The newspaper for BBC pensioners - with highlights from Ariel ‘Wonders’ shine through

BBC continues to make great difficult year programmes despite chilly climate – Page 2

August 2011 • Issue 6

Patten More from you emerging - on the Dr. Who words from Memories of howl-round the Chairman Wood Norton Page 4 Page 8-9 Page 10

NEWS • Life after Auntie • Classifieds • Your letters • Obituaries • CrosPERO 02 GENERAL NEWS Pension news Tough year of upheaval and ambition Below is a short overview of recent Government changes – the BBC annual report summarised and developments to State Pensions.

For Mark Thompson, the powerful Afghanistan documentary State pensions The Government’s proposals to accelerate Our War symbolises much of the BBC’s ambition in a year of the planned rise in State Pension age are expected to become law by October. The radical change. press has reported on the estimated 300,000 women who will be most affected by the planned changes in the Pensions Bill 2011 (those in their mid to late fifties) and who will see a delay of up to two years in the start of their State Pension. A number of campaign groups have attacked the plans, claiming that women who are affected have been left very little time in which to re-think their finances. Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, last month conceded that support must be put in place for such cases, stating that ‘transitional arrangements’ may be made in these circumstances. It is important that you are aware of your correct State Retirement date, so that you can plan effectively for your own retirement. The Department for Work and Pensions will be Brian Cox, presenting the popular Wonders of the Universe Five daughters updating its forecasting system in line with any change in legislation; once the new ruling Shot with soldiers’ helmet cameras and approach to reflecting people of different audiences rising to 10.3m against 6.2m for is in force, the State Pension Age calculator at voiced in their own words, the BBC ages in our on-air talent’. Sky News. www.direct.gov.uk will also be updated, and Three programme was ‘exhilarating, The impact of last autumn’s licence fee Audiences for regional tv news reached you can check your own State Retirement disturbing, heartbreaking and utterly settlement and the DQF process meant that a five-year high (5.5m) and local radio date by visiting the site (see ‘Pensions and gripping’, the director-general says in his there remained ‘many difficult questions and audiences were up by 720,000 to 7.4m. retirement planning’ section). introduction to this year’s annual report. trade-offs to work through’, but Thompson Network television hours from Scotland It claimed the second highest AI of any BBC concludes: ‘Now, more than ever, we are more than doubled to 611. Pension liberation factual programme and reached a large determined to put quality first.’ Across the portfolio of BBC TV and radio In recent months, it has become young audience. For many BBC staff, the year was channels, reach was up. Drama output across apparent that a number of companies ‘To me this commitment – not just to characterised by upheaval. There were angry all channels was down year-on-year by a are claiming to be able to release pension ‘preach to the choir’, but to put serious, protests at the World Service closures and the hefty 630 hours, largely due to the strategic funds for members, contrary to the engaging journalism, knowledge and culture painful pensions reform process, designed decision to acquire fewer series, but the Government’s early access rules. Known as in front of everyone, including those who to address a £1.6bn deficit – along with a year saw a drop in originated drama of just ‘pension liberation’, methods of doing this may not feel a natural appetite for it, and to below inflation pay offer – led to two days of eight hours. vary, and include loans written to the scheme make it so compelling and inspiring that it strike action. An average of 20m people in the UK used member, or the transfer of pension scheme becomes unmissable – is at the heart of what The Executive review recognises that the BBC Online each week, with a record 11.7m funds into an alternative product which it means to be a public service broadcaster’, migration of departments to Salford – now hits to the News website on the day after then releases money at a much earlier date Thompson says. under way, coupled with the uncertainty the General Election. Across the year, BBC than intended. Both the TPR and the FSA Over a period of digital growth, strong over implementation of Delivering Quality iPlayer averaged more than 100m requests have issued warnings about the danger audience approval and rising trust levels First is ‘unsettling’ for people inside a month and a total of 1.6bn programmes of such action. among licence payers, he singles out the organisation. were played. From 2012, the Government’s Automatic Wonders of the Universe, the most ‘exciting’ ‘There will be fewer jobs in the new As the future of the BBC Asian Network Enrolment system will come into force as part Proms season in years and the ‘brave’ drama BBC. So the coming year will see us work remains under review, its audience grew, of plans to boost the number and quality of Five Daughters as stand-out achievements, with staff and unions to manage those although it recorded the lowest AI score workplace pension schemes. The National along with BBC coverage of massive world changes fairly, transparently and with of any BBC radio station (71%) while Employment and Savings Trust (NEST) is a events like the Japanese tsunami and the compassion, providing outplacement services continuing to cost the most per user hour. new workplace pension scheme which was Arab Spring. and redeployment wherever possible and Overall – despite a licence fee freeze, created to support employers in meeting working to maintain staff motivation and extra future commitments including paying their new duties. NEST has launched a A year of upheaval engagement’, management promise. for World Service, the pension deficit and comprehensive website which provides detail Miriam O’Reilly’s successful suing of the BBC inflationary pressures – the BBC ended the on how the scheme will work, how money for ageism was clearly a low point: ‘In 2011 BBC News Channel increases year with a balance sheet, and a net overdraft will be invested to enhance members’ pension we need to demonstrate that we have learned weekly reach of £16m, that demonstrates the ‘underlying pots and also includes an interactive area both the specific and the more general Among the report’s content reviews, coverage health of the BBC’, says chief financial officer, where members of the NEST scheme can log lessons from the case’, Thompson says. The of seismic international events helped the Zarin Patel. The five-year continuous saving in to access their account details and BBC will continue to work with the wider BBC News Channel increase its weekly reach programme is on target to exceed £2bn by monitor their pension fund progress. industry to develop ‘a more sophisticated by almost a third to 12.2%, with 2010/11 2012/13. Visit www.nestpensions.org.uk.

Editorial contributions: Write to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Email: prospero@bbc.co.uk Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are scanned at 300 dpi. The next issue of Prospero will appear in October Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC employees, ARIEL SUBSCRIPTIONS or to their spouses and dependants. Prospero provides a source of news on former colleagues, developments at the BBC and 6 months 1 year pension issues, plus classified adverts. UK: £26 £50 FSC logo

Overseas: £36 £60 to be supplied by To advertise in Prospero or the BBC Staff magazine, Ariel, please see the printer page 12. Subscription information for Ariel can be found to the right. Please phone: 0161 485 6540

PROSPERO August 2011 update from the bbc 03 The BBC Pension Scheme – Save your energy Report and Accounts with BBC lighting The BBC recently published its Scheme Report and Accounts guide for the year ending 31 March 2011. Below is a short summary The BBC has launched a guide of the main points. We plan to feature a broader breakdown of to using low-energy lighting the Pension Scheme’s report later in the year. (LEL) on television productions. Overall performance average, as measured by WM’s UK Pension It is meant to act as a one-stop-shop for The membership of the Scheme rose slightly Fund Benchmark. lighting directors, studio managers and during the year. As at 31 March 2011 the The BBC Pension Scheme, which is production teams, helping them to cut carbon total membership was 60,399; 1.4% more registered with HM Revenue & Customs emissions and save on energy bills. The than last year, and 5.4% more than five years and the Pensions Regulator, is established comprehensive 32-page guide – with graphics, ago. The value of the Scheme’s investments and governed by a Trust Deed and Rules. statistics and product comparisons – is to lead (including AVC investments) rose by 8.3% Members of the Scheme (other than the way in changing the industry’s approach to from £8.2 billion last year to £8.9 billion as members of the Career Average Benefits sustainable productions. The guide is the first at 31 March 2011 and the Scheme’s assets sections) are contracted out of the State of its kind in the UK television industry. produced a return of 8.6% in the year ended Second Pension. The BBC has a target of reducing its energy 31 March 2011. Over the last five years the To find out more about the BBC Pension Scheme consumption by 20% by 2013. LEL lamps Scheme’s investments have generated an Report and Accounts, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ last longer than traditional ones and save annualised return of 3.7%. This is around mypension money and energy in the long run, although Strike action they initially cost more to buy or hire. It’s estimated that up to 80% of energy consumed Strike action took place this on a production can come from lighting summer after BBC members alone. By using LEL, the energy consumption of the NUJ voted in favour can drop substantially. BBC Three’s Mongrels Introducing Quick has, for example, saved 40% of its energy of industrial action over consumption by using low-energy lighting, compulsory redundancies. Response Codes (QRCs) and Silent Witness is saving around 30%. Of members who voted, 72% said they were What is a QRC? the BBC Pension Report and Accounts, visit Cardiff Bay in favour of strike action and 87% were in A QRC is a kind of barcode, which you www.bbc.co.uk/mypension’ at the end of an Other BBC programmes are about to favour of action short of a strike. The union may have seen on advertising or in other article, a printed QRC image would take you introduce LEL, including the new set of says the recent ballot could result in more publications, and is often used for adding straight there once you had scanned it with Casualty, which will use 100% LELs when strikes unless compulsory redundancies web links to a printed page. Using your your mobile. it moves to Cardiff Bay. Studios in London are halted. Smartphone (mobile), you scan the QRC and in the buildings occupied by the BBC NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet (like you scan a barcode on a product you QRCs in Prospero at MediaCityUK will also use lights that said, ‘Members at the BBC are fully prepared buy) and, providing you have the QR Reader For the first time, readers are able to access consume less energy for regional news to stand up for their colleagues under threat. application on your mobile, it instantly websites straight from Prospero, using their programmes, sports coverage, the News If the BBC wants to provoke a strike over takes you to the link generated by that QRC. Smartphones or web cams. Below are a Channel and on the new set of BBC Breakfast. such small numbers it would be shameful. It could be any website, a YouTube video or couple of examples of QRCs for you to try, The BBC believes that, by sharing this We call on the BBC to get round the table any other sort of web page. Basically, instead which will enable you to access the BBC guide, everyone working in the industry can with us and sort it out.’ of saying, say, ‘for more information on Pension website and Prospero online. find out how to reduce the carbon footprint The strike ballot was called after it of their own productions. became clear that compulsory redundancies Adrian Poole, Director of IT and Technology would arise from cuts to the World Service http://www.bbc.co.uk/mypension/ Delivery, said, ‘Only by having a shared goal and BBC Monitoring, where 387 posts are of reducing our energy consumption whilst scheduled to close. maintaining the quality of light, have we now The NUJ motion reiterates the policy got to a stage where low-energy lighting is a of no compulsory redundancies among its reality for productions. We hope that this guide members and calls on the BBC to resolve http://www.bbc.co.uk/mypension/sites/ will help move the whole industry forward in all outstanding cases. It also condemns the helpadvice/pages/documents-prospero.shtml creating a sustainable future.’ decision not to use the £2.2 million granted by the Foreign Office to the World Service for the next three years to halt all compulsory redundancies. Crospero 159 devised and compiled by Jim Palm Low turnout 1 2 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words In a staff email sent in response to the running across. Then take these words in numerical order and announcements, director of News, 3 4 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, Helen Boaden emphasised that turnout these letters will spell out the name of a period BBC serial. for the ballot was less than 40%, involving 5 6 1,248 members – 6% of BBC staff. Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The ‘We will continue with our efforts to limit Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 7 8 the number of compulsory redundancies House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ by Friday, 9 September 2011. but the number of posts that have to close 9 CLUES means that unfortunately it is likely to be 1. Youth (3), 2. Responded in a certain way (7), 3. Drinks counter (3), impossible for us to avoid some compulsory 10 11 4. Tree (3), 5. Big lake (4), 6. Having nothing to do (4), 7. Paces (5), redundancies’, she said, adding that the 8. Requirements (5), 9. Cat or dog (3), 10. Kind of soup (5), extra FCO funding for World Service was 12 11. Antique (5), 12. American lizard (3), 13. Projections (5), ‘not enough to allow us to avoid having to 14. Take the wheel (5), 15. Abrasive tool (4), 16. Northern river (4), continue with this process’. 13 14 17. Small pocket (3), 18. For cooking (3), 19. Forebears (7), 20. Drop off (3) She continued, ‘I understand that many NUJ members will face a personal choice 15 16 Solutions to Crospero 158: Stationer, Mean, Nonet, Lit, Quasi, Ulnar, about whether or not to take part in industrial Shane, Basic, Sonar, Roles, Ducat, Radio, Sum, Haven, Eros, Landwards. action. Before they make that decision I 17 18 Partial down words: Umber and Egret want to stress that we will continue to do all The programme was ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. The winner was we can to limit the number of compulsory 19 20 Mr Ray Targett. redundancies though at this point we have no other options available to us.’

