The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online

The true story of Mission to Hell Page 4

August 2015 • Issue 4

Trainee Oh! What operators a lovely reunite – Vietnam War TFS 1964 50 years on Page 6 Page 8 Page 12

NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BACK AT THE BBC

Departments Annual report highlights ‘better’ for BBC challenge move to Salford The BBC faces a challenge to keep all parts of the audience happy at the same time as efficiency targets demand that it does less. said that certain segments of society were more than £150k and to trim the senior being underserved. manager population to around 1% of But this pressing need to deliver more and the workforce. in different ways comes with a warning that In March this year, 95 senior managers Delivering Quality First (DQF) is set to take a collected salaries of more than £150k against bigger bite of BBC services. a target of 72. The annual report reiterates that £484m ‘We continue to work towards these of DQF annual savings have already been targets but they have not yet been achieved,’ achieved, with the BBC on track to deliver its the BBC admitted, attributing this to ‘changes Staff ‘loved the move’ from London to target of £700m pa savings by 2016/17. in the external market’ and the consolidation Salford that took place in 2011 and The first four years of DQF have seen of senior roles into larger jobs. departments ‘are better for it’, believes Peter Salmon (pictured). a 25% reduction in the proportion of the More staff licence fee spent on overheads, with 93% of Speaking four years on from the biggest There may be too many at the top, but the the BBC’s ‘controllable spend’ now going on ever BBC migration, the director, BBC gap between average BBC earnings and Tony content and distribution. England says that those employees who Hall’s pay packet has narrowed due to a 2% However, Anne Bulford, managing director uprooted from the capital to join the pay rise for staff. of finance and operations, admitted that ‘an newly-created BBC North had no regrets. The director-general’s static £450k salary unprecedented focus on efficiency’ meant ‘The staff loved the move, they love Rona Fairhead. is now 10.7 times as much as median BBC that ‘some difficult choices lay ahead’, as it the north. It’s affordable, people are pay – down from 10.9 times last year. became tougher to do more for less. friendly and the weather, contrary to Talent, though, took home a bigger he BBC annual report and accounts ‘Since 2011/12, around 30% of the expectation, isn’t bad,’ Salmon tells the chunk of the licence fee, with spending on for 2014/15 – published on £484m per annum DQF and Strategic Manchester Evening News. actors, dancers, musicians, presenters and Tuesday 14 July – reveal that Initiative savings delivered to date have been But he concedes that two-thirds of the performers up by £14m to £208m – 12% while nearly every UK adult made through scope reductions. This is 3,000-strong MediaCity workforce do of internal content spend against a limit T(97%) watches BBC television, listens to expected to rise to almost 50% in the final not come from Greater Manchester, of 16%. The highest paid stars collectively its radio stations or uses BBC online, they years of the programme,’ she said. while just 10% live in Salford. earned nearly £1m more than last year. aren’t hanging around for as long and they Fairhead concurred at the annual report ‘It wasn’t engineered in any particular The annual report also revealed a rise appreciate the services less. press briefing: ‘The trust is clear that there way, but we can’t just bring people in in staff numbers, in a year of ‘substantial Every BBC television channel, for instance, are likely to be scope cuts.’ because of their postcode,’ he reasons. organisational change’, to 18,974. lost both reach and audience appreciation – ‘We’ve got to bring good people in.’ Keep entertaining That’s up 327 on last year – the increase a trend across broadcasters as people spend Tony Hall was unable to provide further reflecting the inclusion of World Service More jobs more time online – while only BBC One and details as to where the axe might fall, but staff, extra recruitment for the Scottish The director points out that the shift CBeebies kept audiences watching for longer told journalists that he would be working Referendum and Commonwealth Games and North has helped create a ‘thriving digital than last year. with Bulford over the summer to reach investment in digital expertise. community’ and has boosted the number And, worryingly, the biggest dips were some decisions. An all-time high of 13.2% for BAME of jobs in Salford’s creative sector, which among the harder-to-reach young and black But the director-general refused to staff was also reached, with the number has seen a 75% increase in employment and minority ethnic viewers. support the call for a ‘much diminished’ of BAME and women senior managers since 2011. ‘The population is more varied and BBC and said it was ‘non-negotiable’ that the rising to 7.6% (from 6.8) and 38.4% BBC investment in the North has risen diverse in its tastes than ever, and a wider organisation continued to be for everyone. (from 37.2) respectively. too, with the likes of BBC Children’s range of services and editorial approaches are ‘It’s central to our democracy and our shared But the BBC Trust was concerned that spending £43m a year today compared needed to meet their needs,’ wrote BBC Trust culture,’ he argued. numbers of disabled staff and senior to its pre-2011 £700,000. chair Rona Fairhead in her foreword. He said it was ‘vital’ to make the managers fell short of targets and said the And northern talent, such as Peter Kay ‘The BBC needs to recognise that young transition to an internet-first BBC and to BBC was still finding it ‘challenging’ to and writer Sally Wainwright, has helped audiences in particular expect ever more ‘reinvent public service broadcasting for reflect the diversity of audiences in its give the region a bigger on-screen presence. personal and interactive services that are young audiences’. own make-up. Northern-based hits like Happy Valley, accessible on a range of devices – TV on their And he dismissed the argument for the Elsewhere, staff and senior managers The Syndicate and Car Share have been made own terms.’ BBC to retreat from entertainment. ‘It’s hard continued to depart the Corporation, alongside BBC staples like Match of the Day, Scope cuts to support any proposal that stops us funding triggered by cuts and moves out of London BBC Breakfast and Blue Peter. And she said there was still ‘a long way to the next Strictly, the next Bake-Off or... the next (54% now work outside the capital). The number of BBC TV hours made in go’ to ensure that ‘the whole of the UK’s Top Gear,’ claimed the DG as he reflected on ‘a The BBC spent more than £18m on the North has risen four-fold over the rich diversity is reflected on screen and on year we can be really proud of’. 303 redundancy payouts in 2014/15, with past four years, from 441 to 1,508, while the airwaves’. Off-air, the report revealed that the BBC £1.6m of the total going on senior manager national radio hours have shot up from Although 64% of adults believe the BBC has fallen short of its targets to reduce by severance. Nobody left with more than the 1000 to 13,000 a year, with Radio 4’s provides content for ‘people like us’, Fairhead 20% the number of senior managers earning £150,000 cap. You & Yours leading the pack.

Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/ feedback, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: prospero@bbc.co.uk Prospero provides a source of news on former colleagues, Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are developments at the BBC and pension issues, plus classified scanned at 300 dpi. adverts. It is available online at www.bbc.co.uk/mypension To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. The next issue of Prospero will appear in October 2015. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The copy deadline is Friday, 4 September 2015.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 03 BBC tours get top marks from visitors

Three of the BBC’s behind-the-scenes tours have been awarded a certificate of excellence by the travel website Trip Advisor.

he attractions at BBC Birmingham, work – even creating a Harry-Potter style Broadcasting House and Salford invisibility cloak with a clever piece of have not only drawn record green screen trickery. numbers of visitors over the last Arwen Tugwell, head of studio audiences and Tyear, they’ve also had rave reviews. Ariel took tours, explains that it is this element, a trip backstage at the Mailbox. combined with the passion of the guides, ‘We’ve got a good dozen or so people on that makes the visits so magical. today’s tour from all over the place – County ‘Physical experiences are really important Durham, Cheshire, Yorkshire and even one and actually sitting on the red breakfast from Finland.’ sofa or the green One Show sofa is a great Debbie Jaura and Sue James are waiting in photo opportunity for our visitors. Standing the BBC Birmingham reception, fizzing with inside a studio where some of their favourite enthusiasm as they greet visitors with a smile shows are made or looking into our world and a lanyard. famous newsrooms are other frequently They’re just two of a larger team of mentioned highlights. professional tour guides who’ve welcomed ‘And they love having a go themselves. over one million guests across the UK since Ultimately, people love the BBC and want to 2000 for a sneak peek behind the scenes. find out more about it.’ After a quick introduction, there’s a After a practice broadcast, the group now history lesson: Birmingham was the first BBC gets a chance to see the TV and radio studios broadcasting centre to be created outside of for real. The first reaction is that it’s a lot London and started transmitting radio in smaller (and far less glamorous) in real life, 1922. Since then, the city has had a busy but that doesn’t stop the group snapping throughput of television, radio and drama pictures behind the famous presenters’ desk. – including, of course, The Archers – as well as After a quick peek through the doors of and explains how interesting it is to witness regional news across TV, radio and the web. the Archers studio, accompanied by plenty of up close the work of a global broadcaster. Debbie adds: ‘The tours are always News in brief Invisibility cloaks oohs and ahhs, it’s downstairs to a specially designed radio drama zone for some hands- evolving because there are always new As the group are whisked off to have a go on production. productions. We’ve also made some changes at presenting the weather, it becomes clear The BBC’s home in Birmingham has and we now invite visitors to the Mailbox at £87m Media Village deal that this isn’t just a show-and-tell tour; changed in recent times, with the move lunchtimes rather than in the evenings. The BBC has sold the four acres of land Debbie and Sue are keen for visitors to get from Pebble Mill to the Mailbox and the ‘This tour alone gets 121,000 visitors per at the entrance to the Wood Lane site to stuck in while they explain how the cameras shift of television production to Bristol. year and the last few months we’ve been really Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK, who Despite this, there’s still a buzz as new digital busy. We’re so pleased with all the feedback will take over the leases for all projects start up. we’ve been getting, too, and to get consistently six buildings. ‘Ultimately, people love positive ratings on Trip Advisor is a real bonus.’ The BBC will remain as tenants in Over lunch The BBC runs tours at Broadcasting House, the Broadcast Centre, Energy Centre and the BBC and want to One visitor admits to being ‘gobsmacked’ by Salford, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Lighthouse, but will vacate White City, all the people who work in the building. Norwich, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow, as Media Centre and Garden House. find out more about it’ Jonne, a visitor to Birmingham from Finland, well as a summer tour of the River City set The deal is set to save the BBC £33m a says the BBC is well recognised in Europe and a CBBC tour at Media City. year in running costs. There are now 154 BBC properties – down from 213 in 1999.

Demo tape of Moon River devised and compiled by Jim Palm CROSPERO 186 given to BBC An original demo of Moon River, the devised and compiled by Jim Palm 1 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to the song made famous in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, words running across. Then take these words in numerical order has been released to the BBC.

