The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online

Broadcasting House gets role in new comedy W1A focuses on the run-up to charter renewal – Page 9

April 2014 • Issue 2

Your 2014 How to pensions Amazing Bhutan disorganise increase opportunity lunch Page 2 Page 4 Page 8

NEWS • Memories • Classifieds • Your letters • Obituaries • CrosPERO 02 BBC PENSIONS Helping you understand your pensioner payslip and pensions increase The Pension and Benefits Centre has just posted around 23,500 pensions increase letters and payslips BBC Pension Scheme to pensioners, widows and dependants in the BBC PAYMENT ADVICE Pension Scheme. Your payslip shows how much Prospero Reader Useful contact details pension you’ll receive following the latest pensions 12 Retirement Street Payslip & Benefit queries 029 2032 2811 Great Location Email address: myPension@bbc.co.uk increase, which was awarded on 1 April. AB1 2RU Pensioner visits 029 2032 2811 Tax office (Ref. 951/BX) 0845 300 0627 The Pension and Benefits Centre has created a handy visual BBC PENSION TRUST LIMITED to show you what all the numbers mean. In addition they have Elected pension as at retirement.

included some frequently asked questions and answers for Name Prospero Reader Pension No. M00000A Period Ending your information. A/C Payee P R Ospero A/C No. 15/05/2014 Sort Code Payments Deductions Totals to Date Basic Pension 500.00 UK Tax 25.00 Gross 548.69 Q1: How much is the increase? Q3: When will I receive Arrears Increase 2.46 Tax 0.00 This will depend on which section of the my increase? Accrued Increases 46.23 Scheme you contributed towards. The The increase is effective from 1 April 2014. Total of annual pension increases. increases being awarded on 1 April 2014 are: As BBC pensions are paid in advance on the 16th of each month, the increase will Old Benefits 2.7% be reflected in the April instalment and will Total 548.69 Total 25.00 (based on RPI for December 2013 or 10%, include some arrears for the period 1 April to Annual Pension 6,000.00 Net 523.69 Tax 508Y whichever is the lower) 15 April. Code New Benefits 2.7% As a result, the payment you will receive Payslip message (based on RPI for December 2013 or 5%, in May will be slightly lower than the April whichever is the lower) payment. Tax codes are issued by HM Revenue and CAB 2006 2.5% Pension and Benefits Centre Customs and are usually made up of Broadcasting House numbers and a letter, for example: 508Y (based on RPI for December 2013 or 2.5%, Q4: Will I receive a Cardiff CF5 2YQ or K100. If you multiply the number in whichever is the lower) full increase? your tax code by ten, you will get the total amount of income you can earn in a year CAB 2011 2.0% If you are a CAB 2006 or CAB 2011 member Arrears of annual increase due for the period 1 April (effective before paying tax. (based on CPI for December 2013 or 4%, then you will receive the full annual increase date of increase) to 15 April (new pension paid from 16 April). whichever is the lower) regardless of when your pension started to be paid. Q2: What is the difference If you are an Old or New Benefits member between the Retail Prices and have started to receive your pension Index (RPI) and the Consumer since 1 April 2013 you may, depending Prices Index (CPI)? on certain circumstances, receive a Both RPI and CPI are an attempt to measure proportionate increase based on the number Do you need a helping hand? inflation or the rise in the price of goods and of complete months that your pension has services we buy. been in payment on 31 March. Applications are invited for grants from the give, in confidence, full information about the The figures are compiled each month by the For example, if you left BBC employment Grace Wyndham Goldie (BBC) Trust Fund, circumstances supporting their applications. Office for National Statistics who look at the on 30 November 2013 and your pension which exists to help those engaged in It is important to recognise that the Fund change in the cost of around 700 goods and started from 1 December 2013, then your broadcasting or an associated activity, has been established to act as a safety net services in 150 different regions of the UK. pension will have been in payment for four now or in the past, as well as their children and not to fund expensive lifestyle choices. This is known as the basket of goods and complete months on 31 March. You would and dependants. If you therefore have expenses such as is updated to reflect what we actually buy, for receive an increase of 0.9% (this being four- The Trustees, in their discretion, will holidays, gym membership, sky digital, high example, the purchase of tablet computers twelfths of the full increase of 2.7%). consider giving assistance towards mobile telephone charges or non-essential was recently included. educational costs in small ways, such as car costs then you will be expected to be RPI and CPI compare different goods If you have any questions about your travelling expenses, school outfits, books able to pay for these yourself. and services, so they will produce different payslip or this year’s pensions increase, and additions to educational awards. Those wishing to apply this year should measures of inflation. The main difference please contact the pension service line on Other grants can be made in respect of a write for an application form to: BBC between RPI and CPI is that housing costs, 029 2032 2811. specific short-term unexpected need, which Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting such as mortgage interest payments and is beyond the means of the beneficiary and House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, returning it council tax, are included in RPI but not in CPI. not covered by aid from other sources. no later than 31 July. Applicants are The resource of the Fund is limited. So considered annually in September and in no that help can be given where it is most circumstances can continuing help over a needed, applicants must be prepared to number of years be promised.

Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/feedback, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: [email protected] Prospero provides a source of news on former Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension scanned at 300 dpi. issues, plus classified adverts. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. The next issue of Prospero will appear in June 2014. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The copy deadline is Friday 2 May 2014.

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 back at the bbc 03 Director of BBC Trust Nicholas Kroll to retire Nicholas Kroll (pictured) will retire from the BBC at the end of June. He has been director of the trust since it was established in 2007. Prior to that he was director of governance at the Corporation, a job to which he was appointed in 2004.

Kroll’s replacement has been announced as of digital switchover and led the last BBC The recent review of governance led by Lord Jon Zeff, who is currently a director at the Charter Review. Patten and Tony Hall will add to the Trust’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport The director’s main responsibilities capacity to hold the BBC to account on (DCMS) – a post he has held since 2008. include running the trust and acting behalf of licence fee payers.’ Zeff was appointed following an open as a principal adviser to the chairman Trust Chairman Lord Patten said: ‘Nicholas recruitment process. He will earn £180,000 and trustees. has been an outstanding public servant, exactly per year. Speaking of his retirement, Kroll said: ‘At the sort of person that I hope will continue As part of his work with DCMS, Zeff has the end of a career in the public service, it to be recruited in Whitehall and beyond. He worked across broadband, spectrum and has been a privilege to serve BBC governors has worked tirelessly and intelligently for a highly experienced public servant who telecommunications issues since joining the and BBC trustees under three chairmen for a BBC licence fee payers. All who have enjoyed understands both the values of public department in 1998. period approaching 10 years. working with him so much will miss him and service broadcasting and the policy issues Previously a director of media, he took a ‘During that period I believe the wish him well for the future.’ surrounding broadcasting as a whole in the leading role on policy, oversaw the planning governance of the BBC has become stronger. Of his replacement, Patten said: ‘Jon is years ahead.’ More record audiences for BBC radio BBC to argue for The UK continues to be a nation of of nearly 100,000 listeners for the station’s The UK audience for BBC World Service licence fee to be radioheads with a record 48.4m listeners – flagship programme, which drew an audience remained stable at 1.4m. 91% of the adult population – tuning in during of 7.14m. The growth in listeners for many BBC linked to inflation the last quarter, according to Rajar figures. The digital-only station Radio 6 Music stations comes a year after the iPlayer radio A report into how the BBC is funded has Audiences for BBC radio stations were at boosted its ratings to 1.96m, clipping on the app was launched for smartphones. recommended arguing for the licence fee to an all-time high of 36.2m (55.2%), with Radio heels of Radio 3, whose audience remains According to latest Rajar figures, 25% of be pegged to inflation from 2020, instead of 2 and 4 reaching record numbers between stable at around 2m. adults said they listened to radio on their mobile the current freeze. September and December last year. Asian Network saw their audiences jump phone, up by a third on the previous year. The BBC commissioned the ‘blue-skies’ Radio 6 Music and Asian Network also up by nearly 50% from the previous year, More than 36% of all radio listening was report to explore future funding options, drew their biggest ever audiences. attracting 668,000 listeners. It marks a also done via a digital platform, compared to featuring views from a panel of independent Helen Boaden, director of BBC Radio, significant turnaround for the digital station, 33% at the end of 2012. economists, media experts and academics. said the results were ‘wonderful news’, which which was threatened with closure in 2010. The BBC recently revealed there were It also recommended making better use showed ‘Britain’s love affair with radio shows Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw lost 400,000 800m iPlayer requests for radio output across of commercial revenues to boost funds. no signs of cooling’. listeners during his first full year on the all platforms in 2013. The BBC denied claims it backed the ‘We are a nation of audiophiles and so, breakfast show, drawing an audience of 6.29m Commercial radio drew an audience of introduction of a subscription service. despite the ever-increasing competition last autumn. The station’s ratings also fell 35m in the last quarter, with local stations ‘The report recommends that the BBC for people’s time and the growing range of slightly by 100,000 year-on-year to 10.97m. attracting the majority of the audience. pursue an inflationary licence fee increase online audio providers, radio is thriving in the Radio 5 live’s listeners increased to with greater commercial revenue. No digital age. 6.29m, while digital stations Radio 1Xtra and subscription model is recommended,’ the ‘I’m delighted that the BBC’s distinctive Radio 4 Extra drew audiences of 1.09m and Corporation said a statement. portfolio of stations is proving so enduringly 1.65m respectively. It follows a report in The Sunday Times popular and helping the UK radio industry go There was also a year-on-year boost for claiming the BBC was calling for the licence from strength to strength.’ BBC radio in the nations and English regions, fee to be scrapped. Radio 2 attracted its biggest ever audience which pulled a total audience of 9.32m. The current fee has been frozen at of 15.5m, with a record 9.82m tuning in to Listeners to BBC local radio in England £145.50 since 2010. The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. grew to 7.1m (16.5%), prompting English It is up for renewal at the end of 2016, Radio 4’s weekly audience also grew Regions controller David Holdsworth to with some suggestion negotiations could to an all-time high of 11.2m. The arrival of describe the result as ‘a sure-footed, solid start as early as this year. However the Mishal Husain on the Today presentation performance… especially in what is a highly Chris Evans. BBC’s report looked at ideas for funding team coincided with a year-on-year growth competitive market’. from 2020. A draft version also recommended the BBC consider coming out of public devised and compiled by Jim Palm ownership and becoming a mutual, owned Crospero 178 devised and compiled by Jim Palm by its users, if an inflation rise for the licence fee was ruled out by the government. 1 2 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words Director general Tony Hall recently running across. Then take these words in numerical order and defended the licence fee, suggesting 3 4 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, it should be extended to include these will spell out a TV programme and the name of the person people watching programmes via the 5 6 who presents it. iPlayer service. Please send your answers in an envelope marked ‘Crospero’ to The ‘There is room for modernisation so that 7 8 9 Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting the fee applies to the consumption of BBC House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, by Friday 9 May 2014. The winner will receive TV programmes, whether live on BBC One 10 a £10 voucher. or on-demand via the iPlayer,’ Lord Hall told CLUES a media conference earlier this year. 11 1. Agreement (4); 2. Rages (5); 3. Complain (5); 4. Edge (3); 5. Regret (3); Meanwhile ministers are considering 6. Perspire (5); 7. Easygoing (3); 8. American lizard (3); 9. Lighting filter (3); plans to make not paying the TV licence a 12 10. Pronoun (3); 11. London open space (5,4); 12.Unwell (3); 13. Work unit civil offence, rather than a criminal one. (3); 14. Resort (3); 15. Decade (3); 16. Askew in Scotland (5); 17. Inlet (3); 13 14 15 Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the 18. Single (3); 19. Itinerary (5); 20. Bee (5); 21. Intake of breath (4). proposal, backed by more than 100 MPs,