PROSPERO AUGUST 2011 04 letters Dr. Who building may become student digs Nigel Vincent, on the ‘Local London’ website, writes about an old film set poised to become accommodation.

An empty office block above Ealing The commentators position and new C.P.S (Cathode Potential Broadway tube station that was once used as Stabilisation) Emitron camera televising the Boxing Finals at the a film location for BBC TV’s Dr. Who could be Empire Pool, Wembley, at the 1948 Olympic Games, held in London Riverside studios converted into student flats because of a lack of interest from commercial bidders. Villiers House has been earmarked by Imperial College and the Royal College of The howl-round continues to excite Music as a suitable venue for a new hall I believe this was how it first happened! of residence. The landmark building has Prospero would like to thank readers for the many letters Whilst I believe I may have inspired Ben to been placed under offer with the academic received on the subject of the Dr. Who ‘howl-round’. Just as it discover the effect, I do not claim to have institutions willing to take on the remaining discovered it! 55-year lease, currently held by the BBC, seems we are getting close to the definitive truth behind its birth, John Billett(retired Senior Studio Engineer) according to reports in the latest edition of someone else comes up with a recollection which keeps the Property Week. Camera tubes responsible ‘The office market isn’t that buoyant in the debate going! for peel-off area and there is a lot of product along the Far be it from me to disagree with the Uxbridge Road’, says Tony Fisher, head of office Dr. Who Titles The distance from the monitor was very esteemed Geoff Higgs, with whom I agency at Lambert Smith Hampton, which is Please allow me to solve the mystery of the critical, and the ‘beam focus’ on the camera eventually worked, but his memory is acting for the BBC. ‘Lots of educational bodies ‘howl-round’ title sequence. On Friday, was adjusted to get ‘dynode spots’ on the playing tricks with him. The peel-off effect have looked at it. It seems an obvious move.’ 13 September 1963, crew 1 was allocated picture. If these were varied, sometimes the was an unwanted feature of the CPS Emitron to Studio D, Lime Grove, 0930-1745, Riverside or Dr. Who effect would be triggered. camera tube that occurred when it looked The enemy of the world programme title – ‘Dr. Who experiment’. Some However it was very fiddly to set up, and at a bright light. It was not used for the The nine-storey building has been on the experiments involved smoke generators and there was no way that it could be used on the Dr. Who titles. The studios at Lime Grove, D, E market since the collapse into administration some electronic effects. Studio D still had transmission because the camera was used and G (F was a scenery store), all had those of Glenkerrin, the Irish property the old CPS-Emitron cameras which were elsewhere until a few minutes before the cameras in the early sixties when the first development company which failed to push renowned for producing a vision ‘peel-off’ effect was required. series of Dr. Who was made. I actually had the through a controversial redevelopment of when pointed at a bright light so pointing Peter Jarrett, BBC Operations and Maintenance privilege of working on the first episode in central Ealing. The plans had proposed the one at a monitor and getting a ‘howl- 1955-1990 studio G shortly after I joined Tech Ops as a erection of a 40-storey Dubai-style tower round’ added to the effect. Five weeks later, camera trainee. block designed by Sir Norman Foster. 18 October, we recorded the first Dr. Who Dr. Who Camera Peel Apart from Dr. Who, studio G was also Some local residents fear that a change of in the same studio. The first series involved The Dr. Who howl-round, came about famous for becoming the home of Top of the use to student digs could freeze any significant cavemen in skins and because Studio D had (I believe) after I talked to Ben Palmer Pops when it moved from Manchester down redevelopment of the station which is widely the old tungsten 4-lights it was very hot! in Riverside Studios. I said to him that a to London. It was also, I believe, where regarded as being long overdue for having its You can imagine the smell! camera taking a picture of a monitor was another Sci-Fi series, Quatermass, was recorded. poor access problems dealt with. Dave Mundy not a ‘howl-round’ but a picture of a picture. Ben Palmer (also no relation, although we Villiers House was once home to the This I think, made him think about the now live just a few miles apart) is, of course, BBC’s finance and accounting services and in Down by the riverside subject, and experiment with a camera right in confirming the origin of the video November 1967 the building’s fire escape was Could I add a little information on in Riverside 2. howl-round used for the titles as mentioned used to film a scene from Dr. Who’s The Enemy this subject? I remember that he positioned the camera in previous letters. The peel-off effect was of the World, starring Patrick Troughton as the Originally I believe this was known as so that it framed an area smaller than the made use of, however, when the Daleks doctor. Ealing locations were often used for the ‘Riverside Effect’. This must have been monitor raster, and adjusted the brilliance of ‘zapped’ someone, giving an unworldly look Dr. Who stories during the period that the BBC before Dr. Who used it. Presumably it was first the picture to produce the howl-round. This to the way they died. When the CPS Emitrons owned Ealing Film Studios. One of the most discovered by Norman Taylor in these BBC had the appearance of a CPS camera peel but were eventually replaced by cameras using famous sites, close to Ealing Broadway was the Riverside Studios. he was using an Image Orthicon Camera, Image Orthicon tubes, the producers then department store shop window from which In the early 1960s I was working as a which does not peel. had to work out a new way for the Daleks to animated shop dummies, the Autons, broke Vision Control Operator with either crew We were all very excited by this, and Ben kill their enemies! out for an alien rampage in the 1970 series 4 or crew 9, in studio Riverside 1 when spoke to Presentation and offered it as an The only studios I remember using Spearhead from Space. Norman Taylor, our Technical Operations interval picture. Vidicons were the Presentation studios Pres Manager, asked us if we could set it up, as They declined, since he could not A and Pres B. Pres A was then the weather the producer would possibly like to use it guarantee what it would do. This was just studio and Pres B was where Late Night at some stage. It was set up on our camera prior to Dr. Who coming on air, I don’t know Line-up was based and where The Old Grey 3 Image Orthicon with the camera facing a what brought it to their attention, but they Whistle Test originated. studio monitor with camera 3’s output on it. used it for the titles. Rex Palmer