2 3 and extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are The recording, which has never been correct, these letters will spell out the name of a radio programme. made public before, features composer Henry Mancini playing the piano while 4 5 Please send your answers in an envelope marked ‘Crospero’ to The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting lyricist Johnny Mercer sings the words. 6 7 House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, by Friday 11 September 2015. The winner You can listen to the demo here: will receive a £10 voucher. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02st6pm 8 CLUES 1. Lessening (9); 2. Horse (4); 3. Midday (4); 4. Gripping tales (5); BBC Three online 9 5. Proverb (5); 6. Light meal (5); 7. Headwear (3); 8. Pronoun (3); Plans to move BBC Three online in January 9. Linkage (11); 10. Garlands (3); 11. Kind of cake (5); 12. Work 2016 have been provisionally approved 10 by Handel (5); 13. Aspired (5): 14. Talk at length (5); 15. Birds (4); by the BBC Trust. The trust set several 16. Periods (4); 17. Stars (9). conditions, including a commitment 11 12 from BBC One and Two to broadcast Solutions to Crospero 185: Omen; Ordeal; Iron; Amy; Axes; Knurl; more BBC Three programmes aimed at 13 14 Elan; Long; Ceased; Ashen; Enzyme; Gown; USSR; Tryst; Ibex; Ooh; 16-34 year olds. Seen; Renews; Reds. It rejected proposals for a new BBC 15 16 The two TV characters of yesteryear were Norman and Henry Bones One+1 channel, which it said would be at the expense of commercial rivals. 17 and the winner of a £10 voucher was John Dean of London.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 04 LETTERS Suicide story Barry Mitchell has again written about The true story of Mission to Hell ‘enforced retirement’ for studio managers over the age of 50 at Bush House in the May I, as the cameraman involved, clarify Wilson into a small room in the YMCA along early 90s. He has mentioned in both letters a comment in Derek Smith’s obituary last with around 30 others, including three St Andrews Cathedral, Singapore. (December 2013 and June 2015) that ‘two month (documentary producer, Top Gear)? women. Here they were kept for several colleagues committed suicide’. It mentioned Mission to Hell, the story of months, only to be let out for beatings. In I was the recruitment & training manager the Bishop of Birmingham’s return to one corner was a tap and drain but there was at the time. There was a group of older Singapore to meet his Japanese torturer. no room to lie down for sleep. Privacy was SMs who we felt had been neglected in I worked on many of Derek’s films and afforded by the men standing with backs terms of training and some of whom were was very young when I shot this story. I turned to screen the women, ringing the lacking confidence in the face of rapid found talking to the people directly involved drain in the corner. Wilson was accused of technological change. left a lasting impression on me, so I would running a drugs racket through the many I devised a training scheme including like to put right any misunderstandings. contacts he had, supposedly supplying quinine, a residential course at Evesham (with the The atrocities meted out by the the lifesaver against malaria and dysentery then fancy new accommodation thrown in!) Japanese during the Second World War which were rife and killing many of the in order to help these people. There were are well documented and the citizens prisoners of war. Eventually Wilson was put also some redundancy deals available: of Singapore were not spared when the in the notorious Changi jail under sentence some took the offer, some enjoyed the British capitulated. In their desperation of death. This was again to mean regularly training and felt enabled to handle the new many congregated in Singapore’s beautiful beating and being taken out to be shot. equipment and the rapidly-changing St Andrews Cathedral which was already When the atomic bomb was dropped programmes successfully. I’m still in touch being used as an emergency hospital. everything changed; immediately prisoner with a few of those concerned and we This in the vain hope it would offer some became captor and the inevitable retributions cannot remember anyone having taken protection. It did not – everyone was for Japanese atrocities took place. Justice was his or her own life. It’s always possible that thrown out and the gates locked. not the first order of the day. Just as Wilson such an event would have been kept quiet, The fall of Singapore was so rapid, the was about to be flown back to the UK he Bishop Wilson (left) and Ogowa. of course. Japanese found themselves without enough received a message to say there was a group None of us is aware of any Thatcher/Birt people to administer the island, so many of prisoners being interrogated, some for pressure to force early retirement on anyone administrators had to be flown in from the very serious crimes, but one was adamant YMCA – none had seen each other since of any age! mainland. One of these was a Japanese he knew the Bishop who would speak up for that fateful day in 1945. This was the start I hope this clarifies matters. officer called Ogowa who was responsible him. It was Ogowa. Had it been a day later of Mission to Hell. Andy Popperwell for religion and education and who was a it would probably have been too late. There Despite the years, society does not seem London Christian. After making contact with Bishop is no doubt in my mind they had saved each to have learnt much from those days. This Wilson he reopened the cathedral and they other’s lives. was a story of man’s inhumanity to man, both started to build a relationship. In November 1969 we flew Bishop matched by man’s humanity to man. So Bob Gregson However, the horrors continued and Wilson from Birmingham, and Ogowa, now often we only hear how appalling humans increased as soon as the Kempaitai, the a Professor at Tokyo University, from Japan, can be to each other especially when it – Head of World Japanese military police equivalent to the to Singapore where they met face to face at relates to Japan’s dark war history. This film Reading the obituary of the unforgettable German Gestapo, appeared. They soon Changi Airport. Also present were the three showed a glimmer of light. Bob Gregson reminded me of 1966, when broke up this relationship, throwing women who had been locked up in the John Williams – as a Light Entertainment producer at Aeolian Hall – I was responsible for a World Service programme called Highlight. I was fast, then you will become Head of Strategy the road. There was no notice saying ‘KEEP occasionally summoned to programme Wood Norton and or some such important sounding title and OUT – PRIVATE’. So I walked, with some review meetings at Bush House. you will report to Wood Norton immediately.’ apprehension, up the drive. To make clear I As Head of World Service, Bob Gregson its ‘Secret’ Bunker was just a silly old man and not to be shot, would chair those meetings. Internally Your front page in the last issue made I waved happily at all the security cameras he was always referred to as ‘Head of me jump because only the week before I ‘To make clear I was I passed. Although cars passed by, I was World’. Years later The Times printed a series happened to be driving past Wood Norton not apprehended or challenged. I thought of letters about grandiose job titles. I was and decided to have a look around. just a silly old man perhaps it would be too naughty to go into delighted when the newspaper published I knew it had been sold to a hotel group the canteen for lunch and instead went to my contribution, in which I told readers and I was interested to see what they had and not to be shot, report to reception. about Head of World and added that I done with the house, the residential blocks This, I was sure, would be the place had always known what to do, if ever a and lecture theatres – and, of course, the of the showdown when I would be Martian should accost me with the words, place we were not meant to know about. I waved happily at all clapped in whatever they use nowadays. ‘Take me to your leader!’ I said that I (I should not have been so circumspect had I Nothing! The charming receptionist asked would reply, ‘You want to pop along to googled it before I set off, because BBC Wood me who I was looking for and kept a very the security cameras Bush House and ask to see Bob Gregson.’ Norton turns up as ‘BBC Wood Norton – the straight face when I said, ‘the keyholder to Roger Ordish Foissac Secret Bunker’.) the bunker.’ I passed’ France But I knew nothing of that when I drove ‘There is no bunker,’ she told me, and up to the very fine and expensive hotel when I questioned what such high, though to inspect the Gents and have a little nose Given my 2CV was slow and sometimes hard patchy, security was all about, she said I around. Within a minute or two I realised a to start, it seemed unlikely I should get there was being ‘naughty’ and she would ring to Striking a note glass of sparkling water might set me back in time to be of much value. have me shown off the premises. And so Paul Foxall’s letter in the June edition an increment or two. Well, we all know the Berlin Wall came it was that I wandered back to my car and regarding unsuitable music in TV I took a look around the ‘new’ residential down and bunkers and all that stuff seemed returned home. documentaries struck a note. I quote blocks and conference rooms. Not a pretty redundant and some were even sold. I Once I had discovered that Google from a letter in another publication: sight as they had clearly had another life assumed when the old house at Wood not only headlines the place but has ‘…factual TV programmes now have as a conference location but had stopped Norton had become a hotel, the bunker photographs, I shared my amusement on incessant playing of distracting background operating in 2008. would have, well, perhaps made fine the BBC Alumni pages and some debate music on top of otherwise excellent modern Wood Norton was known as the wine cellars. has started. cinematography, which frustrates the ‘alternative facility’, that was the euphemism So with a little idle interest, I returned All I can think is: if it is meant to be viewer and distracts from what would I think, or in normal life, the BUNKER. from the posh hotel and the sign to ‘BBC secure, it isn’t and also a sizeable number have been a superb programme. Excellent One day, Jim Black arrived in Bristol, took Academy’. I drove towards the entrance and of ex-colleagues knew all about it already. camerawork is now the norm, so why do me to lunch and posed the question: ‘Robin, here I stopped. The entrance road was barred So the next question is: why is it still there today’s producers feel obliged to add some there are two scenarios for nuclear war; one by those lifting iron jobs, like the kind that when all the other bunkers have been inane background music as if their lives will likely involve you. If there is a slow guard Number 10 Downing Street. Odd that revealed and many sold and turned into depended on it?’ build up to tensions then certain staff in the Academy needed such security, unless…? houses and museums? And the other publication? BBC Music London will move to Wood Norton and that Well, I am 72 and less cautious about Robin Hicks Magazine, July 2015. will not concern you; but if the build up is life, so I ditched my car and walked up Bristol Peter Hodges