16 17 should be part of talks surrounding the renewal of the BBC charter in 2016. In 2012 180,000 people were 18 19 Solutions to Crospero 177: Inculpate; Aril; Long; Salut; Aside; Sneer; prosecuted for not paying their licence, Gorse; Ape; Chairlady; Lee; Tawse; Solid; Egger; Skate; Berg; Ever; 20 21 Westerham. The signature tune was Calling All Workers and the winner more than one in 10 of the criminal was John Dean. prosecutions that year.

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 04 LETTERS The enemy within I don’t make a habit of whining about Nick BBC may include those who wish to see its Whines, as on the whole he does a fine job place in broadcasting diminished or even for the BBC Pensioners’ Association. However, done away with but there are also those who in his article about the Association’s latest are critical because the BBC is not living up project (Leaving the BBC) there are passages to its remit of balance, impartiality and lack about the BBCPA’s positioning vis-à-vis the of bias. BBC and the nation generally which require Take the Sochi Winter Olympics and the a response. incessant carping about the suppression of What is striking about Nick’s article is its gay rights in Russia, omitting to mention uncanny mirror-image resemblance between that there is no difference between the his view of the BBCPA’s role (‘support’ Russsian anti-gay-propaganda to minors the BBC as a loyal but critical best friend’, legislation and Clause 28, enacted in 1988 ‘stand firmly alongside, as critic, yes, but and only repealed in 2003 – not much also as advocate’ etc) and the BBC’s own evidence there of ‘Nation Shall Speak Peace view of its role within society and the world to Nation’. In 1980 the BBC was sympathetic vis-à-vis the Government, the West and the to a boycott of the Moscow Olympics Establishment and most of all the Political on account of the USSR’s invasion of Correctness lobby. Afghanistan, now it’s ‘gay rights’. Lord Reith Wearing his rose-tinted spectacles, Nick opposed the 1926 General Strike siding with harks back to some mythical era ‘at the roots the Government. Many such examples could of the BBC that made it such an important be cited. and enduring institution’. I’ll probably have If the BBC wants to survive and prosper Tebrau reunion the usual accusation thrown at me of being now would be a good time to live up to its Graham Smith sent in a newspaper cutting ‘The radio station was located on a 200ha ‘the enemy within’ but I would counter with billing, and ditto the BBCPA and its officers. from the Malaysian Straits Times about a enclave in what is now the Taman Molek some home truths: Nick’s enemies of the Alexis Alexander reunion of the staff from the original Far neighbourhood. According to Easaw, Eastern Relay Station at Tebrau, Malaysia, there were about 80 households residing which later relocated to Kranji in Singapore in the neighbourhood. ‘Our community Bhutan. where he was the resident engineer from was strongly bonded regardless of racial 1985-1987. background or beliefs. Our British masters ‘Fifty former employees off BBC Tebrau were caring and sincere,’ he says. – aged between 68 and 82 – gathered at a ‘The area was fully equipped with golf resort in Plentong for the reunion. facilities such as a playground, cafes, clinic ‘George Easaw, 82, was one of the and activities centre. former staff who attended. He served as the ‘In 1977 the BBC station was relocated senior maintenance engineer for 39 years, to Kranji, Singapore. Both Easaw and beginning in 1952. James Tay, 70, who was Tay continued working for the BBC after a technician at the station, started working the move.’ for the BBC in 1968.

Balancing Football memories Would you like to spend three Some further information on the recently programmes in published photos of the BBC football teams. In the more modern photo, the second months in stunning Bhutan? retirement left in the back row is Mike Jones who at the I used to be a studio manager at BH London time was a Clerk in the CSG Ops Room. Next Is there a recently retired BBC education The country only comparatively recently and I retired in 1996. to him is Alan Belasco, who I don’t believe producer who would like the opportunity entered the modern world and its policy Little did I realise that, 17 years later, I worked for the BBC. At the far end is AE to spend about three months in is to achieve ‘gross national happiness’. should still be balancing programmes. This (Bert) Chant who ran the Soccer Section for spectacularly beautiful Bhutan, helping to It would be exciting to be part of this morning, at breakfast, we were listening to some years in the late 1960s. make half-hour educational programmes extraordinary experiment. Desert Island Discs, and I was teaching my wife In the front row, next to Len Phillips, is for the new television station? The young I have just come back from there and to use the DAB radio remote to turn down Pete Lambley who ran the Mail Room in King is keen they should include maths, have seen the television station which is the volume of each piece of music, only to 16 Langham Street for some years. (I think chemistry, simple science and practical well equipped and met some of the bright have to increase the volume again for the Frank Hardwick is next to Pete.) programmes on building and agriculture. young staff. As an ex-BBC documentary next speech link. Other names nearly spring to mind, but If you could find your airfare, your maker myself, I promised to help them I should say she is making quite a good then seem to disappear again! I played for the accommodation would be free. find someone who could give them some job of it! BBC for many years but never reached the The people are highly motivated, well guidance. John Dixon dizzy heights of the first team! educated, very welcoming and they love If you are interested do drop me a line Anyway, it brought back some great their country. on [email protected] memories and so very sad to see what’s Jenny Barraclough become of Motspur Park. Andrew Piper Graham Davidson interview? The family of the late Andrew Piper are keen to trace a recording of Andrew interviewing Experimental stereo Stanley Unwin for BBC World Service during his (Andrew’s) time as planning organiser at response Bush House, during the 70s/80s. Thanks to the many people who have It may have been for a programme called contacted the NDO mailbox: Waveguide or perhaps a pantomime – Malice in ([email protected]) about my article Wonderland is one suggestion. on Experimental Stereo in Manchester. If anyone can help, please contact What I didn’t know was how many of Rosemary Grave (Email: these experimental recordings were made, [email protected]) or Joy Thomas the considerable resources put into them, (Email: [email protected] using the and the variety of the programmes recorded. zero key for the ‘o’ in th0mas). A number of people have kindly sent The King’s 34th birthday celebrations.