Quatermass and the Pit pic Daleks made use of the ‘peel-off’ effect

PROSPERO August 2011 LETTERS 05

areas of the discipline. introduced by Stuart Hall. David Davies (of on a television puppet programme called Clear writing When Ann joined, the BBC’s News football administration fame) and the late Vegetable Village and showed me a photograph I found this little gem in a recent copy of and Current affairs staff were more Nick Clarke were, I believe, Sports reporters of herself with a veggie glove puppet. ‘Ariel’, being part of a report on a visit to mobile than ever before, given to being at that time. She said the show was produced by Ian Pacific Quay, Glasgow: sent wherever a news story was to be Other names I remember from the Carmichael, Musical Director was Eric ‘The technology has been key for covered into undeveloped countries where Newsroom along the corridor are Directors Robinson and amongst those doing the everyone working at PQ. For example, Radio medical support was less than minimal Charles Farmer and Linda McDougall (wife voices were Joan Sims, Derek Guyler and needed a system that would link teams all and the occupational health hazards quite of veteran MP Austin Mitchell) and Hazel Kenneth Connor. around Scotland with the main base, and horrendous. Thanks to her, our staff were Mackintosh, who was the PA for Look North. I asked older members of the British would also marry up with Audio and Music prepared as far as they could be, being Just to jog a few memories, the Puppet & Model Theatre Guild, some of in London. Everybody uses VCS dira to access supplied with health advice and kits that at photograph shows some of the team in the whom worked on early TV puppet shows, content, with SADIE for craft editing. The the least would help protect from bush witch studio gallery one afternoon circa 1970 if they knew anything about this show and managing editor, Radio Scotland, explains, doctors and untrained local support. waiting for action. Technical Manager John nobody had heard of it. However, it seems ‘When we moved here we changed our When I retired from the BBC and became Spicer (now retired in North Wales, Con that Ian Carmichael actually was a BBC work flows, our job roles and the tasks an Executive HR Director of one of the Jones (camera) and Jerry Clegg (Sound staff producer in his early career, just after within them. The big success for us is biggest NHS trusts in Scotland, I inherited Supervisor), also retired but active in the the war. The BBC must have been the only the interface between VCS and the digital responsibility for setting up a system of restoration project of North 3. company making TV shows in those days; library. It has been a huge benefit to staff in Occupational Health and Safety for some Mike Baker would they have made a pilot programme? terms of accessing content, reversioning it, 9,000 staff. My guiding light was the The lady also told me she had been asked finding and using content from different example set by Ann and previously, Alec. to operate ‘Mrs Mop’ in a puppet version of genres. What we have on the desktop now is Personally, I owe her a great debt; she Rooting around – ITMA, but this plan was abandoned. incomparable, and that’s really important.’ uncovered a health problem which sent me I wonder if any of your older readers I seem to remember attending an off to specialists rapidly. She had identified can you help? have any memories of this programme. Engineering Division ‘Report Writing’ the problem while we were having a meeting I was for some years a director/producer Her son, who must be in his early 60s, course in the mid-70s, when the emphasis over the changing needs of News staff. with BBC TV Children’s Programmes and says he remembers going to Lime Grove to was on producing clear messages, free from Moving to Scotland I kept in touch with Ann when that nice Mister Birt came along I watch it. I thought she might be confusing ambiguities and jargon. and her husband Peter and will ever regret returned to my former occupation of actor/ it with WHIRLIGIG and Mr Turnip but a friend So, when I read statements like the one that distance meant little opportunity for singer/puppeteer. of mine who worked on that said Mr Turnip above, some of which I freely admit I don’t more than letters and cards. I recently met a lady (of 80 plus) who has a different producer. Any help would understand, I have two questions: what has Tony Austin told me that she once worked as a puppeteer be appreciated. happened to clear writing, and who is trying Ex CA News and Current Affairs Radio and Manager Peter Charlton to impress who? Foreign Bureaux and Special Projects News and Oh – and why does this word ‘content’ Current Affairs. appear so often these days? Surely the BBC still produces and distributes programmes / programme material, regardless from which Well done, Chairman ‘platform’ (more jargon) it is transmitted? As a pre-war television engineer, I was Robert Matthews delighted to see the new Chairman Chris Patten directing the Corporation thinking back to Reith days: a broadcast service of Occupational great quality and standards serving the people, with contented staff not concerned Health pioneer with pay. May I add a few words to your obituary of I was also sorry to read of the death of Ann Fingret? my TV engineer friends like Pottinger and When Ann joined the BBC she followed in Walters and one or two others. I begin to the footsteps of a venerable and very much wonder at 95 whether I am the last of the respected Dr Alec Muirhead. Alec’s humanity, pre-war TV engineers. I look forward to understanding of the needs of the hugely the 75th anniversary. Picture shows Molly Blake (daughter of Annette Mills) with diverse staff and his ability to persuade those Robert Mears Prudence Kitten in a puppet programme for young viewers who tried to use the system, meant that the BBC had an Occupational Health department of outstanding class. I mention this because it Recollections was very clear very quickly that Ann brought to the BBC a style and compassion that of Studio N moved Alec’s legacy forward. Reading Martin Noble’s memories of the Occupational Health was a discipline of newsroom in Manchester’s Broadcasting medicine which was still in its infancy. Ann’s House in the 1960s brought back my own professionalism and background gave us a memories of working in Studio N, with its head start in coping with developments in vidicon cameras and its 16mm Telecine in procedures such as health analysis of staff, the back of the gallery itself. health trends under stress and pressure As a junior operator at the time it was which were under-acknowledged but now, often my duty to load the reel of 16mm some quarter of a century on, are the main news film to play in inserts to Look North

Studio N

PROSPERO August 2011 06 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE CONTACTS Mont Blanc, Rodney Readers may recall our feature in the July edition of Prospero (‘Our World at the Science Visiting Scheme If you would like a visit or information on Museum’) on the partnership between BBC History and the Science Museum. In that article how to become a volunteer visitor, please ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged our contributor, Robert Seatter, of BBC History, briefly detailed some upcoming events. In this only as a local call. article, he brings us up to speed with anniversary celebrations planned for more landmarks of the Queries BBC’s illustrious past (including for one of the UK’s most popular comedy series) and asks for For benefit and pension payroll queries, call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. contributions from readers.

Prospero ‘Unbelievably, it was almost 30 years ago, this great comedy moment, and would on Our Hands, which holds the record for the To add or delete a name from the distribution list, ring the Service Line (number above). 8 Sep 1981 to be precise, that Only Fools and love to hear from any Prospero readers who highest UK audience for a sitcom episode Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Horses hit the UK’s TV screens, and went on were involved in the show – either at the (24.3 million viewers, over a third of the BBC employees. On request, we will also to be one of the most popular and best loved very beginning, or at any point during its then UK population)? The show of course send it to spouses or dependants who want comedy series ever. long and successful life. Did anyone for went on to win many awards, and was voted to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is ‘In BBC History, we’ll be celebrating example work on the 1996 episode, Time Britain’s Best Sitcom in 2004. also available on audio disc for those with ‘Insights into what it was like working sight impairment. on the show, the personalities involved, as To register, please ring the Service Line well as any memories and anecdotes about on 029 2032 2811. scrapes, crises, successes and glories, would BBC Club all be much appreciated. The BBC Club in London has a retired ‘Coming up in October there’s the 50th category membership costing £30 a year anniversary of Songs of Praise where, likewise, for members and £39 a year for family we’d love to have any staff stories of working membership. Pre-1997 life members are on the show. not affected. Regional clubs may have ‘In November, it’s the big one: the 75th different arrangements. anniversary of the first ever continuous Please call BBC Club London high-definition television service, when we’ll administration office on 020 8752 6666 or email [email protected]. be launching a range of partnerships and celebration activity. Benevolent Fund For further information on the This is funded by voluntary contributions upcoming BBC History anniversary projects, from the BBC and its purpose is to protect information on other history collaborations the welfare of staff, pensioners and their families. Grants are made at the discretion or recollections for the anniversaries, of the Trustees. They may provide Only Fools and Horses, 1983 Picture shows Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney please get in touch with BBC History. assistance in cases of unforeseen financial Trotter, David Jason as Derek Trotter and Lennard Pearce as Grandad You can visit their website: www.bbc.co.uk/ hardship, for which help from other sources historyofthebbc, or contact Robert Seatter at is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. [email protected]. Prospero Society Prospero Society is the only section of the BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC pensioners to meet on a social basis for Ex-Radio Cleveland producer helps explode theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. Prospero is supported by BBC Club funds so as to make events affordable. myths about the origin of the Land Rover The only conditions (apart from paying a small annual subscription) are that you must be a BBC pensioner and a member of Graeme Aldous, one-time Producer/Presenter at BBC Radio Cleveland (now BBC Tees), has the BBC Club. For an application form write exposed as myths some of the folklore behind ‘the World’s Favourite 4x4’. to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries Avenue, Radlett, Herts WD7 7EL. Telephone: 01923 855177 All Land Rover enthusiasts ‘know’ that the 90) was invited back to the UK for a fortnight from www.teeafit.co.uk/stopgap for £20, Mobile: 07736 169612 vehicles were built of aluminium because of celebratory events, including a visit to the including postage worldwide. For more Email: [email protected] there was a surplus of aircraft scrap after the Solihull factory where his career started; the information, contact Graeme Aldous at the War, and they were painted green because of recreation of some early publicity photos with address(es) below. BBC products a stockpile of cockpit paint. Graeme’s new an appropriate 63-year-old Land Rover, and a BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% DVD shows that to be a myth. dinner in his honour. Teeafit Sound & Vision, South Lane Farm, Moorsholm, discount off the RRP of most products Graeme, a freelance audio-visual producer Realising this was a unique opportunity SALTBURN, Yorkshire TS12 3JE 01287 660515 in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a postage charge of £2.95 per order and Land Rover enthusiast, has produced to document an important event, Graeme www.teeafit.co.uk/stopgap (not per item). Pensioners must quote the DVD ‘Stop Gap’, featuring the man who arranged to shadow Arthur with his video their BBC pension number when ordering. can be regarded as the ‘midwife’ of the Land camera, and produce a DVD that allowed Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, Rover... Arthur Goddard. Arthur was the enthusiasts worldwide to share in the visit. Television Centre, Wood Lane, London Land Rover Project Engineer back in 1947, What he didn’t realise was that Arthur was W12 7RJ. Telephone: 020 8225 8230 and as such was responsible for turning the about to explode a number of pieces of Email: [email protected] original ideas and drawings into a viable Land Rover legend. Other ways to order (quoting your vehicle. But in the late 50s (and before the pension number when ordering): By history books came to be written) he moved Myths exploded phone: 08700 777 001 8.30am- on to another company, eventually running Arthur emphatically denied the main folklore 6pm weekdays. By post: BBC Shop, their operations in Australia. On the other – he said that Land Rovers were aluminium PO Box 308, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8LW. so that they wouldn’t rust, and the metal was Email: [email protected]. side of the world, he got forgotten. Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, a new, special formula that had nothing to do Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or Land Rover reunion with aircraft. Similarly, the light green was a Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for telephone, A couple of years ago, a chance meeting in standard Rover car colour, which was already post and email orders. Overseas: £4.50 for Brisbane with a young Land Rover enthusiast set up in the paint guns. This and other, one item and £2 for each additional product led to a conversation with another Australian similar myths were exploded by the only for telephone, post and email orders. enthusiast now living in Worcestershire. He man still alive to tell the true story. recognised the name ‘Arthur Goddard’ from The ‘Stop Gap’ DVD is now already selling BBC PA research he’d done in the Land Rover archives. to enthusiasts all around the world, and the For details of how to join the Pensioners’ Association, see panel on page 5. Realising that this was the only surviving modern Land Rover company has requested member of the original team, Arthur (now a copy for its own archives. It’s available

