The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from online

Match of the Day at 50 Page 9

OCTOBER 2014 • Issue 5

The natural Film at Lime A passion sounds of Bing Grove for piers Page 6 Page 7 Page 8

NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BBC PENSIONS

provided calm and pragmatic answers. More delegates became engaged and there followed many further questions covering such issues as production quality (particularly in speech Back to Cardiff programmes), scandals and whistleblowing, digital radio and unpaid licence fees (about BBC Volunteer Visiting Scheme Conference, September 2014 6%, which is low compared to other countries with similar schemes). He may have been preaching to the converted, but Graham reminded us that the licence fee remained great value, particularly if compared with taking a daily newspaper. Following coffee, the next talk was by Lisa Kenny, who gave a wonderful insight into the work of the Red Cross in Wales and the rest of the UK. Many delegates were left surprised by how much work the charity carries out domestically while often being regarded as largely a provider of aid overseas. The Red Cross, which celebrates its centenary this year, works to support independent living for older people in the UK, and its services in Wales have grown by 40% since 2010. The charity provides practical help such as for those returning home from hospital (it is the main provider of short-term wheelchairs in the UK), but its work also stretches into countering the effects of loneliness and isolation, with early intervention becoming a particular focus. The two case stories were truly moving and helped to demonstrate how the Red Cross had helped real people. In the afternoon, the delegates returned to the conference room for a presentation by On 8 and 9 September, 103 BBC pensioner account the effect such closure might have sunshine before dinner was served in the Roger Hatherall of Lansdown Place, BBC- visitors returned to Cardiff for the annual on its residents. conference room. It was a most enjoyable appointed independent financial adviser. The Volunteer Visiting Scheme Conference. The The talk prompted a number of questions evening involving catching up with , two-part talk discussed inheritance tax and busy programme was spread over two days, from the floor and was a sound start to stories and laughter. will writing – serious subjects which Roger with delegates hearing talks on subjects the conference. covered with authority and humour, with including adult social care, support for After a break, Sarah Rochira, Older Day Two – practical help anecdotes helping to make this session both independent living, memory and dementia, People’s Commissioner for Wales, took to and support useful and entertaining. inheritance tax and wills, along with a the stage and gave a passionate talk about her The second day began with a presentation by The final session was a talk by Pauline presentation from BBC Pension Scheme role fighting for the rights of older people BBC Pension Scheme Trustee, Graham Ellis, Homeshaw, from the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Trustee, Graham Ellis. in Wales. With legal powers over the Welsh who gave a very clear and informative talk Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA). The conference was opened by Cheryl Government, Sarah’s remit touches all aspects about the pension scheme and the Trustee’s Established in 1885, SSAFA provides lifelong Miles, who spoke about the importance of the of growing old in Wales, from the protection role in ensuring it meets its obligations in the support for our forces and their families. Volunteer Visiting Scheme, which was set up of community services, such as buses, green future. Reduction of the deficit and investment SSAFA’s long history, which has enjoyed 20 years ago. Not all BBC pensioners wish to spaces and libraries, to standing up for performance are obvious priorities, but at royal patronage from the start, includes the have visits, but the scheme and the volunteers victims of abuse and tacking discrimination. the same time there is a need to be prudent important and fascinating work it carried are in place should they change their mind. It is Sarah is an ‘independent voice and champion (‘It’s not a casino’). Another key element out during the First World War when it a valuable scheme of which we are very proud. for old people in Wales’ and she came across is the strength of the relationship with the helped to support the families of servicemen as a forceful campaigner, her talk being BBC, which underwrites the Scheme while killed or wounded in the conflict. Today Day One – serious about social received with much enthusiasm, judging by the deficit is being reduced. This led to a the charity also helps families cope with care and not forgetting... the large number of questions that followed. discussion of factors affecting the BBC, such problems as diverse as post-traumatic On the first day, the presentations focused on The final session of the day was a as the licence fee settlement (currently frozen stress disorder (PTSD) and, its largest adult social care. The first speaker was Adrian fascinating talk on memory and dementia by since 2010)and the new BBC charter. caseload, debt. Hughes, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Care psychotherapist Julie Devlin, which began Graham also talked about the ideas The conference was closed by Joy Moore, Quality Commission (CQC) for . with a brief description of the brain and recently raised by the director-general, Chief Executive Officer of the BBC Pension The role of the CQC is to monitor, inspect how various types of memories are formed Tony Hall, about the possibility of the BBC Scheme, who thanked delegates for attending and report on services including adult social and consolidated. This provided the basis in-house television producers competing and hoped that everyone had received care, the NHS, independent health care, for discussing memory problems, memory more generally in the television programme information that would be useful to them dental services and primary care. Adrian health and dementia. The presentation market with a consequent move away and to the pensioners they visit. explained how the CQC aimed to encourage featured quizzes and plenty of audience from the system of quotas which currently She then thanked Cheryl and the team, not improvement in the quality of services and interaction, leaving delegates amused and underpins in-house television production. just for organising the conference but also that while its regulatory powers could be inspired with ideas for maintaining and This point prompted questions from for all the work they do throughout the year. called upon as necessary, these were balanced improving memory in old age. delegates about programme quality, staff cuts And finally, she thanked the volunteer visitors by the need to protect users. For example, a With the close of the first day, delegates and the effect this might have on the pension without whom the scheme would not decision to close a care home must take into had a chance to enjoy some fresh air and scheme, all fair points to which Graham be possible.

Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/feedback, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Benefits Centre, , Cardiff CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: prospero@.co.uk Prospero provides a source of news on former Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension scanned at 300 dpi. issues, plus classified adverts. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. The next issue of Prospero will appear in December To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. 2014. The copy deadline is Friday 31 October 2014.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 BBC PENSIONS 03 Our oldest 2014 BBC Pension Scheme Pensioners’ pensioner Liaison Meeting

Frank Simes is, at 109, This year’s PLM takes place on Thursday the oldest person 20 November 2014, 11am-1pm, at The Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House, currently receiving a Portland Place, W1A 1AA. Call the Retired members’ newsletter pension from the BBC pension service line on 029 20 322811 Thank you to all the BBC Club members to book a place. Pension Scheme. Frank who have asked to be sent this newsletter. We have also seen an increase in Prospero was recruited to the Society members, who can continue to get World Service in 1939, a copy posted to them. If you would like to add your email address to our database, being fluent in Turkish, please contact the Club on 0208 752 6666 and retired in 1970. or email [email protected]

Lunch for a Fiver at Western House! It is always a pleasure to welcome our retired members to our Western House club. Don’t forget Lunch for a Fiver! This is an offer for retired Club members to have BBCPA on the a two-course lunch, including a hot drink, for £5 – available every Tuesday from 12 noon to 2.30pm. You can pick up your road again complimentary copy of the here too.

Committee members of the Offers The BBC Club website has loads of offers BBC Pensioners’ Association available for our members, including theatre have planned three meetings ticket deals, gifts, cooking ideas, articles on health and therapies and a lot more. Much during October in Edinburgh, of the content is members only; in order to register you will need a NEW style BBC and . Club card which has an 8-digit number on the back starting with 100. To obtain a new card, call the Club on 0208 752 6666 or The meetings are for all BBC pensioners Thursday 9 October: Edinburgh including, spouses, partners and friends The Tun, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8JF (Telephone: 0131 557 5888) email [email protected] as well as any prospective members. The Tun is opposite Holyrood Park in Edinburgh city centre, within easy walking distance The meetings provide an opportunity of up to 50 bus routes and less than 10 minutes walk from Waverley Station. Events to meet socially and to discuss topical Thursday 16 October: Brighton Our events calendar is growing and issues about the BBC pension scheme Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF (Telephone: 01273 770258) growing. There are trips scheduled on and many other interesting items Brighton Friends’ Meeting House is set in a lovely garden and stands in the very centre a regular basis, with lunches and theatre of news affecting pensioners and of Brighton, two minutes from the sea.It is easily accessible by public transport and there trips proving very popular. October has a the BBC. is car parking nearby. tour of the Globe Theatre, while in Each meeting starts at 2pm with Thursday 23 October: Bristol November we have secured a speaker on refreshments being provided around BBC Broadcasting House Whiteladies Road, First Floor Room B (Telephone: 0117 974 1111) ‘Technology for Wrinklies’. There will be 3.45pm when they finish. We hope that many pensioners are able to come along to one of these meetings and a retired members’ Christmas lunch on The meetings will take place as follows: look forward to welcoming you. 13 December; see the newsletter for details. For 2015 we have some interesting trips planned, including the Poppy Museum in Richmond, and we will repeat this year’s devised and compiled by Jim Palm CROSPERO 181 devised and compiled by Jim Palm popular ‘Tea and Tour’ of New Broadcasting House in the Spring.

