it to be Fridays at 19.10 or for television at Gosta Green in Birmingham. Sundays at 14.00? Mr Middleton himself broadcast a The garden message to his listeners asking which time they preferred: By the end of the 1960s, Thrower moved over to the ‘There does not seem a better way of finding out what newly established Gardeners’ World, a BBC stalwart your wishes are, whether you regard me as a stimulation that remains remarkably unchanged in its aim to for the weekend’s gardening, or to send you off to sleep this day. But it’s his role as the children’s gardener after Sunday lunch. The BBC want to please you and in Blue Peter that extended the appeal of gardening I am quite prepared to do what I’m told as far as I can to another generation. and to give you what you want.’ In 1974 he established the Blue Peter garden, complete Over 7,000 listeners wrote in to say they preferred with a greenhouse and simple plan of flowerbeds for Sunday, 2,950 Friday, and 66 liked Mr Middleton so straightforward cultivation. It survived two bouts of much they answered ‘for either or any time’. vandalism, in 1978 and 1983, but always sprang back. WW2 and gardening The Italian sunken garden brought a new lease of life By the outbreak of war in 1939, Mr Middleton was a following the first attack, and from the 1990s the garden at the studio in Gosta Green. household name and was approached by the Ministry has featured as a regular summer backdrop on the of Food to front their Dig for Victory campaign. BBC’s children’s channels. The Blue Peter garden The appeal of gardening suddenly widened as listeners, exists at MediaCity UK along with the statue of Petra, Early gardening programmes even without their own gardens, were encouraged the Blue Peter dog. The early years of were very much a to ‘grow their own’ in allotments, waste ground and learning experience for all concerned. In the case of even parks. gardening in the pre-Middleton era, much had been Dig for Victory. It was a question of national survival, but the advice still learned about what worked on air, and what did not, came in the familiar accessible form. What did change from a series of talks given at varying intervals and was the setting of the gardening talks. Mr Middleton different times of day, by the likes of Vita Sackville West, moved from the studio to a vegetable garden near and Marion Cran. Their limited success seemed to stem The Langham Hotel in Cavendish Place, central , as much from their alienating tone and delivery than where his advice was to be heard live on location. simply irregular scheduling. There was one other change. The weather report was With the opening of more regional output, from stations strangely absent for the duration of the war, essential across the country, listeners began to demand more. information for gardeners of course, but also very useful Mr Middleton offered a more varied gardening diet. for enemy aircraft planning a raid. What was coming into bloom, the likely weather conditions, practical tips on controlling pests – these TV gardening were typical fare in his weekly broadcasts. All were Television and gardening seemed to be natural partners, presented in a seemingly effortless fashion. and Mr Middleton realised this within the first year of the new medium starting in the UK. On 15 May 1937, Mr Middleton began to lay out a special plot for TV in the grounds of Alexandra Palace in north London.

Television transmission ceased during the war, but bounced back when another gardening legend was born. Percy Thrower continued the Middleton legacy, The Blue Peter garden at MediaCity UK. taking very much the same practical and friendly

2 Later trends Since the early days of radio and television, gardening has been the platform for the launch of many successful broadcasting careers, and new programme formats have emerged through the medium. made PROSPERO his debut on the long-running Nationwide, clearing greenfly from a garden in Margate in 1979, and Ground Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Scheme Force triggered a swathe of lifestyle garden and design members or to their spouses and dependants. shows from the early 1990s. Prospero provides a source of news on former colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension issues, plus classified adverts. It is available online at .com/mypension

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Email: [email protected] The team. Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are scanned at 300dpi. Please also note that the Always adapting, always changing, gardening maximum word count for obituaries is 350 words. programmes on the BBC have enjoyed an ongoing appeal for countless generations. Perhaps the early realisation that real people, talking about what they Contents really believe in, has sustained gardening on the . BBC for the past 90 years. Back at the BBC 2-3 Gardening on the BBC 2021 pension increase 2021 pension increase Sudoku From 1 April 2021, pensions will increase as follows: You can log in to myPension online to view your combined April payslip and P60 document • Old and New Benefits members’ pensions from 13 April 2021. in payment and deferred pensions: 1.2%. Old Benefits members who elected to receive If you have not registered for the service, you Letters 4-5 the Pension Increase Exchange will receive a will need to contact the pension service line on lower increase, and in some cases, no increase. 029 2032 2811 to obtain your personal security • Career Average Benefits (‘CAB’) 2006 members’ number to complete the registration process. pensions in payment: 1.2%. Paper copies will be posted on 13 April 2021, Memories 6-8 • CAB 2011 members’ pensions in payment: 0.6%. so should arrive with you by Friday of that week. BBC School Radio

No discretionary increase over and above those Weather forecasts on BBC1 detailed above has been agreed. in Switzerland A radio romance

Grace Wyndham Goldie (BBC) Trust Fund: Application window now open Obituaries 9-11 Applications are invited for grants for educational and hardship purposes and should be returned by 31 July 2021. Odds & ends 12 The Trust Fund exists to help those engaged in broadcasting or an associated activity, now or in the past, as well as their children and dependants. Open University – 50th anniversary Caption competition You can request an application form from the BBC Pension and Benefits Centre or download one here: bbc.co.uk/charityappeals/appeals/grants/grace-wyndham-goldie Classifieds

WIN £10 Sudoku A O E G Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the letters ACDEGHOTW in some C G order. One row or column contains a 5 or more letter word, name or programme title with a BBC T G H W connection. Solve the sudoku to discover what or who it is and send send your entry to Prospero by G E Friday, 30 April 2021. Or, you can email your entry Prospero April 2021 to [email protected], with ‘Sudoku competition 2’ T H A E The next issue of Prospero will appear in the subject line. Please include your BBC pension H T in June 2021. The copy deadline number. The winner gets a £10 voucher. (Please note, is Friday, 30 April 2021. vouchers will be issued once the latest lockdown restrictions have been lifted.) Many thanks to G O D A Neil Somerville for providing this puzzle. C G The Sudoku winner in February 2021 was Mr R Bowsfield, who correctly identified the E D C H connection as ‘rethink’.

PROSPERO APRIL 2021 | 3 | LETTERS Summer 1976 end of series The letter from Roy Bradshaw in the There’s a footnote needed to The Archers 70th anniversary piece in the most February edition of Prospero about recent Prospero. For some, at least, this ‘longest running daily serial in the world’ early dress code reminded me of the did actually finish when episode 2,670 was broadcast on 25 July 1969. And here’s long hot summer of 1976. the proof. My department was Television The story goes that when the number of overseas English language broadcasters Training, then based at Woodstock airing the programme had dwindled to three – Canada, Kenya and Hong Kong Grove, which was next door – BBC Transcription would no longer fund a free service. The offer was that the to Kensington House. The building remaining trio could either pay the cost of transcription and distribution or that had been a factory and had a special ‘final episode’ could be produced to wind up the series. flat roof areas which could be accessed by fire doors from a top Demonstrating a shocking lack of loyalty, they opted for the latter! floor corridor.

Listeners in Hong Kong said farewell to Ambridge when a leading character was During the summer of 1976, a seen off at a party in the Bull on the eve of his departure to a new life in Canada. number of secretaries took to It’s a long time since I’ve played the piece but I recall the emigrant was sunbathing on the flat roof at John Tregorran. My guess is Canada was chosen as, at the time, it was lunchtimes. The roof level of the probably the largest overseas audience. building was slightly lower than I once had the late Norman Painting () as a guest who strenuously denied the the top floor of Kensington House, existence of a final episode until I sent him a dubbing. Strange really, because he was in it! and the sight of attractive young ladies in bikinis lying in Ken Warburton opposite was slightly too much for house management.