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 05

James Joyce A new beginning for the Ariel sailing club CONTACTS and Monitor In April the Ariel flag was dropped for the Visiting Scheme As part of my research into the history of last time at the old Teddington clubhouse. Is available to BBC pensioners over 70, 7 Eccles Street in Dublin, I have been trying to However this is not the end but rather a those recently bereaved, and anyone in trace some pictures taken during the filming of a poor health. The scheme is a method of new beginning! keeping in touch and operates throughout BBC Monitor programme in the house in Dublin. Ariel has now amalgamated with I know that there were five strips of the UK. Visitors are BBC pensioners neighbouring club Tamesis and is able to themselves. If you want to be visited, negative film, most likely 120mm, containing offer members a much wider range of receive a phone call or meet up somewhere 49 images and a set of contact sheets that sailing, social and training opportunities. mutually convenient, call 029 2032 2811. depict the writer Anthony Burgess in the The contact is the same if you would like to ruins of No. 7 Eccles Street in 1965. The Over the past few weeks we have completed courses including Seamanship become a visitor. cameraman John McGlashan has one picture Queries and one was also used in the Radio Times and Skills and Assistant Instructors in partnership with Tamesis and are now For benefit and pension payroll queries, another two in editions of The Listener in 1965. call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811 The other pictures were never published and running RYA youth and adult training on or email [email protected] Sunday afternoons. the BBC I&A Photo Library have no record of Prospero the negatives or contact sheets. Racing takes place on Thursday evenings To add or delete a name from the While I have given up hope of uncovering and Sunday mornings and details of the distribution list, ring the Service Line on the originals I am still interested if anyone many social events can be found in the 029 2032 2811. Prospero is provided remembers the recording of the ‘Silence, Exile BBC newsletter. free of charge to retired BBC employees. and Cunning’ Monitor James Joyce episode for New and old members are welcome. On request, we will also send it to spouses the BBC. Eric Finlayson or dependants who want to keep in touch Ian Gunn Email: [email protected] with the BBC. Prospero is also available on audio disc for those with sight impairment. Email: [email protected] To register, please ring the Service Line. Alternatively, it is also available online at www.bbc.co.uk/mypension, Muncaster under ‘Documents’. My sincere apologies to Martin Muncaster. A BBC Club slip of the pen, no doubt brought on by the Sandra Chalmers The BBC Club in London has a retired passage of time. It was after all over 50 years I totally endorse everything John Roberts Under Sandra Chalmers, Radio Stoke was a membership costing £3 per month or £36 ago. Martin is the son of the distinguished said in his letter following the sad news of family and Sandra cared for us like a mother per year. Members can also add friends Sandra Chalmers’ death. hen; she was hands on and always there and family to their membership for a small painter Claude Muncaster, born Grahame additional cost. Regional clubs may have Hall, and has, I understand, written a book Like John I joined Radio Stoke-on-Trent ensuring that every member of staff felt in the mid-1970s, as a contract producer they had a special role in the station’s success. different arrangements. Please call BBC about his life called The Wind in the Oak. I Club London office on 020 8752 6666 remember Martin’s lovely broadcasting voice working on the mid-morning programme. Sandra also had a great sense of humour or email [email protected] for details and charming manners. There is a rare Having worked in local and regional and joined in the laughter when the ‘lads’ or to join. recording of him as he was in 1961 radio I arrived at Stoke in a traumatised played a prank on the presenter of the day. Benevolent Fund presenting South Today, which can be found on state following the death of my husband; When my contract was about to run out This is funded by voluntary contributions the internet on a BBC News Hampshire site. Stoke being ideal as it had no memories. Sandra helped me in my applications, would from the BBC and its purpose is to protect Peter Hill Sandra took me under her wing, and find out why I hadn’t been offered a job if the welfare of staff, pensioners and their ensured that I was quickly absorbed into turned down, and was instrumental in my families. Grants are made at the discretion the ‘family’, sorting out my living securing a place with Radio Oxford. of the Trustees. They may provide accommodation in the peaceful Peak Sandra was the best manager I have assistance in cases of unforeseen financial Ariel Flying Group hardship, for which help from other sources worked with, a very special lady! I was interested to read in the recent edition District with the station’s ‘vicar’, Robert is not available. Telephone: 029 2032 2811. Ellis, at Meerbrook. Jill Hopkins (Jill Eggleston) of Prospero, on the back page, the article about Prospero Society Eric Walmsley. I wondered if it was the same Prospero Society is the only section of the Eric Walmsley who did so much for the BBC BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff Ariel Flying Group many years ago when I and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC pensioners to meet on a social basis for started that group in the BBC Club? theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings etc. Tom Peckham We put Tom’s question to Eric and he replied: The Prospero Society is supported by ‘Yes, that’s me! I was the Hon. Secretary of BBC Club funds so as to make events affordable. If you would like an application the Ariel Flying Group for about 25 years form please contact: and enjoyed every minute of it!’ Gayner Leach, BBC Club, BC2 B3 Broadcast Centre, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP Tel: 0208 752 6666 Barbara Sleigh? Email: [email protected] I am hoping to contact any descendants of BBC Shop discount Barbara Sleigh (both she and her husband Get 10% off your order at BBCShop.com David Davis worked on the BBC radio Enter code BBC0001 under ‘redeem programme Children’s Hour in the 1940s-60s). a promotion code’ at checkout I am writing a children’s novel that FREE UK Delivery references a map created by Barbara’s father Orders can also be placed over the phone Bernard Sleigh and hoped someone in the by calling 01788 821 107 and quoting family could help me with my research. I code BBC0001. would be grateful if anyone who might shed Terms & Conditions: Discount code light on details of the map and its author BBC0001 entitles BBC pensioners to 10% contacts me via email: [email protected] off your order at BBCShop.com. Offer is not Stephanie Tredinnick valid with any other promotional discount or offer and is subject to availability. Only one Australia discount code can be used per transaction. BBC Shop reserves the right to change, amend or discontinue the offer at any time Mike Bower without prior notice. Products are available I am trying to trace a former colleague of whilst stocks last. Free delivery to UK only. mine by the name of Mike Bower. I worked Standard BBC Shop Terms & Conditions apply. Promoter: BBC Worldwide Ltd. with him in Finance Division Computer Contact (UK) 01788 821107 (charged at operation. His wife Sharon also worked basic rate) with any queries. See website with Engineering Finance, both at for full Terms & Conditions. 33 Cavendish Square. Can you help? BBC PA Mardig Haroutunian For details of how to join the Pensioners’ Email: [email protected] Association, see the panel on the left.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 06 MEMORIES Tell me lies about Vietnam