1 2 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words running across. Then take these words in numerical order and Prospero Society 3 4 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, Prospero Society members have an extended these letters will spell out the name of a TV programme and range of activities as well as subsidised 5 6 its presenter. prices, early notification and priority booking to all retired members events. To join only 8 9 7 CLUES costs £10 per year and the Society is a great 1. Part of flower (4); 2. Instrument (5); 3. Quickly (5); 4. Eastern Ruler (3); way to meet up with friends old and new! For 10 5. Directed (3); 6. Oxfordshire town (5); 7. Riddle (3); 8. Mr Loss (3); 9. Northern river (3); 10. Go fast (3); 11. In a lying way (11); details or to join, contact the Club. 11 12. Male cat (3); 13. Aviator Johnson (3); 14. Very cold (3); 15. Cut off (3); 16. With wings (5); 17. In favour of (3); Lottery 12 18. Supplement (3); 19. Stir from sleep (5); 20. Eat away (5); Don’t forget the BBC Club runs its own lottery 21. Headland (4). with 15 monthly prizes of £50, £100 and 13 14 15 £1,000, plus a quarterly jackpot – so to be in Solutions to Crospero 180: Estop; Mess; Acre; Avast; Spain; Deter; Tampa; with a chance, add the lottery today! Call the 16 17 Ode; Straw; Think; Ems; Camel; Ovate; Urals; Never; Bets; Rear; Essay. Club on 020 8752 6666. Minimum entry is £5 per month. 18 19 The answer was Escape to the Country, and the winner was Mrs H Wishart of Dundee. 20 21 Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] or call 020 8752 6666.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 04 LETTERS

this outcome. It was as part of her preparation to announce and his directory of former TV News staff to Making the Beeb So might we be; at a hearing of the an orchestral programme that she met Sir recognise that. Not to mention the number Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Georg Solti. who turned up for a beer and chat to say feel better she has since said: ‘When look at the The story is told that with her first husband farewell to the TC Club! You may have seen John Tusa’s Media piece current system on a licence fee basis, I think she was Mrs Valerie Sargeant and they were Perhaps it is still not too late…? on charter renewal in on there are some very, very, significant benefits once introduced as ‘Valerie Pitts and Mr PS: Incidentally, Breakfast Time was never 21 July. It’s no less than a timely and of the licence fee’. Pitts’. ‘No,’ she said, ‘it’s Sargeant.’ ‘I beg your produced by TV News but at Lime Grove at powerful plea for the BBC to remember And so say all of us! pardon,’ said the introducer, ‘I should have a time when News and Current Affairs were what makes (or made) it tick and if you Hugh Sheppard said “Valerie Pitts and Sargeant Pitts”.’ virtually at war! saw fit to quote from it – as I hope you Willy Cave Mike Broadbent will – it would certainly raise cheers among fellow Prospero readers. As a statement Renewed faith in IN RESPONSE TO Bryan Bayliss’s letter in of the Corporation’s philosophy it’s hard to Prospero regarding Valerie Pitts, I don’t recall beat. In fact, in his closing paragraphs he BBC documentaries her reading the News but I do remember her asks if charter renewal can actually be won Thank you Kate Adie, David Vincent and presenting ‘What’s on in London’ (I think Dialogue of without major restatements of the values that the History Production Team for your called The Theatre Spot) for Town and Around in drive it. documentary about women and their part the early 60s. I recall that she presented from Television There are still signs that it is an anxious organisation in the First World War. studio B at Alexandra Palace and I may well internally, beset by processes, mired in meetings, laden Thank you for making a production that have been vision mixing or sound mixing with permissions. How might it be freed to be and appear was worthy of being 59 minutes long and the programme at the time. Drama(again) the hugely innovatory creative organisation it really is not one that would fit into a 30-minute slot Garth Jeffery that will win and deserve charter renewal? but was padded out to 59 minutes. Chris Cherry and Roger Fleming were Such a liberation would involve a transformation of Thank you for just the right amount of right on the button about Jamaica Inn and attitudes the BBC expects of itself and its staff. It would incidental music that did not drown the A dancing Quirke (Prospero, August) but may I add include restoring the notion of trust in its working dialogue but added an accent when needed three little points? relations rather than the demands of accountability. It and finally thank you for pictures and Victor Poole Firstly, the relationship between the would insist on programmes as programmes, not products narration that worked together as opposed to As his secretary, I remember Victor as the director and his sound people is crucial or ‘units of resource’ bundled up as programmes. It would someone speaking and the pictures bearing producer of Cinema Today, a series dealing here. On a shooting day, the director is rely on ideas as the yardstick for accepting programmes no relation to the words so having no lasting with the latest foreign films, particularly the primarily concerned with the acting and instead of judging them by genres, categories or quotas. effect on the viewer. French Nouvelle Vague. the shots and can’t also be the arbiter of It would replace repetition and formulae – however All in all thank you for having renewed After working as a secretary in the boring sound as well. Similarly (Chris’s point) successful – as the impulse for programmes with my faith in the BBC documentary. old Transcription Service (my first BBC job), by the time that same director is in plain ‘ideas’. Elizabeth Veasey it was something of a shock to have your sound post he knows all the lines and It would demand ‘originality’ in programmes, boss almost literally come dancing into the can no longer discern whether he can replacing the bureaucratic notion of ‘distinctiveness’. office – as he did one day – saying ‘Today, hear them! But part of the sound mixer’s It would restore belief in audiences as listeners, Female newsreaders I’ll be you sitting at your typewriter and job is to speak up when the sound is viewers, even participants, and stop regarding them as you’ll be me sitting at my desk taking my not intelligible or is noisy because of customers and consumers, the concepts of marketing. The phone calls’ (which were mainly from extraneous noise or the actors muttering BBC would have ambitions not targets, a sense of purpose boyfriends from the ballet at Covent Garden). their lines or, in some other not a list of objectives. The BBC should ask staff to take ‘But first,’ he continued, lifting my leg over way, unacceptable. responsibility not take refuge in compliance, use judgment the radiator, ‘we’ll do some ballet exercises.’ This is easy enough to do if you know in decision-making rather than risk analysis, and cling to (How would that sort of thing be regarded the director well and there is a bond of quality over benchmarking. today, I wonder?) trust from working together over several Hall is trying to make the BBC more effective as a When eventually I was accepted as a productions. It also helps if the sound major national institution. If he is successful the BBC studio manager, I was very torn about leaving person is a staffer, because (s)he will not will do things better. But he must make those who Victor as he was so much fun to work with. be too concerned about where his/her work in the BBC feel better. Hilary Osborn, London next job is coming from. Directors need Dan Zerdin to listen to this advice. Secondly, there is a limit to the Disappointing TV dynamic range that can be reproduced City high-flier to in a domestic drawing room. A director News 60th may want his loud bits to be very loud chair BBC Trust I was surprised and disappointed to read and his quiet bits to be very quiet, but After a limited number of options have the headline ‘TV News celebrates its 60th there are limits. No soundman can beat been mulled over to meet the criteria of the birthday’. A more accurate headline would the laws of physics and the limitations Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the have been ‘TV News ignores its 60th of the system. Exchequer, it’s not surprising that public birthday’. Previous anniversaries were Finally, I don’t know where these service and broadcasting experience played On the issue of female newsreaders, your celebrated – 25 years (Alan Protheroe), particular programmes were dubbed, but no part in the selection process. August issue has a brief postscript from 40 years (Tony Hall), and 50 years dubbing a television drama in a However, someone who is currently on Bryan Bayliss to David Morris Jones’ article (Richard Sambrook). large film dubbing theatre with a big the boards of PepsiCo and of HSBC, was in June’s Prospero which mentions Valerie Pitts, All attempts to persuade the current BBC screen is a very different experience to previously the CEO of Pearson and who has later Lady Solti. to mark the 60 years appear to have fallen that of the final viewer and it usually headed the , clearly has the One further thought. I believe I am right upon deaf ears, though the editor of the misleads – especially so if the job is credentials of a city supremo. Add to that a in saying that Nan Winton was actually Radio Times thought it worth a big spread. done by a feature film dubbing mixer. seat on the cabinet office oversight board; reading the News as early as 1960 and A discussion between DGs Birt and Hall I once had to send a highly prestigious alongside cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood subsequently Angela Rippon also read hardly meets the case. drama back to a very well respected who was the Prime Minister’s representative the News regularly. Of course in earlier One can understand why Tony Hall’s Wardour Street dubbing mixer because on the interview panel, what chance that times there were well-established female office distanced itself from the anniversary; the dynamic range was far too wide for Sebastian Coe would have won through had ‘presenters’ such as Sylvia Peters at the time he has wider responsibilities. But as I TV and the music was louder than the he chosen to stand? of the Coronation and even further back understand it, pleas to the News bosses dialogue! To his great credit he took the And did I say? Rona Fairhead CBE is Mary Malcolm, who was the daughter of went unacknowledged (correct me if I point very readily and his second mix was married to a former Tory councillor for Earls Jeanne-Marie Langtry and the granddaughter am wrong – in any event, there has been excellent, but if the job had been done ‘in Court and the mother of three children. of Edward VII and Lillie Langtry. no ‘celebration’). house’ it would have been right first time So that ticks another box; the one identified Douglas Cooksey People working for TV News, journalists, and cheaper. by David Cameron in May, when he picture editors, camerapersons, production Trevor Webster was said to be ‘determined’ that the post SURELY IT WAS not David Morris Jones who staff, admin, have always felt like a family, should go to a woman. In this he was was mistaken but rather the claimed ‘certain engendered no doubt by being somewhat backed by Margaret Hodge, chair of the knowledge’ of Bryan Bayliss which should separated at Alexandra Palace and the TC Spur. Public Accounts Committee who, after be corrected. You only have to look at the wide readership exposing a panoply of shortcomings on the Valerie Pitts was a TV presentation of the monthly online newsletter splendidly part of the BBC, may well be delighted at announcer in 1965, not a newsreader. produced by former cameraman Bob Prahbu

