The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online Story of the Stamp Lady

Six decades of selling stamps to BBC staff – page 8

April 2012 • Issue 3

Thompson A Bush House Dance announces ghost story yourself fit departure Page 6 Page 8 Page 9

NEWS • Memories • Classifieds • Your letters • Obituaries • CrosPERO 02 WORLD SERVICE 80TH World Service celebrates 80 years In a giant marquee in the central courtyard of Bush House, a buzz of many languages filled the air as the World Service celebrated 80 years of broadcasting on 29 February.

he mix was eclectic – from Yet the Bush House of today is also old- ‘There’s only so much that I can do been ‘allowed’ to continue broadcasting politicians to an Iron Woman, via fashioned. One of the reasons for the Open as a presenter on BBC One television,’ into his 80s. ‘Do you mind being called a the morning editorial meeting, Day is that as well as being 80 the World commented News’s George Alagaiah. ‘It’s veteran broadcaster?’ asked Williams. ‘No,’ wildlife and reminiscences of the Service is moving on, to the state-of-the very much a front page medium. If you want said his guest. ‘It sounds like an old warrior.’ TService – and all the while the core news art technologies on offer in the new News to know the context, if you want to know Attenborough recently stirred controversy of the day was being reported and debated, Centre at W1. the texture, if you want to get behind the by discussing the effects of global warming just as usual. story, then the World Service delivers that.’ on the polar regions in his last series Frozen Central Commissioner Steve Titherington Sadness as well as celebration Zeinab Badawi, World News presenter, Planet. Asked why he didn’t comment more was running about looking happy and ‘We intend to take the best of Bush with us,’ added: ‘I really think if you just listen to the on the destruction of natural habitats harassed, answering a hundred queries and says Global News director Peter Horrocks. BBC World Service and don’t even read a Sir David said: ‘Broadcasting for 60 years is revelling in the coming-together of a long- ‘We will take advantage of the new facilities newspaper, you’re probably one of the best a huge privilege and you should not use it planned celebration. ‘I’m loving it,’ he told and wonderful technology to build on informed people on earth.’ as a platform to propagandise. Nevertheless Ariel, before rushing off to speak to the next our past successes and make our output there are some things that have become so language service heading into the marquee even better.’ crucial, so important, like global warming to broadcast. Horrocks acknowledged that there are and population growth, that you have to mixed feelings about all the change to come. “WI will give us more say something.’ Memories of the past ‘There’s no doubt that there is an attachment Sixteen language services used the space over to the past of Bush, and that is absolutely experiences, more Running on the spot the course of the day, and much of what was right, given past achievements. But I think for a health check broadcast was also video-streamed live on there is also an excitement about what the people to interact with Sir David was not the only big name the web, with photographers and camera future holds. Today we will pay our respects to grace the marquee. A rather incongruous crews bustling around. Nor was the action to what Bush House has meant, and what it and more buzz.” pair of running machines in the middle confined to the marquee on the stately has achieved.’ of the structure came into their own later marble landings of Bush House; as presenter Steve Titherington seconds that sentiment. in the day when four-time World Iron Lyse Doucet and crew filmed an interview ‘In preparation for this event I’ve been A multi-media experience Man champion, Chrissie Wellington put on one floor, another team shot set ups on a looking at a lot of old pictures from Bush, Quite what the first 1930s World Service volunteer staff through their paces for different level. and the richness, diversity and exuberance staff would have made of the news that Health Matters. Sitting quietly in the offices of the Nepali of the place are plain to see. They show the Open Day was trending on twitter As the day wore on there was a special Service, Puran Agrawal was waiting for his people from all parts of the world working is anyone’s guess, but their 21st century edition of World Have Your Say, and musical turn on air. Mr Agrawal was the first Nepali together, enjoying being together, it’s colleagues certainly made the most of every interludes. There was a staff party in the presenter of the first Nepali programme, so engaging.’ bit of media going to engage the global marquee on Friday evening, as the World which aired on 7 June 1969. He’s back at Titherington believes that spirit of audience in the output. Service enjoyed every minute of its 80th Bush to talk about those early days, when enthusiastic exchange of knowledge and Aside from the first ever broadcast of birthday. BBC History and Heritage have he was told the fledgling service was ‘an advice will transfer intact to W1. ‘In some the morning editorial meeting – live – and also dedicated a web page to the story of experiment – it might last a week, it might ways the move will re-kindle some of the the videos of the activity in the marquee, Bush House. last three months.’ things seen in those old photos,’ he explains. listeners were texting, tweeting, emailing But perhaps the last word should go to ‘I fell into the job by accident,’ he ‘W1 will give us more experiences, more or using facebook to send in questions and World Service staff, reminiscing about their explains. ‘I was studying in London when I people to interact with and more buzz.’ comments. time at Bush House in a specially made was approached and asked if I’d like to do a Nowhere was that more obvious than video, or to the current Writer in Residence half-hour programme once a week.’ Staff tributes in the appearance of the day’s star guest, Hamid Ismailov. In an ode to the building. Forty years ago the programme was Staff have also commented on the joys of the Sir David Attenborough. As he took the Ismailov wrote: recorded on a reel to reel machine, cut collaborative process. Global News presenter stage with interviewer Mike Williams for a ‘Bush House – the Noah’s Arc of nations, together with razor blades and sticky tape Lyse Doucet said: ‘The BBC’s language special edition of One Planet, a screen to the the runway where voices take off and fly over the Earth, and sent by plane to Nepal where it was services have been my tour guides. When side started scrolling through the questions the kingdom where echoes of dead are kept alive, broadcast on a Saturday morning. It was a I was in Afghanistan I worked very closely being fired in from places as far apart as the thinking brain, the watchful eye, the sharp tongue magazine programme, designed to open a with the Pashto and the Persian Service, Melbourne, Cape Town, New York and and the caring heart of meridians, window on the UK to its Nepali audience. talking to them every day. When I was living Newcastle [England]. Bush House – an English pub, an Uzbek chay-khana, Mr Agrawal qualified as an accountant and in Pakistan I was talking to the Urdu Service, a Spanish tavern, an African hut, a Russian kabak, gave up broadcasting. Looking at the large when I moved to the Middle East I worked Warning from an old warrior where views and opinions fly around vibrating the globe, offices, the digital studios, he said: ‘Bush hand in hand with the Arabic Service. Affable and self-deprecating, Sir David Bush House – a cold mirror in front of that old, House is completely different. When I was Everywhere I have gone telling stories, repeatedly told his audience his job was a beautiful and furious world...’ here it was smaller, more old-fashioned.’ I have told those stories with my colleagues.’ ‘privilege’, saying he felt very lucky to have Candida Watson

Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Editorial contributions: Write to: Prospero, employees, or to their spouses and dependants. BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Prospero provides a source of news on former Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Email: prospero@bbc.co.uk colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are issues, plus classified adverts. scanned at 300 dpi. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The next issue of Prospero will appear in June 2012.

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 world service 80th 03 CONTACTS