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 LETTERS 05 me tapes and CDs of some of this material, to believe them. However it would have been which show how very good BBC Stereo published in the late 50s or very early 60s Alexandra Palace was in the 60s and how talented all those because John chose to retire at 55 years of CONTACTS involved in preparing the broadcasts were. age in 1963. TV Society Ian C Reed He died in May last year and in the bed This year’s reunion will be held on Thursday Visiting Scheme www.northerndanceorchestra.org.uk opposite him in hospital was a gentleman 12 June. Notices will be sent to regular If you would like a visit or information on who also had a copy of Prospero. He and his attendees by the end of April. how to become a volunteer visitor, please wife both play in the BBC Orchestra. Anyone else wanting to attend and not ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. My thanks to John’s old friends for having a received a ‘flyer’ by then can contact Queries Radio Times Christmas greetings but I was unable to me on 0207 935 9170. For benefit and pension payroll queries, reciprocate because I have been unable to Yvonne Littlewood call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811 confusion find his address book. Diaries galore but as or email [email protected] Some confusion has arisen recently over yet, no addresses. Prospero the discount that members of the BBC Jill Gregory To add or delete a name from the distribution Pensioners’ Association can obtain on Radio list, ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Times and other BBC titles. Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Immediate Media, the new owners of BBC BBC employees. On request, we will also Magazines, have now clarified the situation. Yit’s alive send it to spouses or dependants who want Members of the Association who take out I don’t know if anyone else will reply to Tony to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is a direct debit will be charged £26 for 26 Soper’s thought, in current edition of Prospero, also available on audio disc for those with sight impairment. To register, please ring the editions of Radio Times posted to their home asking if any other Yit is still alive. Service Line. address. This represents a substantial saving In 1943 I joined the BBC as a Yit at on the shop price and more than covers Gillingham ‘H’ Group Transmitter. I retired BBC Club The BBC Club in London has a retired the annual subscription to the Association. from Television Film Unit in 1986. I was category membership costing £30 a year Those members who already receive Radio born on 18 April 1926. or £39 a year for family membership. Times will continue on the old tariff until Grahame Whatling Alexandra Palace. Pre-1997 life members are not affected. further notice. Regional clubs may have different To take advantage of the discount, join the arrangements. Please call BBC Club Association and get the discount code! There London administration office on 020 8752 is a coupon on this page. 6666 or email [email protected] Nicholas Whines BBCPA AGM Benevolent Fund BBCPA Membership Secretary The BBC Pensioners’ Association AGM fascinating personal opinion of the BBC’s This is funded by voluntary contributions will be held this year at 2pm on 17 April current anxieties and its future was from the BBC and its purpose is to protect in Friends Meeting House, Euston Road provocative. This coincided with the end of the welfare of staff, pensioners and their (just opposite Euston Station). We usually Tony Hall’s first month as DG. Recordings families. Grants are made at the discretion Verity Lambert get a comfortably full house. We welcome of both these addresses can be heard on the of the Trustees. They may provide prospective members. members area of our website at bbcpa.co.uk. assistance in cases of unforeseen financial biography For a number of years now we’ve This year we welcome two guest hardship, for which help from other sources is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. Richard Marson, who is writing a biography invited guest speakers. Two years ago speakers: Joy Moore, the recently appointed of the eminent drama producer Verity Paul Lewis of Radio 4’s Moneybox gave a CEO of the BBC Pension Scheme, who will Prospero Society Lambert, wonders if any Prospero readers may masterly account of the financial situation talk about the current situation and the Prospero Society is the only section of the BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff have memories of Verity which they would for pensioners – a comprehensive tour implications of a rising deficit and Professor and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC be willing to share with him. (Among d’horizon of financial issues affecting the Jean Seaton, the BBC’s official historian, pensioners to meet on a social basis for many others things, Richard produced and elderly, whether those comfortably off with whose book on the BBC will be published theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. directed the 90-minute documentary Tales of occupational pension schemes or those shortly. Jean is a well known broadcaster The Prospero Society is supported by Television Centre.) struggling on state pensions and dwindling and commentator on BBC matters and BBC Club funds so as to make events He says: ‘For five decades, the name Verity savings income. should be an entertaining speaker.  affordable. The only conditions (apart from Lambert appeared on the end credits of many Last year we welcomed Steve Hewlett, David Allen paying a small annual subscription) are of Britain’s most celebrated and talked about presenter of Radio 4’s Media Show whose Chairman, BBCPA that you must be a BBC pensioner and a television dramas, among them Adam Adamant pdf version member of the BBC Club. Peter Mirams Lives!, Budgie, The Naked Civil Servant, Minder, Edward would be happy to answer questions from and Mrs Simpson, Eldorado, G.B.H. and Jonathan potential members (email: pmirams@ Creek. She was the very first producer of btinternet.com), but if you would like an Doctor Who, which she nurtured through its application form please contact: formative years at a time when there were Wai Man, BBC Club, MC4 C4 - 201 Media few women in positions of power in the Centre, Wood Lane London W12 7TQ television industry. Tel: 0208 752 6666 ‘In my book, I am aiming to capture the Email: [email protected] energy and spirit of this remarkable woman BBC SHOP discount and explore her phenomenal and lasting Get 10% off your order at BBCSHOP.COM legacy.’ Enter code BBC001 under ‘redeem If you can help, please email Richard at: a promotion code’ at checkout [email protected] FREE UK Delivery Orders can also be placed over the phone by calling 0844 846 1417 and quoting code BBC001. John Gregory Terms & Conditions: Discount code BBC001 entitles you to 10% off your order caricature at BBCSHOP.COM. Offer is only available Re the search for the caricature of John online at BBCSHOP.COM. Offer is not Gregory (Prospero, October 2013), I would valid with any other promotional discount. like to thank John (?) who sent the 1953 Discount does not apply to Children in Evesham photograph which includes John. Need and other charitable products, gift wrap and post and packing. BBC Shop I already have the small postcard copy but reserves the right to change, amend or this is twice the size and includes everyone’s cancel the offer at any time. No cash names so I am very glad to have it. alternative. Free delivery applies to UK only. The booklet with the caricature on page Standard BBC Shop Terms & Conditions 15 (or 16) was about 9x6 inches in size, apply. Promoter: BBC Worldwide Ltd. with a muddy brown paper cover and Contact 0844 846 1417 with any queries. memory tells me it had a large 50 in the See website for full Terms & Conditions. bottom right hand corner. I am old enough BBC PA for my memory to be getting faulty and if For details of how to join the Pensioners’ someone told me it was a 25 I would have Association, see the adjacent panel.

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 06 MEMORIES

‘Bi-media’ at Grosvenor Square anti-war demonstration, 1968.

Money matters Should I consider deferring my State Pension? Most people are comfortable to start getting their State Pension once they reach their qualifying age. But there may be circumstances when it is advantageous to defer taking your State Pension. You may also choose to stop claiming your State Pension for a while, even when it is already in payment. Deferring your State Pension will normally mean you receive more. The amount of extra pension you receive by deferring depends on how long you put off claiming your State Pension. You will normally choose one of two options: • Taking a higher weekly State Pension for life, or • Taking a one-off, taxable lump sum payment if you defer for at least 12 months, then receiving your normal weekly State Pension for life. The birth and death If you defer your State Pension for at least five weeks, your State Pension will increase by 1% for every five weeks you put off claiming. This is equivalent to 10.4% for every full year you put off claiming. When of an industry you then start claiming, this route will provide a higher weekly State Pension for Veteran news cameraman Colin Rowe was talking about his career in the West Country. ‘In my life. This extra State Pension usually lifetime a whole industry grew, changed and died,’ he observed as he discussed the challenges of increases in line with inflation each year. You may however choose to take your using film for television news. ‘I think that’s unique. Not many people can say an important part of extra State Pension in the form of a one-off, their daily life lived and died within their working lifetime.’ taxable lump sum. This lump sum is based on: • the total amount of State Pension you e were recording an oral The great bi-media crusade in the 80s And then there was the poor solo cameraman would have received, had you chosen history interview, ready to was much publicised. But pulling out at a protest meeting against government not to defer, and mark the BBC moving from its the negatives revealed one cameraman plans to cut student grants – he had to make • interest will be paid at 2% above Bank wartime home in Plymouth at a demonstration in 1968 against do with a tiny camera with tiny lights and of England base rate, on the toW a new, purpose-built regional studio with small film reels as he worked alongside a amount deferred. state-of-the-art satellite technology. Colin was rival crew with massive sound camera and Deferring your State Pension is useful if, for describing the days of wind-up mute cameras full magazines. example, your income level means that you and the hefty sound cameras, with heavy ‘It’s no use you There will be many with much better are already a higher rate or additional rate batteries and cumbersome sound gear, that had personal memories of the news film era. taxpayer. In such cases, this means that your helped bring local news to the nation’s screens rabbiting on, missus, A personal favourite from the stories State Pension would also be taxed at the from 1957 onwards. of Plymouth’s pioneering days recalls a higher rate applicable to your other income The planned studio move was eventually I’ve run out of film.’ cameraman filming an interview with a and would therefore reduce the net amount abandoned and the oral history project politician. With interviewee in full flood a you would receive. Another reason for ground to a halt with no real conclusion. But voice suddenly interrupts: ‘It’s no use you deferring, irrespective of your tax position, recently a reminder of Colin’s words arrived rabbiting on, missus, I’ve run out of film.’ would be if you can comfortably manage on unexpectedly while I was digitising my the Vietnam War with his own version of Sadly that also meant there’s no commag your current income but feel that extra student newspaper photographs so they can ‘bi-media’ – a versatile mixture of mute and clip to confirm the cameraman’s exact words income later in life would be more beneficial. be preserved in Bristol University’s digital sound technology. Was it for reasons of cost – or the reaction. If you’re already receiving your State archives. I discovered I was sitting on my or flexibility? Tony Byers Pension, you can choose to stop claiming it own little bit of television history; examples for a while to build up more money for the of the very equipment Colin had been future – but you can do this only once. As talking about. soon as you recommence receiving your There was also a reminder of the days State Pension, payments will continue until when the new BBC2 bulletins first set out your death. to report events in colour – an exclusive Deciding which is the better option – to venture at first available only to an elite band take extra weekly income or a lump sum of colour-set owners who had paid extra payment – depends on how long you live. on their licence fee for the privilege. My The Government produces tables to give you memory is that, as students demonstrated at an idea of how your extra State Pension Chippenham in 1968 against Enoch Powell could add up over five, 10 or 15 years, and his views on immigration, a helicopter compared with a lump sum payment. These landed in a field, with an elite crew jumping tables can be found on the following website: out to join their humble black and white www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension regional colleagues. A quick rush around and Roger Hatherell, Financial Consultant, they were off again, presumably flying back Lansdown Place Financial to London as the only place where colour Colour camera crew at anti-Enoch Powell demonstration, Chippenham, 1968. Management Ltd film could be processed.