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 LETTERS 05

Memories of Sharp eyed CONTACTS Alexandra Palace I realise that Prospero is intended for retired staff but to describe readers who are able to tell Visiting Scheme I read with interest the article published the difference between a photo of Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon and one of Eric Sykes and If you would like a visit or information on in Prospero recently. I think I was on duty Sid James in the caption competition as ‘sharp eyed’ is taking flattery to extremes. Mind how to become a volunteer visitor, please when the newsreader did not turn up to you, before now I have been known to eat half my bath sponge before realising it was not ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. read the lunchtime News in June 1965. a Gruyere cheese. Queries I particularly remember the sub-editor Paul Cole For benefit and pension payroll queries, chosen to act as a stand in for them; he was call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811 called Dennis Wray and I remember him or email [email protected] trying on other people’s jackets in order to Prospero find the most suitable one for television. It’s alright leaving me! To add or delete a name from the I worked in Television News for 25 years distribution list, ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. is provided and spent many a happy time in Alexandra Barry Rosindale is right to say (Prospero, getting the log right came a very Prospero free of charge to retired BBC employees. Palace (teleprompting). August) that the (manned) transmitters close second. On request, we will also send it to spouses I do remember going to a party at which were the perfect place for quality On a technical note, the single speaker or dependants who want to keep in touch Corbet Woodall was there, and there was a monitoring, but it went on at other hanging from the ceiling – ‘wireless’ was with the BBC. Prospero is also available on story going around during a hot summer points too. still mono then – was an LS3. This unit, audio disc for those with sight impairment. that Corbet Woodall was only wearing When I first arrived in Belfast Control ruggedised for OB use, was an engineers’ To register, please ring the Service Line. swimming trunks below the desk. He Room as a new Technical Operator in favourite for its audio quality – as good as Alternatively, it is also available online actually took his trousers off at the party 1968, I was only too aware for the the LSU10 used in the studios, but only at www.bbc.co.uk/mypension, under ‘Documents’. and I jokingly tried to toss them out of first few days that the Third Programme a third of the size. In the two years that the window. (now Radio 3) was constantly playing I was in Belfast the Control Room was BBC Club The BBC Club in London has a retired Another memory I have is when I was on a large speaker suspended from the refurbished, and the LS3 didn’t fit the category membership costing £30 a year training to become a teleprompter operator ceiling. I was told that the theory was that designer’s plan. It went. or £39 a year for family membership. and the person (Joyce) who was teaching me if the signal for the prestige programme When I later took the BBC’s leather Pre-1997 life members are not affected. was pregnant at the time. She came round survived the London-Birmingham- shilling and turned freelance, I needed Regional clubs may have different my house and told me about her husband Manchester-Glasgow-Belfast chain without kit for my own studio. I went to M&B arrangements. Please call BBC Club who had a set of sharp knives (cook by degradation, then all was satisfactory. Radio in to source second-hand London administration office on 020 8752 profession). She didn’t turn up for work the Of course, within a very short while the loudspeakers, and was thrilled to find 6666 or email [email protected] next time she was on duty and although I esoteric music and speech soon became a pair of LS3s available at £35 each. I Benevolent Fund had only had a couple of days’ training, I was just part of the background – but it was could have spent four times as much on This is funded by voluntary contributions asked to prompt the news. uncanny how the slightest click, pop or something a fourth of the size, but I was from the BBC and its purpose is to protect the welfare of staff, pensioners and their I subsequently got her job, Joyce having even silence would instantly galvanise us so pleased to find LS3s that I packed them families. Grants are made at the discretion been murdered by her husband with the into action, with the speaker turned up to into the back seat of the Triumph Vitesse. of the Trustees. They may provide set of knives. In addition to stabbing Joyce full blast. If more was observed, we would I still use them nearly 30 years on. assistance in cases of unforeseen financial 14 times, the unborn child was also killed. be straight on to Glasgow for them to One of them has the serial number hardship, for which help from other sources The husband got 14 years in prison listen and report, and they would follow LS3/1/RD. Research Department? Is this is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 2811. for manslaughter. down to Manchester and so on... this is the the prototype? I’d love to know. Prospero Society When this was reported ‘over the origin of the traditional BBC phrase ‘It’s Graeme Aldous Prospero Society is the only section of the wires’ we all presumed that Joyce Gomez alright leaving me’! Saltburn, Yorkshire BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff was a common name such as the English We would get warning messages and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC equivalent of Smith, and could not possibly from London when a programme was pensioners to meet on a social basis for be the same person as our Joyce. scheduled to include odd noises, or theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. Olive Trevett unusually long pauses. Any kind of The Prospero Society is supported by anomaly was recorded in the log – I BBC Club funds so as to make events affordable. The only conditions (apart from remember it being instilled into me that paying a small annual subscription) are Strictly stays put although curing faults was paramount, that you must be a BBC pensioner and a Well, well, well. So BBC staff were moved member of the BBC Club. Peter Mirams to Salford like it or not, to hired shared would be happy to answer questions from premises at the cost of some £1.5 billion. potential members (email: pmirams@ Television Centre, owned by the BBC since btinternet.com), but if you would like an the 1950s, the most well equipped television application form please contact: studios and offices in Britain or Europe, were Wai Man, BBC Club, MC4 C4 - 201 Media sold for some £200 million on the pretext Centre, Wood Lane London W12 7TQ that this was cost effective and cost efficient. Tel: 0208 752 6666 Email: [email protected] Few people who were programme makers thought it was either of these things. No BBC SHOP discount Get 10% off your order at BBCShop.com surprise then that three studios at Television Centre 1,2 and 3 now need to be hired back Enter code BBC0001 under ‘redeem on a 15-year lease, no one is saying what the a promotion code’ at checkout FREE UK Delivery cost will be. Woman’s Hour is also relocating back to Orders can also be placed over the phone by calling 01788 821 107 and quoting London. Why? Because it is less costly! No code BBC0001. doubt there will be more. BBC Worldwide are also moving into Terms & Conditions: Discount code BBC0001 entitles BBC pensioners to 10% Television Centre, I do not know from off your order at BBCShop.com. Offer is not where, they also had premises owned by the valid with any other promotional discount BBC but will now be renting their offices. or offer and subject to availability. Only one I assume Mark Thompson was mostly discount code can be used per transaction. responsible for the move. I hope he is better BBC Shop reserves the right to change, at handling his own finances. amend or discontinue the offer at any time It has taken lots of licence payers’ money without prior notice. Products are available whilst stocks last. Free delivery to UK only. to finance the Salford vanity project that Standard BBC Shop Terms & Conditions should have been used to make programmes apply. Promoter: BBC Worldwide Ltd. and save some of the BBC’s heritage. Contact (UK) 01788 821107 (charged at Prue Handley basic rate) with any queries. See website for full Terms & Conditions. BBC PA For details of how to join the Pensioners’ Association, see the panel on the left.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 06 MEMORIES Two hours of absolute joy Remembering the ‘natural sounds’ of Bing Crosby