Visiting Scheme If you would like a visit or information on how to become a volunteer visitor, please ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged at the local rate. Queries For benefit and pension payroll queries, call The three organisers: Linda Mabley, John Tusa with Ralph Young octogenarians and former the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Barry Langridge and Cathy Tait. and Brenda Todd. Controllers, Peter Fraenkel and Mark Dodd. Prospero To add or delete a name from the distribution list, ring the Service Line (number above). Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Retired World Service staff hold BBC employees. On request, we will also send it to spouses or dependants who want to keep in touch with the BBC. Prospero is also available on audio disc for those with a party of their own sight impairment. To register, please ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. An informal get-together of retired World Service staff was held at the BBC Club on the BBC Club lower ground floor of Bush House on the evening of Tuesday, 6 March to celebrate the The BBC Club in London has a retired 80th anniversary of the World Service and to mark its imminent departure from the Aldwych. category membership costing £30 a year for members and £39 a year for family Organised by Bush House veterans Cathy Elizabeth Wright, Maureen Bebb, Ian and of the good times in Bush, but as some membership. Pre-1997 life members are Tait, Linda Mabley and Barry Langridge, Pam Gillham, Alastair Lack, Benny Ammar, Club members queued up at the end not affected. Regional clubs may have who had thoughtfully booked the Bush Richard Oppenheimer, Ralph and Brenda for their ‘free’ Radio Times, the realisation different arrangements. Please call BBC Club London Club for the occasion, it attracted the likes Todd, Mick Delap, Doug Frostick, Gordon dawned on guests that this would probably administration office on 020 8752 6666 or of former WS MD Sir John Tusa, who had Harold, Annie Taylor, Hugh Saxby, Helen be the last time they would meet together email [email protected] boycotted the official party hosted by Law, David Thomas, Caroline Collyer, in the convivial atmosphere of the Bush Chris Patten (see March issue) a few Annie Dent, Jeff Dawes, John Pickford, Club. So, inevitably, leaving the iconic Benevolent Fund days before. Abbas Nasir, and stalwarts of Bush still on building for the last time was tinged This is funded by voluntary contributions Others present included three young the staff like Mark Deutsch, Lynn Powell, with sadness, but gratitude must be from the BBC and its purpose is to protect the welfare of staff, pensioners and their octogenarians (Mark Dodd, Peter Fraenkel Marie Dziedzic, Wendy Scotney, Suzanne expressed to Cathy, Linda, and Barry families. Grants are made at the discretion and Les Richardson), Mary Raine, Judy Luu, Jenny Dunbar and Gianna Faccenda. for bringing us together for such a of the Trustees. They may provide Hole, Eric Bowman, Martin Gundry, Bob As befits a reunion, there was much special occasion. assistance in cases of unforeseen financial Jobbins, Jane Saxby, David Witherow, laughter and nostalgic reminiscence hardship, for which help from other sources is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 3772. Prospero Society As we reported in the last issue of editor and also founder of the Brazilian and As Sir John Tusa, under whom I was very Prospero Society is the only section of the Prospero, the decision by the BBC not Portuguese Audience Research, now pleased to serve, as well as other DGs, I BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff to invite retired World Service staff to retired, having given most of my valid life at could not, but express myself as saying and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC an anniversary staff party on 2 March the service of our beloved Corporation, that you ungratefully and forgetfully senior pensioners to meet on a social basis for raised ire, with former WS MD John mainly when, at very difficult times, many managers, greatly humiliated those, like theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. Tusa refusing to attend a gathering fights took place to save Services, it is with myself, who modestly made Bush House Prospero is supported by BBC Club funds of opinion formers on 1 March. deep regret that I saw myself and many and (today’s World Service) great. You, so as to make events affordable. Gilberto Ferraz, a former WS employee, others neglected at the announced 80th therefore, on this that could be great The only conditions (apart from paying asked Prospero to reproduce the following World Service Anniversary Party, when on anniversary, made it indeed to all those a small annual subscription) are that you letter, which he sent to the Trust Chairman the 75th I was not forgotten. like myself a rather sad date indeed!’ must be a BBC pensioner and a member of the BBC Club. For an application form write and also to the BBC, both General and May I ask, what sort of BBC are we going to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries Avenue, World Service. through when those, like myself, who were Radlett, Herts WD7 7EL. ‘As a long (30 years) serving member of important instruments for its greatness today Telephone: 01923 855177 the World Service, both as Portuguese have miserably been forgotten? Mobile: 07736 169612 Email: [email protected] BBC products BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% Crospero 165 devised and compiled by Jim Palm discount off the RRP of most products in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a 1 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words postage charge of £2.95 per order running across. Then take these words in numerical order and (not per item). Pensioners must quote 2 3 extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, their BBC pension number when ordering. these letters will spell out a well-known theme tune. Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, 4 5 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The Editor, W12 7RJ. Telephone: 020 8225 8230 6 7 Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Email: [email protected] Cardiff CF5 2YQ by Friday, 11 May 2012. Other ways to order (quoting your pension number when ordering): By phone: 8 CLUES 08700 777 001 8.30am-6pm weekdays. 1. Mould dough (5); 2. Bushy head of hair (4); 3. Mature (4); By post: BBC Shop, PO Box 308, 9 10 4. Representative (5); 5. Women’s quarters (5); 6. Miss David, actress (5); Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8LW. 7. Jugs (5); 8. Priest’s garment (3); 9. It’s sweet and sticky (5); Email: [email protected]. 11 10. Fixed (5); 11. Poem (3); 12. Originated (5); 13. Scribe (5); Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, 14. Lilies (5); 15. Hairdresser’s premises (5); 16. Payment to council (4); Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or 17. Lump of earth (4); 18. Alcove (5). 12 13 Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for telephone, post and email orders. Overseas: £4.50 for 14 15 one item and £2 for each additional product Solutions for Crospero 164: Vase; Forays; Dirt; One; Rota; Lease; Sage; for telephone, post and email orders. 16 17 Menu; Ostend; Raise; Cavern; Rare; Agog; Lumen; Iron; Sag; Stew; BBC PA Renoir; Eels. The BBC series was SAINTS AND SCROUNGERS. 18 For details of how to join the Pensioners’ The winner of Crospero 164 was Richard Cox of Norwich. Association, see panel on page 5.

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 04 Letters

Manor). If Home, Light or Third continuity Working in the failed, this came into use because it had a Salford salvo BBC experimental soundproof window to studio S3 [maybe S2] War Control Room to where the announcer would be moved. continues stereo I can tell you more about the photograph The shipping forecast was also regularly I suspect there will be more enlightened In the late 50s and early 60s, the BBC on page 7 of the March issue of Prospero, done from Bay 1 and S3 when it was an people than myself who will have taken made special recordings in stereo with because that is where I started work! opt-out from the Light Programme. issue with A Barber’s letter ‘Why (the dump) a view to their being broadcast using Not in 1942, when the photograph was On the move to the ‘new’ Control Room Salford’. Were the finest brains really only in TV sound and VHF as the two audio taken, but in 1961, when the equipment in BH extension, the ‘Bays’ became C&M London – I am sure there will be those who channels.The attached picture was found shown was still in use! positions, a term which used to get a smile will take issue with that statement. However, in the Radio Times of 30 January 1959. in my lectures at ETD later on. New TOs were if there is a certain amount of truth in it, always put on these, and routing the signal then taking a look at the present BBC output through them was later dropped because it that is largely decided in London it looks as created so many disasters (including mine!) though the majority have left. Colin Pierpoint As for ‘That Dump – Salford’, has your writer been to Salford recently? This letter is more directed at those who may be saying Cherry’s sour grapes ‘Why go to Salford’? At one time, I am sure Chris Cherry’s letter (Prospero, March 2012) few people in the BBC in London would might have sounded like sour grapes, if he have wanted to live in London’s Dockland, hadn’t been absolutely right. but now I suspect people are flocking there. I’m of the same vintage as Chris, and after Salford will be the same and if you are rich 32 years – wonderful ones, at the BBC in enough you may even be able to tie up your television, mostly in drama plays – I’d have luxury cruiser a hundred yards from Media considered myself fairly intelligent, if I hadn’t City’s front door. As for culture, having just realised that some ‘rules’ have a very good seen a rather mediocre London production reason for being there and ‘cleverness’ is not a at the Lowry in Salford at £30 a seat, for us very good alternative to acceptable television it didn’t hold a candle to our local Amateur grammar, finely honed over many years. Operatic Society’s production of Beauty and I think I am right in identifying it as the To suggest that ‘us retired folk’ could the Beast, and only for a third of the price – emergency War Control Room in the sub- mentor the ‘up and coming generation’ is so where is all this London excellence? As an basement of Broadcasting House. It could futile, as that would be considered as a rather ex-Londoner I know where I would prefer to just be 200 Oxford Street where similar large step, back to the bad old days. live and not worry about how the financial equipment was broadcasting the Forces Innovation is important and there have wizards think Broadcasting should be Service (later Overseas Service), but the been some wonderful technical advancements catered for. clue to the location is the sound acoustic in recent years; unfortunately they have not Roy Bradshaw treatment seen on the wall at the back. always been used to the best advantage. At the outbreak of war, the Control Room Confusing your viewer, and in some had been on the eighth floor of Broadcasting cases infuriating ‘him or her’ seems to me Daily Express and House, rather vulnerable to air attack, so extremely arrogant. it was quickly moved to the sub-basement It’s not ‘cutting edge’ – it’s blowing a hole Dickinson Road – studio where there were three studios (S1 right through the middle of it! I have many of the experimental stereo was from where the first Baird transmissions It’s no good telling a joke unless you get can you help? recordings made by the Northern Dance were made). The largest, at the end of the the punch line right! Trevor Hill’s excellent feature on Orchestra, found as a result of the ‘NDO corridor, became the Control Room (S2?) so After all, I always thought that one of the Manchester’s Dickinson Road studio reminds project’, but wondered whether other quickly that there was no time to remove the BBC’s maxims was to ‘delight and inform’. me that sometime in the 50s, in my pre-BBC recordings might exist too. acoustic treatment from the walls. You will be doing neither if the viewer has days, I (then with the Daily Telegraph) and a It is interesting to note that, in general, The bays of identical equipment seen in used the ‘off’ button, and gone to the pub! chap with the Daily Express in Manchester the quality of the recordings was excellent, the photo were used for control of music My advice to the ‘up and coming’ is not to co-hosted two live interview programmes and those I have were made nearly 12 years lines going through to another destination, do it unless you can get it right! there. Sadly my memory has gone and I before Manchester went fully stereo. often a ‘Recording Room’ as noted (later Let’s keep the BBC up where it should be cannot remember his name nor that of the I have received provisional agreement called Recording Channel), Home Traffic, – ‘At the top’. producer. Any thoughts anyone, please? from the BBC and the Musicians Union to Foreign Traffic or CBC. Mike Jackley Martin Noble make a triple CD set of the Northern Variety It consisted of an AM16 (bay mounted Orchestra/Northern Dance Orchestra, version of the famous OBA/8); the operator with recordings from around the 1950s, has her hand on the main fader. Above are Equity report slams end credits up to their change to the Northern Radio four channel faders on the MX18 which Orchestra. worked at mic level. Above the mixer is a A Barber sent in this cartoon in response to the following Equity press This should be available late 2012 – or panel of four red light signalling keys (an release item: when the previous ‘Diamonds’ double CD earth on the studio output sleeve would End credits on TV shows need to be more prominent, says a report from the actors’ set are all sold. Following on from recent switch on the studio red light). A music union, Equity. More than 10,000 people took part in a survey after viewers’ complaints letters in Prospero, Jack Hollinshead worked at line always had an associated control line over fast-rolling and shrunken credits. the BBC in Manchester when the first NVO (telephone) and the other operator is seen Popular dramas such as Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Great Expectations were recordings were made (to 78s), in the early using a telephone plugged into the jack by singled out, with 88 per cent saying they were ‘disgusted’ when credits were hard to 1950s, and has been extremely helpful with a cord with a knot. Just above this cord read. Equity’s General Secretary, Christine Payne spoke of ‘an underlying lack of respect’. my research. are four ‘drop flap indicators’, an amazing You can read the full report here: https://www.equity.org.uk/documents/credit- To find out more, or if you have any device which would do what it says when where-its-due/credit-where-it-s-due.pdf material associated with the band, please someone rang. contact me at [email protected] In fact, on my first days in the job as Ian C Reed Technical Operator, I rang places all across Europe from here, although by my day the telephone had become a ‘Tele F’ with a hand-cranked ringing handle. The amount of BBCPA AGM notice force needed to ring was proportional to the The Annual General Meeting of the distance, so you could immediately tell if the BBC Pensioners’ Association will take line was connected. I do remember ringing place on Thursday, 26 April 2012 at the Moscow (and this was in the Cold War), Friends’ Meeting House, 173-177 Euston which required five seconds of heavy action Road, London NW1 2BJ, starting at 2pm. from a standing position. Geoff Jones, the pensioner elected trustee, There were several identical bays for these will be speaking, as will Paul Lewis from circuits: numbers 1, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11. Money Box. More information can be found Number 1 also was the standby continuity at www.bbcpa.org.uk. (not in 1942, when continuity was at Abbey