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 Memories 07

The invitation was not overlooked but Albert Harry Rabinowitz, and ‘Old ones, new Celebrating Semprini’s 65th was intent on working in Spain and made ones, loved ones, neglected ones’ became Brian Willey takes a personal look at the life and times of Semprini. the move there in 1947, remaining as a familiar to every radio listener throughout concert artist for the next two years. the land. The programme eventually ran for f you know the phrase ‘Old ones, While there he fell in love with a Spanish a quarter-century until Albert’s retirement new ones, loved ones, neglected ones’ dancer named Maria de la Concepción in early 1982 at the age of 74 – but his final you will certainly recall the radio Consuelo Garcia Cardoso. His previous appearance was yet to come! programmes of pianist Semprini. peripatetic life had proved fatal to his The BBC reached its 60th anniversary IBy coincidence his face appeared together marriage with Brunilde and he set about in the autumn of that year and I had been with some members of the Revue Orchestra divorce proceedings in order to wed commissioned to produce a concert for the in February’s issue of Prospero, for this year his señorita. Royal Festival Hall to celebrate BBC radio’s marks an important anniversary, he having Diamond Jubilee. Semprini was someone made his BBC Radio debut exactly 65 to seriously consider as an ingredient. His years ago. signature tune, Mediterranean Concerto was Alberto Fernando Riccardo Semprini From then on only ever heard for a few bars at the start of was born in Bath, Somerset, on 27 March each programme. My plan was a full-length 1908, the second son of an Italian father, performance. Fernando from Rimini, and an English Semprini. he was seldom I phoned him to ask if the idea was mother, Elizabeth, who came from Dudley, possible and was told that, now afflicted with Worcestershire. His father was a French During the 1930s he married Brunilde off the air. arthritic hands, he could no longer play to Horn player and the family moved to Regarbagnati and had three sons by her his former standard and must decline the Bath in 1906 for him to be employed in while he toured Europe and Scandinavia invitation. But what if he were to conduct Bath’s Pump Room Orchestra and the Bath as a popular piano duo with fellow Italian, It was in early 1949 that Albert decided while a fellow pianist played the solo part? Municipal Band. Enrico Bormioli. to come to Britain. At that time I was a This was agreed and, with Semprini In 1914 the war was to have a profound Italy was very differently placed for the programme engineer working on a weekly conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra and effect upon the family. Italy had proclaimed Second World War. In 1940 its Fascist regime piano broadcast each Monday at 9.15am. Philip Martin as solo pianist, the concerto neutrality but in August 1916 it declared allied itself with Germany – and Anglo- The usual pianist, Arthur Young, had was beautifully performed, well received war on Germany and Austria. Despite living Italian Alberto was forced to maintain a very unexpectedly announced he was emigrating and Albert was delighted with his unique in Britain, Fernando Semprini was still an low profile! to Australia, thus leaving a sudden void. farewell appearance. Italian national and was called up to join the In 1945, with the Allies advance into Luckily the producer, Alastair Scott-Johnston, He died on 19 January 1990 as a result of Italian Army. By early 1917 he was on active Southern Italy, he got himself to Rome and had recently been approached by the ex- Alzheimer’s disease. He had led a very full service on the Austrian frontier. volunteered for work with ENSA. Preferring soldier Mike Brennan, seeking to promote life, also having founded and conducted a Once peace was declared, Fernando to be known as Albert, he was soon happily the musician he had heard during the war. dance band, entertained aboard transatlantic decided to remain in Italy, having giving recitals in military hospitals or Within days an audition took place, and, liners, been appointed as an Officer of successfully applied for the post of librarian entertaining Allied front-line troops, playing a on Monday 2 May 1949 ‘Semprini at the the Order of St John and awarded an OBE at La Scala opera house and the whole family, piano perched on the back of an army truck. Piano’ made his first BBC broadcast and was in 1983 – but he remained a gentle and then including three sons, moved to Milan In the audience, on one occasion, was an immediately accepted by the radio audience. charming personality and he was always a in 1919. Young Alberto Semprini soon won English soldier, a former actor named Michael From then on he was seldom off the air. great pleasure to work with. a scholarship to the Conservatoire where Brennan. Recognising Albert Semprini as an Semprini Serenade commenced on Sunday, I feel very fortunate to have known him he remained until 1928, graduating with a outstanding performer, Brannan offered to be 29 September 1957, accompanied by so well. doctorate in music. his manager if he ever came to Britain. the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by

On my way to work on Monday morning I Did you get fluff in your whistle? called in at Boosey and Hawkes. I was pleased to find that the head for a Schott Did you ever have one of those ideas that seemed good at the descant recorder could be purchased for as time but you came to regret? I’m sure that you did. Well, I’ve little as 25 pence. This was a good deal less had more than my fair share but I’m going to tell you about one than the cost of the battery alone for the Design Department’s generator! that sticks in my mind as being worth a good chuckle. Encouraged by this, I purchased a few for testing. It didn’t take many days before the Up until the mid-70s the remote monitoring Fault Reporter (AFR). It provided a lot more design of a practical and cheap whistle had of equipment installed at unattended facilities than the TIP but the one I’m writing been produced. An order was placed for the transmitting stations was done using a about is the need for it to receive an quantity of heads required and it wasn’t long device called a Transmitter Interface Panel or acknowledging tone of 1.5 kHz before it before the whistles were ready for distribution TIP for short. It was a primitive piece of would download data to line. This would to the teams in quantities which would allow equipment that accepted data in the form of comply with the requirements of the them to be issued for personal use. multiple contact closures/openings Post Office. Shortly after they had been despatched I originating from station equipment. It collated In order to provide the tone, Design received a major complaint. Because they had the data and made it suitable for Department had produced a lightweight not been supplied with a storage container transmission over a public switched battery-powered unit that would fit into the they were deemed to be unhygienic. To be fair telephone network (PSTN). palm of your hand. Unfortunately they were I couldn’t disagree with this. It was an In order to check if a station was faulty not cheap and the result of this was that the oversight. In addition I was told that some staff you just phoned it. The TIP would detect the quantities distributed were less than ideal. could not blow the right note because the incoming ringing and respond by sending the I became involved with this project after whistles filled with fluff from their pockets. To data back as a series of long and short the first AFRs had been installed. The sharing resolve these problems I visited Boots the duration sounds, which are best described of a limited number of tone generators by the Chemist and purchased some small, cheap, For most people the whistles worked. Some as ‘raspberries’. A knowledgeable person Maintenance Teams did not prove to be a and dare I say pretty, zipped plastic bags of engineers proudly announced that they did listening to the sequence would be able to practical solution. A request had been made the type that ladies have in their handbags for not need the aid of a whistle and so determine which items of equipment were for them to be issued on a personal basis. the safekeeping of personal items. I sent them dispensed with it, relying completely on a gift at fault. Unfortunately the expense this would incur out to the teams. The silence that followed that God had given them. But why were the If a member of the public inadvertently had not been included in the funding was deafening. Not one memo, not one whistles so unpopular? I think that the called the station, the noise would make him application so I was asked to find a telephone call. Had I been sacked without the Clarkson trio would sum it up in three words: think that the line was faulty. At best they cheaper solution. courtesy of being told? ‘they were uncool’. would put the phone down and try again. At While pondering over the problem the Sometime later while visiting a transmitter Although many years have passed I worst they would complain to the Post following weekend, I noticed that if I site, the name of which I now forget, I wonder how many of you still have a whistle, Office, which put them to unnecessary work separated the head from the body of my noticed a whistle hanging from a thread, unrecognised, neglected, but continuing to and did not endear us to them. son’s descant recorder it would produce a above a bowl of disinfectant, close by the gather fluff, in the corner of a long As a replacement for the TIP, Designs tone slightly higher than 1.5 kHz but not far telephone. Of course it was a joke but the forgotten drawer? Department came up with the Automatic off. Was this a way forward? message was not lost on me. JJO Smith