Brian Willey’s article in the This was duly arranged and the regular Sounds Natural interviewer, the late Derek August 2014 edition of Jones, a popular West Country broadcaster, Prospero prompted John and I arrived together with a BBC recording engineer based in London. As soon as we had F Burton (ex BBC Natural set up our recording gear ready to go, Bing History Unit, Bristol) to offer joined us and quickly made us feel at home. I explained the form that the programme up his own ‘happy memories’ would take. This included the subsequent of making a radio programme insertion of sound recordings from the BBC’s collection of wildlife sounds to illustrate with the late Bing Crosby his anecdotes and memories, plus extracts I in 1975. had selected from a few of the songs that he had recorded that were appropriate to the programme’s theme. ing was the first singer of whom, when a very small boy in the 1930s, I became aware and I was soon a great admirer of his. My parents had ‘He was a very good Bseveral 78rpm gramophone records of songs he had recorded in those years. Two of them, mimic of those ‘Home on the Range’ and ‘The Last Round- up’, have been favourites of mine ever since. American wild birds’ So, having heard in the 1970s that he was very interested in wildlife, it was not surprising that I invited him at that period to participate I had previously discovered that he was as a guest in a series of radio programmes a very good mimic of those American colour blindness (from which Bing suffered) called Sounds Natural that I had devised and wild birds with which he was familiar. In and other topics. produced for Radio 4 and which featured discussing these with him, I mentioned Derek and I both felt that Bing genuinely celebrities with a keen interest in wildlife. that one would be an extract from ‘My enjoyed chatting about his interests in Goon An enthusiastic golfer, Bing had become Blue Heaven’, which refers to the call of wildlife and its conservation as a change friends with the BBC’s golfing commentator, the whip-poor-will, a bird related to our from being asked about his show business the late Henry Longhurst, who, as it nightjar, which also calls at night. Bing said career. To my delight I learned after we had but not happened, was also very interested in he had sung so many different songs in his finished and took our leave of Bing and his wildlife and had already agreed to participate lifetime and he couldn’t remember them all son Gary, who had joined us meanwhile, that in one of the Sounds Natural programmes. I including that one. So rather self-consciously the engineer, whose name I regret to say I’ve forgotten! mentioned to him that I would like to invite in the presence of such a famous crooner, forgotten, had let the tape run during this Bing and he informed me that he would I crooned the first couple of lines to him, informal chat. I was able to have an edited A life-size bronze statue of Spike Milligan shortly be coming to Britain to play golf at which sparked his memory and he joined version of it put on a CD, a copy of which is was unveiled in Finchley, his former St Andrews and to record a couple of albums in, quipping at the end, ‘We should have now deposited with Wildscreen in Bristol. home, on 4 September 2014. The statue, in London. Henry said that Bing was a very got together sooner, John!’ The programme itself was not, as far as I am by the artist John Somerville, shows early riser and advised me to telephone him Other songs of Bing’s that I included were aware, selected for preservation in the BBC Milligan sitting on a bench and turning at his St Andrews hotel early in the morning ‘Mr Meadowlark’, where Bing gives very Sound Archives, but recently, as a result of to speak to whomever might be there. before he went out for a round of golf good imitations of the song of this American an appeal, I was kindly sent a CD copy by a Pictured here is former Radio Brighton before breakfast. bird of fields and meadows, and bobwhite. member of the Wildlife Sound Recording presenter John Henty with Spike’s It was with some trepidation at phoning The bobwhite is a common small American Society who had recorded it off air at the daughter Jane (holding her dad’s hand) anyone as early as 7am, that I picked up gamebird related to our quail whose name is time. It is my intention to offer this to and Sarah Sellers, daughter of Peter Sellers. the telephone in my office at BH Bristol. I onomatopoeic: its typical call sounding like BBC Heritage. As this issue of Prospero went to need not have worried, Bing was up and a whistled ‘bob-bob-white’, also mimicked Altogether, as Derek Jones wrote in his print, John was preparing for a unique about and very amiable. He said he would perfectly by Bing. account of the occasion (Microphones and celebration of the Goons at the Komedia be glad to take part in the programme To demonstrate just how good his Muddy Boots, David & Charles, Newton in Brighton. Jane and Sarah were due to and could fit it in one day when he came imitations were, in the final programme Abbot, , 1987), it was ‘two hours join him on stage for an evening in aid down to London. As he couldn’t be sure of as transmitted, I subsequently added of absolute joy’. of local charities. a possible date at that stage, he told me he actual sound recordings of these birds Like Derek, I am happy that we were able would telephone me as soon as he knew. I for comparison. to meet and talk with Bing, a charming man mentioned that in a few days time I would Provided by me with a series of questions whose distinctive singing voice we had both be lunching with Henry Longhurst in his in addition to his own that I knew would greatly admired. A couple of years after our idyllically situated home on top of the South launch Bing on a string of his wildlife meeting, Bing passed away, appropriately Downs near Brighton. Nevertheless, it was memories, Derek, a masterly interviewer, enough, on a golf course. To both of us life rather to my surprise that on that day, 16 July evoked a delightfully chatty conversation that wasn’t the same without him. 1975, during lunch, the telephone rang and pleased me immensely. Bing had been a keen A couple of months after the repeat Henry’s wife answered it and returned to say, wildfowler, hunting within United States broadcast of the programme in January ‘It’s Bing Crosby for you, John.’ laws, but his concern for the conservation of 1976, I received a very nice personal letter And so it was: to tell me that he had hired water birds and other wildlife was sincere. from Bing, saying, among other topics, that a house in London’s Holland Park and could After the interview had finished, Bing, Derek, he had listened to the tape of the programme meet me there one morning in a week or the recording engineer and I continued to I had sent him and was ‘much impressed’ so’s time to record the interview. chat for another hour about birds, fishing, by it. I still have and treasure the letter.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 MEMORIES 07

Memories of film at Lime Grove MONEY MATTERS Although based at Ealing, I worked for Film Maintenance Power of Attorney In our busy everyday lives we tend to at Lime Grove in the look after ourselves and our day-to-day mid-1960s. At that time finances without necessarily giving it too much thought. If we suddenly became Richard Dimbleby presented incapacitated or if we went into care, Panorama and film shot by who would make the decisions relating to our care and manage our finances BBC crews in Vietnam was a on our behalf? regular item. Nationwide was A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can provide the solution, allowing us to decide, the early evening magazine whilst we are still able, who we would programme with Mike Barratt. like to make those decisions for us if it becomes necessary. he old dubbing theatre consisted of LPA is a legal document that an a studio with a projection gallery individual executes to appoint an above and an adjacent transfer suite, individual (known as an attorney) to make which was where the location decisions on their behalf. When an LPA Tsound, recorded on Nagra or Perfectone has been drawn up, and before it becomes portable tape recorders, was transferred to valid, it needs to be registered with the 16 or 35mm sprocket hole magnetic media. Office of the Public Guardian. After editing, it was then replayed with beginning, as sync would have been lost. There are two different types of LPA: the picture projected onto the screen in the Later, a new dubbing theatre was built • Health and Welfare studio for the presenter to add commentary using two German-made Keller dubbing • Property and Financial Affairs and the dubbing mixer to add effects and machines. These provided three sound and music for the finished soundtrack. one telecine transport on each machine, Health and wellbeing The ancient projectors were of the carbon which could be changed between 16 and The Health and Welfare LPA gives an arc type and a motor generator device called 35mm. The great advantage of this system appointed attorney the power to make a Selsyn was used to maintain picture and was that all the transports could be locked decisions over health and welfare issues. sound synchronisation. The big disadvantage together with toothed belts and electrically in the photograph, the decks could be raised These powers will only begin if an of this arrangement was if there was a operated clutches. This meant that all of those for maintenance with hydraulic jacks. One individual becomes ‘incapable’, for mistake during dubbing, everything had linked in this way would stay in sync, even problem was understanding the German example incapable of being able to follow to be stopped rewound and reset to the after a stop, rewind and start again, thus maintenance manuals. a daily routine such as eating, washing start marks before starting again from the saving much time and frustration. As shown Nick Jennings and dressing, or being able to discuss and understand medical treatment. The LPA should outline precisely how incapacity should be determined. When a Health and Welfare LPA is drawn up it is important to discuss the My role in Eisenhower’s powers granted with those appointed as attorney(s). This may relate to decisions on suitable accommodation, personal medical information or medical consent D-Day announcement for treatment.

I am grateful to Cheryl Miles of the BBC Pension Scheme who, at the request of Dutch Public Managing your financial affairs Broadcasting, very kindly put me in touch with a Melvyn Ingleby who had seen the article in The Property and Financial Affairs LPA regarding my part in the broadcast of General Eisenhower’s D-Day announcement. has one main difference in that it can come into place either as soon as it is I had been on duty as shift leader and studio manager at 200 Oxford Street – rather than executed and registered with the Office ‘a BBC runner’ as the paper stated. Such, I had told them, was for the BBC Home Guard. of the Public Guardian, or alternatively at a pre-determined date in the future, such as incapacity. This does not mean that Around 5am on 6 June 1944, I had been Neither 200 Oxford Street nor the BBC It was as a result of a telephone call from the attorney(s) have to take full financial ordered to get the News studio ready and Library at Broadcasting House would London on 27 June 1948 that Sgt Hill, control immediately – both parties can to await the arrival of a despatch rider accept this American recording when I now of British Forces Network Radio, divide the financial responsibility to best from Bushley Heath. He arrived with a took it to them, so it went home with me Hamburg, would be asked by the BBC to suit you. package which contained a 12-inch acetate where, for some months, it remained in my record a radio feature on the start of the A Property and Financial Affairs LPA recording marked ‘AFRS’. Such, I was later parent’s attic at 23 Holmwood Grove, Mill Berlin Airlift. should include detail on the purchase to discover, stood for American Forces Hill, NW7. When asked if I still had it, I For ‘Operation Plainfare’ I now had the or sale of heritable property, land or Radio Service. first got a pal in our Disc Recording studio assistance of a small German magnetic tape buildings, especially in the result of funds I was also informed that John Snagge at Peter Robinson’s former department recorder. Having completed the Hamburg being required to fund care, as well as would shortly arrive. Owing to bad store to make a copy for John Snagge. end, I was now on my airborne way to other investments including bank and weather, however, D-Day was to be delayed I STILL can’t find mine! Berlin. Their Traffic Control Tower declared building society accounts and pensions. – and therefore two MI5 agents came to Thanks to Prospero, I had a splendid time us ‘Clear to land on Runway 3’. I then had Lasting Powers of Attorney may seem a the studio since I had taken possession of with a young Melvyn and his reporter words with our wireless operator I’d been daunting exercise and something you Eisenhower’s announcement. I was not here at my home. They are sending me recording. ‘Then please get out a garden would rather not think about. However allowed to speak to any colleague – or to a recording of the interview which they hose! We happen to be a heavily laden they are an extremely valuable means go one floor up to the loo by myself during broadcast on 6 June, whilst in recent times Sunderland Flying boat! Or how about of protecting your health and wealth the next three hours. ‘this boy in shorts’ – as she recently wrote Berlin’s Havel Lake?’ and ensure that your lifetime wishes At around 8.45am, John arrived. At to – is now in touch with a then Marguerite Trevor Hill are met fully. 9am on 6 June, only THEN did he – and Lee who, in 1944, was also at 200 Oxford the nation – hear Eisenhower’s now Street and with our War Report Unit. She is Iain Miller historic announcement. now 90 – but doesn’t sound it. Origen Financial Services Limited [email protected]