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 LETTERS 05

network that links Salford to the Arndale John Henty Relocation to Centre in Manchester. If the deprivation of Lack of interest the London smoke becomes too great, a train Violet Chester/ Salford not the end leaves from Manchester Piccadilly station in Local Radio’s every 20 minutes on the 2hr 10min journey John Jeffries – sons of the world to London. proud past seek information I cannot understand the level of complaints If I was still working in London and was As one of the first producers in BBC Local being made about jobs being moved from offered the chance to move North to Greater Radio, I can fully appreciate the concern there Prospero has received a request from London to the new studios at Salford Quays. Manchester, I would jump at it. My quality is today amongst current broadcasting staff Michael Jefferies, who is seeking I made a similar move from Broadcasting of life would be greatly improved by the regarding the continuation of this vital service. information about his parents, Violet House to Manchester in 1967 and my move. In May last year, I organised a three- However it should be remembered that Chester and John Jeffries, who each world did not end. The move was not made day meeting for the members of a UNESCO – even in my time – the long-term future worked at the BBC for around 40 years, without some pressure being applied – international committee in Manchester. The was uncertain. What is more difficult to from the mid-1940s. because of a re-organisation, my job as a committee is the main body for the Memory understand, however, is why – if my recent Michael and his brother are trying to TO in the radio studios around London was of the World Programme that deals with experience in Brighton is anything to go by construct a better picture of their parents’ being abolished and I was not guaranteed libraries and archives, including audio, film – there should be a lack of interest by senior lives, as they did not live with them when another job in London. and video collections. Around 50 people management at BBC Sussex in the pioneering they were growing up. Before I moved to Manchester, I had never attended from 27 countries including radio station’s proud past? Michael writes: ‘The colleagues with been further North than Birmingham. I had Tajikistan, Chile and Ghana as well as many It is the subject of a talk I have been giving whom I have so far been in contact have many misgivings about the black, grimy European countries. They were all impressed to a wide range of organisations across been very generous with their time. Joan industrial wasteland that I would be living by what the Manchester area had to offer. Sussex for over five years now. Very popular Green, in particular, who worked with Vi in and the much less interesting range of George Boston too, incorporating, as it does, memories of in Yalding House for over 30 years, sent programmes that I would be working on. Des Lynam, Kate Adie, Gavin Hewitt and even me a very long letter, detailing their time The reality was that I found that I could Jeremy Paxman. together, but I have yet to find anyone actually afford to buy a house in a pleasant The significance of Late last year, I dropped a note into BBC who worked with John. area not too distant from the Dickenson Sussex HQ in Queens Road, Brighton, to ‘I know that he worked in Oxford just Road TV studio or the radio studios in David Cordingley tell the manager about these promotional after the war, and in Brookmans Park BH Manchester. In addition, my range of Giles Oakley’s affectionate remembrance of talks and to suggest that I might make ‘a from 1949 to 1959. After that, he was work was widened considerably to include David Cordingley (Obituaries, March Prospero) re-appearance on the local airwaves – even moved back to London, but in what television and outside broadcasts. Producers is spot on. if it was just for one special over Christmas’ department and in what building I have such as Barney Colehan, Trevor Hill, Gillian David’s work is significant in a way that (say) or ‘whenever’ in 2012. ‘I wouldn’t no idea. So, if any of your readers can fill Hush, Jim Casey, Nick Hunter and many is hard to measure, but my guess is that it want paying,’ I added as encouragement and in the blanks, I would be very grateful.’ others ensured that we had a very rich and is huge. He had a just enormous effect on ‘I really hope you’re interested’. Apparently If you can help, please get in touch varied diet of work. I was also made very public health through his clear-eyed view of not! That was seven weeks ago and I have with Prospero (see below for contact welcome by my new colleagues, including what the most up-to-date research was and heard nothing from the station since – not details) and we will put you in touch Jack Hollinshead whose kindness to what the BBC’s duty was, and was willing even an acknowledgement of my note. with Michael. newcomers was the subject of a letter in the to go against the complacent grain (it’s just Ageism, sexism, sadism? Or just plain rude? last issue of Prospero. a vague idea, another idea will come along The truth in 1967, as it is now in 2012, soon to prove it wrong). Proposed reunion for Ealing film unit staff was that, like the Greater London area, the Saturated fat is bad for you? Smoking is I am attempting to organise a reunion for staff from the now-closed BBC film unit at Greater Manchester area (which includes the bad for you? Maybe drinking a lot of alcohol Ealing studios at Sunningdale Park, Sunningdale on Friday, 12 October 2012. The hotel is City of Salford) is a very varied place. Much is not a good idea? Exercise is good for set in parkland and the idea is to have a dinner with drinks and canapes beforehand. The like London, it does have pockets of ‘Dark, you? Fresh fruit and veg good? All of this is meal, including the pre-dinner drinks, will be £38 per head, and there is a considerable satanic mills’, but also has great museums, accepted now but it wasn’t then. discount if you would like to stay the night and not have to drive home. Initially I am theatres and areas of pleasant countryside. He connected with the best researchers collecting names to gauge interest. People can contact me at [email protected] The area around the Salford Quays may not in the field and was willing to bet on them We would be pleased to have anybody who would like to come and meet their old be an area which you would like to live in, being right. And he was a genius in being friends again. We have only had one reunion so far and that was a few years ago now, and but by travelling for 30 minutes, you can able to create programmes which would not it would be so sad if we all drifted apart. The hotel is close to Sunningdale station, the M3 be in pleasant suburbs and villages. Very seem hectoring or superior. I still remember and not far from the M4 and Ascot. few BBC staff live near their place of work a sequence from a programme he made Ben Wade at Television Centre or BH. They live some showing a pyrex jug full of the fat from distance away and commute – in many cases an average portion of fish and chips, with for more than an hour. The same happens a calm commentary on the likely effect on in Manchester and Salford – except that the your arteries. I have never been able to eat commuting time is usually much less and fish and chips since. the cost lower. Where you choose to live and where you work do not have to be that close together. I also remember the fuss that was kicked up when people were asked to move from Central London to Canary Wharf. There were cries because of the perceived loss of opportunities for lunchtime retail therapy and other cultural activities. The fuss has died away as people realised that Canary Wharf was not on the far side of the Moon but only 6km from the Bank in the City. The shopping experience in the Docklands has steadily improved – they even have had a John Lewis store for many years now. The same cries have been made about the move to the desolate waste of Salford Quays, which is an insurmountable distance of 4km from the centre of Manchester. There is even the equivalent of the Docklands Light Railway in the form of the Metrolink tram He was a wonderful colleague: energetic, Please send your letters to: The fun, always open to debate and discussion. Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension He represented the very best of the BBC’s and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting commitment to education in its broadest and most popular sense. House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ or email Jenny Rogers [email protected]

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 06 Mmememories

A Bush House ghost story by Bob Symes

After my BBC induction training in 1954, I joined the team of Bush House’s ‘vocal’ SMs.

duly noted, a card of condolence sent and to newsroom and I was certain they would life went on as if nothing had happened, as have coped. So I planned to stand by with it has a habit of doing. the news talk on the turntable, my fingers So far so good. Now one of the crossed and a good stand-by music filler peculiarities of the SM’s shift pattern was the record on the LP machine. regular nightshift occurring once a month, On time, I played the Greek sig tune, when one had to cover from 10pm to 8am made the opening announcement and added the next morning. To make things simple, in a matter-of-fact style ‘that today we would from after midnight till say 6.30am, it was start the programme with the news talk arranged that one stayed in the same studio before the news bulletin’. all the time while the sections followed each other. All the SM had to do before this stint was to prepare the transmission layouts, the “I had the sick feeling sig tunes and the recorded news talk for each programme, not forgetting a musical that all this was one fill up record – just in case! So it happened to me one night that the of those dreadful Greek transmission was supposed to be Dr Krassas, the Bush House ghost. his meant that, in addition to the presented, as usual, by Dr Krassas, (the very nightmares and I had normal duties of balance and control, one who had just died). No real problem. the reading of the station ident ‘This We all knew of the sad demise of the good fallen asleep on duty. ” there was modulation on the line and he is London calling in the European doctor and the section would, by now, have laughingly said: ‘It’s all Greek to me, haha!’ TService of the BBC’ was made before every found a replacement. Nevertheless I phoned The programme came to its end and transmission and then the language speaker the Greek section to ascertain all was well. This was the moment when the studio flew Dr Krassas got up, came into the cubicle, sat was introduced. Being a small section there was no one in open and Dr Krassas burst into the studio, down on the table, looked at me and said: After settling down to the Bush House the office when I rang; they were probably sat down and pointed at the microphone. He ‘Isn’t death terrible…’, got up and walked routine, one got to know the cosmopolitan in the canteen. Ah well, later would do. As looked absolutely terrible. As he had a script out. Cris Cviic of the Yugoslavs came in and presenters well and often established friendly time passed I started worrying. I still got no in his hand, I thought the best thing was to before he rushed into the studio I managed relationships that lasted for years. reply from the section or the canteen so I wait for a short pause in the talk, fade it to ask him if he had seen any Greeks. ‘No,’ he I had many close friends in the German, informed the engineer in blue continuity out, open his microphone and give him a said. I staggered up, made the English ident Austrian and Yugoslav section and a host of and the presentation assistant. Everyone green light. for him and played his sig tune. Cris started others. One knew most speakers from other started worrying now but they said: ‘Don’t I had the sick feeling that all this was his news. sections but one was not always as close worry Bob, when the time is right there one of those dreadful nightmares and I had At this moment the death-like face of to them. will be a Greek speaker!’ just to keep me fallen asleep on duty. But no, inexorably, Dr Krassas came round the door again, stared So it was not surprising that the sudden from throwing a wobbly. After all, the loss the nightmare programme went on. I rang at me and said: ‘Losing an identical twin death of the Greek section’s newsreader was of the regular newsreader was well known continuity and asked my colleague if brother is losing half of yourself.’ Work experience at Solent