PROSPERO August 2011 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE 07 BBC Volunteer Visitor Scheme – an update The BBC Volunteer Visiting Scheme is a practical method for ‘keeping in touch’ with BBC pensioners. The scheme operates throughout the United Kingdom. Visitors are BBC pensioners themselves. They have an aptitude for forming friendly relationships with others. Their activities are managed by the Volunteer Visiting Scheme Co-ordinator from the Pension and Benefits Centre in Cardiff. Money matters

lunches a year, one in the summer and one at IHT: is it time to Christmas time. ‘It is really popular and now people give a little? attending have become old friends. It has The Budget announced one helpful also reunited old colleagues who worked in future change, but more radical reform the same departments and it is very good for could be on the horizon. some people who don’t get out very much. By Arnie Vashisht, Independent Financial Although the BBC was the introduction to Adviser, AWD Chase de Vere my visits we now just have a cuppa and Before last year’s election there was a chat about just about everything. I have talk that the inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate heard some fascinating stories and enjoy band would be raised to £1 million. During meeting people.’ the election campaign this idea gradually Maureen is the lady standing in the centre moved into the hinterland of ‘aspirational’ of the photo (below) with the turquoise policies. After the election, the formation of top and glasses. The other attendees are the Coalition Government meant that the as follows. Left to right front row: Audrey £1 million goal was abandoned: increasing Flay, widow of Frederick Flay who was a the personal income tax allowance was scenery supervisor at TV Centre, Bill Isaacs given priority over reducing the impact of – communications engineer based in Bristol IHT. The June 2010 ‘emergency’ Budget who worked all over the country, Megan confirmed that Alistair Darling’s planned Each visitor is allocated a convenient Kent Isaacs his wife, Carol Nicolson – Production freeze of the nil rate band at £325,000 until geographical area covering an agreed number Maureen O’Halloran is the Volunteer Visitor assistant on Radio 2 and world service, carer at least April 2015 would be implemented. of pensioners. Visitors undertake to visit for the Kent area and is responsible for co- Zinta, Donald Holmes – World Service & The 2011 Budget contained a statement each of their pensioners twice a year. Some ordinating visits and get-togethers there. She CBC broadcaster (he covered the royal tour which seemed to offer some easing of the visitors organise get-togethers which take writes about a recent event held in July: ‘A of Canada in 1953) and Donald’s other IHT burden. However, once the details place locally to them. Different areas have hugely successful summer lunch was held carer, Ramona. emerged it became apparent that this easing different volunteer visitors. We have details on 7 July at the Marine hotel in Whitstable. Standing: Gordon Traynor - husband of was not as generous as it had seemed. What below of two recent events organised by the There were 17 attendees and people from Rosemary, Sally Kimber – Station assistant, has been proposed is that for wills coming Volunteer Visiting Scheme. other areas were there too – some from radio Medway which became Radio Kent into effect from 6 April 2012, the rate of IHT Dartford and Hertfordshire. There were three (she is also the Visitor for the Dartford area will be reduced to 36%, provided at least Truro absentees due to ill health and bereavement but comes to our lunches as her old boss 10% of the taxable estate is left to charity. Judith Cook is the Volunteer Visitor in the who always attend – Jack Hollands, Harold Harold Rogers usually attends) Maureen, This is good news if you are already Mid Cornwall area, and she has sent in a Rogers and Matilda Dourant.’ carer Bridgitte, Barbara Jones, widow of intending to make substantial charitable picture (above) of a recent get-together, held Maureen has also given us some details John Jones – Scenic operative BBCTV, Audrey donations in your will. If you are now close in May at the Cathedral Cafe in Truro. Judith of her background, her work as a Volunteer Flay’s daughter, Joan Coburn-Moon, Widow to the 10% threshold, it could even pay is also planning to do something similar Visitor and a guide to who’s who in the of Anthony Coburn- Producer at BBC TV your beneficiaries for you to increase your later in the year and would love to hear from Whitstable photo. ‘I worked at BBC Radio Centre, Rosemary Traynor – PA in the History charitable bequests, once the legislation other interested pensioners who couldn’t Guernsey as an MA/Head of Music/producer and Archive Dept at Elstree, Mike Lucas - HR takes effect. However, if your sole aim is make it in May. of Children in Need’ she says. ‘We moved to the and Development Manager BBC Medway to maximise what your beneficiaries will Judith has also sent in details of the people UK nine years ago when I retired to be near and London and South East. receive, the concession is of no use. in the picture, which might stir up recollections our children. I then did a brief stint at BBC ‘As you will see’, concludes Maureen, The charitable gift rate reduction may in some of our readers. On the left of the Radio Kent helping my Guernsey boss Robert ‘there are carers who accompany people not be the only revision to IHT in the next picture at the front is Thelma Rowlands, former Wallace who then had moved to Kent. (He enabling them to come. Donald Holmes in few years. The Office of Tax Simplification BBC Visitor. Thelma joined the BBC Valve Section has now gone back to Guernsey!) fact brings his three ladies with him each (OTS), set up by George Osborne, was at Motspur Park in 1969 and retired as head of ‘As a Volunteer Visitor, I visit 20-25 time and it’s an opportunity for him to give critical of the current IHT regime. The data processing in 1982. Her husband Geoff people (numbers do fluctuate for various them a nice meal together. He is almost OTS pointed out that the £3,000 annual Rowlands (who set up the photo) is across reasons) twice a year in the Thanet area blind and lives alone and they really are exemption had not been increased since the table from her, at the bottom right. Geoff of Kent (Ramsgate, Margate, Herne Bay, amazing people.’ 1981, nor had the exemptions for gifts on retired from the BBC in 1992 but continues Whitstable and also the City of Canterbury marriage changed since 1975. to use his BBC expertise in looking after a TV and surrounding villages – quite a big Rather than proposing these exemptions ‘studio’ system in Truro cathedral. pitch). A few years ago I decided to hold a If you would like a visit or information on how to be uprated, the OTS suggested that it On Geoff’s right is Ann Keith. Ann started lunch during the summer months and it has become a Volunteer Visitor, please ring 0845 712 would be better ‘to consider the scope and at the BBC in 1963 at the Langham, working snowballed since then – we now have two 5529. You will be charged only as a local call. operation of inheritance tax with reference in Finance in the post room. She also worked to the original and desired policy rationale’. at Henry Wood House, Duchess Street, The OTS’s conclusion was that IHT ‘is a tax 16 Langham Street, Brock House and BH. that needs a ‘top down’ review’. On her right is Judy Andrews, who worked For expert assistance with inheritance for the BBC from 1973 – 2005, firstly as a PA tax planning aspects, call AWD Chase with Current Affairs and Science in London de Vere on 0845 140 4014. Your initial and then as a Production Manager in Bristol. discussion with an adviser will be without Judith herself sits in the middle of the charge or obligation. picture (counting out the money!) Judith The value of tax reliefs depends on recently attended BBC Radio Lancashire your individual circumstances. Tax laws (as Blackburn became) 40th anniversary can change. The FSA does not regulate celebrations and retired from full-time work will writing, tax advice and some forms of in December 2010. On her right is Barbara inheritance tax planning. Martin, who joined the BBC as a shorthand Arnie is an independent financial adviser typist in October 1945. with AWD Chase de Vere. AWD Chase The last member of the group is de Vere is one of a panel of independent Evelyn Knight. Evelyn was married to Tom financial advisers selected by the BBC. AWD Knight, who joined the BBC in 1956 as a Chase de Vere Limited is authorised and Probationary Technician, working mostly at regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Ealing Film Studios.