If Adrian Mitchell hadn’t died in 2008, he would this year be inundated with requests from TV and radio producers to mark the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, by reading his anti-war poem ‘To Whom It May Concern’ (better known as ‘Tell Me Lies About Vietnam’).

hose of us who were in the theatre We called the second series How Late It Is, party – the cast in pierrot costumes, acting deaths had already exceeded 33,629, which or the studio when he read it 40 because it was to be broadcast at 10.40pm, out the events of the war in songs and was the number lost in the Korean War. years ago will never forget the raw instead of in the early evening slot. comedy routines, while the casualty listings Would it be considered bad taste to stage passion of his anti-war rant, which In April 1969 we marked the release of scrolled across the stage in ticker tape. a satirical commentary on these events in Techoed through the years of that war, and the film Oh! What a Lovely War by inviting the songs and sketches and comedy routines? would subsequently be updated for conflicts 2nd Earl Haig to come on to the programme Discuss. in Iraq and Afghanistan. and defend his father’s reputation against the ‘This was how things Anyway, we did it. This was how things ‘It is about Vietnam, but it is still relevant,’ persona created in Richard Attenborough’s were done back in the day: you didn’t Mitchell said in 2001. ‘It’s about sitting film, which had caused the Haig family real were done back in the day: need to run a controversial idea past faithfully in England while thousands of grief. When John Mills sang ‘The bells of commissioning editors or strategic planners miles away terrible atrocities are being hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling, for you but not you didn’t need to run or finance managers or compliance officers. committed in our name.’ for me’, his son assured me that it was a We had a 50-minute slot on a Friday I was run over by the truth one day. Ever since grotesque caricature of the Field Marshall, a controversial idea past evening, how we filled it was for the HLII the accident I’ve walked this way. So stick my legs who would take so much of the retrospective gang to decide. in plaster, blame for the dreadful casualties on the The producer said he’d write the script, Stuff my nose with garlic, Coat my eyes with Western Front. Dawyck Haig, his only son, commissioning editors’ he knew how to do that. He was only 27. butter, And tell me lies about Vietnam… spoke of the ‘terrible burden’ that his father He envisaged a sort of ‘verbatim’ script, The poet had first performed it, live carried in the post-war years, and wanted In our production meetings in Shepherd’s incorporating quotes from speeches and trembling, on BBC One at 6.15pm, in to tell the TV audience that it was grossly Bush, the young HLII creative team debated and interviews, diaries, letters, poems and How It Is, a trendy BBC One popular culture unfair to portray him as a monster, cruelly whether we could find a way to comment on songs. Both sides must be represented of series, which was produced by Tony Palmer indifferent to the appalling loss of life. Vietnam in just such a satirical format. Could course, so our diligent researchers needed in 1968. I was the studio director, drafted Truth and lies, history and fantasy – we present Oh! What a Lovely Vietnam War on to find Viet songs and authentic quotes in from another department after the first an interesting debate in television circles, BBC One while the war was still raging? In from Saigon sources. Quite a task, in the incumbent was fired. Then I took over as then and now. Joan Littlewood and Charles 1969 President Nixon had just launched his days before Google. We also took advice producer, when Palmer left the BBC and ran Chilton had set their theatrical account of Operation Menu, the bombing of Vietnamese from an expert – award-winning journalist off to join the circus. WW1 in the framework of a seaside concert and Vietcong bases in Cambodia. US combat James Cameron.