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 08 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE A passion for piers Former Radio 2 producer Anthony Wills was commissioned by English Heritage to write a book marking the 200th anniversary of the first seaside pier in 1814.

singing to an electronic organ. At 9.15pm still is, the gateway to the island, and before The earliest piers were wooden constructions they sang ‘Good night Ventnor, we can see the pier was built passengers had to wade but cast iron took over from the 1860s, you yawning’ and we were all ushered back through the water or hire a porter to give and latterly some have been rebuilt in to the esplanade before the pier gates were them a piggy back ride. concrete. They are still by their nature shut for the night! It wasn’t long before pier companies fragile constructions susceptible to Much later, in 1982, I made a documentary realised that people could be persuaded onto storms, fires and even ship collisions. for Radio 2 called If Wet, Under The Pier them by the provision of entertainment and The most recent fire in July destroyed the which featured among others actor Bill refreshment, so pavilions were erected, some amusement arcade (former ballroom) Pertwee, author of several books on seaside with their own orchestras, and an entrance on the Grade II* listed Eastbourne pier, entertainment. It was then that I discovered toll was charged to keep the lower classes generally considered the finest on the the existence of the recently formed National away. But the introduction of paid holidays South Coast. The huge amount of coverage Piers Society and interviewed its Chairman and provision of cheap railway services from that this received, culminating in a visit David Bateman at Hastings. the industrial cities meant that more popular by the Prime Minister, demonstrates After joining the Society I worked my way attractions were required such as funfairs, the affection in which these Victorian up, becoming Secretary, then Vice-Chairman dancing and roller skating. structures are held. and finally Chairman from 2003-07. By By the beginning of the 20th century By some miracle 60 of the 100 built y passion for piers started this stage the Society had developed an there were more than 100 piers around the between 1814 and 1905 survive and at a very young age. My excellent website which attracted not only coasts of England and Wales, many of them bodies such as the National Piers Society grandmother lived in Bognor new members but also a steady stream of built purely for recreation: Blackpool’s three (www.piers.org.uk) campaign strongly Regis so I spent many hours enquiries from the media. So it was decided piers were receiving over a million visitors a for them to be cared for, so that future Mon the pier playing on the slot machines, to create a new post of Media Relations year. The First World War prevented further generations can experience the thrill of sometimes gambling away all of my Officer, and with my background I was a piers being built and in World War II many “walking over the waves”. pocket money! shoo-in for the job. were sliced in half in case enemy troops Anthony Wills is the co-author of British Seaside Bognor pier at that time was 1,000 ft long Seaside piers continue to enthral and landed at the end and tried to invade. Piers, published by English Heritage, ISBN 978-1- with a miniature train running down to the entertain visitors to resorts up and down the Piers reached the height of their 84802-264-5 end, where a diver would perform amazing land. You can still go angling on them, catch popularity in the 1950s, when families feats such as jumping off the high board a steamer, take in a show, feast on fish and traditionally came to resorts for a fortnight’s in a sealed bag. There was also a repertory chips, play the slot machines, experience the summer holiday; but the arrival of cheap company in the Roof Garden Theatre upstairs thrill of fairground rides or simply relax in a package holidays abroad, where the sunshine where grandma and I whiled away rainy deckchair and watch the world go by. You can was guaranteed, saw their appeal decline ‘Seaside piers afternoons watching Agatha Christie thrillers even get married on some of them! But they sharply. Many were taken over by local and comic farces. were built initially as landing stages for boats. councils who leased them to charitable trusts continue to enthral In the late 1950s my father rented a The first one, at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, run by local volunteers. These were able to cottage just outside Ventnor on the Isle of opened on 26 July 1814. It was 2,250 ft apply for grant aid from Government and in and entertain visitors’ Wight. One evening we went to see the show (686 metres) long and needed to be, because particular the Heritage Lottery Fund, created on the pier: it was just a husband and wife the tide went out a long way. Ryde was, and in 1996. Get your exclusive Could you write a Christmas carol? BBC gear Radio 3 Breakfast has got off the blocks The BBC Shop has by launching a competition inviting just taken delivery listeners to compose music for a brand Can it be true? of some exciting new Christmas carol. Susan Hill new BBC and The winning entry will be arranged BBC Sport Heard by the fox slinking up to the hens In the dark with a poem called Can it be True?, branded products And the wolf prowling near to the sheep, By the dog as it snarled at written for the station by The Woman which make great The cat as it sniffed for the mouse In a hole in the wall of the house. in Black author Susan Hill. gifts or souvenirs. Six carols will be shortlisted and Heard by the owl with blood on its beak And the shrew in the ditch. Heard by the weasel, the ferret, the stoat, The terrified rabbit The items include performed live on Radio 3’s Breakfast a black hoodie, T-shirts (ladies and men’s show on 16 December between 8am and And the whale and the whaler above in his boat. Christmas Eve sizes), mug, pin badge and key ring. 9am. Listeners will then be asked to vote And twelve chimed the clock when the message was heard. Don’t forget you get 10% off your order on their favourite carol. ‘And can it be true?’ by entering code BBC0001 on the order The carol receiving the largest number Said the fox to the hen to the wolf to the sheep to the dog to the cat to the mouse summary page at checkout. FREE UK of votes will be performed again live to the owl to the shrew. delivery with all orders. on Radio 3’s Breakfast programme on ‘And can it be true?’ To order yours, call the BBC Shop 23 December and played on Christmas They said to the weasel and ferret and stoat customer services line on 01788 846 1417 Day on Radio 3. It will be performed by And the whale to the man in his boat. or go online to: www.bbcshop.com/icat/bbc the professional BBC Singers, who mark ‘And can it be true?’ their 90th birthday this year. ‘Come and see for yourself.’ Terms & Conditions: Discount code entitles you The closing date for entries is So they went. to 10% off at BBCSHOP.COM. Offer is not valid 10 November 2014. More details about The fox with the hen with the wolf with the sheep with the dog with the cat with with any other promotional discount or offer and subject to availability. BBC Shop reserves the right the carol competition can be found on the mouse with the owl with the weasel and ferret and stoat. to change, amend or discontinue the offer at any the Radio 3 website. And the whale towed the boat. time without prior notice. Non-transferable and Christmas Eve no cash alternative. Standard BBC Shop Terms Twelve of the clock & Conditions apply. Promoter: BBC Worldwide Ltd. When they came to the stable and saw. ‘It is true! It is true!’ Contact (UK) 01788 821107 (charged at basic rate) And knelt down. with any queries. See website for full Terms & Conditions.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 BACK ATMEMORIES THE BBC 09 : 50 years of broadcasting celebration

As the BBC’s iconic football television programme celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look at some of the highlights from the past five decades:

1. The first Match of the Day – on 22 August 6. The first colour broadcast – on 1964 – featured Liverpool’s 3-2 win 15 November 1969 – featured over Arsenal, with the crowd inside Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham. Anfield outnumbering the audience on BBC Two – only available in London at 7. In 1969, the programme became live the time – two to one. and studio based, rather than being pre-recorded at the ground of the 2. With ‘She Loves You’, the hit song featured match, and there were two from , bursting out of the games shown each week. Match of the Day’s Anfield PA system, presenter Kenneth Wolstenholme told viewers: ‘Welcome 8. Barry Stoller’s classic theme tune main presenters to Match of the Day, the first of a weekly ‘Match of the Day’ was commissioned series coming to you every Saturday in 1970 to replace the original theme Kenneth Wolstenholme: 1964-1969 on BBC Two. As you can hear, we’re ‘Drum Majorette’ by Major Leslie in Beatleville.’ Statham, a former Director of Music David Coleman: 1968-1973 for the Welsh Guards. In 2010, a 3. Match of the Day was originally intended survey by the Performing Rights Jimmy Hill: 1973-1988 as a one-off series, a trial run for the Society for Music placed it as the most 1966 World Cup. recognisable British TV theme tune. Des Lynam: 1988-1999