PROSPERO August 2011 08 Back at the bbc 020 8752 6666 Cut more managers, says Patten

The chairman of the BBC Trust has called for which are central to the BBC’s future, senior management numbers to be cut to including programme sales and distribution, around one percent of the total workforce by the international iPlayer and bbc.com, 2015, which at current staffing levels would he concluded, ‘We will not be willing to leave the corporation with some 200 senior consider any proposals for privatisation of posts. Lord Patten set the target in a recent any of these core elements.’ Lottery Winners wide-ranging speech to the Royal Television And he’s asked the DG to see if Worldwide Congratulations to June’s lucky winners; Society. He set out his vision for the BBC as it can work with the UK’s commercial Patrick McSweeney, Katie Pollard, Stuart adjusts to a future of restricted income, and it broadcasters to sell a wide range of UK Richardson, Sophie Mostyn, Antony is a leaner, simpler organisation of fewer, less programming abroad. Jolliffe, Katie Hile, Rose Howell, Tim well paid managers he has in mind. The chairman also announced that the Chisholm, Peter Wise, Mary Manning, ‘There are still too many senior managers’, BBC will have a Chief Complaints Editor, Clive Doig, Melanie Webb, Terance Peters, he said. He’s asked the Director General to reporting directly to the DG. He or she will Helen O’ Donnell and J Higgs. review both senior pay and senior posts, be responsible for simplifying and speeding To be in with a chance of winning next saying he wants ‘to create a smaller group up the complaints process which was month – email [email protected] of people more clearly accountable for recently described as ‘convoluted and overly or log on to your account on the BBC spending the licence fee. That means further complicated’ by a House of Lords committee. Club website. reductions and it will also mean a re-drawing of the boundaries around who is and is not a More important issues Club West One senior manager.’ than pay Club West One will be closing in August/ ‘What the BBC pays its stars will become a Lord Patten September for a refurbishment. The dates How it will happen ‘non issue’ if the corporation keeps a tight are to be finalised but as soon as we In 2009 there were 640 senior management rein on its talent pay bill’, says Lord Patten. BBC continues to stop short of identifying know, you will too! posts in the BBC. That figure will have Addressing journalists at a press conference its highest earning stars – those in the £500k reduced to 512 by the end of this year, but to launch the BBC annual report, the Trust and above bracket, whose numbers are Fly To Paris the BBC says it can’t estimate the 2015 figure chairman also reiterated that he wants the aggregated in the annual report, showing Ariel Flying Group fly out to Paris. because the corporation’s size and shape will ‘toxic’ issue of executive pay dealt with as 19 in that band in 2010/11 as opposed to AFG pilots and students will be flying be different, due to DQF and the out-of- quickly as possible, because there were more 21 the year before. themselves to Paris for the bank holiday London programme. important things to focus on. Patten was ‘totally in favour’ of the holding weekend, 27-29 August. Senior Manager Numbers: ‘The accuracy of our journalism is back, ‘There is a difference between public For information on how you could • August 2009 – 640 endlessly more important than executive accountability and prurience’, he said. There • July 2011 – 534 pay, which is why I want to get it out of the was natural concern about BBC pay as a learn to fly with the BBC Club, contact • 2015 – 1% of workforce way now’, Patten said. He was speaking as whole, but recent pay settlements had been Chris Poole, 0303 040 9592. The BBC intends to achieve the reductions the Trust published its executive and senior below public sector and media sector levels, through a review of the grading structure manager pay strategy for the next four years, and there was no doubt that executive pay 10% Discount On Cottages4you and post closures as a result of DQF changes putting more detail on the aims set out in the had come down. cottages4you offer the largest choice of and the end of strategic projects. It estimates chairman’s RTS lecture last week. ‘Talent pay is more complicated’, Patten over 15,000 holiday properties throughout a third of the reductions will come from post said. ‘It is absolutely right that we bear down the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal closures and the greater part from regrading. ‘Tidy up’ grading structure [on it] but the question arises as to whether and Italy. Choose from the extensive Under the plan the BBC will: we should be as open about presenter pay collection of country cottages, villas with Capping pay differences • reduce numbers of senior managers to as you would about a director of finance.’ pools, rustic farmhouses, rural gites and Alongside that sweeping reduction, Lord around 200 (1% of total workforce) from The National Audit Office should have that apartments. Patten also committed the BBC to being the just over 500; information, he argued, but it was ‘not a Holiday cottages and villas are a popular first UK organisation to introduce a public • depending on DQF and completion of fundamental human right’ to have access and flexible holiday choice – ideal for family ‘pay multiple comparison’, so that people projects like Salford and W1, make a third to BBC celebrity earnings. There were legal, holidays, weekends away, romantic breaks can see how the pay of those at the top of of those cuts in the next two years, a third data protection and contractual reasons not and get-togethers with friends. Cottage the organisation compares to that of the rank by 2013 and the remaining third by 2015; to disclose, as well as the danger of driving facilities include open fires, enclosed and file. ‘This action on pay is important’, • ‘tidy up’ the grading structure to clarify the best talent away and inflating the talent gardens, hot tubs, four-poster beds, a pub explained Lord Patten, ‘because the BBC who are the senior leaders; market. close by, walking from the door, pet friendly must do right by the licence fee payers who • pay SMs in strictly ‘public service roles’ cottages and lots more. pick up the bill and by all the staff that work less than those more likely to be in Fewer staff Login to Club save for details https:// throughout the organisation at every level.’ demand in the commercial sector; ‘But this will pretty much be a non-issue www.bbcclub.com/save.php Lord Patten continued, ‘We will do this • cut the SM pay bill by a further £9m by if we can demonstrate that overall, the by comparing the median pay of Executive 2015, on top of the 25% reduction due to figures are under control’, Patten said. The Phoenix Leisure Centre and Janet Board members to median pay within the be met by the end of 2011; total talent bill is down a further £9m on Adegoke Swimming Pool BBC.’ Median pay is the mid-point, not the • cap the median executive director salary 2009/10, but over the last two years, the Exclusive membership for BBC Club average. The current median pay of BBC staff at no more than nine times that of the total had come down by £25m, which with members. Swim only membership £19.95 is £39,668. The executive level median is median BBC wage (Mark Thompson’s inflation, was more like £50m, claimed Bal or Swim and Gym membership £27.95. £352,900, making the multiple of one to salary of £671 is 17 times the current Samra, director of rights and business affairs. £11.60 per hour for table tennis and the other 9. That ratio will be the cap on the BBC median); The annual report records BBC headcount badminton. multiple. Lord Patten explained, ‘Although • remove private health care benefits for up by four to 17,242, but once the the BBC must continue to strive to attract all new executive directors and SMs from organisation had completed the moves to £29 per hour for hall hire. T&C’s apply. and retain outstanding candidates for senior August 1 and equalise benefits for all staff, Salford, W1 and fully implemented Fabric, Please enquire at the centre. Facility is posts, the Trust’s intention is that over time, with an improved health care offer by there would be ‘significant provision operated by GLL. Bloemfontein Road, this multiple will fall.’ next year; for reducing staff numbers, and they W12 7DB Furthermore he hopes to recruit the next • continue the BBC discount for senior pay – will continue to fall over coming years’, Join at the centre and show your BBC Director General at a lower multiple than at exec board level, a discount for between Thompson said. Club card. that applying to Mark Thompson’s present 50% and 80%. Overall, he was ‘very proud’ of the remuneration which, at £613,000, is 17 Reduction in SM numbers would not organisation’s achievements over a year when Live Ticket – Powered by times the BBC median. simply be people leaving the organisation, 97% of people in the UK used its services Ticketmaster Mark Thompson said, ‘As we reduce every week and the time people spent with Fantastic savings on events at 20 Live ‘No sense’ to sell Worldwide [management] layers and simplify, there will the BBC was up to 19 hours a week. Nation theatres nationwide, including 3 in Top level jobs and pay were not the only be clarification of who is a senior manager ‘In a very eventful year off air – including the West End! news in the speech. Lord Patten also laid and who isn’t.’ the radical reform of the pensions – it would At participating Live Nation theatres. down a marker for the future of BBC have been easy to have been distracted’, Follow the link below for full details. Worldwide, saying, ‘It makes no sense to Prurience he said, ‘but instead the BBC had delivered Login to Club save for details https:// sell Worldwide.’ Explaining the Trust’s view The chairman and director general inevitably content of the quality of Sherlock, Brian Cox www.bbcclub.com/save.php that there are a core of commercial services faced questions on talent pay and why the on science and ‘the best ever Proms’.