I understand that a memo arrived with the comment to the effect BBC Microcomputer ‘we don’t mind you sunbathing, There’s no mention in your piece on ‘Notable BBC anniversaries in 2021’ that it’s the 40th anniversary of the BBC Computer but could you move to the upper Literacy Project and the release of the iconic BBC Microcomputer! Admittedly the associated TV series (The Computer part of the roof where you can’t Programme) first aired in early 1982, and BBC Micros only became readily available to the public then. be seen from Ken House!’

Richard Russell Dave Buckley

Ceefax Written Archives Caversham With reference to the letter ‘Ceefax – goodbye cruel world’ in the February edition of I was fascinated by the item about the digitisation of the Written Archive Centre Prospero, you can still experience something close to the old Ceefax service online in the February issue of Prospero. at this address: www.tinyurl.com/bbcceefax Some time after I retired in 1993, I decided to do a research degree, sponsored This works in most desktop browsers, but sadly not in mobile versions. by the BBC, into the ways in which music performance – recitals, concerts, opera and dance – had been televised. The research covered the period 1936 to 2004. Richard Russell For getting on for three years, once a week I drove to the WAC to delve through the records of this period. At first, I was treated as an academic researcher and given my own ‘minder’. Space in the reading rooms was limited and I wasn’t always able Changing times to book a table on one of the two days a week that outside researchers were admitted. Soon it was decided that, as a former member of staff, and especially as Your article on how the BBC handled LGBTQ+ matters on John Birt had agreed to part-fund my research, I would be allowed to use the WAC or in its programmes was very interesting. facilities on days normally only open to current staff members.

The gaps in the years were substantial, even after a softening It was agreed that on these days I would make the minimum demands on WAC of the approach and acceptance of the rights that people fought staff, who were involved in their own research, often for current programmes. for and eventually were rewarded with the changes in the law. Frequently I had the reading rooms to myself. An added bonus was that the limited visitors’ parking at WAC was usually empty on ‘staff’ days. I was also As a ‘Personnel’ person in the late ‘60s, and previously as an announcer, floor allowed to lunch in the excellent dining room at nearby Caversham Park, home assistant and AFM in the Television production teams, there were people I knew of BBC Monitoring. well who found great difficulties living in same-sex relationships because of the shadow of the law. The incredible relief when the law changed and having to be My only regret is that the personal records of former staff members who had ‘careful’ became a thing of the past was palpable. died were only made available 25 years after their death. It was not always clear when someone I was researching had died, even if they had left the BBC over About 1969/70, one of the BBC’s benefits for members of staff was an allowance 50 years previously. of ‘marriage’ leave and leave for moving house. There was even a ‘wedding’ present of, I think, £10. With the change in the law, a decision was made that The staff at WAC were uniformly helpful, from the receptionist Marion to the those in same-sex relationships would be eligible for the same considerations. then Deputy Written Archivist Gwyniver Jones, and especially my ‘minder’, Archives Researcher Jeff Walden. While this was applauded for its existence, not so in the House of Commons. One Scottish MP created a ‘stushie’ in the house, and I leave blanks An abiding memory is of the microfiche readers, each of which had its own in the spellings for obvious reasons, when he said BBC stands for eccentricities. Going through microfiches, it was easy to be diverted from my ‘Bl…dy Bu….s’ Charter. research by coming across fascinating early scripts from programmes like Dad’s Army and . To my mind and memory, it was a major first step in support for staff. I graduated with a PhD just after my 60th birthday in 2003. Without access to Tony Austin WAC records, immaculately filed, I would not now be able to sign myself…

Dr Roy Tipping IN YOUR ARTICLE timelined LGBTQ+ ‘firsts’ at the BBC, there was no mention of our documentary Angus and Tony. WITH ALL THE doom and gloom, I wondered if the ‘Written Archives Centre’ has In 1984 John Pitman narrated the BBC1 series The Other Half – six love stories the memo sent to the producer of It’s a Square World from (I think) the Head of about six very different couples. One of them featured the distinguished author Light Entertainment, after Michael Bentine had blown up a model of Television Sir Angus Wilson and his partner for 32 years, Tony Garrett. Jonathan Gili’s Centre. The memo said, ‘Television Centre must not be used as a source of sensitive film was, I believe, the first depiction on factual television of open entertainment.’ homosexual domestic life. It was a brave venture by all concerned, and a very fine film. Neville Withers

Edward Mirzoeff Ed: Thanks Neville. We have asked WAC if the memo exists and will report back.

4 Legionnaires’ Disease Radio audiences There has been much debate in the media about the BBC’s The article by Ken Wright on the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak brings back pursuit of younger audiences. some unpleasant memories since I was one of the victims. I read one report saying all channels had been ordered to I worked in the Engineering Information Department, on the 7th floor of ‘aim younger.’ Henry Wood House. One day, I was walking on the pavement to the cashier’s In the earlier years of my 20+ years with the BBC, there was a belief that audiences office, at the back of BH, to cash an expenses claim when I felt a puff of moved to the channel which attracted them most. The younger audiences listened wet air in my face. mainly to light entertainment, music and comedy, and as they grew older they I thought nothing of it; it was only much later that I knew what I’d walked into. moved to the spoken-word programmes found on Radio 4 and the like.

I had booked the next week as leave since I was due to install a brand-new Admittedly, there is much more choice now, but surely the BBC should be providing kitchen. All the new units were waiting in my garage. for all age categories if it is to justify its claim to be a universal public service.

Anyhow, I started removing the old units and had just completely stripped If it is correct that the average age of a Radio 2 listener is 53, where does the everything out when I realised that I was feeling somewhat weak and had to BBC expect older listeners/viewers to move to if every channel is aimed at take to my bed. a younger audience?

By the Sunday, I obviously had a high temperature and my wife managed to There is a simple analogy in the car industry. Small, cheap cars are always produced persuade one of our GPs to come out (remember this was 1988, when they still because there is a market for them among younger, new drivers. Eventually, as older did house calls). drivers, they may aspire to a BMW, Volvo or Rolls-Royce. These brands wait for the older, discerning customer to come along; they don’t change to aim for a different All I can remember of his visit was, ‘Oh, you are ill. Are you insured?’ That could type of customer. have been taken in more than one way. Radio listeners are like that – they find what they want to listen to at a particular I was a member of the BBC BUPA Scheme, so my wife drove me to a nearby time in their lives, and then move on as they mature. small private hospital. The GP contacted a local specialist who appeared Someone should remind the policymakers in BH that all listeners/viewers are shortly after my arrival. ‘You’ve got Legionnaires’ Disease,’ he said. ‘As I was growing older by the day, even the youngest. driving here, I had Radio 4 on the car radio and it was on the news that there’s been a BBC outbreak.’ Allan Muirhead

So, he knew exactly what drug to give me – and it worked. I was home in a week. Convalescence took another three weeks.