the bosses in London. Top Gear was now Jeremy’s show and by all accounts he Taking the blame began – not for the first time – to resent the indecisiveness and lack of direction at Former BBC Top Gear editor Tom Ross explains how he gave all levels in the BBC. He announced his retirement from the programme in 2001. the controversial presenter his first break… At a time when Pebble Mill was having output removed left right and centre, t is all my fault! Someone from the Sue Baker and Chris Goffey. I also brought London took the decision to cancel the BBC has to step forward and take the in specialists like Tiff Needell and rallying’s programme. The Birmingham-based staff blame for all the Clarkson headlines Tony Mason together with a new generation were made redundant and Channel 5 of the last few weeks and months. I of younger reporters. Most importantly commissioned a remarkably similar Iam that person. Centuries ago in media I encouraged female reporters to try to programme called Fifth Gear. terms I gave Jeremy Clarkson his break broaden the show’s audience appeal Jeremy went on to greater things with into television and first offered him the even further. a string of excellent documentaries and a chance to be one of the presenters – albeit Top Gear always covered a broader range peculiar chatshow. He told me he always a junior one – on Top Gear. I certainly never of motoring subjects but I wanted a harder wanted to be a cross between Alan Whicker expected Jeremy to become the worldwide journalistic edge and if possible a sense of and Michael Parkinson. After a brief gap of phenomenon that he is today. fun. In the finest tradition of Boys from the a year the programme was reborn in the I should point out at the start that in Blackstuff Jeremy had playfully pestered present format with Jeremy back, this time 1987 – contrary to popular belief today – my producers and me for a job at every car made in London and with his friend and the original format of the programme launch or motoring events on a regular former colleague Andy Wilman as already had more than five million viewers, basis. When we started looking for new executive producer. Richard Hammond and rising, and was often the top-rated faces my producer Jon Bentley, later a joined the show and in the second series show on BBC Two. Those who say the presenter of Channel 5’s Gadget Show, launch in Italy – nothing to do with Top Gear James May, who had not survived what show cannot survive without Jeremy screen-tested half a dozen hopefuls and – he had an embarrassing moment involving became a regular cull of presenters by conveniently forget that. Jeremy stood out by a mile. other journalists. He did not know whether the original format programme in the It had been a difficult ride. When I took Was he trouble from the start? He sure photographs existed. late 1990s, was brought back. The rest over as executive producer in 1986 I was was. In the early days I frequently took calls I told him to say nothing and to hope is history. told by my local manager at the BBC’s from the upper echelons of the British motor none of his colleagues in the motoring press The director-general’s decision is a studios at Pebble Mill in Birmingham that industry to complain about Jeremy’s let him down. Happily they did not. As brave one but as Generation Game, Match of the show was on its last legs with six comments on this road test or that. I easily programme editor, my superiors would, of the Day, The One Show and other examples months to live. Things got even worse silenced the critics by reminding them that I course, have hung me out to dry if the facts through the years prove, the BBC and a when Alan Yentob took over as controller too had driven that particular car and that I had ever come out that I knew and did good show, can be bigger than any one star of BBC Two. agreed wholeheartedly with Jeremy’s nothing. These were the days of a different – however popular they are. But then I Programme producers were urged to assessment. The calls soon stopped and car kind of Producer Choice in the BBC. would say that, wouldn’t I? make sweeping changes to the output companies realised that the old style of In 1991 I moved on to other BBC pastures with the inevitable danger of alienating largely bland car tests had gone for ever. and eventually Jon Bentley took over the © Tom Ross loyal audiences. I preferred evolution to My heart nearly stopped on one occasion running of the programme. Unfortunately Editor of BBC Top Gear, 1986-1991. revolution: largely keeping the existing when Jeremy came into my office and closed that coincided with a vacuum at the head of This article first appeared in regular presenter line of William Woollard, the door. The bad news was that on a car Pebble Mill and a new assertiveness from The Guardian.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 07

Oh! What a Lovely Vietnam War! (extract)

Singers: Vietnam! Vietnam! What a beautiful country Vietnam! The voice of history: The very existence of Vietnam as a separate country and the survival of the Vietnamese as a distinct people must be regarded as a miracle for which scores of historians have so far tried vainly to find a satisfactory explanation. Geography teacher: Vietnam is even longer and thinner than a map suggests. That its unity should be maintained down such a thin long line is remarkable: it is, as the Vietnamese say, the unity of a chain. Henry Cabot Lodge: Vietnam stands at the hub of a vast area of the world – south-east Asia. He who holds influence in Vietnam can affect the future of the Philippines and Formosa to the east, Thailand and Burma to the west, and Malaysia and Indonesia to the south. So Vietnam does not exist in a geographical vacuum – from it large storehouses of wealth and population can be influenced and understood. Song One thousand years of Chinese domination. One hundred years as (Mother’s Heritage): slaves of the French, Twenty years of civil war without one day’s respite. That’s mother’s heritage. Mother’s heritage is this sad land of Vietnam. Mother’s heritage is a forest of dry bones, a mountain covered with graves. G.I. (Lieut Chuck I think the entire free world should assist these people, they’re a Wiseman): very simple easy-going people: they just want to live, to be left alone. They don’t really care who they pay their taxes to, as long as they’re left to themselves to grow their rice and take care of their children. General MacArthur: Anybody who commits the land power of America on the continent of Asia, ought to have his head examined. G.I. Singers: Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Throw a nickel on the grass, Save a fighter pilot’s ass. Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Throw a nickel on the grass and you’ll be saved. A Viet Cong Kpa Klong couldn’t join the guerrilla unit, Because he was too comic strip: young to be a fighter. But he wasn’t discouraged. Each night he sat up late sharpening his spikes. He joined in a battle without anybody noticing: He risked his life to save his comrades, Grenade in one hand, rifle in the other. The Yanks came, burnt houses and destroyed fields, Stabbed In 1965, Cameron had wangled his way into There’s no recording of the show because in mothers and smothered babies. Hatred for them had smouldered North Vietnam for interviews with Ho Chi those days videotape was expensive, so tapes for years. The mines exploded and blew them to pieces. And Minh and other top leaders. His account of were normally wiped and recycled. I found now Klong has killed over one hundred enemy soldiers, Turned the conflict was to be definitive. Cameron the original script in the archive (loft). It seven armoured cars into heaps of blackened scrap iron! Yet he is approved our plan, and said that the script could do with further work (it was written only nineteen: a hero in the blooming spring of his life. was jolly good, so we took heart from and produced in a week), and maybe the that. We cast actors from Joan Littlewood’s shadow of Adrian Mitchell was hovering G.I. Singers: Every man, every man, He’s got to make it if he can, Back to the company (Brian Murphy), and the recent too closely at the young writer/producer’s world, oh yeah. I think about all the fun I’ve had, When I get OWALW film (Nicholas Farrell). Authentic shoulder? But there is good comedy in there, back home, I’ll sure be glad. That’s why I pray to God that I may G.I. songs and poems would be performed amazingly; and the voice of the common live, cos every man every man, He’s got to make it if he can, by Cy Grant, and plaintive Vietnamese folk soldier comes across quite vividly. Tell me lies Back to the world, oh yeah, back to the world. songs were to be sung by world music about Vietnam. Prime Minister Of course we can’t vanquish the United States. That would be singers Shusha and Alasdair Clayre. Pham Van Dong: fantasy. There seems to be some preposterous belief in America It was broadcast on 11 April 1969. © Tony Staveacre that we are threatening them! – a poverty-stricken country like No-one died, and there was no comment Producer, Music & Arts, 1969-1992 Vietnam threatening the most powerful nation on earth! We are passed down to the creative team from the trying to get rid of them, that’s all. They’re on our soil and we weekly Programme Review meeting, where don’t want them there. Let them go away and the war is over. the Controllers and Heads of Department assessed the week’s television output. Reporter The British contribution to the US war effort has included a That would have included Paul Fox, (Daily Mirror): hundred thousand dollars’ worth of labrador tracker dogs – at Huw Wheldon and David Attenborough. 1600 dollars each – for use in Vietnam. But in many cases, Mrs Mary Whitehouse sent a letter to the operations involving these dogs have ended in failure. Within producer, telling him that she had reported days of being sent out on patrol with the ARVN a large number him to the Home Office as a ‘subversive’. of dogs disappeared. He took that as a compliment. Philip Purser At first the Americans were puzzled, then they were furious. The in The Daily Telegraph applauded the fact that Vietnamese troops had shot the dogs and eaten them (dog is a HLII had found its own original way to gourmet’s delight in South East Asia). On another occasion, mark the OWALW premiere. when General Westmoreland, US Commander in Vietnam, was reviewing ARVN troops at Vung Tau, one British-trained dog went berserk, bit through its leash, savaged its handler and had to be shot by an American MP. Three other dogs are known to have run off into the jungle, and have been classified as defectors to the Vietcong.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 08 MEMORIES Still crazy after all these years