as word spread that we were looking for Many of our students learnt of technical We also used our work-experience team people to help carry out basic background designs from our own trained engineers to learn how to read and follow music operations (such as tape reclaim), so that and were supervised in high standards scores at, say, outside broadcasts of large we could stay on air. by our own BBC staff. One such mini- symphony orchestras like the BSO and We welcomed many new faces to product was to design and construct a we used some of the same team to act our studios, who enabled our newly small battery oscillator to leave connected as helpers at many Church services recruited staff of 35 to carry on with to tested OB Post Office lines ahead of an to liaise with the Clergy of all ranks… pre-transmission training and OB, so that a live transmission could be good experience. programme preparation. guaranteed when the OB team turned up OBs at all our local racecourses used our Volunteers included school pupils, for a broadcast knowing that at least the ‘team’ to assist the BBC commentators and college students, nurses and the ‘just programme line was tested and equalised all wore their BBC ID labels. We even had to interested’ brigade. Many stayed with us correctly. The Post Office OB team was restrict the numbers at times when word was for years, often turning up after school much impressed with this simple cost- passed around that broadcast training for all The subject of work experience is a or at weekends, and we integrated all the saving line-checker. types of local radio output was available. topical one at the moment, with the volunteers into our BBC work patterns, We also trained our own ‘handy-man’ to We trained many volunteers to set up and Government scheme being accused especially in the engineering field. In this build many unattended outside studios with install coloured LED lamps into a large-scale, of exploiting young people. Paul way, many ‘students’ moved on to other help from our team, using recycled acoustic board-mounted Ordnance Survey map on Gouldstone, Radio Solent’s first chief departments within the BBC in staff posts, boxes, while our engineering team of work one of our long corridors so that invited engineer, remembered how an army of e.g. the Eic BBC Radio Jersey and senior experience students designed the switching audiences could actually view the location work experience volunteers helped to posts in ITA. systems suitable for blind and disabled of our various studios and transmitters – launch Radio Solent in the midst of the Local Radio tape reclaim carried on broadcasters to use. This enabled our own a good project for all concerned. miners’ strike. in-house for some time, until the BBC blind broadcaster, Peter White, to be able Altogether, work experience was used BBC Radio Solent came on air late in centrally organised a system to automate to use any one of our many unattended at BBC Radio Solent for many years, and 1970, ahead of its ‘official’ start-up date the reclaim of expensive recording tape outside studios on his own, either linked to helped to give some good guidance to men of New Year’s Eve, to broadcast news of with on-station regular deliveries from Southampton or to any regional or London and women for their future careers. the national power cuts as a result of the a Daventry base. studio centre. For example, we used to file miners’ strike. That very important event We didn’t pay our work experience tape selected grooves in the handles of studio brought together a large number of work reclaim volunteers, but we did cover out- switches so that Peter could operate a distant experience volunteers, from late school of-pocket expenses such as for OB meals studio entirely on his own… a groovy job age onwards, into our new radio station, on the road and transport where necessary. eagerly carried out by one of our ‘team’!

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 MMEMemoriORIesES 07 Tales of TVC to air mid-May Test card topics A Bush House ghost story by Bob Symes ‘Following our appeal in Prospero (November Neville Withers wrote in with an amusing The sad passing of David Allan 2011) for former members of staff to come anecdote about the then Dr Who: forward with their memories of life at ‘Being a film traffic supervisor working – reported in the last issue – Television Centre in its heyday, we had several in the East Tower, each day immediately after brings into focus that evocative very interesting letters’, writes Jax Cohen, lunch I would go up to the Programme memory of yesteryear: the production co-ordinator. Planning Office on the sixth floor to collect ‘We are just putting the finishing touches the Telecine Booking Sheets. I collected the television test card, writes to the completed programme, Tales of Television sheets and headed for the South Hall lifts, Jim Palm. Centre, which tells the story of this iconic pressing the button – as one does – to call building through the stories of stars and staff. the lift. On its arrival I got in and pressed Time to connect ‘It’s a 90-minute epic, full of rare ‘G’. The lift headed down and stopped at the April is Connect month… Join a Connect archive footage and is provisionally set for second floor, where Jon Pertwee (the current club in April and get £5 off your annual transmission on BBC FOUR in mid-May.’ Dr Who at the time) got in and pressed subscription*. There are lots of Connect clubs to A preview screening will be held on ‘4’. ‘Going down,’ I said. Jon Pertwee said choose from… Flying, Sub Aqua, Canal 15 May 2012 at London’s National Film nothing. The doors closed and the lift went Cruising, Gliding Club, Yacht, Riding, Theatre – tickets for this go on sale in April. up to the fourth floor. The doors opened and Golf, Netball, Rambling, Rifle, Running, Jon Pertwee got out. I said, ‘Look, I know Sailing, Snowsports, Arts and Culture, Extracts from letters you’re a Time Lord but you don’t have to Film, Players, Music, Photography, Radio Brenda Todd wrote in with her memories of prove it.’ Jon Pertwee turned round and said, Theatre, Wine and Beer, Spice Activity TVC, which included the day the cash office ‘I know, but it does have its advantages.’ Club or Prospero. was robbed: And ‘jkr2012’ wrote: Learn a new skill, take up a new hobby ‘It was located on the other side of the ‘In the 50s, Television Service was When TV resumed after the war, and socialise with likeminded people… building but opposite our office. We thought dominated by two formidable ladies: Grace transmission hours were extremely short but it’s all there for the taking! The best thing they were filming Z Cars or similar, but when Wyndham Goldie, Head of Talks, and Joanna some way had to be found whereby dealers is, you can join as many as you like! Email: [email protected]; Tel: 020 8752 a security guard came in, told us it was for Spicer, Controller, Planning. So it seemed could demonstrate sets to potential buyers. 6547; Website: www.bbcclub.com real and that we had to stay in our office and only fitting that the nymphs in the fountain So, for some years, a special demonstration /connect keep low, it became a bit frightening. There should be known as Grace and Joanna. I film was run every morning, and once this was a gunshot and that left a hole in the watched them being installed; this involved had outlived its usefulness, it gave way to Prospero Connect group The Prospero Society is open to BBC Club ceiling of the cash office. The cash office was some very intimate plumbing. The only time oscillator-induced, constant-pitch signals and members who have officially retired from subsequently moved to another floor and I’ve seen a plumber blush!’ the first test card – a melange of lines and the BBC along with their spouses security was stepped up.’ circles for checking picture quality. (as long as they are also members of the Non-copyright music from the BBC’s BBC Club). Its purpose is to promote Sound Archives popped up sometimes but activities to alleviate the wrench that occurs the coming of BBC2 in 1964 called for more when one retires and is deprived of the Recording the Coronation, test card time and more music, and David was contacts made during the years of working given the job of organising it. Commercial in the BBC. 2 June 1953 records could not be used; there were strict Activities include lunches, coach trips, needletime rules and the cost, anyway, would theatre trips and a traditional Christmas Reading the article by John Priest in the The recordings were effectively those of a have been prohibitive. lunch, all at subsidised prices for Prospero members. Regular newsletters keep December issue of Prospero reminded 200 line system and various artifices were So David looked to the Continent and, members informed of all activities. L Richardson of the part played by used to overcome the unavoidable defects. in particular, to West Germany. He and his Cost: £7 renewed annually on 31 March Research Department in making available The Suppressed Frame Telerecording System small team found some marvellous material Email: [email protected]; a telerecording of the events of that became a reality. Two identical channels which soon attracted much interest among Tel: 019 238 55177 great day. were installed at AP just prior to the aficionados of light music – including me. Connect events The principle of recording television Coronation date. Being broadcast virtually every day, it became Gliding group open weekend: trial gliding pictures on film for later transmission was In addition, Derivative Equalisers were increasingly familiar and listeners wanted to lessons offered to BBC Club members. first proposed by Philip Dorte in 1947 developed by GG Gouriet and AV Lord and know where they could buy it. Of course, they 28-29 April 11am-4pm, at Booker Airfield but nothing had been produced to allow produced in sufficient quantity to equip couldn’t – and David’s office soon became (High Wycombe). Cost: £50. it to happen. The idea was resurrected in nearly all the TV cameras in use in both the swamped with enquiries. Contact Roger Limb (Tel: 020 8348 7016) mid-1952, with the hope that the televised Abbey and along the route to improve the I remember calling him one day from my Golf spring competition: 27 Holes coronation ceremony could be recorded sharpness of the pictures, compensating for office in Sound Effects. ‘Oh no,’ he replied, Stableford Event. Prizes for best morning so that excerpts could be rebroadcast the optical and electrical distortions. ‘Not you as well! You’d better come over for a and afternoon rounds, longest drive and same day, both in the UK and overseas, In the early hours on the ‘Day’, two cup of tea and I’ll tell you about it.’ nearest the pin. Dinner and prize giving particularly in North America. teams left Kingswood Warren in separate His office in BH Extension was piled (members are required to wear jacket and tie for dinner). Two identical channels were built, having standard vanguard cars en route to AP by high with tapes; there were steel cupboards Monday 16 April 8.30am-10pm, been designed by a team of Research different routes. The teams comprised filled with non-needletime LPs and more at Old Fold Manor Golf Club, Barnet. Engineers at Kingswood Warren led by JR Good, SJ Lent, PCH Legate, G Wilkinson overflowed onto the floor. New tapes for Cost: £55 for golf members; £75 for guests. AV Lord, CBB Wood and ER Rout. and L Richardson. The sound component TV use were compiled regularly and old Email: [email protected]; The idea was simple in principle – to of the telerecording was by GB KALLE ones withdrawn so as to add variety to the Tel: 020 8433 2956 use a high quality 35mm film camera to machines provided by the BBC PID’s proceedings; the quality of the music just Riding taster session: organised by the photograph the television picture – but in H Goodings and N Woodward. kept on getting better. David’s office also BBC Riding Club in association with The practice, difficult to apply. The exposed film, 1,200ft of 35mm each produced their own LPs and these were sent British Horse Society. All participants will The main problem was that, each loading, was processed by Kay Laboratories out to BBC Local Radio stations. To this ever- have a half-hour ride, a ‘hands on’ session 1/50th second frame, the film in the and edited at AP from where it was collected growing mountain of music was added a vast and a classroom session. camera had to be moved down from one by helicopter and delivered to Northolt amount of material from the USA and Canada; Tuesday 17 April 7-9pm, at Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, Off Wood Land, rock-steady position to the next similar airfield for onward flight to Canada and eventually David’s archive ran to many London W12 position. This required a relatively long USA by RAF Canberra jets. It was on air via thousands of titles and his multi-volume Cost: £35 per person period of time such that almost half the Telecine by 4.30pm local time. catalogue filled an entire shelf. Email: [email protected]; recording time was spent just moving The Suppressed Frame equipment was In an effort, I suspect, to keep me quiet, Tel: 07860 280258 and registering the film in position, not later transferred to Lime Grove, upgraded he very kindly allowed me to listen to some actually recording. over time to the Stored Field Telerecording of the material in my lunch hour. The trouble *Offer only available to new Connect club In the equipment, each frame of the Channel which made use of the phosphor was that lunch breaks were never long members. Cannot be used towards membership interlaced picture was recorded on one afterglow of the monitor picture tube enough! renewals. You must become a Full Club member. frame of 35mm film, the other alternative to allow recovery of the ‘lost frame’ and Today, with round-the-clock TV, there is If Connect club annual subscription is less than frame being lost during the pull-down remained in use until 1957. little or no room for test cards or for the £5, BBC Club will only contribute the value of period. Few of the original team members music that went with them, which is a pity. the annual subscription. There was no mechanical shutter but the remain today but from time to time But there are CDs currently available which picture was blacked out to allow pull-down examples of the recording system can serve to remind us how good that music was, Got a question or comment? and registration of the film in the camera. still be seen. and it was David Allan who brought it to us Email us at [email protected] in the first place. or call 020 875 26666.