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 08 Life after auntie

vote for him and that would be the end From TV producer to government of the matter. However, Dennis was elected to the Scottish Wildlife Trust Council. (Unfortunately John Arnott died during biodiversity adviser in retirement his term of office as chairman of SWT.) Meantime Dennis went on to become In retirement Dennis Dick became an expert in biodiversity and it was all because of a phone call convener of various committees, then vice- chairman and finally chairman of SWT from from another retired BBC colleague. 2005 to 2008. During his time as chairman of SWT ennis had a varied career in the farming, gardening (the famous Beechgrove he had frequent dealings with the Scottish BBC taking him from Scotland Garden was in-house in those days) and government, first a Labour-Liberal Democrat to London to Bristol and back to the outdoors. He was also line manager for coalition and then an SNP government. He Scotland again. He also left the all the engineering and resources staff in had no sooner retired from his term of office BBCD at one time to help found Grampian Aberdeen and was the manager of a small at SWT when the then Scottish environment Television from scratch, covering the North local radio station, BBC Aberdeen. minister, Michael Russell, invited him to join of Scotland. As the Press and Public Relations At the same time he himself made radio an important top level environment advisory Officer he was one of the first two employees and TV programmes, including a TV series group – the Scottish Biodiversity Committee of that company. which ran for over six years in which Jimmie – in a personal capacity. Dennis began his BBC career in publicity Macgregor walked through countryside the Dennis is still on this committee sitting in Scotland. Then after his brief stint with length and breath of Scotland. This regularly alongside the Chairs of the Scottish Grampian TV he moved back to the BBC on achieved an audience of 1.4 million viewers government’s environment agencies and the the Radio Times in London where he became in Scotland, one quarter of everyone living in directors of Scotland’s leading wildlife NGOs. TV Editor in the late 1960s. A move to Bristol Scotland. Later Dennis was appointed to the Board saw him in charge of all the BBC publicity In 1988 he retired early to run his own of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – and public relations services in the South and TV production company and moved to the through open competition. He also became West of England. This included promoting country where he bought a house with five Chair of the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership, the BBC’s Natural History Unit. acres. Here he grew a wood and dug ponds Chair of the Aitken Arboretum in Perth He then moved into TV production, and regenerated a spring-fed burn to a point and a member of the Forestry Commission becoming editor for TV Feature Programmes where a colony of rare water voles moved in. Scotland’s Perth and Argyll Forestry Forum, for BBC West where he was also in charge But hard physical labour is not something as well as being involved with many of BBC West’s TV political output. He made to be taken on when you are in your late Scottish Wildlife Trust Council?’ Dennis other committees and Trusts, all with a wide range of other TV programmes as sixties and he moved back to an urban replied ‘No’, explaining no one would know environmental links. well, including documentaries about the environment in 1999. him as he had been a very inactive member Without really meaning to do so, in countryside and even country and western This is when life took a new twist. Dennis of the Trust – apart from once chairing retirement he has become something of an music shows. received a phone call from an old colleague a lecture given by David Attenborough expert on biodiversity matters. 1984 saw him move back to Aberdeen John Arnott who had been manager of the in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh during a This was recognised in his eightieth year as manager of all the BBC’s affairs and BBC in Edinburgh. fundraising campaign. when in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list broadcasting output in the North-East ‘I am about to become chairman of the John, however, insisted on putting he was awarded an MBE for services to of Scotland. He headed up BBC Scotland Scottish Wildlife Trust,’ said John. ‘Can I Dennis’s name forward. Dennis eventually Biodiversity, Conservation and Environmental departments in both TV and radio, covering put your name forward for election to the agreed, feeling no one would know him and Sustainability in Scotland.

adding folders and rules to their systems from tutorials on the internet. After a while I How to disorganise lunch created a second list for lunch and Dr Death announcements, and showed people how to Ever been to the Horniman’s at Hay’s Galleria, or The Coach and Horses at Ickenham – and remove themselves from the chatty list. That list is now nearly 1,000 messages long, and it discovered that a rowdy bunch of around 40 or so oldies have taken up a good chunk of the turns out, within it is real history – suddenly place? That’ll be us then. I didn’t set out to do it – honest guv, it was completely accidental. people are telling the stories of incidents in their lives in television in a way that they I’ll tell you the story… couldn’t do before. It’s like magic, and a ack in about 2001 I rediscovered colleagues dying, and I have been called Dr an ancient piece of internet software called pleasure to read. An unintentional new way some old photos from productions Death by friends on the list. I did try to make Ezemlm. This doesn’t care how many people of recording people’s lives – mixed with a I’d worked on in the 60s and 70s it so that people didn’t need to go via me you send it to, and I’ve also been able to use certain amount of trivia to be waded through. when I was on cameras. I was by creating a forum, but – it may be an age it to remove myself from having to forward So, there you are. It was all an accident – Breally pleased because they were the rather thing – they still wrote to me. I abandoned everything. There’s one email address, and honest guv – but as it’s happened it’s turned precious only copies I had of an era when the forum. if you send to it, everyone on the list gets out rather well. we weren’t allowed to take pictures in the At some point a colleague retired, and a the result… If anyone not on the list would like to be, studios. They were the only visible record of mix up meant that I missed his leaving do Which has had its problems. Suddenly my email is: bernard.newnham@ntlworldcom. my youth in show business. at Television Centre. I thought it would be everyone wanted to say something, and And the next disorganised lunch – well Finding them coincided with the brave good to have lunch – then I thought: ‘Why that turned out to be a lot of emails very it depends on when this was published, new world of internet home pages, which don’t we all have lunch?’ So I told the whole quickly. Some on the list protested loudly, but soon… came free with your dial-up account. So I mailing list where we were going and when others quickly learned new ways with email, Bernard Newnham scanned them, put them on my personal – and over 30 people turned up, a surprise to page, and told those few people for whom I us as well as the pub. had email addresses at the time. And so ever since, I just email the list – ‘Do you have any pics?’ I asked, and it now over 250 – with a place date and time, turned out that they did. People started and hordes of us turn up. Some of the people sending me material and telling their friends, who appear aren’t even on the list but were who also sent me stuff. told about it by others, and sometimes they As I went along I harvested the email are people we may not have seen for 30 addresses, so that when someone sent more years. There are no invites other than the stuff I would tell everyone. It wasn’t long email, and no RSVPs. Totally disorganised – before I took the plunge and bought a website nearly. It’s all rather pleasing. name – www.tech-ops.co.uk – and a place to Another twist to the story came last put it. It isn’t an expensive thing to do. autumn. Virgin Media stopped me using the That worked well, but then things took mailing list for some spammy reason, and I an unexpected turn. People started using discovered that www.tech-ops.co.uk comes me to pass on news. Sadly, it was often old with its own mailing list system based on