An ex-BBC colleague, now with his own business, somehow heard that I was Can you help? stuck at home and his company van turned up with an enormous basket I found this badge lying on a dusty auction house table in Greenwich, South East of flowers (with a bottle of whisky hidden inside to help my recovery). London about ten years ago. Our kitchen was finished somewhat later than planned. After 30 years reporting for the BBC (still making radio documentaries as a This was unlike the experience of one of my office colleagues. His wife took freelancer), it called to me, evoking the past glories of the Corporation that I love. him to A&E at a North London hospital. They agreed he was ill, but hadn’t any I had to have it, for the small sum of £9.00. beds, so he was sent home. He was off for nearly six months but his lungs were so badly damaged that he couldn’t But I still have no idea who would have stand the pollution in London. He managed to get a job worn it or what branch of the Beeb was with the EBU in Geneva (living in the French countryside) involved. Could it have been something where he still resides – even after retiring. to do with radio transmission services? Any information would be welcome. Charles Hope Lesley Curwen

Ed: If you can help Lesley, get in touch. We found a similar badge Short skirts…and dress codes for sale on Ebay, where On the subject of ‘short skirts’, I recall an incident in Australia. I was part of the the listing said it was a team working on the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. BBC staff lapel badge from the 1950s. Our studio was close to The Gabba, Queensland’s test cricket ground. We were allowed temporary membership to take lunch there. On arriving for the first time, I was refused entry, not because I was wearing shorts (it was very warm) but because I was wearing ‘short socks’ with the shorts. A quick visit to a local hosier for long ones did the trick and entry was gained.

Shortly afterwards a friend and colleague was refused entry because he was wearing jeans. He replied, ‘but you let that chap in and he is wearing jeans’.

‘Ah,’ the doorman said, ‘but that is Ian Chappel.’

Ross Archer

ROY BRADSHAW’S ENTERTAINING piece took me back to when I first joined Talks Group at Lime Grove in 1963.

My producer, Paul Bonner, informed me that ‘we in Talks Group wear suits’. That was alright, I had a suit – a rather natty number in green. ‘No,’ said Paul, ‘we wear grey suits.’

Personal standards were high then under the leadership of the formidable Mrs . I witnessed her ordering Mary, a young researcher, home to wash her hair. Paul Bonner himself was sent out of the room to comb his hair.

It was only a few months later that everything changed. Producers suddenly began to appear in blue jeans (though always with a tie). Soon all production staff wore jeans. Studio cameramen, TMs, sound supervisors and other technical staff continued in suits.

‘That’s how you can tell who the producers are,’ a visitor to the studio was told. ‘They’re the untidy ones.’

Edward Mirzoeff

PROSPERO APRIL 2021 | 5 | MEMORIES BBC SCHOOL RADIO – NATURE ORIGINS

Happy birthday! BBC Club is 97 years old With the approach of the BBC’s 100th this month! It is only with the continued anniversary, it is perhaps appropriate to reflect support of our members that we will be able to on the contribution that School Broadcasting provide courses, classes, special interest groups, Radio made to UK education. wellbeing, offers, fun and education as well as the Clubs and gyms for t would appear that the first schools’ broadcast was The photo was taken on location on the River Test, BBC staff past and present. Thank you. put out by Station 2LO on 4 April 1924, presented by Hants, in the mid-70s. The young man with the beard, At the time of writing, the Government has provided ISir Walford Davies, later Master of the King’s Music. microphone and Uher tape machine was the current a ‘roadmap’ to the easing of restrictions, providing 77-year-old writer! By the late ‘20s, the publicly owned BBC expanded its that certain criteria continue to be met. curricular output and audiences built up across the Bernard and I were recording for his Radiovision With this in mind, we are planning to reopen the BBC nation to impressive numbers. programme on brown trout and their wild river-to-sea Clubs in line with this as soon as we practically can. migrations. The series focused heavily on conservation A very early starter was the Nature series for primary concerns, with contributions from RSPB Young Opening times will be adapted in line with changing schools. Initially a short Talks programme, it evolved over Ornithologists and WWF Young People’s Trust for work and travel patterns of our members. Do please the decades and through wartime, targeting the middle Endangered Species. Bernard was a prominent member check the website for more details. years of primary schoolchildren. of the Soil Association that, earlier than most Currently travel advice still remains as ‘stay home In 1954, as a nine-year-old sitting in a classroom in organisations, took on modern farming practices and and and only leave the house for essential purposes’ Kingfisher Primary School, Doncaster, I listened along resultant spoiling and pollution of land and water. and the Mayor of London has not indicated when with 53 other children. We shared, between two, the The series kept going to 1985, by which time restrictions for non-essential travel will be lifted. famed Nature pamphlet, illustrated with colour and black the accompanying pamphlet had been replaced and white photographs. In its heyday, the publication by the BBC Nature Book, a publication that topped more than a million copies sold per year. spoke of the talented design assistants in I was especially interested in reports from Field Studies BBC Educational Publications. Centres; Malham Tarn, and Slapton Ley, Peter Ward, formerly Chief Producer and Editor, South Devon to name just two. How could I possibly BBC School Radio (1972 to 1989). predict that 18 years later Dr Charles Armour, Head of School Radio, would appoint me to his department? I applied as a secondary biologist but was initially Leaf hunt tasked with the primary Nature series of my childhood. A kind of deja écoute! birch beech ash The series, 28 per year including three Radiovision alder (tape/slide) programmes, went out to over 6,500

hazel primary schools. hawthorn field maple elder 11 The responsibility was awesome but, naturally, Bug bingo

the brash new broom changed formats, introducing rowan We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as 88 Butterflies – There are Centipedes – Centipedes oak 56 species of butterfly are nocturnal andhorse love chestnut the in the UK and all have a dark, so you can find them documentaries recorded on location, and drama. So now you know a little bit more about how holly breathing it is safe to do so. fascinating life cycle – from by lifting up stones or logs places fascinating they really are, see how many caterpillar to butterfly. or digging in the ground. bugs you can identify in your patch. Seen Seen

In the photo below, writer/naturalist/fly fisherman Things will look a little different! Screens and Have you found any other leaves? Draw them here or stick them here Bernard Venables (on the left) became the supreme and find out their names. one-way systems will be in operation, and food sycamore contributor. Bernard wrote beautifully scripted material and drink can only be consumed when seated. Ants – Some species of ant Bees – There are many Ladybirds – There are 46 Snails – Found all over are vegetarian, some are different types of bee different types of ladybird the UK, snails carry a hard that took children’s imaginations to the depths of the carnivorous and others eat including bumblebees, in the UK, usually seen shell on their back and both meat and vegetation. honeybees and March to October. move along on one long, solitary bees. slimy foot. Spring in the air oceans, across an African safari, to coastal locations Seen Seen Seen Bingo! Our Connect Clubs are also beginning to think about and the depths of the British countryside. future events, with outdoor activities beginning. The Golf Society will be starting their season a little late this year and the Rambling Club’s programme is being formulated, with Sailing, the Yacht Club and others to follow.

Website update The BBC Club website is undergoing a makeover! Our website is outdated and cumbersome and sometimes hard to navigate, so we are taking this opportunity for a redesign. You may notice some loss of functionality until the new version is ready to go but do bear with us – it will be worth it!

Please note, correspondence by post or email only as staff are continuing to work from home.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.

[email protected] BBC Club Broadcast Centre, BC2 B3, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP Bernard Venables (left) and Peter Ward.

6 | MEMORIES WEATHER FORECASTS ON BBC1 by Geoff Hawkes

Cameramen based at BBC Television Centre in the ‘60s and ‘70s worked on a variety of productions, including educational programmes like Playschool and Blue Peter, series like Doctor Who and Dixon of Dock Green, and music shows like Top of the Pops and World of Music.

uniors like me routinely served terms of three or six months in the presentation studios (Pres A & B) in the Network area on the fourth floor, Jworking on programme trails, promotions for (which were allowed then), Points of View with Robert Robinson or Barry Took – and importantly, the weather forecasts.