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 08 life after auntie Dance yourself fit Bonnie Margo sent in this article about her experience of taking up dancing in later life. What do we know about dancing? It used to be something people only did at functions, discos and clubs, mainly for the young and only embarrassingly for the old. Oh, how things have changed.

Ever since Strictly Come Dancing became so The age group was from 18 to 80 and all popular, dancing has become something the people were so friendly. It was just a everyone wants to do. It showed that even if whole evening of fun. The beginners’ class you have never graced the dance floor before lasted for 50 minutes, with the option to (or only perhaps if you had had one too stay on for the intermediate class (another many!), you may have what it takes to master 50 minutes) if the first class left you wanting one of the most rewarding and fun loving more. Our class takes place once a week, and pastimes ever. while we’re there we’re also able to find out When it comes to dancing, age does not about forthcoming dances in the area. It has matter. There are so many different kinds of opened up a whole new social scene for us dance styles to choose from, that you will and we love every minute. always find something to suit. So don’t just sit watching it on TV, thinking Dance classes are great for the ‘not-so- you’d like to do it but don’t know if you young’: it is a proven fact that dancing is should…give it a try, you may be pleasantly a very healthy form of exercise and far less surprised. And in the words of the old master boring than just walking, swimming or himself, Bruce Forsyth… ‘Keep dancing!’ going to the gym. Health experts are forever telling us that the movement from dancing Find a dance class is especially helpful for people with mild The easiest way to get into dancing is to Story of the Stamp Lady back problems, aching joints and general contact a dance agency in your region on the lethargy. The music alone can be a great Dance UK website: www.danceuk.org. Click mental pick-me-up and a particularly great on Resources/Navigating the Dance World/ Once a month a doughty figure strides the corridors of form of socialising. National & Regional Dance Agencies to view Broadcasting House and the BBC White City estate, her My husband and I first came across our a map. particular ‘dance scene’ in our mid-60s, passage marked by the cry ‘It’s the Stamp Lady!’ when we went to a ‘tea dance’ held at a local hotel and saw people dancing to what is any people also know her by put it’, because she was caring for her invalid now called ‘lindy hop’ or ‘swing dancing’ – name, because Tricia Baldwin mother. She was working 10-hour shifts, a form of jive but to the music of the 30s has been selling stamps to often at anti-social hours and the strain had and 40s (with a little rock ‘n roll thrown in). BBC workers for more than become too much. We were intrigued by all the different M60 years, first as a staff member, now moves involved and decided to find out because she enjoys it. more. To cut a long story short, we were told ‘I always sold stamps at work because I about a local dance class where they taught was a stamp collector,’ says Tricia. ‘I thought “I shall keep going this form of dance, and we decided to it would help me fund my hobby, which is go along. stamp collecting, because you know the BBC until I can’t.” The minute we opened the door, we heard never paid its staff very much.’ the most wonderful music, from Glenn For Tricia a career at the BBC had never Miller to Bill Haley, and immediately we been on the agenda – she wanted to be Yet retirement led to the birth of the Stamp were ready to get involved. an actress. ‘But I realised that I hadn’t got Lady. Tricia’s little sideline had never earned You do not have to have a partner, as it it in me,’ she says, with a rueful smile. ‘I much for her own stamp collecting, but is taught in a rotating form, where the dance used to do amateur dramatics and I played it had become a very useful resource for is broken down into individual moves which two roles and the producer said ‘you did her colleagues. ‘When I left people said ‘oh are then finally put together at the end. extraordinarily well’ and I thought, that’s the you can’t go, where are we going to buy There is certainly no lifting or throwing each time to quit.’ our stamps from?’ So I said I’d come back other about – that would be ‘strictly’ out She joined the BBC straight out of and flog them stamps. I only intended to of the question! secretarial school in Great Portland Street in do my old department but before I knew it 1951, spending more than a decade working someone asked me to do the second floor, her way up from the ‘secretarial reserve’ then the fourth floor and in no time it was to clerk typist, before becoming a studio the whole of Broadcasting House.’ manager. It wasn’t an easy move to make. And from Broadcasting House she has Grace Wyndam Goldie (BBC) ‘One boss said to me, one of the reasons we expanded to White City, the Broadcast Centre don’t really want to recruit you as a studio and parts of the Media Centre, making her manager is that girls tend to go off and get rounds, asking ‘Anyone want any stamps?’ Trust Fund married, so I said ‘Are you proposing?’ That Her best sellers are picture stamps, which was the sort of attitude you came up against.’ Tricia makes a point of having in variety. She Applications are invited for grants from the The resource of the Fund is limited. Whilst Tricia thoroughly enjoyed being an is herself an enthusiastic collector of stamps Grace Wyndham Goldie (BBC) Trust Fund, So that help can be given where it is most SM she makes no secret of what the greatest featuring cats, of any sort. which exists to help those engaged in needed, applicants must be prepared attraction of working at the BBC was for her. ‘I’ve made a whole raft of new friends broadcasting or an associated activity, now to give, in confidence, full information ‘What hooked me was Motspur Park and all doing this. We often end up discussing or in the past, as well as their children and about the circumstances supporting the sporting facilities, tennis, netball, you things and forget the stamps,’ she says, and dependants. their applications. name it.’ although she will be 80 this year Tricia The Trustees, in their discretion, will Those wishing to apply this year should She explains, ‘There was a riding section has no intention of hanging up her leather consider giving assistance towards write for an application form to: BBC so I rode with the Household Cavalry in their ‘stamp bag’ and putting her feet up just yet. educational costs in small ways, such as Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting riding school, I skated at Queensway, I joined ‘I keep going because I’m interested travelling expenses, school outfits, books House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Forms should be the dance section, I took up bridge, and I in everything, I lived a sporting life, and additions to educational awards. returned by no later than 31 July 2012. learnt to play golf, which was the love of my I don’t smoke and my drinking is negligible,’ Other grants can be made in respect of a Applicants are considered annually in life. So I never wanted to leave the BBC. It she explains. ‘I’ve found that as the staff specific short-term unexpected need which September and in no circumstances can didn’t matter about the job.’ change I make new friends and although is beyond the means of the beneficiary and continuing help over a number of years However, when she was 55, Tricia was my legs do get tired I shall keep going not covered by aid from other sources. be promised. retired ‘in my own best interests, as they until I can’t.’

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 BACK AT THE BBC 09 Thompson announces departure Mark Thompson will stand down as director general of the BBC this autumn, after the Olympics.