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 back atM emthorie bbesc 09 From Twenty Twelve to W1A… Ian and Siobhan give their take on life at the BBC By Rumeana Jahangir, Ariel reporter It was fairly inevitable. After demonstrating their well-meaning ineptitude at the Olympic Deliverance Commission in Twenty Twelve, Ian Fletcher and Siobhan Sharpe have now joined the Beeb for W1A. Ian Fletcher, head of values Retired member survey Were you surprised at the success of Thank you to everyone who completed our London 2012, despite the problems you retired member survey. We had over faced in the run-up? 200 responses. Not at all. I’m a firm believer that problems The main point that came out of the are just solutions waiting to happen. Basically survey was that members find it difficult to London 2012 was one giant solution. travel into the Clubs as much as they would How did you get your job at the BBC? like, to attend our events. In the first instance I was head-hunted, That said, our ‘Afternoon Tea and Tour’ which in my case meant I was approached was hugely oversubscribed, so we will still informally by an ex-friend of my ex-wife Cast: (l-r) Simon Harwood – BBC’s director of strategic governance (Jason Watkins), be looking to provide similar activities who, I think, went to school with Chris Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes), Tracey Pritchard - senior BBC communications officer throughout the year. Patten’s brother. (Monica Dolan), Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), Will Humphries - intern (Hugh Skinner), The most popular requested event was a Lucy Freeman - producer (Nina Sosanya), and Anna Rampton - head of output (Sarah Parish). After that, there were inevitably endless speaker event, so this is something we forms to fill in and an exhaustive interview would like to launch later in the year. For involves trying to establish where that centre How do you think the BBC could process that included three days away with our non-travelling members, we will look at is, and also exactly what it’s in the middle of. promote itself better? the senior management team at a monastery making these events available online or So the world is full of brands with like three in Wales. It was a silent order, which made Do you think you could improve the way putting them on a DVD. letters in them. KFC. GAP. There are others. it all the more challenging and, at the same the BBC is run? The point is it’s a crowded market place Our quarterly retired member newsletter time, genuinely intense in a way that I couldn’t I’m a firm believer that, no matter how good out there. So I’m Brand BBC consultant will become a regular Club communication articulate at the time for obvious reasons. something is, there’s always room to make okay. So what that involves is, it involves and we are looking to enhance the range of I was later told that were no other it better. There’s no such thing as a perfect giving the BBC brand a unique footprint local and national benefits on offer. candidates, or indeed applicants, on either organisation and, as I said at interview, like a gotta-have-it takeaway. the shortlist or longlist for the post, which the BBC is one of the world’s truly great So you feel like, I need this cool thing 90th anniversary makes me feel uniquely privileged to have examples of that principle. in my life even if you have like no idea what It was great to hear from a number of our got it. Senior managers have a tendency to the British Broadcasting Company (sic) members who will also be reaching a Why have you appointed Siobhan Sharpe run up big taxi bills when other staff are is or what it does. So that’s what my 90-year milestone this year along with BBC to your new team? cutting back. We hope you’re using your job involves. Club, so congratulations to you all and a I should perhaps point out that I wasn’t in fact folding bike or Oyster card instead? Happy 90th Birthday from the Club. What are the best and worst bits responsible for appointing Siobhan. I’m pleased to say that I invested in a new about working at the BBC? I was told that she’d been recruited some bike the moment I found out that I’d got I so love this job. That’s the best bit. Retired member lunches time after I’d formally accepted the post – in the job. The best thing about this one is The worst thing is what totally kills me, We have a special lunch offer for our retired other words, when it would have been legally that it’s supposed to be a lot easier to fold I still have to sign in at reception every time I members every Tuesday 12 – 2.30pm at very complicated to start unpicking things. up than my last bike – once you know how come in for a meeting, cos I work for Perfect Club Western House. £5 for a main and I should perhaps also point out that she to do it – so I’m really looking forward to Curve so I’m not like a BBC employee. dessert. If you would like to book ahead for isn’t strictly speaking ‘on my team’. Her that happening. This guy on the desk, he’s like, ‘You a group, please call the Club on 020 7765 official title is Brand BBC consultant, which Siobhan Sharpe, Brand BBC can’t come in unless you know who you’re 3620 or email [email protected] means that she’s very much on her own consultant from PR company visiting.’ I’m like, duh – how do I know who team, which is where Siobhan undoubtedly Perfect Curve I’m visiting until I get in? How do I know Club in W12 works best. So basically it’s all good. How did you get your new job at who’s even in there? The disappointing news is that Please can you explain - in plain English - the BBC? It’s like, that’s so wrong I don’t know where unfortunately the Club was unsuccessful in what your new job involves? Okay so here’s how that happened. How that to start. So that’s the worst thing. its bid to retain the catering contract for the Funnily enough that’s almost word for word happened is, the BBC totally came to me. W1A is written by John Morton. Made in- W12 sites in Media Centre and Broadcast what the first, and really the only, question at They’re like okay, we’re up to our asses in house by BBC Comedy, it is produced by Centre. Instead, the BBC has appointed a my interview was. alligators here. Paul Schlesinger and executive produced contractor to take on all BBC I see my job as being here to think I’m like, okay, you wanna upsize your by Jon Plowman. The first episode aired sites nationwide. Big Thoughts. As Head of Values, you’re footprint, then you gotta get different shoes. on 19 March (BBC Two, 10pm) The good news is that we have still They’re like, we love that – you’re hired. aware that you’re at the centre of something managed to negotiate the same discounts genuinely important. Essentially my job That’s how that happened. for our members with the new catering company, so the benefits will remain – it’s just the physical premises that we will lose. Media City visit for BBC ‘visitees’ The gym in Media Village will also remain and all our retired members still have years had the opportunity to say ‘hello’ in Karen Hannah, Director, Songs of Praise, access to this. new surroundings. It was an opportunity for came along and introduced herself and Even better news for our retired two pensioners to renew their friendship – talked about the BBC’s move to Media City. members is that we have secured John Rothwell and Jack Hollingshead, who She said that despite some teething troubles discounts with Davy’s wine bar in Media had worked at the BBC in 1930. it had been a positive move and staff were Village W12, which retired members will The event came about when enjoying their new surroundings. have direct access to. Although we are sad Ann Johnston, a BBC Volunteer Visitor for BBC North West Tonight presenter, to be losing our Club in W12 we are excited the North West, was asked by one of her Roger Johnson, joined the party and gave about widening the range of benefits, which pensioners, Bob Sleigh, whether there a very interesting talk about the setup at in turn will be more inclusive for our was a possibility of having a get-together. Media City. He then invited the pensioners retired members. Two BBC Volunteer Visitors arranged John Forrest, another North West Visitor, to follow him in to the News Studio, where We also retain our Clubs in Western a get-together in January for their helped to co-ordinate it. Breakfast News and local North West news House and Elstree, so business as pensioner ‘visitees’. Cheryl Miles, BBC Volunteer Visitor is broadcast. This was the icing on the cake usual there. Over 30 pensioners attended the New Co-ordinator, came up from Wales and, and pensioners were delighted to sit on the Year celebration at Media City, Salford. despite encountering network rail problems, ‘red sofas’ and be given the opportunity to Got a question or comment? Colleagues who hadn’t seen each other for was there to meet and greet. see behind the scenes. Email us at [email protected] or call 020 8752 6666.

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 10 obituaries He also found time to be Secretary of the humour, a permanent twinkle in his eye stop the egg from cracking when you boil it.’ The epitome of a Bushmen. It was a career of wide variety and and a great ability to defuse those difficult He died on 10 February and we will not gentleman great distinction. situations and maintain his cool when see his like again. Larger than life, ebullient, Andrew brought many qualities to his perhaps others were losing theirs! mischievous, funny, a hilarious raconteur and work. In particular he possessed two great Outside of the BBC, when not completing a genuinely nice man. Those who knew him skills that do not always, indeed perhaps cryptic crosswords, he found the time to will miss him. rarely, go together: great attention to detail become a Special Constable, steer many David Allen and the ability to take the broad view. Thus youngsters through their cycling proficiency in World Service English, Andrew could and to support his local church. understand the highly complex programme He is survived by three sons, two A lifetime career and transmission schedules, with their daughters and grandchildren. in journalism wealth of tapes, paperwork and required Tony Selby Jim Edwards knew from the moment correct information. But he could also look he stepped into the newsroom of a local at the 24-hour WS stream of programming newspaper at Northwich in Cheshire that pouring out of Bush House and understand The mountaineer who journalism should be his lifetime career. the different ways it was experienced by Alan Russell Mark Arbuthnott (1927-2014) knew about computers He felt he was among his kind of people, listeners worldwide. It was no mean feat was one of the ‘Band of Brothers’ who made even if at first this meant doing menial to develop a single schedule that delivered TV programmes possible during the Years of non-journalistic jobs, along with covering a unique mix of news and entertainment Golden Television. In the 1950s he worked as Women’s Institute meetings, weddings, appropriate to the time of day in time zones a camera crew member in studio H at Lime funerals, minor football matches and ranging from GMT-6 to +13. Grove, at BBC Lime Studios and in Shepherds reviewing local amateur dramatic productions. Bush with the vision control section. Indeed, when he was later to join BBC During that period there was no method of World Service (then called External Services), recording vision and all programmes were he regarded these lowly beginnings live; there were times when the crew worked as an essential part of a journalist’s under tremendous pressure. Alan gave lifts career development. to his colleagues on his motorbike or in his Jim, born James Thomas Edwards on Messerschmitt car. 6 February 1936, in Crewe, was educated Later he was promoted to technical at Cheshire’s Sandbach School. On the manager responsible for the whole crew completion of his journalist indentures, and major studio planning; he was high in he was called up for National Service and demand for programmes such as Doctor Who posted to Cyprus as a Second Lieutenant with ‘The Awakening’ in 1984 and The Importance of I was first aware of Ian McNaught Davis the Royal Army Service Corps during the Being Earnest in 1986. (1929-2014) when I watched him climb emergency in which Greeks on the island Alan made lifelong friends with his and present The Old Man of Hoy with Chris sought union with Greece. colleagues and members of the Ariel Sailing Bonnington, live on BBC television. That was His National Service over, Jim sought Club with whom he was often reminiscing It helped in his later career that Andrew had two years before I joined the BBC and began work abroad and spent three years in on his early life in India and the RAF, yet spent over 10 years as a producer in Overseas to discover that TV didn’t just happen and Kampala as Chief Reporter on the main Alan maintained with infectious enthusiasm Regional Service, where he presented and that live TV was especially tricky to do. English-language newspaper, the Uganda Argus, his interest, for the rest of his life, in any and produced a wide range of programmes. His ‘Mac’, as he was affectionately known, followed by two years with the Solomon all modern electronic and digital gadgets. resurfaced for me when we used him in The Islands Broadcasting Service. Irene, his wife, remembers with great preparation was outstanding, his questioning of interviewees always to the point and his Computer Programme in 1982. He was ‘the man Jim’s eventual employment in the affection the day, over 62 years ago, when who knew about computers’. From then on newsroom at Bush House in 1968, initially she met handsome Alan in his RAF uniform. microphone presence clear and unhurried. Andrew was immensely popular with his he became our main presenter in the BBC’s on a short-term Summer Relief contract, For over 62 years they maintained their Computer Literacy Project, fronting more was as though a hand was being placed in a loyalty and vows and how proud they were colleagues. They remember his wonderful sense of humour, enjoyment of a joke and than 60 programmes including Making the perfectly-fitting glove. to celebrate, with their family and dear Most of the Micro, Computers in Control, Electronic He quickly established himself as a fast, friends, their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. wry take on the world. Typically, he used to lighten the end of meetings by sharing Office and over 40 episodes of Micro Live. Born clear and accurate writer, dedicated to the Their daughter, Denise is full of gratitude in 1929 Mac went to Manchester University World Service ethos of fairness and balance. for her father who showed and taught her a gardening tip. He was loyal to his staff and cared for them, calm under pressure around the time when Alan Turing was He admired and loved BBC World Service what a great difference it makes when one pays working there. with a passion and became one of the attention to the significant detail and for being and created an environment where hard Immersed in computer technology during two Editors for the Day in the newsroom, a good ‘Gramps’ to Mark, Alan’s grandson. work was enjoyable. In short, Andrew was the years, he was managing director of the preceded by short reporting stints in Alan was a man regarded in great esteem congenial, reliable and talented. UK arm of Comshare when we met him. This Washington, the Middle East and London. by the members of the Arbuthnott Family Our sympathies go out to his partner, was a computer bureau company providing His career was interrupted by a heart attack Association. He adhered to the values and Diana, and Nicky and Hannah, his two business services using mainframe computers. in 1984, and a few years later, he decided to principles of his ancestors whose motto on daughters from his first wife, Diane, who So Mac described himself as a retire from the BBC. He then spent 10 years their coat of arms is ‘Laus Deo’. pre-deceased him. ‘mainframer’, the sub-text here being that doing television and business training at the No doubt, all who knew Alan can consider Alastair Lack these were ‘proper’ computers. K College in Kent. themselves honoured to have known him, Although now seen as the face of the BBC Jim succumbed to cancer on 14 January and his descendents have all the reasons Engineering stalwart Micro, Mac was a man for whom, at the 2014, and was buried in the grounds of his to be proud of Alan RM Arbuthnott, a real time, microcomputers were slightly beneath historic local church, All Saints, Tudeley. gentleman in every way. Chris Donovan has died in a nursing home him – ‘those poxy micros’ as he called them. Ian D Richardson Rodica Mager near Pershore, aged 83. Chris joined the BBC aged 21, after But he was a brilliant communicator and in completing National Service and a brief period Making the Most of the Micro he became the main Radio Manchester World Service variety working for an electrical wholesaler, the catalyst presenter (who knew about computers) but Andrew Piper, who has died at the age of 71, for a life spent working for the BBC. alongside him was John Coll, who knew radio hand was an exemplar of why the World Service Initially he was sent to Bush House but about micros. On location he was enormous I was very saddened to learn of the early is held in such high regard throughout the returned to his native Midlands, working first fun and ready to try anything. In one classic death of my friend and colleague Mike world. In over 30 years at Bush House he in the control room at Broad Street and then scene where we were filming a massive Gamble last September. must have held as great a variety of jobs as for the communications group in Pebble Mill. industrial robot he had the wonderful idea He and I were Station Assistants at the anyone who ever worked there. Chris was one of that band of solid reliable of showing how accurately it could move by birth of Radio Manchester in 1970. Mike Joining from Oxford in 1964, he was engineers who didn’t aspire to greater heights making it delicately pierce a hole in an egg had joined the staff from service with BBC successively a studio manager, a producer, but who could always be relied on to keep the with a pin, whirl around and put the pin Radio Merseyside and so was already an a training organiser, Head of the Romanian wheels of broadcasting turning. back through the same hole. His payoff was experienced local radio hand. Service, a presentation and operations He loved what he did, setting high typical: ‘You may well be asking why anyone He was most notable for his friendliness organiser and finally head of planning and standards and maintaining a professionalism would want to use a £50,000 robot to put and kindness to everyone he came across. He development in World Service, English. at all times. He had a wonderful sense of a hole in an egg. The answer’s simple: it’s to had a bubbling enthusiasm for all his projects