In 1970 I took photos of the weather setup in Pres A like this one, showing Jack Scott waiting to go on-air and a lady production assistant who I haven’t been able to identify. It would be lovely if she saw this and it brought back happy memories for her.

The weathermen were rostered from the bench at the London Weather Centre in Holborn and came by Tube to the studio at Television Centre with the latest marked-up weather charts.

The team was led by Bert Foord, Graham Parker and Peter Walker, with Keith Best, Jack Scott, George Luce and Bill Giles following, together with Barbara Edwards (the first female weather presenter), Michael Fish (the youngest at 29) and Ian McCaskill. They had their own personalities, and Jack had a presence about him that made him seem like the father of the house, though I doubt if he’d have given himself that accolade. Jack Scott and unknown PA...does anyone recognise her? Felt pens and acetone The original weather setup comprised an acetate board on which pioneer forecasters like Jack Armstrong drew the isobars with a felt pen, laboriously cleaning it off afterwards with acetone. With the advent of colour television, that changed to having The whole thing had to be timed to finish three boards: the Atlantic board, the Today board and the Tomorrow board as a precisely for Network to run the next programme permanent setup along one wall of Pres A, as in the picture. on schedule A regular part of our day would be the weather presenter arriving with a printout of the Atlantic chart which he would set about plotting on the largest of the boards, as in the picture of Jack Scott at work here. The isobars were composed of long strips of magnetic rubber fashioned in place to build up the map, along with symbols to indicate the high and low pressure fronts. The Today and the Tomorrow boards were prepared by placing appropriate magnetic symbols on them which the forecaster would move or add to as he spoke, sometimes having difficulty getting them to stay in place – and tales abound of the word GOF mischievously appearing in place of FOG.

When the time came for the forecast, we would line up one of our three cameras on the Atlantic board, another midway between the Today and Tomorrow board, framed up on the Today board, and the third on a 12x9” chart on a caption stand, with monitors by the cameras so that the weatherman could see studio output and what was on Network – and a clock on a stand for timing which you can just see the round shape of to the left of the picture. There’s also a mic on a stand as a backup in case the lapel mic failed.

The weatherman would take up position to the left of the Atlantic board with the cameraman manning that camera. Sometimes we had to start on a medium close-up of the weatherman for his preamble and zoom out on cue to a full shot of the board. This was tricky to do smoothly without seeing any of the surrounding frame, as when looking in the viewfinder we had to remember where the edges were and stop before The whole thing had to be timed to finish precisely for Network to run the next overshooting. It was similar to what we had to do with picture captions on Jackanory, programme on schedule – and that’s where the lady in the picture with long-lead always a tense moment. headphones came in. She would be listening for a cue as to when we were into the last 30 seconds, when she would step forward to place a finger on the clock to Having done the zoom, the cameraman, if on his own, would lock that camera off indicate the exact second when the weatherman had to stop talking. In those days the while he moved to the one on the Today board. When the weatherman finished talking weathermen didn’t wear an earpiece and couldn’t hear talkback, unlike presenters on about the Atlantic board, he would throw to the caption on the stand while he moved other live broadcasts who would be given countdowns from about ten minutes out, out of vision to the Today board. The director would cut back to him there while he saying ‘x minutes (or seconds) to stopping-talking.’ talked about it and then he would walk in-vision to the Tomorrow board with the camera panning with him. It sounds simple but we had to listen carefully to know The daytime and evening forecasts were live but the late-night one with which the when he was about to do the walk and not make a false move if he was simply leaning Network ended before shutting down for the night was pre-recorded at about forward – and to ensure we ended pan perfectly framed as he finished the move. 10.30pm, after the weatherman had checked with the chiefs at Weather Centre that the outlook hadn’t changed. The studio would then stand down and hand over to Nerve-wracking moment Network Control to run the recording, coupled with a film from the Central Office of Cameramen who were used to doing complex shots on drama or light entertainment Information explaining what the hard shoulder on motorways was for, or telling people have said how they found the zoom-out, and the pan from one board to the next, at the seaside, ‘When the red flag is flying, don’t swim’ – and The Queen. I’m sure nerve-wracking to get right. As with any of our work, we had to concentrate on what those of you who were around at the time will remember it well, even if like Maurice we were doing and not think of the millions of viewers watching. The people we and Hermione, we disagree on the detail. worried about were those in the control room, hoping to please them – and ourselves, of course. That camera could then be locked off while the operator moved to frame up The ‘80s and ‘90s saw the dawn of the electronic age, with forecasts using a single a camera on the 12x9” summary caption with which the forecast usually ended, screen on which the different weather maps were projected, coupled with overlay to though occasionally the weatherman would walk out of vision back to the Atlantic make it clearer for the viewers – and along came a raft of new weather presenters to chart and end on that. go with it, some of whom are continuing today.

PROSPERO APRIL 2021 | 7 | MEMORIES

CEEFAX IN SWITZERLAND In 1973, as Ceefax was in its experimental, promotional stages, someone discovered that ITV were going to be demonstrating their equivalent/rival (Oracle) at the TV Symposium in Montreux. Obviously the BBC couldn’t be upstaged – we had to show off Ceefax. A job for Engineering Information!

uess what – I was picked to be the one who The next day I collected the equipment and set off for roadside. Switzerland only allowed half a litre of Ghad to go at two days’ notice. Dover, where I met someone from Shipping who had the duty-free spirits to be brought into the country. documents and he took me through Customs – a long, There was the photographer who held his light meter Passport had expired… no problem, we had a drawn-out process. On arrival in France, I was just against the screen and decided he needed flash! JP in the department who signed the photos waved through. I got at a booth in Oxford Circus underground I wonder what he saw when the film was processed? station and off I went to the Passport Office in The same applied when I left France to enter And the French journalist who apparently spoke no Petty France, London. Switzerland. But, ‘Fill in zis form’ said the Germanic English. My French wasn’t that bad, but an O-Level Swiss customs officer. So, I did. ‘Zat will be 10SF 70.’ taken 18 years earlier hadn’t given me the word for Equipment had to be taken so I had to drive. So I paid and, luckily, got a receipt which I read when ‘videotape recorder’. (Of course, I know it now!) I refused the offer of a hired car; bad enough I got to my hotel: ‘10SF for time and work in processing I just hope he reported what I thought I was saying. driving on the wrong side of the road without the Carnet; 70c for the use of Government Form 137.’ being in a strange vehicle, so I took my own – (Only the Swiss could do that.) When I came to leave the hotel, I asked for my bill in so off I went to get a Green Card. my best French and the hall porter replied in a very And so I got to the exhibition, into a corner of the stand strongly German-accented tongue, so I asked him to Others were getting the kit together at Kingswood, belonging to Marconi (one of their sister companies had repeat it more slowly. ‘Do you undershtant Eenglish?’ making a list which was passed to Shipping to fill in made the set I was demonstrating). We got signal so I admitted I did, answered his question and got my the Customs Carnet which would allow me ‘to cross played back on videotape from the Ampex stand, two bill. And so, I drove home uneventfully. Customs at borders without problems’. floors down. (Luckily, I’d been on my Direct Entry Dover were their usual self, but I did get home. Somebody arranged a cash advance in both French Engineers’ course with their stand manager.) I found and Swiss Francs. As I left the office, somebody quite a few former BBC colleagues on other UK-based It was another 14 years before Auntie sent me to said, ‘You do speak French, don’t you?’ (It was bit stands, one of whom told me the terrible tale of being Switzerland again, but that’s another story. late to ask.) forced to open his bottle of duty-free whisky he’d bought on the ferry and pour half of it away at the Charles Hope

A RADIO ROMANCE by Bonnie Margo In 1959, when I was 14, I had a 16-year-old boyfriend who lived in South London but used to come to my hometown on the coast at weekends to visit grandparents.