PROSPERO August 2011 back at the bbc 09 Pay bill cut, even before BBC launches Audio Patten pledge Research Partnership As Lord Patten places cuts to senior BBC Executive pay is discounted The BBC has launched a research partnership big step beyond 5.1 surround sound. This pay squarely centre stage, the annual report by an average of 58% with five UK universities that will focus allows sounds to come from above and reveals a four percent drop in the 2010/11 The 2009 executive remuneration review on areas such as spatial audio and speech below, providing a truly immersive audio talent bill. recommended that executive pay was recognition. BBC Research & Development experience. We will look at how to make this Heavily trailed in the press, the figures frozen for four years and bonuses removed will work with the University of Surrey in practical, both in a typical living room, and show that spend on BBC presenters, artists, indefinitely, senior manager pay frozen and the audio-visual field and the University also through headphones.’ actors and journalists is down by almost £9m bonuses waived for two years and executive of Salford on acoustics. They will also to £212.5m, with more than 8,000 fewer salaries discounted by between 50-80% collaborate on wide-ranging audio Strategic importance individuals and organisations hired than in of commercial market rates. Benchmarked research with the universities of York and The partnership was launched recently at the previous year. against the commercial sector, executive Southampton and Queen Mary University MediaCityUK in Salford, where Tim Davie, As expected, the number of individuals, pay is now discounted by an average of of London. director of BBC Audio & Music, described it as well as companies or organisations 58%, reports Marcus Agius. Payments to the The initiative will run for at least five as ‘another step towards more innovation in earning more than £500k (and up to £5m) slimmed down executive board have also years and benefits will be shared across the radio’. Samantha Chadwick, who manages has been aggregated to protect individuals’ been affected. From 1 April all members have industry to boost innovations such as the R&D Partnerships, said: ‘It provides us with confidentiality in such a small pool of top agreed to removal of pension supplements. online Radio Player and HD audio. Graham a more structured framework for working stars. In 2010/11 there were 19 in this Thomas, who leads BBC R&D’s Production with world-leading universities, in an area category, two fewer than in 2009/10. March 31 2010 May 1 2011 Magic section, said: ‘One area we are looking of strategic importance to the BBC and to The bill for the £500k-plus earners still Mark Thompson £838k £671k at is spatial audio, which could be the next our audiences.’ came to £22m, with £14.6m spent on an Tim Davie £452k £380k undisclosed number of talent fees in the Zarin Patel £434k £365k £1m to £5m bracket – a saving of £2.3m. Helen Boaden* £354k The BBC also saved a sizeable £3.5m in the Caroline Thomson £419k £350k £50k – £100k band due to 56 fewer hirings Ralph Rivera* £308k and £2.9m at the £150k – £250k level, George Entwistle* £285k where there were 14 fewer on the talent *New members. payroll. It’s a trend that is in line with the strategic aim to ‘reduce rates paid, develop Other executive directors have forgone an new talent and work existing talent harder, additional month’s salary in 2011/2012, as appropriate’, says COO Caroline Thomson which, for instance, brings Mark Thompson’s in her review of how the BBC is managing pay down to £615,000. New Vision director its business. George Entwistle’s salary package of In the year that the BBC lost its One Show £285,000 is 40% less than his predecessor hosts Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley to Jana Bennett earned, and almost £100k less ITV, Thomson notes, ‘A resurgent commercial than that of his counterpart in radio, Tim market has seen the departure of several Davie - appointed just three years ago. high-profile individuals to other broadcasters, It was a year that saw the executive board making further reductions challenging.’ trimmed to seven, as well as reduced salaries for new board members and the removal of Talent costs – but not as pension supplements (from April 2011) so much as it did that, on paper at least, the executive director Talent spend over £500k, with numbers of paybill is down 43%. individuals aggregated: In numbers: senior managers John Holmes receives his honorary degree Pay Band 2009/10 2010/11 Cuts Senior manager numbers are down by 74 on £500k-£750k £6.17m £4.08m £2.1m last year, to 540, with 60 fewer in the £70,000 £750k-£1m £2.75m £3.31m £0.5m – £130,000 pay bracket. Numbers earning £1m-£5m £16.9m £14.6m £2.3m more than £100,000 dropped by 44 to 269. Those earning £250,000 and above remained BBC staff presenter receives Marcus Agius, chairman of the Executive static at a total of nine, the review shows. Remuneration Committee, adds, ‘The reality Aside of the Patten’s plan to radically scale honorary degree of meeting stretching targets, within a short down SM numbers, the organisation is on timeframe, coupled with the necessity of target to reduce senior manager pay by 25% John Holmes, Nottingham-based TV and History Unit, he also worked on Any Questions competing head on with highly commercial by the end of the year with a reduction to radio presenter, received the honorary alongside Jonathan Dimbleby, launching Any competitors to attract and retain the very the paybill of £20m on August 2009 levels. degree of Doctor of Letters at the University Answers as a phone-in. His TV work began on best talent, will be an ongoing challenge The total spend has already dropped by of Nottingham on Friday 15 July. John Look! Hear! a youth show with Toyah Wilcox for the BBC.’ £14.4m in less than two years. was awarded the degree for services to which promoted new bands, among them broadcasting and the local community. The Specials, Dexy’s Midnight Runners John has been with the BBC for over and Black Sabbath. John also presented one Members of BBC Trust submit fewer 40 years and began his career at Broadcasting of the BBC’s first consumer series, BBC2’s House in London, working alongside Inside Information, and hosted many shows claims for expenses household names like Sam Costa, Victor for Midlands TV. Expenses claimed by members of the The Trust explains that Lyons’s salary of Sylvester, Humphrey Lyttelton and Status Now back in Nottingham, John is about to BBC Trust between October 2010 and £142,800 for three or four days’ work a week Quo. He also did a spell in Birmingham on start filming another of his popular walking March 2011 were 34% down on the same was reduced last September to £130,950, as spot effects for The Archers. He was fortunate series Holmes and Away for East Midlands Today. period last year. part of a voluntary pay cut. When Lord Patten to find himself at BBC Radio Nottingham as This is series nine, and is called Innovators – In total, the trustees claimed £39,364,35 took over on May 1 the chairman’s fee was a sports reporter during a great period for their story and their legacy. He has his own show over the autumn, winter and early spring, further pegged back to £110,000. local sport in the late 70s when Nottingham every Sunday morning, 9 til noon, on BBC compared to £59,956 between October 2009 Forest were winning European Cups under Radio Nottingham. Favourite interviewees and March 2010. These figures show that the No car or driver Brian Clough, Clive Rice and Richard Hadlee have included Joan Collins, the Duke and largest claimant was Sir Michael Lyons, whose Under the terms of his appointment, Patten were playing for Nottinghamshire Cricket Duchess of Devonshire, Alan Sillitoe and term as chairman finished on April 2011. is not eligible to receive a BBC pension, life Club and Torvil And Dean were conquering Sir Anthony Sher. His expenses amounted to £11,566.73 for assurance or medical insurance and has opted the world with their ice dancing. Away from work, John’s been married the final months of his tenure, compared to not to have a car and driver. The expenses and John also worked in Bristol, producing to Kate for 42 years and his three children £16,043 for October 09 – March 2010. The hospitality details are published by the Trust Down Your Way with presenters/interviewees have so far produced five granddaughters. second highest set of expenses was submitted every six months as part of its commitment such as Nigel Hawthorne, Spike Milligan He’s also a founder and Chairman of the skin by Alison Hastings (£6,161.29 against a to openness and transparency, demonstrating and Margaret Thatcher. As well as a satisfying cancer charity, SKCIN and patron of the child previous figure of £7,105). how licence fee payers’ money is spent. spell working in the world famous Natural adoption charity, Family Care.

PROSPERO August 2011 10 memories

so I devised a television studio exercise with Memories of the Engineering Training Centre three sound mixing points. If done four times, all 12 students got to do some critical Colin Pierpoint, who worked at the Engineering Training Centre in Wood Norton, has sent sound mixing. However, others thought I was just trying to make a television programme, in these reminiscences of the institution. but it was meant to be a training exercise to set and control the foldback levels. I never OB vehicle ‘village’ me after I had also retired and 20 years after achieved the objectives before the course operating several VT their course, were very complementary about duration was cut by the accountants, so they machines at once. me as Course Manager. had neither! ‘For a year I acted as Senior Lecturer and ‘After a course had left I would go back New as Duty Lecturer was responsible for solving into the empty classroom. In my mind’s eye technology the clashes on the duty sheet. With 6 or 8 I could see them all, and hear the laughs and ‘When ENG came courses running simultaneously, 11 radio the enjoyment. It brings a tear to my real eye in, we had to studios, a television studio and edit suites, now, typing this. retrain film camera not to mention classrooms, this was quite operators in new a challenge. Resources were tight, so I used Presenting duties technology. I was to go round to check that what had been ‘In television studio exercises I was often the then talking to booked was actually in use. presenter, and I learnt how to let a telecine some of the most run up crash in the rehearsal, but to save experienced and Programme exercises them in the recording. (I believe it is easier senior cameramen ‘There were programme exercises for some now with short runs from still frame – then As Course Manager with my in the country. One courses. In the early days they were told we had 10 second run up on leaders.) My Studio Managers Course in 1990 of them appeared to plan it all. I was never happy with this experience in front of camera led to a video on television that because in the Radio network exercise, recording to replace the old lecture session ‘I first worked at the Engineering Training evening to collect a top news award! Here my an announcer would say ‘now over to the ‘Camera to Aerial’ which had been on Centre on attachment in 1970. It was a time experience on Radio OBs and Radiolinks gave OB on the lawn’. This was followed by a slides. I wrote, directed and presented this, when we were setting up the A course and I us something in common, but I also learnt a few words of description of the lawn, and which followed the signal from a camera in worked on part 1, common to all technical lot from them. ‘back to the studio.’ It left no time for a Lime Grove to half way up the transmitter and operational categories of new staff. I had ‘I was asked to set up the Resource pre-transmission test for the next source, mast at Sutton Coldfield. It helped to have to plan each lecture I gave, and much of my Centre for students to use in the evening. which then invariably failed. Over time we worked in Comms in Birmingham and had material was still in the files when I returned It contained audio-visual and video replay, built up a stock of programmes and could the knowledge and contacts, but we went in 1975. This time I was often the Course and early desktop computers, so I wrote run a week’s network on TO or SM courses. all over London in blocks of 20 minutes Manager, around A course number 35, and the first interactive programs to be used While working for a talking newspaper, I following the signal. The recording was later I found that I could build up a repertoire at Wood Norton. Ironically a well known had recorded a feature called ‘Cropthorne used for recruitment. of routines which would go well. I often company later gave a demonstration of Walkabout’ about the village open day. I still ‘Relationships were never a problem particularly enjoyed demonstrations with a their interactive system, which crashed had the insert tapes and links which could be with students, and I loved being in front Tommy Cooper impersonation, my speciality completely if you entered your answer before used for a students’ programme, impressing of them getting a smile. Of course, there was lighting a 5 foot fluorescent tube on the being told ‘select your answer now’. Mine a manager from London who said it was a was also serious teaching, but my aim was bench with only croc clip leads (to illustrate to keep them interested – a bored student transformer turns ratio). Fundamental remembers very little. It was quite interesting principles in A part 1 leant itself to demos “After a course had left I would go back into to watch how people learn. On two which were real fun. At this time I also began occasions a group of my students came to to see the deep appreciation of students the empty classroom. In my mind’s eye I could me and said ‘we didn’t understand a word whom I had helped. Anyone who asked for of the last lecture’ so I would go over the extra help got it. see them all, and hear the laughs and the subject again in their lunch break. Lunch breaks were often taken up with extra Permanent post enjoyment. It brings a tear to my real eye now.” material; the playback of Aki Kyubiama, ‘In 1980 I got a permanent post as a lecturer. a sort of surround sound stereo recording In a class of 30 you can get some good didn’t, although it was difficult preventing very good exercise (it caught out many tape was always popular. exchanges with the students. When I told students from changing the program. A operators because there were three reels one group that I had accidentally sent +24 contact in Birmingham suggested a way to running at once, and they had to decide Many happy memories decibels to the long wave transmitter at make a program listing give a decoy, the real which one to stop!). The students called it ‘IRO 89/1 was a special course. They wanted Droitwich, one of them asked ‘Is that why program not being visible on the screen. the ‘Cropthorne Massacre’, because so many to cook pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, but you are here?’ You have also to go along with Years later, after a reorganisation, the fell by the wayside! BBC ETD could not provide anywhere due the spirit of the group you are teaching or Resource Centre was closed down. ‘I am not saying there were no problems; to Health and Safety (ugh!). So I invited you loose their respect. As I was coming to I was the lecturer in charge of the Audio them all round to my house and they did the the end of what I thought was a really good Senior lecturer Qualifying courses which traditionally cooking (and washed up!). In my home was technical explanation, one of the women said ‘I was known by so many whom I had ended with a television programme devised some sound equipment which I designed ‘How old are you?’ Of course the whole class trained that it was nice being recognised at by them. I felt that this allowed some to sit and built. It worked by remote control laughed, and I had to answer. TC or BH within minutes of entering the in the background, and others to take on a from any room, and as Studio Managers ‘If they had enthusiasm for the subject, I building. I used to time it; my longest was lot of work (which often needed a refill of they were keen to know all about it. I still would give extra help to students. One was five minutes before someone said hello and energy in the club afterwards!). This gave Have the memo saying ‘…the trainees were later the camera operator for the shot of asked how I was. In fact, a close friend and an unequal experience for audio assistants unanimous in their praise for your help Princess Diana arriving at Westminster Abbey colleague was surprised at a BBC retirement on the course, after all, there could only be and commitment in making their time at on her wedding day. I met another in the party by just how many people still knew one Sound Supervisor for the programme, Wood Norton worthwhile and enjoyable.’ It was appreciation like that which made my time at Wood Norton worthwhile and enjoyable as well. ‘As we all know, the redundancies came along. I was spared the first round and did a year as an Engineering Section Lecturer. When I went, I was 50, and I never wanted to be conspicuously in training for too long. The job had changed and so had the BBC. There are many happy memories to recall, and I still hear the voices, like ‘How old are you?’ I hope not too many of my former students are reading this in Prospero, because that will mean that their career came The Main Building of the Engineering Training centre, to a premature end like mine, but if any ‘Tech Ops Q course with lecturers Jill Diver and Alan Tutton’ note the Wood Norton, which contains classrooms, sound control would like to get in touch I am on telegraph pole, used to illustrated OB lines (before ISDN!) rooms and studios, laboratories and admin offices [email protected]