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 obituaries 11 and very quickly grew a wealth of funny In recent years she found considerable solace throughout his career, which included such Trust, for which he negotiated the purchase anecdotes, often recounted at his own expense in the Society of Friends and her Quaker shows as Z-Cars, Doomwatch, Anna Karenina, Kelly of the old village school for just £1. but always gentle and considerate to others. funeral was what she desired and intended Monteith, The Onedin Line, Strangers and Brothers, Martin’s other major interest was He moved on to become a television for herself. Bergerac, Clarissa (nominated for a BAFTA) and rugby union. A former Hon Secretary continuity announcer in London where he Glyn Martin The Prisoner of Zenda. In total Ken was accredited of Huddersfield RUFC he was a pioneer quickly made his mark with a growing circle with 26 episodes of Doctor Who, working with of mini-rugby in England and its major of friends. His rich velvet voice added a all the different Doctors. He filled several publicity promoter. He himself played before distinction to the network and his off-screen Ron de Mattos portfolios with his original watercolour becoming a referee until he was 50 and then anecdotes continued to enhance the life of all A headstone setting service for Ron de costume designs and sketches. a Yorkshire Referees’ Society Assessor. those he came in touch with. Mattos, a former BBC film editor who His colleagues join Ken’s wife, daughters Andrew Noble His health sadly meant he had to retire early finished his career at the Open University Abigaille and Hero in mourning his loss. from his BBC career and he was sadly missed in Milton Keynes, will be held at the Maggie Partington Smith by all those who knew and loved him. Whalley Drive Cemetery, Bletchley, Milton YiT who made the John Forrest Keynes, MK3 6HP at 2.30pm on Sunday move Down Under 18 May and afterwards at the Milton Look North producer Eric Stoves Keynes and District Synagogue, Giffard and aviation buff Park, Milton Keynes, MK14 5PQ. Martin Noble was a pioneer of television remembered All welcome. More details from Lesley in Yorkshire – indeed a man of many Eric Stoves, who worked for the BBC from de Mattos on 01908 990167. achievements. 1958 to 1987, died on 16 August 2013 aged Educated at Giggleswick School he had an 87 after a long illness with throat cancer. ‘old style’ journalistic career starting with the He died very peacefully at home. He and Highly respected Stockport Express and then progressing to the Gertrude his wife, who survives him, had Manchester Evening News, Daily Telegraph in Manchester expressed the wish that he should remain costume designer and Fleet Street before joining the BBC. at home rather than go into hospital. They Much loved and respected costume designer He was one of the handpicked team to described it as their journey together. They Ken Trew died from a rare CJD virus, after a established BBC TV in Leeds and became the were well supported by the NHS doctors from brief period in intensive care. He was 77. longest-serving producer of Look North which, the Littleport Surgery and Marie Curie nurses. Having attended Newport College of Art, in 1981, he ‘twinned’ with its then West Eric and Gertrude had a very happy 24 his first job was as set designer with a local German equivalent Herr und Heute for a series years of marriage, and within the garden repertory theatre. He moved to London, of week-long programmes. Subsequently he which Eric designed and planted, Gertrude joining the Festival Ballet Company. During was, by curious coincidence, in Paris with a Frank Mills Doran (1926-2014) joined has created a small area of it where Eric’s a tour of Barcelona and Lisbon in 1964 film crew when the French police arrested the BBC as a Youth in Training in 1942. ashes have been scattered. he successfully applied for a job with BBC Lord Kagan. After a year he went up to London to sit the After his retirement Eric had many activities. Costume Department at TV Centre. Technical Exam, which he passed, and in the He restored furniture, redecorated the He followed the prescribed apprenticeship early spring of 1943 he started working at Victorian house which they bought in Norfolk, route, starting as a dresser, then assistant the Brookmans Park Medium Wave Broadcast transformed a field into a delightful garden and costume designer, followed by costume Transmitter at Potters Bar. became involved in WEA and U3A. designer. When he retired in 1994 he was a Following a transfer to Bedford Control Eric is greatly missed by his wife and the highly respected senior costume designer. He Room as an OB engineer, Frank was recalled many friends they made together. was someone one could go and talk to about from leave to take charge of a transmission G Seddon-Stoves any work anxieties and be sure to get kindly, of the Glenn Miller Band from the Bedford sensible and unbiased advice. Corn Exchange. Music Bookings A week before D-Day, the control room was closed and restricted to the engineers contracts executive and on D-Day Frank participated in Enid Boxall, who died quite suddenly in overseeing the carriage of coded messages to her early 80s at the beginning of December, the Resistance parties across Europe. was one of those long-serving members of After a spell in the RAF, Frank returned to BBC staff who, over many years, provided the BBC to be retrained as a recording engineer His prime interest was aviation and his essential but largely unheralded support to and was stationed at 200 Oxford Street as part documentary about the 1967 Stockport air programme-makers in Radio. of the General Overseas Service. He met and disaster was subsequently screened in 21 Joining the BBC in 1955, she did a variety married Mavis Young and then in 1955 Frank countries and became a training film for of clerical jobs before moving to Talks Bookings was appointed assistant senior studio manager accident investigators. He also produced in Programme Contracts Department in the for the BBC in Edinburgh. It was there that the documentaries about Yorkshire pioneer early 60s. However, with her strong musical couple’s three children were born. Robert Blackburn and the Buccaneer fighter. background, she soon transferred to Music By 1965 the political climate, trade Bookings where she remained as a contracts His proudest tie was that as a member of unionism and rampant strikes were causing executive for the rest of her career. With a the 1,000mph club awarded to him for his Frank some concern and he started to think particular responsibility for contracting artists Programme making was still quite primitive BBC commentary as he flew in a Lightning about emigrating. Vancouver in Canada was to perform with the regional orchestras, she back then; no computers, no photocopiers fighter through the sound barrier over the his first choice; however one of his fellow will be remembered fondly by many music and no mobile phones. Production assistants North Sea. studio managers had emigrated to Tasmania. producers and staff concerned with regional and clerks hammered away on typewriters He took early retirement to write about The statement by his colleague that clinched contributions to Radio 3. with layered sheets of paper and carbon; the aviation fulltime with Airline World/Travel the deal was ‘he never wore an overcoat in An accomplished singer, Enid had been a creative departments were under one roof Weekly and then became Air Transport member of both the Philharmonic Chorus at TVC. We all ran upstairs and downstairs Correspondent of Interavia in Geneva Tasmania’. The decision was made to move the and the London Symphony Orchestra to consult each other, worked regularly and UK Correspondent of the French family Down Under; they made the move in Chorus, taking part in concerts in London together, socialised in the Club, canteen weekly Air&Cosmos. September 1965, leaving the UK as £10 Poms. and abroad. or tea bars, and got to know each other He was also on the international panel of Frank’s life changed direction in Tasmania She was a keen concert and theatre-goer in person. This was the foundation upon judges for the annual Aerospace Journalist of and he only briefly returned to broadcasting, and kept her interests to the last. Sadly, her which much of the BBC’s worldwide success the Year Awards. before building his own business as an visits to concerts were curtailed in recent was built. He travelled the world including the insurance broker. He finally retired in 1991 and years by failing eyesight but she was an As a devoted spouse and father, Ken Canadian High Arctic where he narrowly spent the remainder of his days enjoying life by ardent and critical listener to Radio 3. regarded all his colleagues as an extension of escaped death when the door of a light ski- the sea in the company of family and friends. Retirement was not always easy for his own family, sharing the same concern, plane fell open and the pilot managed to Frank passed peacefully away on Saturday 8 Enid. She had no close family and suffered encouragement and delight in his workmates grab him by the scruff of the neck and haul March at his home in Cremorne just south of indifferent health but she retained a as he did with his children. him back in. Hobart. He is survived by Mavis, his wife of remarkably positive attitude to life and her His patience and humour were finely Locally he was a member of the Holme 60 years, his children Adam, Mark and Claire, letters were full of humour and plans for honed through experience with many Valley Parish Council for eight years and and grandchildren James, Daniel and Joel. the future. ‘old school’ designers and served him well founding Chairman of the Brockholes Village Claire Doran