4. In 1965, several clubs tried to block the 9. On 19 August 1995, Alan Hansen : 1999-present programme’s move to BBC One, which uttered the now famous remark ‘you was available to many more viewers, can’t win anything with kids’ after for fear it would hit ground receipts. Aston Villa had beaten Manchester A compromise was reached and the United 3-1. As Hansen would be BBC agreed not to reveal the televised constantly reminded, United went Motty’s magnificent run Saturday match until all games on to win the double that season and had ended. countless other trophies with that joined the BBC as a Radio 2 sports presenter in 1968 and is the group of young players. longest serving commentator on Match of the Day, still going strong after 43 years and 5. Wolstenholme was a former RAF approximately 2,000 games. bomber pilot, flying 100 missions in 10. On 21 April 2007, Jacqui Oatley became World War Two by the age of 23. He Match of the Day’s first female commentator commentated on 23 consecutive FA – the game was Fulham v Blackburn. Cup finals and five World Cups, coining Celina Hinchcliffe became the first the immortal phrase ‘they think it’s all female presenter in February 2005 and over… it is now’. has since become a regular Iggy Pop to deliver replacement for Gary Lineker. John Peel Lecture Another 50th W1A to return for Iggy Pop, dubbed the godfather of punk, will deliver this celebration a second series year’s John Peel lecture at the Radio Festival. W1A will return for more antics at the Beeb His speech, ‘Free Music in a Capitalist Life’ and ‘Real Wild Child’, is considered BBC Bristol celebrated turning 80 in following BBC Two’s recommission of Society’, will be broadcast live on Radio 6 one of the pioneers of punk rock. September by opening its doors to the comedy. Music on 13 October and will air on BBC John Peel, who died a decade ago, was the public. Written by John Morton, the in-house 4 on 19 October. the first DJ to play Iggy Pop on British As part of Bristol’s Doors Open Day, the – literally – satire depicted the farces of The singer, known for his unpredictable radio on his Radio 1 show in 1969. Since fully-booked event saw 240 people get a BBC corporate life in the run-up to charter stage antics and shirtless performances, March, Iggy Pop has also hosted a Sunday sneak peak at the Whiteladies Road base. renewal. The show was watched by an said: ‘I’ve never given a lecture in my life, show for Radio 6 Music. Bristol is home to many BBC factual average audience of two million viewers. but on the day I’m going to attempt a He will be the fourth person to deliver hits, often filmed with pioneering kit, It featured Hugh Bonneville and Jessica discussion on the subject of free music in the annual John Peel Lecture in Salford. including octocopters. Hynes reprising their roles as Ian Fletcher a capitalist society. This is a struggle which Previous speakers include the musician Cameras hidden in a mock penguin and Siobhan Sharpe from the Bafta-winning never ends.’ Billy Bragg and singer Charlotte Church, and other creatures were also on show. Olympic satire Twenty Twelve, but this time as a Born as James Newell Osterberg Jr, spoke last year about women’s The BBC office in Bristol was opened BBC head of values and an incoherent Brand American musician has performed with representation in the music industry. on 18 September 1934, when it included BBC consultant respectively. the band The Stooges since the 1960s, The three-day Radio Festival will start four radio studios. Today’s network radio The second series will start with a one- and also as a soloist. The on 13 October at the Lowry Theatre output includes Farming Today, Poetry Please hour special next year, followed by three collaborator, whose hits include ‘Lust for in Salford. and Any Questions for Radio 4. half-hour episodes.

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 10 OBITUARIES was travelling with her mother from home transmissions from main stations and turned Clive into a legend among his vast Leading authority in Kirkcaldy to Weston Super Mare to see re-broadcast them on different frequencies. orbit of business associates, Rotary Club on Turkey her injured soldier father in hospital. She Under his leadership several very successful colleagues and friends. But that reputation could also recall being at Waverley station in designs were produced, together with a masked the reality that Clive was indeed Andrew Mango Edinburgh when he was brought home. whole raft of FM equipment required for very rich in the truly consequential arrived in London After finishing her education at St George’s re-engineering main stations and the substance of life that outstrips the value to join the BBC in School for Girls in Edinburgh she got a job expansion of local radio. of monetary wealth. 1947. Born and at the BBC’s transmitter department, working Johnny exemplified all the qualities It is not trite but true to say of Clive raised a British successively at Droitwich, Maida Vale and which made the BBC an institution of Lawrence, that the conspicuous love, respect national in Istanbul, Daventry before being posted to Scarborough excellence in the post-war period, and he and devoted nature of his wife and three he was a strong H station during WW2, one of a network was very much a leader by example. A first- daughters, in addition to the genuine candidate for the of regional stations, to which broadcasting class engineer himself, he had a natural affection he earned from literally thousands BBC, with fluent would have been devolved in the event talent for coaching, motivating and of contacts he sustained in business, Russian, Greek and of invasion. enthusing his staff. He was also a pioneer charity work and through family friendships, French (all three languages were spoken at Learning how BBC programmes went of ‘management by walkabout’; his approach made Clive among the richest and rarest home) as well as Turkish. to other parts of the world helped when through the lab invariably accompanied by of men. He quickly gravitated to the Turkish she later successfully applied for a post a tuneless humming! Service (while studying Persian and Arabic Garry Selfridge in audience research at . She When he retired from the BBC in 1985 and gaining a PhD), and by 1958 he was its advanced steadily in the following three he continued his interest in the field of Programme Organiser, in charge at a time of decades and took great pride in becoming radio frequency engineering at Surrey Current affairs tension and censorship in Turkey. The Turkish one of the first women heads of department University where he supervised practical Service told listeners what was happening, producer when she succeeded Asher Lee in the top experiments for undergraduates and provoking repeated complaints from Ankara. Sally Blenkinsop’s job. Former department member, Alison conducting research into RF filters, for The BBC – and Andrew personally – gained BBC career started John, remembers her as one of the kindest which he was awarded a PhD. a lasting reputation in Turkey, demonstrated as a junior secretary and most thoughtful of bosses, always He had wide cultural interests beyond by the extraordinary number of tributes that in radio and ended encouraging women to strive for promotion, the technical, and was always an avid sailor appeared in Turkish after his death on 7 July. almost 30 years in the days when the upper echelons of the and cat-lover. Johnny leaves a widow, Jennifer. In 1971 he conducted an analysis of later as a television BBC were rather male dominated. Shortly More on this gentleman at www.bbceng.info broadcasts in Russian, Bulgarian, Serbo-Croat film producer. after her retirement Katharine was awarded John Sykes and Slovene – ‘all of them languages with Her first an MBE for her services to broadcasting. which I am fortunately familiar’, as he wrote, television job She met Bruce Digby Worsley during and the following year he became Assistant was with Huw WW2 when he was serving with the RAF. Clive Lawrence Head and later Head of the South European Wheldon’s Monitor but she soon moved to ‘Dig’, as she called him, became the love department, responsible for Italian, Spanish, remembered current affairs programmes at Lime Grove of her life and they married in 1948. Bruce Greek, Turkish and Portuguese, but the Recounting a BBC where through the rest of her career she became general manager of the Savoy Theatre government’s 1979 decision to close seven career across 23 progressed from production assistant to and the world famous D’Oyly Carte Opera language services –including Turkish, Greek, years does little researcher and on to assistant producer and Company, which toured for 35 weeks of each Spanish and Italian – was a bitter blow. The justice to the producer. Tributes received by her twin sister year. Sometimes Katharine escaped from campaign to save them was successful, but in achievements of Sue since her death from her colleagues at all BBC duties to accompany them. After 1981 Italian and Spanish ceased broadcasting. Clive Lawrence these stages have repeatedly emphasised what both had retired, they decided to settle in A military coup in Turkey in 1980 had who has died aged fun she was to work with. Winchelsea in Sussex. Bruce died in 1980. ensured that Turkish and Greek survived: 69 from cancer. She worked for Gallery and 24 Hours Despite her great age, Katharine lived most Andrew secured the expansion of Turkish He joined Radio and the Special Projects Team which of her remaining years in her own home broadcasts by 50%. London in 1972, produced extensive coverage of the Apollo and enjoyed the company of colleagues, Before he retired in 1986, the French was a producer on Today, became News moon missions and which took her to friends and generations of relatives up to Service was added to his responsibilities, Editor at Sheffield and retired as Programme the USA for the 1972 Democratic and and beyond her 100th birthday. Not and he was briefly acting Head of the Arabic Organiser at Kent in 1995. Republican Party Conventions in Miami. long ago she jotted some memories of her Service. As a BBC manager, he aimed to Clive’s imagination and inexhaustible The following year she spent some time time at the BBC on which some of this run a happy department. That he achieved: he creativity was staggering. He brimmed with in Washington for coverage of the Senate account is based. was extraordinarily generous in supporting ideas and it always struck me that he would Watergate hearings which led to President Graham Mytton and encouraging young journalists have flourished even more in the zanier Nixon’s resignation. and broadcasters. world of commercial, rather than public As a producer in the early 80s she made Andrew published extensively on Turkey, FM pioneer and true service programming. He discovered and numerous films for Nationwide, Breakfast Time becoming respected internationally as nurtured new talent. His management style and Childline, winning many compliments Britain’s leading authority on Turkey and gentleman combined authority, kindness and patient both from her programme bosses and appearing frequently on World Service English GG ‘Johnny’ encouragement. He had a rich, distinctive, the subjects of her films for her treatment programmes such as Twenty Four Hours, The World Johnstone joined welcoming voice marking him out among of sensitive personal issues such as Today and later Newshour. After retirement, his Radio Outside broadcasters and as a dynamic public speaker. bereavement, deafness and the consequences magisterial biography Atatürk (1999) appeared. Broadcasts in And he had the ebullient character to match. of serious injuries. His last book was published in 2009. He 1948, subsequently But Clive’s greatest professional gift was In 1986 she resigned from the BBC to continued to broadcast on Turkey – in English transferring to instinctive understanding of audience needs. pursue her long held love of art. She gained and Turkish, but also in Russian, French and Engineering Training He gave listeners entertaining surprises, hit a degree at the City and Guilds Art School other languages. Department as a the right mood at times of tragedy with and exhibited her paintings and drawings on Gamon McLellan technical author. He poignant but unsentimental music, and Open Days at her home, at various London became well known developed valuable tools – his ‘Snowline’ Galleries and at the Mall Galleries’ prestigious through his writing partnership with SW initiative was a saving grace for commuters, New English Art Club and Discerning Eye Head of audience Amos which resulted in numerous articles parents, teachers and the vulnerable, in times annual exhibitions. Many of her pictures are research on frequency modulation and allied subjects. of weather chaos. displayed today in the homes of her former He transferred to Designs Department in Clive ventured beyond the studios and Katharine Digby Worsley MBE, former BBC colleagues. 1960, working on VHF television translators mixed with his community. He was the head of audience To the astonishment of her friends her other and the BBC-designed FM modulator, for embodiment of the BBC in Kent. research at External enthusiasm was for cricket which took her which he held a joint patent. His pioneering On retiring from radio Clive ran a Services, now World and Sue to the West Indies and on her own to work on automatic monitoring techniques successful public relations business with Service, 1969-74, Australia in her support of England’s Test teams. was followed by promotion and a move to a diverse range of clients – from bowtie died in July at the In July, 19 months after being diagnosed Head of Radio Frequency Section in c.1970. retailers to cosmetic dentistry – and, age of 100. with motor neurone disease which she bore This was an era when the BBC was most recently, built a high media profile Born just weeks with great courage and without complaint, expanding both its UHF TV and FM coverage, campaigning for the controversial ‘Boris before the outbreak Sally died peacefully with her sister Sue, the latter recently converted to stereo. Island’ Thames airport plan. of WW1, one of who had so ably and nobly supported her The BBC needed ‘translators’ in volume: His reputation for devising bizarre yet her first memories throughout her illness, at her side. equipment which could receive off-air plausible entrepreneurial get-rich schemes Christopher Capron