The April issue of Prospero prompted Andrew Barr to send in the following – a description of Ealing Film Studios in 1964 as he remembers it – ‘crazy’, he says, ‘but I loved it.’

was so lucky to be walking through ‘Earth’. Eventually, Alf Chapman’s (film the Front Lodge of TFS on Monday operations manager) shelf was at the point of 26 October 1964. After two interviews collapse; I was glad not to be given the task in W1, a medical exam and the serious of emptying the cans behind the Model Stage. Isigning of the Official Secrets Act plus an The studios still contained much evidence invitation to attend the Civil Defence course of Ealing Films and there was even a glass- on coping with ‘Nuclear Attack’ I was roofed stage, the location of Who’s Who in ‘reporting’ as a trainee assistant film recordist, Doggieland, the first film from the silent days. and I had a staff number to prove it. This was The stages were operational, strictly governed the magical world of Ealing Films. by the times when the generator worked. ‘Gentlemen, you may smoke’… the It shut down sharp at 1pm, regardless of opening gambit to relax us four newcomers what else was happening. Bells rang and the was reinforced by ashtrays placed on our huge door lifted up to allow extras in weird tables. The lecture room was the newest part costumes or army uniforms to surge out to of TFS, glossily decorated and adjacent to the canteen. the canteen, usually jammed, the seats in Here one day, Dudley Moore and Peter Graham Whatling in action on Dixon from those days. different areas taken by custom by different Cooke filmed a sequence for Not Only but Also. professions. We sat at the ‘sound’ table A Palm Court hotel had been set by Tony Peter Watkins directed Culloden and The War ‘Do it wild,’ the director used to shout, nervously drinking our coffees. Ron Brown, Cornell, and Dudley, complete with flashing Game, and Ken Loach made Cathy Come Home. talking through the action. It seemed like war. my new colleague, smoked and announced eyebrows, played a horribly persistent People returned from abroad having filmed The star of my earliest days was Harold that he had heard that anyone with a staff violinist serenading Peter before sitting down real revolutions; Tubby Englander travelled Dines, manager of the TFS Transfer Suite. number ending BBC2 would be the first to at a piano to perform his ‘Goodbye’. It was through Europe with sound recordist Basil Harold’s favourite response to ‘urgent’ be made redundant at the end of the week. hilarious but the cameraman never allowed Harris filming Civilisation, wielding ‘autocue’ requests from pompous editors was ‘give His and mine both had such a suffix. It was himself a smile. with a huge 35mm sound camera. ‘em rice’. He was a garrulous but gifted my introduction to the TFS rumour factory, Much later on in the same magic factory, By Christmas 1964, I had had my first go organ enthusiast, who introduced me to the centred on these tables. we filmed Spike Milligan for Oh in Colour, as a boom operator. It’s Not Me, It’s Them was an mysteries of the Selsyn 3-phase lock. He was The canteen also featured in our first where Spike acted the part of a vicar sending improbably titled sitcom about a gas-meter also the kindest of men to his staff. encounter with a film camera. Hamish, himself to sleep with his epilogue, and man, set in Wandsworth, starring, amongst Thank you, Prospero, for reminding me of assistant to Tubby Englander, set us up dressed as a general, with a concealed smoke others, Dilys Laye, whom I remember ended those days. It was too male-dominated but looking at the main door, where we had machine emitting smoke every time an up in a tiny chicken coop with our hero. The then strength came first before wisdom, as I to practice panning up to the clock over apparently naked woman addressed him. The recordist kept pushing me into the shot as learnt to load and use heavy kit and the new the door. After we had filmed a number of final sketch involved another Tony Cornell set we discovered next morning when rushes two-channel Perfectone tape machine. I am furtive staff entering and exiting, there was of an RAF Mess. The walls collapsed to end were viewed back at the studios. I was as dim so grateful to those who trained me ‘on the a bit of a rumpus: people thought this was Spike’s recreation of a Marx Brothers gag. We as any new boy I suppose. job’. Two Graham’s especially, Whatling and management spying. I’ve no recall of any film left in hysterics; the scenery crew walked out ‘Sound’ was the underdog then. Many Hare, had endless patience with the new boy. being loaded in the camera. in protest. cameramen simply ignored our presence and Andrew Barr retired in 2000 as Head of Amid the hilarity, many serious films delighted in calling for the ‘silent’ arriflex, Education and Religious Broadcasting, emerged on the stage and on location. Here ironically the noisiest but simplest to use. BBC Scotland. ‘It was my introduction to the TFS rumour factory’