He was appointed when the BBC was still immensely enjoyable and rewarding, is Money matters reeling from the impact of the Hutton all of you: your talent and energy, your Inquiry, which led to the resignation of the unshakeable belief in the BBC and everything It’s a gift! previous director general Greg Dyke and of it stands for.’ the chairman of the BBC. Lord Patten said Thompson had been We all give to charity throughout the Thompson has had to deal with fierce ‘an outstanding’ director general, adding: year, sometimes not realising that public and media criticism of the BBC over ‘He took over during a traumatic period in we’ve done so. This can create benefits issues including the Ross-Brand phone calls, the corporation’s history and subsequently for donors as well as charities. ‘Crowngate’, breaches of editorial guidelines enhanced its reputation for creativity and and older women on screen. quality, while setting the course for the BBC’s Gifting through Wills The development of BBC North’s new digital future. I will miss him on both a Providing for our families is important but base at Salford was controversial, and the personal and professional level.’ donating to charity through a Will may have BBC came under fire for the cost of the Who will follow Thompson will now be attractions. Gifts made to UK registered re-development of Broadcasting House. much discussed – not least because Lord charities or other qualifying bodies are Internally there was staff fury at changes Patten has made it clear the Trust wants to discounted when calculating the amount evealing his departure in an all- to the BBC Pension Scheme, which led to pay his successor less than the DG’s current of an estate that is liable to Inheritance Tax. staff email on Monday 19 March, strike action. Following last year’s licence £671,000 remuneration strategy. The charity receives the full 100% of the Thompson said that following fee settlement the Delivering Quality First In his email Thompson says he told Lord legacy and it is proposed that the donor speculation about his future he told process has also caused concern with the Patten last year that he thought ‘there was a also benefits from a lower rate of tax on Rthe chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, impact of 20% overall cuts starting to bite. strong case for handing over to a successor the residue of their taxable estate. It is of his decision that morning. sooner rather than later. From the point of proposed that for deaths occurring on or He said: ‘I have told the Chairman that I Celebrating output view of the BBC, I thought that my successor after 6 April 2012, where the deceased believe that he and the Trust should begin the Alongside the brickbats there have also been should have time to really get their feet under leaves 10% or more of their net estate public process of finding the next DG as soon bouquets. The BBC is consistently praised the table before the next Charter Review to charity, the 40% rate will be reduced as they see fit...We can address the exact date for the quality of much of its TV and radio process got going.’ to 36%. of the handover once an appointment content, with BBC radio continuing to This proposal has been through is made.’ dominate the Rajar ratings. Television output Goodbye Mark, hello…? consultation and final details should appear The speculation that Thompson would from Doctor Who to Call the Midwife via People mentioned as possible successors in the 2012 Budget. leave either later this year or early in 2013 Frozen Planet and Children’s programming to Thompson include both internal and was fuelled when Lord Patten revealed in have been ratings smashes, whilst the external candidates. Gift aid donations January that a firm of head-hunters had success of Stargazing Live reportedly boosted Internally the front runners are seen as This is how charities recover tax already been engaged to develop a ‘succession plan’. University applications for astronomy and head of News Helen Boaden, chief operating paid on money you give to them. They astro-physics. officer Caroline Thomson and director of recover tax by grossing up the gift by the Tough times The iPlayer has been hugely successful, Vision George Entwistle. External names amount of basic rate tax you have paid. Thompson has been director general for and is the most popular free app for tablets. include Peter Fincham – who left the BBC For example, if you donate £10 to a charity, almost eight years, a stint that makes him In his email Thompson says: ‘What over ‘Crowngate’ – and Channel 4 head they reclaim £2.50, meaning that the charity the longest serving DG since the 1970s. has made my job not just bearable, but David Abraham. benefits from £12.50. The donor must complete a simple declaration which can be used as long as the tax paid in the relevant tax year is at least equal to the amount of tax that the charity recovers. You need to make sure Complaining made simple that you have paid enough tax in the first place, otherwise you may be required to The BBC Trust is proposing changes to the complaints process which will simplify and pay any shortfall in tax to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). streamline the system. For those affected by reductions to their personal allowance, age allowances or tax One idea – which is likely to prove guarantee to answer Editorial or General the Trust considers this a waste of time credits, making gift aid donations can have controversial – is to focus resource on complaints unless they are sent to BBC and money. It points out that social media the effect of increasing them where the serious complaints by ‘ending Audience Services.’ comment can lead to the BBC getting many donations bring the adjusted net income correspondence on trivial, misconceived, The Trust notes: ‘All complaints will variations of the same complaint about below the relevant income limits. hypothetical, repetitious or otherwise continue to be considered, but the BBC the same piece of output. In future they vexatious ones.’ People aggrieved to learn proposes not to investigate those that do would all be considered together, with ‘one Summary their complaint falls into one of those not raise substantive issues… to focus consolidated response to all the complaints.’ Apart from the value that the charity gets categories will have the option of an appeal time and resources on better handling There will also be a sifting process from your donation and the satisfaction to the Trust. the others.’ for complaints which people want that you get from giving to a worthy cause, The proposals are being put out for Nor will the BBC have to deal with reconsidered after the initial response. In gifting to charity can have additional public consultation and arise from the Trust’s abusive or gratuitously offensive just six months last year the BBC received benefits for you. review of the complaints system last year. correspondents. Such people will be given more than 4,000 such requests, which Perhaps we should not only be asking Trustee Richard Ayre said: ‘We expect an opportunity to re-word their complaint, the Trust points out ‘must be referred to what can we do for charity but also what some praise and some criticism, but if as but if they don’t, or if they repeat the abuse, programmes, so the impact on staff who can giving to charity do for us? a result of the exercise we implement this the BBC ‘may’ not consider it. make content is considerable.’ It also Bob Perkins DipPFS plan, we expect people who have serious Ayre said the focus of the proposals notes that ‘trivial’ return complaints Technical Manager complaints to find these very positive is not on the minority of ‘vexatious’ make up a quarter of the total complaints Origen Financial Services changes because we’ll be prioritising complainants, explaining: ‘Most people case load, noting, ‘Dealing with these their complaints and giving them a who complain to the BBC genuinely think complaints takes time away from handling swifter response.’ they have an important point. Many of serious complaints.’ The changes would mean complaints them do, some of them don’t – but they And the time limit for complaints about being channelled through BBC Audience don’t always accept that. It’s those people website content will be 30 days, as it is Services, under the overview of a Chief that we are going to treat courteously, for broadcasts. Complaints Editor, rather than being properly but more briefly than we The Trust also announced today that handled by the editorial team of the have heretofore.’ there will be a corrections and clarifications programme being complained about. As for every complainant getting an page on the BBC website and there will be The Trust says: ‘In future, the BBC cannot individual reply – in the age of social media a guide on where and how to complain.