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 OBITUARIES 11 His biggest change, however, came a few the BBC, calling it ‘the best Christmas present of cancer of the larynx which was to rob Music Hall aficionado years later when he was appointed editor I have ever had’. Following that initial him of that gentle Scottish voice – a cruel Edward Hayward, who died peacefully of Radio News where the bulletins were trigger, her son’s speech gradually returned blow for a man who earned his living as a in his sleep on 5 December 2013, started almost exclusively a ‘straight read’ by trained and Anthony described the event as one professional broadcaster. He was a great voice his career in television as a researcher for newsreaders. He insisted on firsthand reports of the most moving and rewarding and a great Scot. Rediffusion Televison and joined the from reporters and correspondents in the moments he could remember in his long James’s funeral was at St Michael’s Church BBC in 1969. field who hitherto had been restricted to broadcasting career. in Tilehurst on 28 August where more than Edward had won a scholarship to study Radio Newsreel and From Our Own Correspondent. Some years later Anthony and I found we 300 family and friends gathered to pay at Dulwich College and a major scholarship This move was opposed both inside and had a common interest, that of the history tribute. As the congregation filed in, fittingly to read History and Art History at Jesus outside the BBC especially when the report to be discovered along the route of Roman a lone piper was playing by the entrance. College, Oxford. was on a scratchy telephone line in a distant roads. This time for Radio 4 we got together After the committal a reception was held at He then went on to gain the Certificate country. But Peter, aided and abetted by and we traced the history of Stane Street. the Reading Hilton where many a glass was of Education at the brand new University his number two, Stan Taylor – they were The project meant spending a couple of raised in James’s memory. He is survived of Sussex. While still at Sussex, in 1966 he nicknamed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance nights along the route staying in pre-booked by his third wife, Julia, son David and was also employed writing/researching Kid – stuck to his guns and the reception for accommodation. It was on this trip that granddaughters, Molly and Martha. for Groucho Marx who was fronting a the new style bulletins became, and still is, I observed his incredible ability to travel Paul Foxall quiz show. the norm. light. We met at Chichester station. He was We received several tributes to ‘Jag’ and regret that we He joined the BBC training scheme in He went on to become head of both wearing a light sports shirt and slacks. On are unable to publish them all. 1969 and became an assistant producer, Radio News and Current Affairs programmes his shoulder hung a smallish bag, decorated then producer with The Open University before becoming editor TV News, head of with the Acropolis, just large enough for a Arts Faculty for the first ten years of its publicity and then the BBC representative in “tube of sun cream and one’s shades” for an Legendary in existence. He was based at Ally Pally working the United States. excursion on a Greek beach – nothing else! the newsroom closely with the academic staff mainly on As editor TV News, he dispensed with Since those days, I enjoyed visiting him in Charlie Levitt, one of history and art history, but also religion, professional newsreaders and appointed his comfortable, book-lined study at the end the best known names English literature, 20th century design the first journalists to that role with John of the garden of his Shepherd’s Bush house. in BBC regional and and philosophy. He especially enjoyed Humphrys and John Simpson who had both We discussed an idea of mine for a series on national journalism for making three programmes on the Victorian served as overseas correspondents. This is the ‘History of Time’. But his mind was on the last 40 years, has died Music Hall, the Early Music Hall and again now the norm with etc. other things, namely filming a project for at the age of 83. Bartholomew Fair. On retirement he enjoyed extensive travel, which he’d fly and hover with a power unit His funeral in Hull was Edward’s greatest passion perhaps was for watching cricket at Lord’s, although his first linked to a propeller strapped to his back, attended by more than the Victorian and Edwardian Music Hall. We love was Gloucestershire as he was born in so giving him the opportunity to drop in 30 former colleagues, met when he was performing on stage at Bristol, and dining with ex-colleagues from to observe and film life in a sleepy English with messages from many more sent from The Green Man pub in Blackheath, which he both radio and television. hamlet, or the activity at a service station around the world. enjoyed almost every weekend, sometimes His motto might have been ‘work hard, on a motorway! All rather dangerous was Charlie joined BBC Radio Humberside in producing and sometimes performing. but enjoy yourself and above all have fun’. It my reaction, but his enthusiasm was not 1970 after a career in regional press and was He went on to help raise money to build was a privilege and a pleasure to have known dampened in the least. at the centre of many stories from the area The Greenwich Theatre. and worked with him. Our sympathies go Brian Hawkins which made international headlines. Over 30 years Edward created a Music Hall out to his son Peter, his former wife Diana card index detailing every music hall song, His contacts and the trust in which he and stepson Mark. was held by many differing sources of news who sang them, in which halls and where A great Scot Alan Ashton were legendary. When we’d ring the London the halls were. This index now has about James Alexander newsroom with yet another breaking story 350,000 cards and I have inherited the job of Gordon (1936- from trawlers in trouble in the Arctic Circle, finding a suitable home for them, where the A passion for steam 2014) died on 18 they’d ask ‘How on earth did you pick that index can be used for research. Edward had I was one of a August aged 78. I up?’ Little did they know of our relationship intended to write books on Music Hall using number of us first met him 30 with Morganbladet, the daily newspaper in his research but failing health prevented this. in broadcasting years ago at the Reykjavik, and that we could radio virtually Edward was in poor health from the age fortunate to have BBC’s Paris Theatre any trawler and talk to the skipper standing of 30, but managed to enjoy a fulfilling worked with in . on his bridge. career and loved television, refusing to let his Anthony Smith, He was there as a Charlie was a tough task-master, as many difficulties affect his work. He enjoyed life to though not in one Radio 2 announcer up-and-coming young journalists, still the full and was remembered with affection of those far away introducing a comedy quiz show called working in the BBC and round the world, by a great many friends and colleagues at his places like the Funny You Should Ask. After the recording we would testify – but they all came to realise Thanksgiving Service, which was followed Serengeti or the Rift had drinks in the Green Room where James that no matter how many re-writes Charlie by a Music Hall performance much enjoyed valley but in the recording studios of BBC entertained us with his anecdotes. demanded, no matter how loudly he made by all. Bristol. Anthony narrated with great expertise James was born in Edinburgh in 1936 his feelings known, they were learning Carol Hayward the television series marking the demise and was brought up by adoptive parents invaluable lessons. of steam locomotion, The Train Now Departing, who owned a pub in the city. When he was The tone of the many messages sent to his Influential figure which I was lucky enough to co-produce six months old he contracted polio and said family was about the gratitude they felt for with my colleague, Andrew Johnston who later it was during the months he spent what he taught them – he was an inspiration. in News originated that memorable and fascinating in a hospital bed that his appreciation of Roger Clark, now Senior Director of series back in the 1980s. radio began. One of the most International Coverage at CNN, started Smith’s passion for steam and his unique He joined the BBC in 1973 as news and influential figures running errands in the Humberside and skilful use of words contributed greatly continuity announcer after Jimmy Kingsbury, in BBC News, both newsroom in his early teens. He emailed to the success of the series, making it the head of Radio 2, heard him speaking. For radio and television, from Indonesia: ‘As I started thinking about compelling viewing for a wider audience, several years he shared the reading of the Peter Woon, has the years I worked with him, I found myself rather than just for the ‘anorak brigade’ of football results with others while continuing died in hospital smiling and chuckling to myself – he was railway enthusiasts. to deliver the news on Radio 2. But gradually in Germany after truly one of a kind and when the going got Anthony’s warm, distinctive voice and James made the results spot all his own, suffering a fall while tough in the newsroom, he was a delight to his gift for using words made him the becoming a key part of the Saturday team. on a river cruise. watch – an absolute master.’ ideal choice as a narrator. He had a natural ‘Jag’ as he was affectionately known, honed He was 82. Doug Holden emailed from Australia: ability to engage with his subject and was a style which a generation of football fans Peter Woon was a reporter and then aviation ‘He encouraged and cajoled me and profoundly touched by one remarkable piece grew up with and appreciated. correspondent on the before sometimes, just sometimes, gruffly made it of audience response to the series. While In more recent years we met regularly at joining the BBC in 1961 as a reporter. By known what standards I needed to achieve watching a sequence filmed on the Bluebell The Down Gate pub in Hungerford. It was 1966 he had ‘come inside’ and set up the and, most importantly, like the great teacher Railway in Sussex, a young man left without here at our last lunch, 18 months ago, that first half-hour News programme, Newsroom, on he was, how.’ speech or movement after a road accident, James’s voice sounded rather croaky, and he the new BBC 2 channel. He brought on to the Charlie will be missed – his wife Shirley recognised the location and uttered the word explained that a throat specialist was to carry programme trained reporters like died two years ago and he is survived by two ‘Bluebell’. It was the first time he had spoken out some tests the following week. Little did himself and broke new ground on the subjects sons and their families. in three years and his mother wrote to thank any of us realise that this was the beginning covered and the way they were treated. Jim Latham