I worked in local radio at the time and used to of ours asked me to come and spend a weekend in her co-present a programme a few days a week in the London home in the mid-’90s and I decided to call mornings and in the afternoons. My surname had him and tell him I was coming up to London for the obviously changed then, but the voice and Christian weekend. We arranged to meet for a coffee. We had name hadn’t. 30-odd years to catch up on!

He subsequently called the radio station after the The rest really is history, and although I moved to programme and asked to speak to me, but of course, London for two years, we decided to move back to my you couldn’t be put through to a presenter if you were hometown (where I still owned a house), after I was just a member of the public, so the receptionist took made redundant by the BBC in 1997. One of my sons e used to see each other briefly and his name and number and said she would pass on was at Uni and the other, a TV cameraman, had moved frequented the local dance venue. the message. to London to pursue his career. WDue to his ill health, I didn’t see him for quite a few months and then he started visiting I had a close friend on reception at the time, and she We were married in 1998 and have grown old together again at weekends. The friendship fizzled out knew exactly who it was when she gave me the ever since. We have enjoyed ups and downs, seen our eventually and we went our separate ways. message. A real blast from the past! I did call him back children married and have 11 grandchildren between us. and we had a short chat but he was still married then. We have a truly wonderful marriage and can only thank We both married in the ‘60s – I had two children We both eventually divorced. the BBC for initially bringing us together. and he had four. Fast forward 30-odd years and he was driving along with his son in the car in my Fast forward again a couple of years and he tried to hometown on business, when on the local BBC contact me once more, to no avail, but left a telephone radio station he heard a familiar voice. number. I was still single at the time but a mutual friend

8 | OBITUARIES

and Punishment, Testament of Youth, Thérèse Raquin, He worked shifts, with studios working round the Science Features Sons and Lovers, The Barchester Chronicles, The Old clock. Using the lighting plan produced by the lighting In 1974, John Mansfield Men at the Zoo and her greatest triumph, I, Claudius. director, electricians would rig overnight and a day crew would come in to set the lighting and rehearse knocked on my lab door and Along with producer Jonathan Powell, she worked the show. Archie knew the thrill of live television, where entered most deferentially. closely with John Le Carre on the TV adaptations of a slip-up on a cue would be noticed by critical viewers. I’d had a call a week earlier; a Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People. In her BBC producer making a science own right, Betty produced Mansfield Park, Bleak House, We first met during the early ‘70s, after he successfully film had read of my work about Tender is the Night and Fortunes of War. applied to move to the Lighting Department at Television Film Studios, Ealing. He quickly settled into a microsurgery in The Mirror, one Following her retirement from the BBC in 1987, Betty new way of working in the film studios and on location. of the few journals that had joined Brian Eastman’s Carnival Films, and then in 1996 Film lighting invariably involves single camera working published my work. The respect she proposed to ITV the little-known novels of Caroline and a re-light for every shot. Archie was the perfect he showed a junior researcher was not justified by any Graham, Midsomer Murders. The series is still being colleague to work with, collegiate when working as a achievement or status. He peered down a microscope, made 23 years later. Betty worked on the scripts and crew member and a considerate, capable team leader. enchanted by a tiny join I had made in a 0.5mm vessel. the casting until only five years before her death. The stitches were invisible to the naked eye, the Archie was born in Edinburgh in 1934, moving west needle so delicate that it floated on the draught in the Betty received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both to Mallaig until he was nine. His family then moved Nissen hut where I laboured. I pronounced proudly BAFTA and The . She passed to London where he remained for the rest of his life. this was the future, explaining we shall put minuscule away on 15 February, at the age of 93. A celebration of He always considered himself a Londoner. microchips into the brain, and also reverse female her life will be held in central London in the summer. He possessed a wry sense of humour and held sterilisation. Leaving, he treated me with his immense Brian Eastman firm views on right and wrong. charm, ‘Thank you – busy people always find time.’ At Ealing, Archie worked on the entire range of John was making a prize-winning, 90-minute programme output. His credits include Last of the documentary predicting advances of medical Summer Wine, A Horseman Riding By, Silent Witness treatment by the year 2000 and he filmed me Research engineer and hundreds more. Being a popular member of doing abdominal microsurgery, then completely Bill Taylor was a research the Lighting Department, cameramen were always new. Focusing a microscope camera, he also caught engineer at Kingswood happy to have Archie in the team. They knew that a electronic chips sewed into a nerve. My predictions Warren from 1956 to 1988. were rubbish but John, quite brilliantly, filmed elderly He was a classic ‘boffin’, knowledgeable and capable technician was working people jumping to music on trampolines in a bright, seemingly a little withdrawn with them. multi-coloured environment. Fifty years later, but deeply involved in During night shoots filming Natural Lies, we were we still have not learnt to stimulate the brain of his work. subjected to sub-zero temperatures (-12 °C). elderly people. His Cambridge degree in Our anoraks became frozen like a board, creaking as In 1978, he launched me as a TV presenter. Natural Sciences followed we walked. Archie smiled his way through it all. He was His Your life in their hands was TV’s first live surgery by National Service in the a good craftsman, reliable, good humoured, kindly in colour. Standing me before a camera, he’d say Royal Signals led him into the Cavendish Research and stoic. The BBC was lucky to have him as a staff ‘Robert, you sound pompous’ or, ‘Robert, I don’t Laboratory. This perfectly readied him for Research member. I was so fortunate to have him as a friend. understand a word’. Department, where to be ‘normal’ was somewhat Archie’s colleagues will be saddened by his passing abnormal. He was often overheard saying ‘Est mihi With his ability to run a team and his revered and we send our sympathies to his wife Barbara, his occursit’ (‘it occurs to me’) rather than adopting a cameraman, Godfrey, his direction led to huge children and grandchildren. standard approach. success, the second most-watched BBC2 programme. Paul Evemy Within three years, we had made 25 more. My great He worked on a wide range of projects: RF sadness was when John left Horizon to run NOVA transmission, the colour performance of film and at PBS in Boston, making a flow of prize-winning television cameras and displays, holography, scene science documentaries. lighting, finally finding a natural home in acoustics. Internal audit manager John’s original mind, ridiculous sense of humour, his His ability to think outside the box, usually without Mohamed Hemani sadly passed away due naïve visual sense of the essence of interesting things realising that there was a box at all, often produced to complications arising from Covid-19, on and his readiness to challenge authority made him a unexpected results, like when the Department was Monday 18 January, aged 75. great director. After those first programmes, I worked asked for help with the raising of the Mary Rose. He worked as an internal audit manager for the with over 50 TV directors. John was unique. The production wanted the divers to talk from inside BBC from April 1985 until April 1994, and recalled the diving suits. Rather than get one to work on, Professor Robert Winston his time in this role with fondness. he got Ken Landsowne to speak whilst wearing a metal waste-paper bin on his head. He was expert Mohamed was born in Kisii, Kenya, in 1945, and was at boring down to the core of a problem. a very intelligent, jovial and determined individual. Doyenne of Drama On another occasion, he solved the problem of He worked hard as a primary school teacher in order to fund his journey to, and new life in, the UK. Betty Willingale (1927 measuring how loudspeaker cones move using a laser - 2021) was one of the and some old optics in a basement, the shelves of which He secured work just two days after arriving in London, often held demijohns of homebrew, bubbling away. last of a generation that in 1963, and would work in the day and study each started work at the BBC as Some problems were less tractable. One, shelved in the evening to prepare for his exams in accountancy. a teenager during World ‘70s, didn’t come to fruition until 2012 when I finished He was a kind and generous character who spent War II, and then helped it off and got the Television Lighting Consistency Index much of his adult life caring for his mother. He always create the art of drama adopted by the EBU as a world standard. made himself available with advice and support for his writing for television. He was kind and helpful with a wry sense of humour, siblings, and later on, his nephews and nieces also. Betty joined the Library revelled in wordplay, did crosswords at disgusting A witty and effervescent character, he shared with at in 1944, as a general dogsbody. speed, and always cycled to work – a relic of them his love of music, ranging from and She shelved books – then between 4pm and 5pm would Cambridge days, as was the bicycle. He was an Buddy Holly to Andrea Bocelli. He was a voracious go and pick up the Star, the Evening News and the accomplished pencil-artist, making Christmas cards reader and enjoyed a rich diet of reading material Standard and deliver them to all the offices – and that from his drawings of Orcadian churches, was a keen which included everything from political biographies way she encountered the many European expatriates bellringer for 80 years, and a choral singer. to George Orwell and Ben Okri. He liked to keep who had fled to at the outbreak of the war. Bill died on 6 December 2020, aged 92. Margaret, his mentally active after retirement, and was a fan of both In 1955 she transferred to the BBC TV Script Unit, wife of 62 years, died some years ago, and he will be Countdown and sudoku puzzles. He was also an avid where all the unsolicited scripts that poured in were greatly missed by friends and family. Arsenal supporter and loved watching cricket. diligently read and assessed. Alan Roberts Despite struggling with ill health and mobility in recent Betty then became story editor on all 78 episodes of years, he remained positive and resilient even in his the popular contemporary serial Compact through 1963 final days. and ’64. Then she transferred to the Series and Serials He has left a huge gap in the lives of his many friends, Department, where she played a central role in the Lighting technician and will be sorely missed by his sister, two brothers and classic serials including The Children of the New Forest, Archie Dawson had a long and happy career with the their families, by whom he is survived. A Tale of Two Cities, North & South, Our Mutual Friend, BBC that started in the 1950s at Television Centre The Mayor of Casterbridge, Wuthering Heights, Crime in studio lighting. Hanif Mamdani