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 10 OBITUARIES

He was awarded a BAFTA for his craft Eve operated best in her professional life Besides all that, Pat came along with, not Distinguished Head of in1985 for the television production of Bleak when she strongly admired those for whom only his camera, but a wonderful sense of the Monitoring Service House starring Diana Rigg, and was further she worked and it would be fair to say she humour that lifted the spirits of the unit on John Rae who died in January aged nominated in 1988 for Tumbledown starring had high standards in this regard. the most miserable of days. It is probably just 90, began and ended his BBC career at Colin Firth and in 1989 for Precious Bane During her retirement Eve’s health as well that our production is no more, for Caversham. He was one of a group, mostly and The Ginger Tree. seriously deteriorated and she became almost without Pat, a major element in the success ex-service, recruited by the Monitoring totally blind. However she continued to of the programme wouldn’t be there for us. Service in the years after the war, many of show her customary remarkable courage We shall miss him immensely. whom – including a future DG – went on to and resilience. Alan JW Bell achieve senior rank in the BBC. John himself Eve lived a full and long life. Never would eventually retire after a distinguished the standard fit, always well dressed, a Pets’ Wendy stint as Head of the Monitoring Service. good looking woman not without an John’s war was spent with the Marines, amusingly flirtatious side, she was also non- of Play School conformist, unbeholden, challenging and his cruiser taking part in the Allied landings Wendy Duggan, who for many years self reliant, qualities which marked her out in Italy and in the bombardment of German provided and supervised all the animals as a distinctive and really rather remarkable coastal defences in France on D-Day. He on Play School, has died aged 84. person who will be sadly missed. retained a great affection for the Marines Wendy had studied photography, and Tony James and Pat Dyer – they matched and no doubt helped to during the Sixties worked as an assistant to develop his thoroughness, his dislike of loose the great fashion and portrait photographer, Michael worked on a wide range of TV ends, and his cheerful efficiency. Cecil Beaton. Yet her true love was working productions including Dad’s Army, Don’t Wait Cameraman who After demobilisation John joined the with animals and particularly birds. She later Up and early episodes of Doctor Who, but British Council, learning Arabic at the brought a smile to Last gained a zoology degree and became his greatest love was in period drama. Middle East Centre for Arab Studies in the a Fellow of the Zoological Society. A musical purist who adored opera, of the Summer Wine Lebanon – he was, of course, top of his class. Known affectionately by the Play School Michael retired to live in Italy, where Many excellent cameramen had captured He then joined the Monitoring Services team as ‘Pets’ Wendy, she played a telling, if the arias could be heard throughout the the scenery and the humour of Last of the editorial team before his appointment as BBC inconspicuous part in the life of children Umbrian Hills. Summer Wine before Pat O’Shea joined the Middle East Representative. He and his wife throughout the nation. Every Wednesday, Due to a decline in his health he returned series, and many had found that the rigours Nonie had to leave Cairo as the 1956 Suez she was key to the success of Pets Day, when to the UK in October 2011 to live with of working in Yorkshire – in none-too- crisis blew up, making an alarmingly swift animals such as rabbits, chimps, puppies, his goddaughter Katy. Following treatment pleasant conditions – was a chore that was exit to Beirut. (I was working in Bush House donkeys and, most notably, her cockatoo at the time, and I remember our entertaining for his illness he passed away peacefully in not conducive to getting the best from their hospital on 9 February, aged 69. undoubted skills. Katoo, entertained and enthralled the correspondence about whether the BBC’s young audience. compensation package should include Katy Jones Besides having to lug heavy equipment over walls and up hills for a less-than- Wendy became synonymous with animals the cost of John’s mislaid socks – he won, to generations of producers when they needless to say.) sympathetic director, there was the problem Non-conformist of the elderly actors, who made it clear that, requested a particular animal for the studio. John also accumulated a mass of She would come up on the bus from her administrative experience – Central no matter how necessary careful lighting was Variety PA home in Putney, south-west London, often Establishment Office, Administrative to get excellent results, all they wanted to do Eve Lucas,who died on 4 January aged 91, accompanied by her husband Ron, carrying Officer back at Caversham, and Head of was come out of their nice, warm caravan, was both individualistic and independent the requested item, and worked on many Administration West Region in Bristol and say their words and go home. of spirit. different series over the years, often with was much in demand for senior posts. Despite sharing a birthday with Adolf producer Anne Denehy and presenters Stuart His final highly successful posting as Hitler, mercifully Eve did her bit for the Bradley and Don Spencer. Head of the Monitoring Service from 1971- other side by joining the British Army. The animals under her care were always 80 was the ideal solution, both professionally She much enjoyed her Service, which safe and never exploited. Things didn’t always and personally. she found to be rewarding and fulfilling. go to plan though: Katoo would often nip John and Nonie lived in a charming old After the war she joined the BBC the presenters and once, during a rehearsal, house in nearby Crowsley, but sadly Nonie and began her career as a secretary. an eagle was spooked by a sound boom, flew died during his retirement. John stayed on, Later she became a production assistant up into the studio lights and showered the maintaining their lovely garden, playing working mainly in the Television cast and crew with its droppings. violent tennis until he was nearer 90 than Comedy Department. She continued to supply animals for BBC 80, and insisting on shopping by dangerous Eve’s long list of comedy credits children’s programmes after Play School bicycle almost to the end. included some of the most iconic sitcoms Then, along came Pat O’Shea – a cameraman ended in 1988 and retired 10 years later. I stayed a night with John only a few ever produced. She worked for many highly weeks before he died. He was in cracking with a reputation for filming documentaries distinguished producers. These included – who immediately embraced the quite form. We happily took the BBC apart and put David Croft, Jimmy Gilbert, Duncan Wood, Henry Fox it together again… we realised we had been unique challenges of the production and Robin Nash, Syd Lotterby, Dennis Main Henry Fox passed away in January, aged friends for over 60 years. brought an atmosphere of good humour and Wilson, John Howard Davis and John Hobbs, 92. He joined the BBC Monitoring Service Patrick Ramsay an element of pragmatic common sense. all of whom valued both her prodigious Pat’s work was first rate, and the actors in 1939 and remained with it until his skills and her loyalty. didn’t go ‘off the boil’ waiting a long time to retirement. He read Prospero and would BAFTA-winning Eve was one of relatively few staff who play their comedy. probably have liked to have a brief death made the transition from the Comedy Besides Pat’s unstinting resolve to notice in it. costume designer Department to the Variety Department where undertake any request without complaint Roy Fox Michael James Burdle, was born on she was the PA on several series of What’s – be it climbing steep hills, wading out 30 March 1942 in Weymouth, Dorset My Line. Amongst the many bizarre into the middle of a river, or riding on a and died on 9 February 2012 in Milton occupations chosen for inclusion in the motorised iron bed – he was always ready ‘Global Wilson’: Keynes Hospital. programme was that of a chastity belt maker. for us with a smile. When, the following Michael attended The Thomas Hardye After the show Eve was given a souvenir year, the elderly actors rang me at home to Singer’s ‘Sancho’ School for Boys in the nearby town of version by the contestant. She chose to demand that I should ensure that Pat was Noble Wilson(b.1928), who died recently, Dorchester, before going on to study art use it as a flower-pot holder! filming the next series, it was very much was a big man in every sense of the word. at Poole College and finally to Wimbledon She was later promoted to researcher on a first. And thereafter, I did just that – even He was a Scot and proud of it. School of Art. The Generation Game and Parkinson. when it was ostensibly cheaper to have a After school in Edinburgh and Corpus An accomplished costume designer, At a time when the retirement age in the freelance cameraman than a staff man – I Christi Oxford he joined the BBC in 1951 Michael worked with independent theatre BBC was firmly 60, Eve decided that for her would insist that Pat was on the show. As as the television stage manager in Glasgow, productions throughout London before it was too soon and she returned to work Peter Sallis observed, we just couldn’t afford became a producer and then was picked joining the BBC. on an ad hoc basis for both Entertainment not to have him. out by Peter Dimmock to become an and Drama. OB producer in London.

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 OBITUARIES 11

Eleven years on the road was characterised A skilled panel and disc player by the time Programme Operations, managing SMs by him ‘as some of my best days in the war was over, Les and Aldenham as a and was deeply involved in recruitment. broadcasting’. whole moved to 200 Oxford Street where for He retired in 1983 as Head of Programme In 1962 he went to Paris as ‘our man’ the first time his vocal skills were recognised Operations. there. He spoke very good French and and he was promoted to the new grade of Joe was a skilled watercolour artist and German and some Italian. studio manager/announcer. kept a series of illustrated sketchbook When he came back to London he worked As a young and very raw trainee diaries which catalogue all their travels and first in Current Affairs. I remember his going myself, I met him there in 1955; helpful, adventures in retirement. Winemaking and off with Richard Dimbleby, to handle the patient, shrewd and always a marvellously wine appreciation was also a long lasting Vatican and the funeral of the Pope. entertaining colleague. For Les was hugely interest. He joined the BBC Club Ariel Wine He then moved to the Features Group well read, a lover of music, both jazz and & Beer Society at its inception. It is one of and became, what was in effect, Chief of classical, and always very much what JB the many interests we shared, as I am the Staff to Aubrey Singer. This was an important Priestley called a ‘Good Companion’. current chairman. relationship at an important time for Bush became the External Services’ base Joe and Sylvia had celebrated 61 years BBC television. when 200 closed, and Les moved rapidly together in November last year, and he Noble put it elegantly at Aubrey’s funeral: up the news reading and announcing missed her very much. They will be greatly heirarchy. When first Bob Gregson and then missed, though we can be sure they are now ‘It was said by some that I played Sancho staff who started their careers in the same Austen Kark ran the World Service 24-hour together again. May they rest in peace. to his Don Quixote. Not really fair. Aubrey way and went on to serve the Corporation English network, they quickly realised their Andrew Latham could and did challenge more important with some distinction. good fortune in having a Chief Assistant targets than windmills. But I think we were After initial training with ‘Mr Smith’ at (Presentation) who not only played a major a good foil for each other. He was a driving Bristol in early 1942, he was sent to join D part in keeping the network on the air but Colourful current force. I was a canny Scot. From him I learned Shift at London Control Room in the sub- who also, instinctively, knew how to keep to take the odd risk. From me, perhaps, he basement of Broadcasting House as a junior affairs character producers, editors and his own staff happy learned to have the odd second thought.’ maintenance engineer. Howard Anderson was one of the most as well. After D-Day, Roy was attached to colourful characters to work in news and Unsurprisingly, Les then moved to ‘War Report’ and operated the shortwave current affairs at the BBC and ITN in the the central hub of Bush House as Head transmitter at BH that was in touch with our 1980s and 1990s. A talented programme of Programme Operations where his radio correspondents who were following editor, he worked on Newsnight and Channel companion skills of determination, quick the troops as they penetrated France. Four News as well as editing and producing thinking and humanity were always His War Service was with the Fleet Air current affairs programmes for Channel Four, in play. Arm, and he returned to the BBC after VE first for ITN and later as an independent Les Tucker died at home in Croxley Day to Aldenham House in Hertfordshire – producer. Green in February, a few weeks before a sadly home to the Arabic and the Latin American I first met him on Newsnight when I diminished World Service finally left Bush arrived as editor in 1985. We had agreed Services. Here he changed from maintenance House. An exit which would have prompted to let Time Out magazine do a profile of engineer to become a studio manager and a shrug and one of his distinctly wry smiles. the programme and it was not going well was transferred to London Drama Unit, Christopher Bell serving its major drama plays and, inevitably, – the Time Out journalist clearly found us Mrs Dale’s Diary! a dull, earnest bunch. Then he met Howard, On promotion to senior SM, he was sent Cutting out of who was that night’s programme editor to the West Region’s busy studio centre – a bright green shirt, equally colourful at Plymouth where he assisted in radio Andy Pandy language, a wicked grin and a steely productions and also reported for Radio Joe Latham passed away in February 2012 determination not to let anyone interfere One of their achievements was the two-hour, News Reel in Devon and Cornwall. He was at the age of 85, just two months after Sylvia with his running order. live-from-everywhere Our World, that showed later attached to TV Talks Department at (whose obituary appeared in the February From that moment on they were vividly how television on satellite could catch Lime Grove and directed a few of the last issue of Prospero). inseparable, and as Howard descended and contain the whole world. The actual programmes in the series, The Brains Trust. Joe joined the BBC in May 1943 as a into the control room at 10.45 still not programme will feature in a new gallery Roy liked the complex and exciting nature Youth in Training, just 17 years of age, at the sure which of the many items he had called ‘Communications’ in the Science of TV production but he was very committed nearby Droitwich transmitter. After A1 and commissioned for that evening he was going Museum in London. to radio and he returned to Bristol to take up B1 courses he was promoted to technical to run, it was clear that the article was going A new skill for Noble at that time and for the post of external services representative assistant grade 11 and moved to Washford to be A Day in The Life of Howard Anderson the BBC was raising co-production money for the West Region. He spent several in Somerset where he met his future bride – and a pretty exciting and entertaining for programmes. years getting programmes from the West Sylvia, in October 1944. Before the end day at that. And in the end, that night’s For the last 10 years of his BBC career Country into our Overseas services, and also of the war Joe was called up for national Newsnight was very good, as well. when he was Controller, International helped train radio staff in various newly- service in the Royal Signals. Back at the BBC Howard went on to ITN where he worked Relations, he was, with Joanna Spicer, independent African countries in the 60s. Joe joined Radio OBs for the 1948 Olympic successfully on Channel Four News, on the very influential in the development of In Bristol, Roy produced many radio Games. Then he retrained as a junior ITV service (famously going open-ended the programme side of the European programmes over the years, but perhaps programme engineer (Jeep), which led to a with ITN’s skeleton overnight crew on the Broadcasting Union. To his European his speciality was to continue the West career in radio sound. He met Sylvia again at first night of the Gulf war) and for a number colleagues he was known as ‘Global Wilson’. of England’s long tradition of covering 200 Oxford Street and they were married of Channel Four current affairs programmes He was an outstanding representative archaeology as a subject of public interest. in 1950. – most notably as editor of the channel’s of the BBC, wherever he went. Roy retired in 1982 as deputy editor, In the early sixties Joe had a short new Parliament Programme set up to take Noble is survived by Judy, his wife Radio, after 41 years’ service. He will be attachment to television presentation at advantage of the televising of the Commons. who did her BBC time at Lime Grove and greatly missed by his loving family. the then new Television Centre – knowing Although working with Howard was Broadcasting House, and Joanna, their For information on the funeral please Sylvia was at home watching, he would never dull, and occasionally explosive, he daughter, a radio music producer. contact Glynn Hayward (Tel: 07968 703886; put up captions of an old lady knitting, was a thoughtful and highly intelligent John Grist Email: [email protected]). with the tune ‘Who is Sylvia’ playing in journalist. His bark was far worse than his the background. (One time, following a bite – he was actually a very kind man as West Region management edict that all programmes must well as a very clever one and people loved World Service stalwart run to time, he cut out of Andy Pandy just working for him. radio editor In the early years of the Second World before all the characters had waved goodbye He bore his final cruel illness with great Roy Hayward died on 15 March 2012, War, the teenage Leslie Tucker awaited and got into the box – the BBC switchboard courage, supported by his wife Fiona and aged 86. an expected summons to the Royal Navy. was jammed with irate mums whose their daughters. All his friends share their Born and brought up in Hastings, East Instead, as an engineering trainee, he found children hadn’t waved goodbye to Andy.) sorrow that such a vivid and lovable man has Sussex, he started his long career at the himself at Aldenham in Hertfordshire, the Joe spent time with Geoffrey Manuel gone – but we will also remember him, as he Hastings H Group transmitter in 1941 – evacuated home of the Arabic and Latin training many studio managers and made would have wished, with a smile. another of that large body of young wartime American Services. many lasting friendships. He joined Richard Tait