PROSPERO OCTOBER 2014 12 THE LAST WORD Just Now and Then Peter Udell, former controller of the Overseas Services based at Bush House, has just published his first novel – described by one reviewer as ‘a highly emotive love story’.

I couldn’t have worked with more Despite being a love story, the remarkable broadcasters. In the Bulgarian subject matter is quite dark Section, with Georgi Markov a few years – looking at violence against before his murder. In the Russian Service, both main characters. Why did with Sylva Rubashova and Leonid Finkelstein, you decide to write about this? But before I start to write, I need to two of Stalin’s victims, whom I still meet. How we react to violence has been another understand better the many shortcomings Tell us about your career And with the unforgettable Anatol Goldberg. of my interests. In this story, the man of my first attempt that friends have told with the BBC. has experienced his wife’s unpredictable me about – and that I’ve recognised myself. In the early 60s, after I’d begun as a General You worked in Bush House violence. The woman has experienced – I have to think much more about the two Trainee, I had several Bush attachments, for 30 years. How did you feel not always unwillingly – the ritualised characters. I have to walk at least some of the including scriptwriting and producing. My about its closing down? violence of some of her men friends. Camino. And, of course, time isn’t exactly on first job: Bush’s producer in West Region. My I was hugely sad. When I was last there – Towards the end of the story, the man my side! second: back as a scriptwriter. being interviewed for a TV programme about experiences premeditated violence. The Just Now and Then (ISBN-13: 978- In two of my management jobs – with Markov – I couldn’t believe I’d never be in woman experiences spontaneous violence. 1495273216) is available through Amazon the Bulgarians in the early 70s and the Bush again. But I have so many memories Both discover these are much worse than the – on Kindle at £2.06, and in paperback Russians in the late 70s – I worked daily of that golden age. And most of the friends I violence they have known. at £5.94. with broadcasts and broadcasters. But this meet today are colleagues I worked with 50, changed when, through the 80s, I was head 40, 30 years ago... What advice would you give to of the East and then the Central European anyone wanting to write and CLASSIFIEDS Services. It changed even more when I was Have you previously written publish a novel? controller of the European and finally, until or published a book - or had Most publishers won’t, I guess, be too 1992, the Overseas Services. Programmes any inkling that you might interested in a first novel by someone Altea, Spain. moved, despite my best efforts, more into one day? who’s long retired. Today, though, this isn’t Beachfront apartment with jacuzzi, the wings. Bureaucracy and budgets moved Forty or so years ago a short story of mine the end of the road. Despite my technical two bedrooms, air-conditioned, more centre stage. was published – but in the Evening Standard, incompetence, I uploaded my story onto underfloor heating. Contact Sandra. not in a book. I’d sometimes wondered Kindle. My son uploaded it – and the cover Email: [email protected] What did you enjoy most before I retired – and more afterwards – if I he’d designed – onto CreateSpace. So now it’s Mobile: 0034 663657411 about working for the BBC? could write something a bit longer. I had no available through Amazon as an e-book and Venice, Giudecca. I enjoyed enormously writing, producing, inkling, though, that the story I started on a paperback. Beautiful apartment in quiet private editing. But I enjoyed most the people I years ago would finish up at the length it did. If we’re thinking of writing a book, courtyard, sleeps 5, fully equipped. worked with. I couldn’t have had more Nor, until a year or so ago, did I think about should we ask ourselves not why but why Experience the real Venice. deeply civilised bosses than Konrad Syrop, trying to publish it. not? There are, after all, many worse ways of Tel: 01260 227262 Alexander Lieven, Gerry Mansell, Austen using our imaginations. And, by creating a Email: [email protected] Kark and John Tusa. I couldn’t have had more What were the seeds of the story and its characters, we may get a better Paphos. wonderfully knowledgeable and agreeable story that you have told in your understanding of people around us – and A/C studio apartment, sleeps 2/3, fellow managers than Noel Clark, Hugh novel, Just Now and Then? of ourselves. spectacular balcony view, from £95pw. Lunghi, Victor Price and Peter Fraenkel. One of the starting points was my interest in Amenities adjacent. Taxi/car hire arranged. how some of us are, or want to be, or need Are you working on any more Website: www.stayincyprus.co.uk to be, independent, and how others are the books? Tel: 01455 635 759 opposite. Almost at the end of the story, the I’m thinking of a story about a couple Reunions woman has to decide whether to end her starting their retirement who are walking Menorca. decades of dependence and live on her own. Spain’s Camino de Santiago. At the Detached holiday villa. Sleeps 2-7. Private BBC Design & Scenic The man has to decide whether to remain beginning, the man is the outgoing and pool. Near Es Castell. Short drive gorgeous Services Group independent as he has been for many years. assertive partner. By the end, their roles beaches. Brochure 01621 741810. 34th Annual Reunion Lunch will be held on The alternative for both: to decide to be together. are reversed. Website: www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk Friday 17 October 2014 at Ealing Golf Club, Turkish Riviera. Perivale Lane, Greenford, Middlesex. Ciftlik, Fethiye. Luxurious four-bedroom For details, please ring: 07432642479 or CAPTION competition villa, sleeps eight, private pool, £500- email: [email protected] £600pw. Details: www.anchorvilla.co.uk WIN and www.holidaylettings.co.uk/179513 The winner of BBC Scotland Retired Staff Tel: 01344 425219 August’s caption £10 Reunion Email: [email protected] Please note that this year’s annual reunion competition will be on Friday 14 November, 12 noon (and thus a £10 Bugibba, Malta. – 4pm (or later!) The venue, once again, is voucher) was For sale: one bedroom unit (sleeps 4) in The Crowne Plaza, opposite that dear old John Dean, with: Four Star Costa San Antonio Hotel and place across the river at Pacific Quay. Anyone ‘I must hurry Spa, see www.sanantonio-malta.com who qualifies and is reading this, who has up. I’ve got to Reasonable maintenance fee of £322 pa not been to one of these splendid events get to Norwich includes half board and daily maid service, (and is, therefore, not on our email list), to shout at the available for any week except August. should email either Stewart Shearer crowd.’ The Price only £2,000 ([email protected]) or gravy theme Email: [email protected] Bryce Lamont ([email protected]). was popular Phone: 01736 360552 or 07581185836 among the runners-up, Graham Hare (‘Cut! RP Library/Current For Pete’s sake, Delia. That’s the beef Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and gravy’) and Bud Evans (‘Any leftover gravy Recordings/5th Floor/BH Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, London/1969-1982… will do.’) Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Post your witty caption to Prospero Would anyone be interested in meeting up Please enclose a cheque made payable to: for a pub lunch? Please contact: Andrew by Friday 7 November (see page 2 for BBC Central Directorate. Simpson, c/o The Park Inn Hotel, 2 Radnor address) or email [email protected], Picture shows Mrs Shirley Speight (BBC Rate: £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter Park, Folkestone, Kent. Tel: 01303 252355 with ‘caption competition 5’ in the Staff), a make-up shift supervisor, doing please include your pension number. www.facebook.com/TheParkInnHotel subject line. Good luck! character make-up, February 1960.

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