PROSPERO APRIL 2021 | 9 | OBITUARIES

it hugely, became successful and at home there, from , Lebanon, student riots in Berlin, Musician, composer, working part-time for DLT well into his 70s. and the street fighting in Jordan, while home stories included the interview with President Nixon. writer and conductor John suffered various illnesses over the past decade but he and Sheelah remained voracious readers and He was appointed in October 1973 to be the first TV It is with great sadness that passionate theatregoers, regulars at the National, News sports correspondent and he covered many the death is announced of Stratford and Chichester. sports events. Eric David Wetherell, on 31 January 2021, one month Colleagues will remember a sharp operator, a Wherever he went, disaster happened (as his boss after his 95th birthday. delightful companion, a quick wit…and an impeccable Chris Cramer put it at Mike’s leaving party). In 1984 he authority on where to eat. was covering PM Indira Gandhi’s assassination when He was a remarkable all-round the worst industrial accident in the history of mankind musician, a fine composer, Will Wyatt happened in Bhopal, India. He covered these stories writer and biographer, well- which were not in his deployed assignment. respected conductor, as well as a dearly loved husband, From 1985 he took a desk job as news organiser father and grandfather. He died peacefully with great Operations planning and he was on duty when the Lockerbie Pan Am air courage and dignity at Norewood Lodge Nursing manager, Cardiff crash happened. Home near his home in Portishead. He was a father figure to many of the young journalists It is with sadness that I have to During the course of a career spanning well over half in the newsroom. He retired from the BBC in 1991 report that John Wallis died on a century, his various roles included BBC Radio 3 after completing six years on the desk job. For a short 12 February 2021. producer, principal conductor of the BBC Northern period after his retirement, he helped the BBC by Ireland Orchestra and staff conductor at the Welsh John joined the BBC at the manning the news organiser’s job in the newsroom in National Opera. age of 16 in 1943 at Radio between his golfing commitments. Leeds. After National Service His profound enthusiasm for jazz also led to a close Michael left behind his wife, Norma and his son in the Royal Navy, he went to involvement with the Welsh Jazz Orchestra and Timothy, daughter Sara and granddaughter, Lilly. Radio Outside Broadcasting the BBC Big Band, for whom he both arranged and in London as an assistant and The family had a private family funeral. produced. In particular he was a regular conductor and eventually moved to Birmingham as an OB sound radio arranger for the popular Friday Night is Music Night Bob Prabhu engineer, where he met Daphne Chatwyn who was on BBC Radio 2 in the early ‘70s. secretary to TV producer Barrie Edgar. In the late 1950s, he was a répétiteur at ROH Covent They married in 1955 and in 1964 they moved to Cardiff, Garden, where he came in close contact with such with children Tim and Katherine, for John to become Chilean engineer figures as Britten, Walton, Solti, Giulini, Sargeant and operations planning engineer. Alberto Jara was born in not least Rudolf Kempe, whom he idolised. He had Santiago, Chile on 30 June begun his career as a French horn player in the LPO, He held that post until he retired in 1988, although 1944. He had a younger brother under Thomas Beecham. the post mutated, by which time he was designated and sister. He met his future operations planning manager. There will be a small private funeral and later a wife Ana when they were both celebratory concert for him, when it is possible to He had three breaks, going to Belfast as assistant 11 years old, when her family hold such an event. engineer-in-charge, Operations at the time of the moved to the house opposite. Troubles, a six-month attachment as an engineering They married in 1973. https://ericwetherellcomposer.wordpress.com manager in Tel OBs and eight months as manager Tel. Their son was born in Chile and Anna Wetherell Production Services. their daughter was born in Birmingham. They followed the family tradition and worked in the electronics/ Among his claims to fame was being responsible, technology industry. Ana worked as a software with others, for the placement of microphones in developer for a while, despite having a degree in Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s Coronation in Panorama producer Architecture and an MSc in Planning. 1952, and in 1961 he was sent to Vienna to set up studio It is not everyone who worked facilities in the Hofburg Palace for the first meeting of They both went to University in Chile. Alberto graduated in current affairs at Lime Grove Presidents Khrushchev and Kennedy. as an electronics engineer and worked for the French in its cut-throat glory days who multinational Thomson CSF straight from University. is remembered by all as John and Daphne were avid caravanners, being active He further trained in France, being responsible for the ‘a lovely, funny guy’ and ‘warm, in the Caravanners Club, and travelled the length and generous with good advice … breadth of the UK as well as many touring holidays installation and after-sales for the Chilean branch, but a and lunches.’ That was in Europe. military coup in Chile forced them to leave. They were selected to come to the UK from a long list the UN held John Reynolds who died on He was a devout Christian with a quiet and unassuming of Chilean nationals needing re-settlement, and arrived 29 January aged 79. manner but I never heard him say a bad word on British soil in February 1978. John joined the BBC as a sub-editor in radio news, about anyone. I shall miss a friendship of some having been a lobby correspondent for a Scottish 64 years. They were sponsored by the UN to follow postgraduate Sunday newspaper. He moved to television current studies. Alberto did a Telecommunications Diploma in Oliver Dyer affairs as a producer on Panorama, later editor of Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Aston University. The Money Programme and head of special projects. At the 1980 Careers Fair at Aston, he joined the In this role, while working in Moscow, John was BBC as a transmitter engineer. Later he became attacked by name in the party newspaper, which First TV News sports senior transmitter engineer, then duty manager at described him as ‘a British lion – but with a mangy Sutton Coldfield Monitoring and Information tail’. A colleague recalled, ‘John walked around with correspondent Centre (MIC). a huge grin for days afterwards.’ Michael Blakey was born in Alberto worked in many places, including Shetland, John was in his element when posted as BBC resident Ackworth, West Yorkshire on Orkney, Durris (helping to restore services with many producer in New York. He, his wife Sheelah and 4 October 1934. His first job was others for the Aberdeen area after a snowstorm children Leo and Corinna, loved life in the BBC-rented with the Dewsbury and District damaged both main transmitting antennas on the duplex in Bank Street, West Village. John’s regular News, where he met Norma. 1,000ft mast), Woofferton, Daventry, Hannington, They got married in 1957. beat was elections and big fights, as well as the Brookmans Park, Crystal Palace and TV Centre. Also, he stream of interviews and inserts for BBC news and He joined worked in Spain for PESA, installing a large section of current affairs programmes. After a spell as head of in London before he joined the the Spanish TV network. He was commissioned to co-productions for BBC Enterprises, John returned BBC television newsroom at Alexandra Palace in 1965. supervise the installation of TV networks in Thailand. to New York as BBC USA Representative. Friends dubbed him ‘Senator Reynolds’, a perfect fit for He was very self-motivated and a natural journalist, Alberto worked in Sutton Coldfield MIC until 1994 when operating in America. always prepared to travel and cover any story however all four MICs were replaced by a single Transmission difficult or dangerous it was. Operation Centre at Warwick. Transmission was When he left the BBC in 1989, John joined Don privatised in February 1997. Alberto worked at Daventry Taffner’s DLT Entertainment and reinvented himself as His assignments took him to the Vietnam War, for Crown Castle, National Grid and finally , in a drama and comedy producer, notably as producer followed by the riots in the British colony of Aden. charge of the repair workshop, which worked on many for nine years of As Time Goes By, starring When the Soviet tanks rolled in Czechoslovakia in diverse equipment types, until retiring in 2002. and Geoffrey Palmer, a long-running success for the August 1968, he was there, ducking and diving the BBC. He was amused by the ‘luvvy’ world but enjoyed attention of the KGB. He went on to cover many stories Peter Condron