PROSPERO August 2011 obituaries 11 a junior capacity but as a result of her hard rewarding of Weeks’ productions but he Neil. Ron went on to become the founder ‘She was like a second work, talent and enthusiasm she moved up went on from there to be responsible Editor of the BBC Six O’Clock News and he mother to me’ the hierarchy until she became programme for 15 FA Cup Finals, nine Summer and brought about a new change in TV News Alannah Hensler, organiser for all Italian broadcasts. She retired Winter Olympic Games, eight World Cup by appointing Roy as the Head of TV News who died in in 1982 and lived in North West London. She tournaments and countless other outside and Current Affairs Resources, replacing April at the age was unmarried. broadcasts. His main aim as a producer was Henry Tanner. of 65, gave 40 Leon R Nahon to give the viewer at home the best seat in After John Birt set up the News and years service to the grandstand. It sounds obvious, but Weeks Current affairs directorate, Roy’s first task the Corporation, Pioneer of outside made it happen by knowing in advance what was to merge Lime Grove TPC operation and working for he wanted and giving clear instructions on TV News Resources into one, which he did the most part sports broadcasts how it was to be achieved. with utmost skill. He was adept at getting as a copyright More than 32 It is unlikely that in today’s BBC someone both new methods of working in the BBC commissioning million people in like Weeks would be recruited. He was just and getting Inmarsat and SNG technology assistant. She was the UK watched a teenager when he joined, but no one into daily TV News operations. These both formidable, independent-minded and no the 1966 World worked for the BBC with greater pride. He brought a big benefit to the BBC on-air respecter of persons. Cup Final when was dedicated and regarded with affection by coverage. His understanding of the working She joined the BBC in 1964 from England beat colleagues at home and abroad. He retired at of the Capital Finance system was very useful secretarial college, first as secretary to Dick Germany 4-2 at the age of 60 and at home in Hove, Sussex, throughout this change. Walford, head of the Copyright department, Wembley. The wrote his autobiography which, despite With his new systems working and and later as an assistant commissioning man responsible its silly title ‘Under Auntie’s skirts’ is an operational, Roy left to televise Parliament scripted material. She worked in that for producing the enjoyable read. on TV, before retiring in 1992. In retirement department for 32 years, until it closed in the pictures that went He is survived by his wife Pamela, they he spent most of his time with his hobbies 1990s, outlasting seven heads of department. round the world was Alec Weeks (1925 – had no children. - travelling, trains, theatre and walking. Over the years, Alannah worked for 2011), who began his BBC career in 1941 Sir Paul Fox He always found time to meet up with his television and radio but had a special as an office boy. retired colleagues and attend local IEE/IET affection for radio light entertainment. She He became a junior engineer at Radio transmitter meetings in High Wycombe. Broadcasting House during the war and Roy died after a short illness on the scrupulously kept track of writers’ rates and Kenneth Shepherdson, a retired member of arranged the microphones for Major Glenn 28 May 2011, leaving behind his wife listened and watched their programmes, our staff at Skelton, died on 10 June after a Miller and his band when they recorded 28 Betty, two sons (David and Andrew), and so that she could assess the development of long illness, aged 84. numbers for the American Forces Network. a granddaughter. their careers. Ken was born in Kingston upon Hull and Writers’ agents were disinclined to After a brief spell in the RAF, Weeks became Bob Prabhu - Retired TV News Senior Cameraman was educated at Hull Riley High School. challenge the rates she offered, because they a studio manager when Eamonn Andrews He was evacuated on 1 September 1939 to knew that she could give chapter and verse began his distinguished Sports Report Bridlington and then Doncaster. Great correspondent to justify the offer. One agent said that he programme in 1948. But television called After leaving school in 1943, he gained Many friends and colleagues will learn with advised his staff they could assume what was and he had to go to Manchester to find a job at a BBC wartime transmitter. He was much sadness the loss of Sheila Cundy on offered was at a discount to the real rate, but a niche. then posted to a regional transmitter and 5 June. She had a long and successful career that they should never make that assumption Football – live football – was then a after a few months was conscripted under in Programme Correspondence, taking a with Alannah. rare event on television but in 1959 Weeks the war regulations into the army where he break to have her children. Sheila made She could be severe. Of one Head of directed his first match, the second half of spent the next two and a half years servicing a welcome return as a senior member of Drama who sought to re-negotiate a deal a European cup-tie between Burnley and tank radios with the Royal Signals. a busy letter-writing team, coping with she regarded as closed, she remarked to the Hamburg. It was another five years before the He was then drafted on demob to the an ever-increasing volume of mail from agent concerned that the man was a dimwit stubborn resistance to television emanating Skelton transmitter and had postings to listeners and viewers. (though in riper language) and stuck to her from the Football League headquarters at Daventry and Hull. He also took an overseas A dedicated and hugely loyal supporter original offer. A longstanding friend was cast St.Anne’s on Sea, began to ease. In 1964 of the BBC, Sheila handled difficult and off when the colleague went to work for a posting to Antigua for two years opening a came the first Match of the Day programme, often controversial subjects with experience rights organisation and Alannah thought that short wave transmitter, returning to Skelton in black and white, in London only on and professionalism. An immensely kind knowledge of the BBC’s negotiating ways until his retirement. BBC2. Despite the opposition of football and popular member of staff, she was was being misused. His eldest son Andrew died of a brain club directors, the programme prospered, so outstanding at training and encouraging She was much loved within the tumour in 2003. Ken is survived by his wife much so that it was moved to BBC1 and has new young secretaries in her office. Sheila Corporation and by the writers she Margaret, son Ian, who lives in Somerset, remained there, with a few changes to the could be guaranteed to coax the very best commissioned. Her secretary, Waheeda Khan, and daughter Gillian. present day. Gillian Roberts from them gently, using great patience and said at her funeral ‘she was like a second understanding. Maintaining the highest mother to me.’ Signing a contract with the football authorities was a plus for the management standards at all times, she produced excellent One of her extramural accomplishments Change maker and sometimes surprising results! Several was making jewellery; at the funeral almost but the game still had to be got onto TV Roy Vitty started remained friends over the years, notably every woman was wearing something made screens. Weeks was instrumental in that. He his career in Jenny, who kept in touch and visited her by Alannah. led his team, usually around 50 people, with the BBC soon with her own family. Tom Rivers flair, clear-headedness and discipline. In his after leaving the In recent years Sheila suffered ill health mobile contract room, he was in charge, so King Edward’s and coped with all the difficulties she much so that when the Chairman of the BBC Grammar School experienced with enormous courage. She Dedication to BBC Governors, George Howard visited during in Birmingham. had good reason to be very proud of her a match and started chatting, he was told: Italian Service While working at two successful sons, Nicholas and Philip, ‘keep the noise down, cocker, or you’ll be Luigia Vallentine died on 1 June 2011 aged the BBC, he and always acknowledged their wonderful 88. Her surviving sister Sylva has asked out in the car park.’ enrolled at the support – not only when their father died her executor Leon Nahon to give Prospero If it hadn’t been for Weeks’ alertness, Hendon College – but throughout her suffering. Sheila was readers a few words about Luigia. He writes: the 1966 World Cup Final would have cost in North London and completed his three also very quick to praise the exceptional Luigia Vallentine came to the UK in the BBC an extra £100,000 – the sum year part time Higher National Diploma care she received from her Nurse and friend, 1940 and after working for the ministry of demanded by the Musicians Union for (HND) Course. He took up his first posting Marilyn. She loved music and enjoyed the agriculture (issuing ration cards for cows!) the massed Band of the Brigade of Guards. in Video Tape at TV Centre, moving on to companionship of her two dogs. Special joined the BBC whilst still a teenager, as a He spotted a loophole in the contract; no the BBC Outside Broadcast Unit at thoughts and much sympathy go to her monitor of Italian broadcasts during the fees would be paid if the Band appeared Acton, London. family and to her close friend Phyllis. Sheila Second World War. by command of the Queen. Negotiating Roy left the BBC in 1981 and joined will be greatly missed by all who were Having British nationality but being deftly, Weeks persuaded the director of Visnews for a couple of years before fortunate to know her and now share a completely fluent in Italian, she went on to music of the Brigade to seek the Queen’s rejoining the BBC to work on the Breakfast deep sense of loss. work at the BBC Italian service shortly after approval. It came with a few hours to spare. Time, the UK’s first National breakfast show, Maureen A Stevens the war ended. She originally started in quite The 1966 Final was clearly the most under the first Editor of the programme, Ron Formerly Head of Programme Correspondence