PROSPERO APRIL 2014 12 The last word A kind of incarnation Classifieds Altea, Spain. Peter Firth is a former BBC producer of religious programmes for both television and radio. An Beachfront apartment with jacuzzi, ordained priest, he was consecrated Bishop of Malmesbury in 1983, a position he held until his two bedrooms, air-conditioned, underfloor heating. Contact Sandra. retirement in 1994. Peter has written three books – Lord of the Mornings (a series of meditations Email: [email protected] for Radio 2), The Love that Moves the Sun (‘a sort of ‘beginner’s guide’ to Christianity, but not a Mobile: 0034 663657411

book for non-thinkers’) and a collection of poems published last year, As Far as I Can See. Venice, Giudecca. Beautiful apartment in quiet private What was your poem about? How would you describe As courtyard, sleeps 5, fully equipped. In fact it is the first poem in my collection – Far as I Can See? Experience the real Venice. The Beach, about my father at Gallipoli in It is a collection of experiences from my life, Tel: 01260 227262 Churchill’s ridiculous expedition. I was on some to do with faith and others about Email: [email protected] holiday there with my family exactly my family. 50 years later. York. Do you enjoy the process of Three-bedroom Victorian house close to What has your experience writing poetry? City centre and station. Ideal location for been of publishing poetry? The idea is more enjoyable than the process visiting all Yorkshire attractions. Three-night Publishers are reluctant to publish new poets because I will often edit and re-edit it to find a minimum stay. nowadays, particularly as stuff is often so better way of saying what I want to say. A kind Tel: +44 7737537629 esoteric. I therefore published it privately of incarnation takes place – an experience in Email: [email protected] using a firm in Derbyshire. I remember, in the your mind which you try to fit into words. 50s I submitted a collection of poems to Turkish Riviera – Ciftlik, Fethiye. Faber & Faber. I received a letter from Walter As Far As I Can See (ISBN 978-1-906789- Luxurious four-bedroom villa, sleeps de la Mare saying he had enjoyed my poems 84-8) is published by Country Books and eight, private pool, £500-£600pw. but that they only published one new poetry is available to buy direct from the author Details www.anchorvilla.co.uk book a year and that unfortunately ‘Mr Eliot for £6.99 including postage. (Holiday Lettings 179513). had taken the spot’. I didn’t mind that – Eliot Tel: 01344 425219 had been an influence right from the Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] beginning, as had RS Thomas. Postal address: Mill House, Silk Mill Lane, Tell us a little bit about your Winchcombe GL54 5HZ Menorca. BBC career. How did you come Detached holiday villa, sleeps 2-7. Outskirts to work as a producer? Mahon and Es Castell. Private pool. Close I was working as a parish priest at the time amenities. Brochure 01621 741810. and bumped into my old history tutor. We Website: www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk chatted for a half an hour and then he went off Event to celebrate 50th to meet another friend of his, who worked for Paphos. the BBC’s Religious Department. He A/C studio apartment, sleeps 2/3, happened to ask him if he knew anyone who anniversary of Play School spectacular balcony view, from £95pw. could provide a commentary on a Peter Fifty years on from Play School’s first with the programme including Brian Cant, Amenities adjacent. Taxi/car hire arranged. Sellers film from a religious point of view, and transmission, The Children’s Media Julie Stevens, Carol Chell, Johnny Ball, Website: www.stayincyprus.co.uk knowing that I was interested in film and Foundation is supporting a unique reunion Derek Griffiths, Toni Arthur and Floella Tel: 01455 635 759 theatre he asked me. I did several bits and of over 200 presenters, musicians and Benjamin – many of whom will be attending pieces for them and was eventually asked to production team members, many of whom the event. Holidays – Kalkan, Turkey. apply for a vacancy. I left active ministry at that dedicated their whole career to Children’s As a mark of respect from the current Two-bedroom ground level apartment, point, although I think one always remains Television, at Hammersmith’s Riverside generation of pre-school stars to their sleeps 4. See pictures at: a minister. Studios, on Saturday 3 May. predecessors, the event will be hosted www.holidaylettings.co.uk (just type in Anyone who would like to attend by Cbeebies’ Chris Jarvis with a nostalgic 1290542). £250-£470pw. Quiet, serene, What is your most abiding is invited to register for tickets, priced look-back at what made Play School the lovely pool. One level throughout, suit family. memory of working for £25, on https://playschoolanniversary. institution it became – and the fun they had £50,000 for sale. Excellent local agent. the BBC? eventbrite.com, by emailing making it happen! Tel: 01643 841602 In those days studio managers and the people [email protected] For more information on the reunion, please visit: Brittany. on the sets used to be wedded to the BBC – or by telephoning 07986 989831. www.thechildrensmediafoundation.org/events/ they would happily work overtime without Many presenters are forever associated the-play-school-50th-anniversary-reunion One-bedroom apartment in charming charging for the time, just to make sure that village of Jugon-les-Lacs, near historic things were done correctly. That kind of loyalty city of Dinan. Website: remains with me and I think it’s something that www.brittanyholidayapartment.co.uk has gone from the BBC. Tel: 01643 704778 I did a series on God and science, which CAPTION competition included a Nobel prize winner. All the scientists France. were Christians but also respected in their We had a great response to our first caption competition of 2014 – Wonderful opportunity Aubeterre-sur- fields. I got an agnostic to interview them and thanks to everyone who wrote in. The winner of the £10 voucher Dronne, Charente. Spacious house, it was fascinating to see how these six guys was Neil Rosen Webb: ‘Are you seriously telling me the recording 10 rooms (5/6 beds), historic site. Terrace, welded together – or didn’t – their spiritual lives machine was left in paws!’ John Curran wrote: ‘Audrey…er…I terraced bedroom, wonderful views on with their scientific careers. think the glove puppet is on your OTHER hand...’ and Judith Miles Pilgrim route. House sits high above the supplied: Good miaowning. Here is the mews…’ river Dronne’s canoes and beach. BBC When did you start writing family selling £265,000ono. poetry and what has been This picture from Doctor in The House, Email: [email protected] your influence? broadcast in June 1960, shows (from Tel: 020 8894 2145 When I was a young parish priest in the late 50s left to right) Brian Rix as Simon Sparrow, and early 60s, I wrote several dozen – some of Helen Jessop as Vera, Liz (Elizabeth Fraser) Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and which were published in magazines. Then I as Riggie and Dickie Henderson as Tony Grimsdyke. Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, went to work for the BBC and I think all my Cardiff CF5 2YQ. creative energy went into programme making. I Send us your witty caption to the Please enclose a cheque made payable to: didn’t write any more poetry until 2011, when I image, by Friday 9 May, to the Prospero BBC Central Directorate. happened to go to a meeting which I thought postal address (see page 2) or email Rate: £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter was a poetry recital, but in fact they told us all [email protected] with ‘caption please include your pension number. we had to write a poem in 10 minutes! competition 2’ in the subject line. Good luck!

Designed and produced by Wordshop PROSPERO APRIL 2014