10 In his early 40s, he had just finished at one music Gramophone Library festival and was due at another – but when he didn’t Mary Hayzen Mears employee turn up, it was discovered that he had suffered a Mary was born in in Bromley on 2 November 1923. stroke and had lost his memory. Eventually returning On completion of her education, she worked in Civil It is with great sadness to to work, he never really settled as the old Mike that Defence. In 1943 Mary joined the WRNS and was announce the passing of we knew but he rediscovered his love of music immediately posted to Orkney, which was a culture Mark Bredon – a former and photography. shock but which she enjoyed immensely. employee of the BBC He was thoughtful and generous, and not having a Gramophone Library. On being demobbed she joined the BBC in 1946 as family of his own, sponsored three young people to a secretary. She transferred to radio personnel work Mark passed away become doctors, even offering accommodation in and then became secretary to the Assistant Director peacefully after a short his own home while they did their medical training. of Personnel. illness, just after his He retired in 1994 and spent some time travelling, 89th birthday. In 1970 she resigned from this post and continued eventually moving back to Glasgow in 2000. working part-time as a personal assistant to Leonard Following National Service, and long before his Then, on one trip through Midlothian, he saw a house Miall and Professor Asa Briggs, working on The History BBC career, Mark was employed in his father’s in the village of Cousland which he liked, bought and of Broadcasting. bookshop in Brighton, running the record and moved into. Here he made friends but he always picture-framing departments. valued his own space and kept active walking and On retirement in 1976, Mary and Bob moved to working in his garden. Battle and took an active part in many local activities. Then an opening came in the Cataloguing Department Mary died peacefully on 7 January 2021. of the Gramophone Library, in the old Egton House Mike was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006, in Langham Street. With his charm and charisma, however this didn’t prevent his travelling. Andrew Leadbeater they snapped him up, and his BBC career began. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh Mark soon became a popular member of the hospital only a few days before he died on cataloguing team, and eventually found his niche 5 December 2020. His funeral was held on Head of Broadcasting, cataloguing musical shows and film soundtrack 16 December 2020. recordings, procured by the library, which in He is missed by his many friends and former Pebble Mill those days had a large budget to increase an colleagues. David Waine, who has ever-growing collection. died at the age of 76, had Tom Tranter Mark witnessed many changes. The CD became the a career with the BBC new format, and the old card index was eventually spanning 30 years, ending replaced by a bespoke computer system in the early as Head of Broadcasting ‘90s. Mark took all of this in his stride and quickly Chief Engineer at BBC Pebble Mill mastered a new way of working. in Birmingham. Known to many colleagues and friends as Mac, Mark retired at 60 but came back twice to assist in George Mackenzie’s BBC career began under the As a 16-year-old, he two stock moves. Youth-In-Training scheme in Edinburgh in 1941. joined The Newbury Weekly News as a trainee Mark had a ‘larger than life’ personality, which won him After a short period in , London reporter, leaving in 1964 to freelance for BBC South many friends. He often entertained us with a wealth he served in the Royal Signals in India and China. in Southampton, as well as regularly contributing to of anecdotes about his escapades in the army, or In 1948 he returned to 200 Oxford Street, where he Radio 4’s Today and The World at One before spells impersonating some of the eccentric characters who met his future wife, Joyce Gardner, who had worked with Bristol, Plymouth and Southampton as a were regular customers in his shop. in the Engineering Department during the war and television journalist. stayed on after 1945. They married in 1950 and Joyce He had a long and happy retirement, pursuing his subsequently worked on the outside broadcast of the In 1967, he was appointed programme organiser at one passion for painting, travel and fine dining. He was a Coronation in 1952. Son Stuart was born at Hampton, of the first BBC local radio stations in Brighton and by talented artist, so good, in fact, that he persuaded a in 1954. the age of 26 he was manager of BBC Radio Bristol, kiosk owner in Brighton to sell some of his amazing where he nurtured new talent, including , sketches of Brighton to tourists, which sold very well! Later that year, George started lecturing at the Michael Buerk and Jenni Murray, before returning to Sadly, his hearing deteriorated towards the end of his Engineering Training Department at Wood Norton television in Plymouth as RTM in 1978. life, a great burden because he could no longer listen and in 1964 his book Acoustics was published by Focal to the classical music, which he loved. Press. Daughter Judy was born in Evesham in 1957. In 1983 he was appointed Head of Network Production Centre at Pebble Mill in Birmingham, later Head Mark will be greatly missed by family and friends, but From 1969 to 1972, George was Head of Engineering, of Broadcasting, BBC in The Midlands, overseeing he leaves behind a legacy of happy memories and Northern Ireland, returning to London as Chief network television and radio output as well as regional smiling faces. Engineer Regions. In 1978 he was elected a Fellow of television and local radio. the Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers and John Stevens his career progressed through several engineering Under David’s leadership, programmes such as BBC 1’s positions until he retired as Chief Engineer, Countryfile and The Clothes Show were launched and Transmission in 1983. developed commercial enterprises. He had a capacity for spotting and nurturing talent in others and was Mike Black George enjoyed his early retirement years in Devon ahead of his time in promoting women and recruiting where he filled his days with golf, bowls, bridge, Born in Edinburgh on from ethnic minorities. 10 April 1943, Mike Alan Spanish classes, reading, opera and classical music and Black enjoyed athletics extensive travel. Nevertheless, he still found the time His understanding of radio meant that he was strongly at school and was to complete three broadcast engineering missions in supportive of his nine local stations and network an accomplished Africa for the United Nations. departments. On his watch, The Archers flourished, the Asian Network was nurtured and Pebble Mill became cross-country runner. After 10 years of wintering in Australia with Stuart and the principal provider of programmes to Radio 2 and 5 daughter-in-law Julia, George and Joyce emigrated to He studied Law at outside London. Edinburgh University Vincentia, on the New South Wales south coast. Sadly, but this wasn’t to be his Joyce passed away in 1999, but George continued his A tireless advocate for regional broadcasting future. At Leith Nautical active life there before moving to Bendigo, Victoria in and production bases out of London, David College, he studied Radio Telegraphy and qualified as 2010 to be closer to Stuart and Julia. always battled hard for Pebble Mill as the BBC sought to make savings and transfer output to a Marconi Wireless Operator before becoming a radio He continued to live an active and independent life. independent production. operator and radar technician in the Merchant Navy. Until the age of 90, he travelled regularly overseas to In January 1970, Mike joined the BBC and on Europe and to see Judy in the USA. In 2015, he made He was appointed a Fellow of The Royal Television completion of his Evesham course moved to the a final trip to to celebrate his 90th birthday Society in 1993. He was President of the Birmingham Transcription Recording Unit. Here he enjoyed the with family. Press Club and a director of the Birmingham Repertory variety of the work: one day a session with Theatre from 1993 until 2001. George passed away after a short illness and leaves Cat Stevens, another a drama such as The Pilgrims behind a multitude of business and personal friends Leaving the BBC in 1994, he led successful bids for Progress with Sir (1978). Mike loved OBs, around the world, as well as Stuart and Julia, Judy and ILR’s new community radio franchises but never lost his especially the music festivals such as Bath, Aldeburgh, son-in-law David. interest in the BBC in the Midlands. Cheltenham and Edinburgh, where he worked with some of his favourites including Dame Janet Baker. Judy Mackenzie Jim Dumighan and Jerry Johns