PROSPERO August 2011 12 snippets

Man on the Spot by Bill Hamilton Classifieds

Published by Book Guild Publishing £17.99, reviewed by Rodney Greenberg Seaview, Isle of Wight. Wanting to get away for a break? Pleasant ETB 4* studio annexe, Scottish newspaper editor, offering to work as course, remain the property of the BBC, and sleeps two comfortably. Near beach and village. a 17-year-old junior. This meant 120 letters, should your employment change they must For details email: [email protected]; garnering over 100 replies (an unlikely be returned at once to our Wardrobe.’ Tel: 01983 812180 response these days). But only four had Bill became a familiar face on BBC TV vacancies, and a trial day in the ‘organised News and was in the thick of memorable Lake District. Historic watermill, secluded in chaos’ of one of their editorial departments events. In 1978, a Great Northern Express woods and fields, sleeps 6, beautiful all year for convinced him to learn shorthand. Bill train with 70 passengers vanished in a walking, climbing and sailing. buckled down to mastering his craft. terrible blizzard in the Scottish Highlands. Tel: 020 7387 6654; He progressed through Tyne Tees Bill got emergency BBC permission to hire a Email: [email protected] Television, Border Television and various helicopter and, with his cameraman, located regional newspapers. He now observes that the train and reported on a dangerous food- Lagos, Algarve. Small townhouse, ITV has replaced truly local news with ‘super drop and rescue. 2 bedrooms, roof terrace, near beach, from regions’, calling this ‘a serious erosion of He was on the spot in the 1982 Lebanese £150pw. Also large apartment. their original public service commitment.’ war and when the IRA bombed the Grand Tel: 07956 181613; He first joined the BBC as a Radio Sports Hotel in Brighton. In Aberdeenshire he Email: [email protected] News Assistant in London, selected by the interviewed the mother of serial killer Dennis legendary Angus Mackay to ‘join the big Nilsen as she tearfully tried to come to terms Paphos. A/C studio apartment, sleeps 2/3, boys’ (though I doubt Mackay actually used with her son’s crimes, and he filmed Martin spectacular balcony view, from £95pw. the modern expression ‘do you think you Luther King’s assassin, James Earl Ray, on Amenities adjacent. Taxi/car hire arranged. could cut it here?’) and rubbed shoulders Death Row in Nashville. Tel: 01455 635759; www.cyprusapartments.net with Eamonn Andrews, Desmond Lynam, His reports from Albania, filmed with the Christopher Martin-Jenkins, John Motson Duchess of York, triggered huge international Brittany, Dinan. Delightful medieval riverside At a time when a few unscrupulous and Jack de Manio. aid. He accompanied Albania’s hero Norman town with many restaurants. Attractive phone-hackers have thrown the Murdoch Prospero readers will chuckle at how, Wisdom on a hilarious visit to the country, apartment in old merchant’s house; quiet, newspaper empire into turmoil, Bill when he joined BBC Scotland, he owned only and Bill met Mother Teresa, who awarded central. Beaches, walks close. Near St Malo Hamilton’s biography comes as a beacon two suits – both blue – and a navy blazer. him the Order of Mother Teresa. channel port and Dinard airport (Ryanair). of sanity and integrity. From ambitious cub These would effectively vanish on television Bill’s story shows a dedicated, versatile Sleeps 2, double or twin. From £190pw. reporter to BBC special correspondent, we when backed by the blue cyclorama used for reporter. And there’s room for his other Tel: 020 8995 8543; are in the company of a journalist from ‘the colour-separation overlay. Told to buy two career: an Association Football referee for 50 Email: [email protected] old school’, respecting and often assisting non-blue jackets for not more than £20, Bill years. ‘Retirement? I don’t think so’, he says. the victims of misfortune he meets on almost succeeded at C&A but was £3 over. ‘I’m not growing OLD. I’m just growing UP.’ Niton, Isle of Wight. Holiday chalet for 2 in his assignments. Came a memo: the £3 would be deducted To purchase a copy of ‘Man on the Spot’, peaceful and secluded landscaped gardens. In 1961, Dundee-born Bill wrote to every from his wages and ‘the jackets will, of please visit www.bookguild.co.uk. Ideal base for walkers. Tel: 01372 462732; RELCs - Calling www.ramblersretreatniton.co.uk Crumpet Goes (Price cut) Provence. Traditional 3-bedroom all workers villa (sleeps 6) with pool. Near enchanting medieval village. From £500 per week. to Lundy Paul Gouldstone, Vice President, RELCs, Email: [email protected] takes the opportunity to tell Prospero for brochure. Prospero readers will recall our book review readers about another RELC lunch, scheduled for the Autumn. last issue of ‘Crumpet Goes to Lundy’ by Dordogne. Farmhouse in peaceful hamlet with The BBC RELCs are ‘calling all workers’ Maggie Partington-Smith. The review, by magnificent views from garden. Ideal walking, whose BBC career has been in the June Hudson, didn’t mention how to get swimming nearby, all comforts. Sleeps 4. Bargain. broadcasting chain over the years, whether hold of copies of the book, so here Maggie Tel: 07788 940660; in Radio, Television, Transmitters, Film, explains how this can be done, and also adds Email: [email protected] a little history of how the book came into Management/Secretarial (or any section I have missed out). the world. Kalkan Turkey Two bed apartment with pool Following our last very successful ‘Crumpet Goes to Lundy’ came about as on lovely turquoise coast, SW Turkey. Owing lunch in Bournemouth we have booked a result of learning how to use the word- to medical recommendation to reduce stress, the Miramar Hotel again for an early processing programme on the computer. I am proposing to sell off fortnights of the year Autumn BBC RELC Lunch on Tuesday Scorned by the few publishers I approached (like a time share) at £10,000 per fortnight (6). 6 September starting in the hotel bar from but encouraged by cast, crew and colleagues, however I could try once again to get Compared to a time share though, the property 10.30am and with lunch at 13.00 I paid for private printing of a limited run of a Publisher to undertake the marketing would be wholly legally owned by all our families Lunch will be prompted by that famous 200 copies to take the project to fruition in and distribution in shops or via Amazon. for ever. Do give me your email / phone number Radio tune for Workers Playtime. You will time for Christmas presents. I now have only They would of course work out cheaper if for further details, or contact me on: probably remember that signature tune about 40 copies left. printed in larger quantities. All advice on this Tel: 01643 841602; from your earlier days in the BBC as you I can post these remaining copies for subject welcome. Email: [email protected] £8.50 + £1.50 pp (on receipt of postal Maggie Partington Smith meet up with friends for lunch. Contact our lunch organiser Russell address and a cheque for £10 made out to For any further enquiries about Crumpet, please Be sure to get your copy of ‘Zoom in when Horne to book a seat in the restaurant. M Partington-Smith) but once they are gone, contact Maggie on the following email address: you see the tears’. 30 adventurous years at Russell can be contacted on 01590 they are gone. If there is sufficient interest [email protected] the BBC, by Film Cameraman, Fred Hamilton. 624389 or [email protected] www.fantomfilms.co.uk

Much merriment and countless stories Menorca. Detached holiday villa with private Annual reunion for pool. Sleeps 2-7. Near Es Castell, amenities Nearly 100 communications and ex-communications staff came together for a reunion at the Design & Scenic and beaches. For brochure: George and Dragon pub in Acton on Saturday 21 May. Tel: 01621 741810; This was the first ever comms reunion and was attended by people of all ages, some of Services www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk whom (according to one stalwart) had not seen each other for more than 40 years. It was The 31st Annual Reunion Lunch for ex- a splendid do with much merriment and countless stories swapped. People came from Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and members of BBC Television Design & all over the British Isles, as well as from Madrid, France and even one brave soul from the Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Scenic Services Group, spouses, partners Cardiff CF5 2YQ Falkland Islands. and friends will take place at noon on Friday Another reunion is intended for a few years time, hopefully with even more people. If Please enclose a cheque made payable to: 14 October at Ealing Golf Club, Greenford, you’ve even worked in, or been attached to, Radio Links or Communications please contact BBC Central Directorate. Middlesex. For further information, please Dennis Butcher on 07860 662733 or email [email protected] to find out more. Rate: £5 for 20 words. In a covering letter contact Hilary Worrall (Tel: 0208 677 3067). please include your pension number.

Designed and produced by Wordshop PROSPERO August 2011