PROSPERO APRIL 2012 12 book review Funny How Things Turn Out Judith Miles (Bruce), a retired BBC producer (School Television), was understandably delighted to have her first novel published (at the age of 75) by the major publishing house, Simon & Schuster. Susie Bevin (BBC 1964-1977, studio manager London, BBC Radio Stoke, Radio Leicester and Woman’s Hour) provided Prospero with this review:

Judith and her mother. This book spans the The first third of the book is Muriel’s story, The last episodes take place in an old lives of a mother and as told to Judith by Muriel but so vivid that people’s home. Muriel has always declared daughter from 1907, one feels one was there. Her father was ‘a that she would not become a burden and Funny How Things Turn Out, when the mother’s Victorian, from a good family, fallen on will go to a care home. Although it is a by Judith Bruce earliest memories are hard times. ‘Reduced Gentlefolk’ was the good home with cheerful staff, it is a Published by Simon and Schuster 2012 described, until the expression Mother used. Mother Kept up difficult experience for them both. Their ISBN 978-0-85720-820-0 mother dies, aged Appearances on a small income.’ conversation changes as Muriel loses her Price £14.99 106, in 2009. Judith We hear about family crises, about sight, becomes deafer and eventually suffers Bruce, the author, is dressmaking, shopping, the family and her from dementia. the daughter. Muriel education at a Dame School and work in an ‘Who are you?’ ‘I’m your daughter.’ ‘Of is the mother who office, all described as vividly as if Judith had course you are.’ She pats my hand. ‘Can you Classifieds has lived through been there. get me out of her?’ ‘No. I’m afraid not.’ the great changes Once Judith is part of the story we hear Scenes in the home and at the hospital are in women’s lives during the 20th century. it from her point of view, and in slightly brought vividly to life in a few deft words, as Dordogne. Converted farmhouse in lovely How to tell the tale? Judith chooses to relate more detail – post-war shortages, schoolgirl is the very different hospital where Muriel’s hill-top village. Secluded garden, outstanding significant episodes at intervals through friendships, liberty bodices, Grammar School, mother died in 1925 earlier in the book. views. Ideal walking, gastronomy. Discount the years. Each episode is very descriptive tea at Swan and Edgars, unsuitable boyfriends There are many such contrasts. for BBC pensioners. Tel: 07788 940660. and redolent of the time in which it took and work at the BBC starting as a clerk in As Muriel passes her 106th birthday Email: [email protected] place, from a butcher’s shop in 1911 to the 1960 and becoming a producer in 1974. and her health declines, Judith – herself Television Centre in 1964. Often a whole era Those of us who are retired now and over 70 by now – becomes more of a Vézelay 11km. The canal du Nivernais 5.5km. is conjured up in two or three pages. Mother lived through that era will remember it mother-figure to her mother. The final We are central to so many things to see and has lived in a house and in a flat over The all, the social changes, and the changes visit had me in tears – maybe because do. See our website www.holidayinburgundy. National and Provincial Bank in Shoreditch. in fashion from clothing coupons to the I am a woman of nearly 70 with a mother co.uk or phone Ann and Martin Carley on 0033 She has worked in a solicitor’s office, she has swinging sixties. There are moments of fun, of over 90 and although my mother is (0)386324013. Fuel is cheaper in France and gone to tennis parties, she has married and as when they dance the Charleston together hale and hearty I identified with the the wine’s not-bad! born a son and found that she is lonely. Then in the garden in 1950, but as Judith gains whole relationship. This is a scenario that Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Quality in 1936 her daughter was born and Muriel independence, the continuing conversation more and more of us will live through as one-bedroom apartment with balconies and resolved that Judith would be ‘A bonded between mother and daughter becomes our mothers live longer and so do we. private roof terrace. Stunning beaches and child… the person with whom she would fraught with conflict. Often on payphones, ‘I miss her chatter. Oh God – I miss it.’ lagoons nearby. £295pw. Tel: 01428 653127. hold a conversation which would last for the this thread of communication is always there That life-long conversation has given us a Time to be... Is your retirement what you whole of their lives…a daughter! You can in the background of this brave new world fascinating and valuable social history of expected? Do you want more? say anything you like to your own daughter. for women. The men are shadowy figures the lives of middle-class women. Life coaching with Lynda Sanders. No question.’ in this story. Email: [email protected] Tel: 07879 810046

Menorca. Detached holiday villa with private London Lunch 2012 Centenarian pool. Sleeps 2-7. Near Es Castell, amenities and beaches. For brochure, tel: 01621 741810 After a ‘gap year’, the London Lunch has Clearly, these days, the DG needs to Celebrations www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk resumed its place in the social calendar for ‘know a lot more about a lot’ and he BBC visitor, Maureen O’Halloran, Venice, Giudecca. Beautiful apartment in quiet retired engineering and operational staff. reassured many that he was leading the writes: Rose Rampling, who’s husband private courtyard, sleeps 5, fully equipped. Held on 6 March, once again at the BBC to a secure future. Mark particularly Frederick was a BBC driver for many Experience the real Venice. Victory Services Club, around 80 long- paid tribute to those present and to the years, celebrated her centenary on Tel: 01260 227262 standing friends and colleagues held a many others whose efforts over the years 25 March. I visited her a few days before Email: [email protected] wonderful reunion. have given the BBC its reputation around the Big Day, to give her a card and a Traditionally the occasion has drawn first the world. Salcombe, Devon. Family holiday cottage, small bunch of flowers. class after-lunch speakers such as Sir David A new team are now organising the sleeps 6, spectacular views. Three minutes Rose was looking forward to a party Attenborough, Sir Paul Fox, Kate Adie OBE, event: Malcolm Johnson, Mike Davies, Brian to wonderful beaches, National Trust walks, in Ramsgate with her son Ronald, who Martin Bell OBE, Sir Jeremy Isaacs and John Prior, John Lightfoot and Keith Harlow. boating and great restaurants. lives there. She has a daughter, Betty, Jarvey; continuing this fine tradition, this Malcolm led the tributes and thanks to the Email: [email protected] aged 80, who lives in Canada, and has year the gathering was honoured with the late Norman Taylor and Mike Bunting who forgotten how many grandchildren she Scottish Highlands. Two high quality DG, Mark Thompson as guest. had been responsible for the occasion over has, bless her! self-catering cottages. Peace, convenient Mark gave an impressive overview of many earlier years. Mike and Jean Bunting location, great views. Discount for ex-BBC staff. the BBC and its work to best position and Monique Taylor were welcomed as www.alcaigcottages.co.uk itself by harnessing the rapidly evolving special guests. technologies. Giving a confident The 2013 London Lunch will be held Kalkan (SW Turkey). Apartment, sleeps 4 in performance, he demonstrated his grasp on 5 March. Details to follow in future twin + double bedrooms from £200 per week. of a wide breadth of issues and problems editions of Prospero. Tel: 01643 841602. Photos and full details on that faced the BBC across a troubled world. Photographs by Ray Liffen. www.ownersdirect.co.uk, ref TK2992. West Dorset. Recently renovated 3-bedroomed cottage with gardens in quiet village close to Beaminster/Lyme Regis/Olympics Weymouth. Tel: 0118 934 1566.

Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. Please enclose a cheque made payable to: BBC Central Directorate. Guest speaker Mark Thompson. John Lightfoot. Rate: £5 for 20 words. In a covering letter please include your pension number.

Designed and produced by Wordshop PROSPERO APRIL 2012