PROSPERO APRIL 2021 | 11 | ODDS ‘N’ ENDS

OPEN UNIVERSITY – 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONTACTS

Tim Burrell, engineer and VT editor 1971-1978, wrote in to remind us that it is now Queries For benefit and pension payroll 50 years since the first transmission of Open University programmes. He hopes that queries, call the Service Line anyone with early memories of those days at Alexandra Palace or at Milton Keynes on 029 2032 2811 or email would be able to meet up for a reunion later this year. Is anyone planning a reunion? [email protected] Prospero To remove a name from the he Open University first broadcast distribution list, ring the Service on 3 January 1971 on BBC Two. OU Robert Green. Line on 029 2032 2811. Prospero The new university reached out to T is provided free of charge to its first students through the innovative retired BBC Scheme members use of television and radio, and swiftly only. Prospero is also available proved that it was possible to teach on audio disc for those with university-level subjects to unqualified sight impairment. To register, students at a distance. After a general please ring the Service Line. introduction, the first programme was an Alternatively, it is also available introduction to mathematics. online at bbc.com/mypension, under ‘Documents’.

BBC Club The BBC Club in London has a retired membership costing £3 per month or £36 per year. Members can also add friends and family to their membership for a small additional cost. Regional clubs may have different arrangements. Please call the BBC Club London office on 020 8752 6666 or email [email protected] for details, Open University programmes were on Today the Open University makes or to join. at odd corners of the schedule, heralded programmes of general interest Benevolent Fund OU Prof Ian Gass. by the animated OU logo and fanfare – through a successful partnership This is funded by voluntary the opening of Divertimento for three with the BBC. Programmes such as contributions from the BBC and trumpets and three trombones by the award-winning Coast are made its purpose is to protect the Leonard Salzedo. Many people who to inspire an interest in lifelong welfare of staff, pensioners and CLASSIFIEDS were not OU students saw them, and learning in the viewer. their families. the broadcasts gained a frequently Menorca. Stunning detached holiday 2020 was an award-winning year for parodied reputation for dated style villa in Es Castell. Fully equipped the OU/BBC TV and Radio, with Grants are made at the discretion and awkward presentation. including linen. Private pool. Sleeps co-produced content receiving four of the Trustees. They may provide 2-7. Brochure 07860 232854 or This was because there was insufficient BAFTA nominations and Blue Planet Live assistance in cases of unforeseen [email protected] money to update them unless the course winning the ‘Live Event’ category. It looks financial hardship, for which help itself was revised, and the presenters like an exciting year ahead with a lot from other sources is not available. Spain, Alicante. Beachfront were academics rather than broadcasters. more content to look out for. Tel: 029 2032 2811 apartment, La Mata. Ground floor, However, over two million people have More information about programmes in Prospero Society 2-bed, 2-bath, patio. Shared pool. benefitted from OU courses. the pipeline is available at: Very close amenities. Air-con. https:// Prospero Society is the only In 2006, the late-night teaching ended, Wi-fi. Airport bus/Parking ounews.co/around-ou/tv-radio/2020- section of the BBC Club run by replaced by other teaching methods an-award-winning-year-for-ou-bbc-tv- cutt.ly/pinadabeach and for retired BBC staff and such as DVD and the internet. and-radio/ their spouses. Its aim is to enable Ventnor, . Luxury BBC pensioners to meet on a properties with stunning views WIN social basis for theatre visits, sleeping 2-10. Ideal staycation luncheons, coach outings, etc. destination. Close restaurants & pubs. Caption competition £10 Parking. Ferry deals. Prospero Society is supported ventnorselfcatering.co.uk The winner of a £10 shopping by BBC Club funds so as to voucher is Mr D Goatham with make events affordable. If you Creative writing workshops. ‘The Ann Summers kit has arrived… would like an application form, Inspirational, fun, interactive Zoom we’re not going out!’ please contact: classes. Many 5* reviews. Small classes. Max 6. Standalone. Try one! There were a few along the same Gayner Leach £20. https://creative-writing- lines of ‘But I haven’t signed up for BBC Club workshops-london.business.site Amazon Prime – honest!’ and BC2 B3 Broadcast Centre ‘Would I lie to you – I haven’t 201 Wood Lane Roy Willox biography. Saxophonist, ordered anything.’ London W12 7TP 70 years big bands, recording studios, TV, radio. £15 (includes £11 for charity Tel: 020 8752 6666 For our latest competition, please post Help Musicians). Email: [email protected] your entry to Prospero by Friday, [email protected] 30 April 2021. Or, you can email your BBCPA entry to [email protected], with The BBCPA was founded in 1988 to Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension ‘caption competition 2’ in the subject promote and safeguard the interests and Benefits Centre, 3 Central Square, line. Please include your BBC pension Cardiff, CF10 1FT. of BBC pensioners. It is independent number. Good luck! of the BBC. For details of how to Please enclose a cheque made payable join, see the panel on page 5 or to: BBC Central Directorate. Rate: Please note, vouchers will be issued £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter, once the latest lockdown restrictions download a membership form please include your pension number. have been lifted. at bbcpa.org.uk

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