Our first day involved various introductions: the most alarming was hearing that Lord Reith might be about, before we settled down to watch This is the BBC, an already dated film, featuring much effort to create sound radio links from Aberdeen to Newquay on wind-up phones. Ron Brown tittered and finally just laughed aloud. I think the other Ron, our instructor, was secretly laughing too. I would give my right arm to see it now. Finally, we were brought down to earth with a short lecture barked at us by the Head of Film. It was to be the first and last time he said anything to me. For two months we were supernumerary rotating round the site. Getting used to TFS involved many legends and even working with them. Mostly this just meant carting enormous tins of 35mm film back and forth to Film Despatch. Here in a building like a cricket pavilion a man in a white coat supervised putting them on shelves. He had a habit of repeating what he was told, so much so that Roy, a famous film editor, filled numerous cans with earth, which he labelled

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 LIFE AFTER AUNTIE 09 Life with Squibbs... and Emerald

When I heard Tricia Baldwin, the stamp lady and BBC volunteer visitor, had died, I rang Cheryl Miles, our Visiting Scheme Co-ordinator. ‘What’s happened to Squibbs?’ I asked. ‘Oh, would you like her?’ Cheryl replied.

this very small version of Squibbs came for food. Then she moved in. Apparently, the people in a house few doors away left Connect Clubs but the cat didn’t. Frankly I forgot about There are 19 BBC Connect clubs; Squibbs. Then one day Tricia’s good full details are on the website: neighbours Jan and Laurie brought her to www.bbcclub.com/connect. But here my house. Squibbs and her chair and her are some details of just four of them: toys and her carrier. Jan said: ‘She’s not a lap cat.’ She is. Jan said: ‘She won’t go out.’ Golf She does. Jan said she loves television so The BBC Club Golfing Society has been I went out and bought one. Although I around since 1928, making it one of worked in BBC Television for 30 years, our oldest Clubs. We have monthly tournaments (where members can bring I’m a radio person! guests for a fee if they wish). We welcome Jan was like, ‘Squibbs likes Panorama golfers of all abilities to play social and and horseracing.’ So I put the television on competitive golf on excellent courses when I go out. She was right about Squibbs at an affordable cost. Annual cost to join? Tricia Baldwin. wanting to be the one and only. Tricia spoilt £10. For further information contact: her. She’s a very fussy eater whereas Emerald [email protected] eats everything. Of course, she lived rough quibbs is Tricia’s beloved cat. She was doubt she would be rehomed. I hadn’t for a year so she knows what hunger is! The Rambling the focus of many a conversation I thought of giving her a home when I rang sitting room belongs to Squibbs. Emerald has Rambles (usually circular) are between six had with Tricia. Squibbs’ name even Cheryl, but I reasoned ‘Why not?’ For Tricia’s been relegated to the kitchen. and 12 miles every 3rd Sunday in the appeared on Tricia’s Christmas cards. sake. I liked Tricia a lot. She was kind and did I began 2014 with no cats. I began Home Counties. Lunch will be at a local SSquibbs must be thirteenish now. Would things like offering me a lift to the annual 2015 with two cats. It seems to me cats are pub, or bring your own. We organise the she be given a good home if she went into a visitors’ conference in Leicester. So I said ‘yes’. like buses – no cats, then two cats come occasional weekends and weeks away in cattery? Even with her chocolate box face, It took a year for Squibbs to come to me. along together. more challenging terrain. We also hold large innocent eyes and sweet expression I In the meantime, Emerald appeared. At first Patricia Campbell barbecues and some walks which are suitable for members’ young families. Annual cost to join? £5. For further information contact: [email protected]

Riding Now 100 – and still barking! The BBC Riding Club is for anyone who likes to ride, or would like to learn. We can s a young teenager Jack Hollinshead offer the cheapest and best range of riding was already interested in building in London. Our club night is every Thursday at Trent Park stables, North London, where amplifiers. As a result, in 1929 we have lessons for different levels from the local Job Centre suggested complete beginner to advanced. Annual Ahe approach the then local British cost to join? £30 For further information Broadcasting Company at Bank Buildings, contact: [email protected] 3 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. It took him on – at age 14! Prospero He was to keep the Studio Sound FX The Connect Club specifically for retired Room in good and neat order. On its members! As well as our great range of day concrete floor stood two tables with What I particularly recall about our trips, next year there will hopefully be a hand-wound portable gramophones; a Manchester days together in the 1950s and Prospero holiday! Details will be in the selection of recorded sound effects albums; ‘60s – and mainly for Northern Children’s September and January Prospero newsletters. steel sheets to be rattled during drama Hour – was the manner in which Jack would Annual cost to join? £10. For further thunderstorms; and packets of dry peas to be greet those youngsters who came to be information contact: [email protected] dropped onto drum skins for heavy rain, etc! auditioned by me and set their nerves at Retired members’ lunch at These sounds were to be picked up by a rest. As I recall, he was wisely to inform a young Max Davies NOT to hit the studio Western House Marconi carbon microphone. If recorded This is now available EVERY DAY from piano chords too hard; and that I should music records had to be faded, then 12 noon to 2.30pm at Club Western House Jack would have to pick up the portable bring back another teenager to perform for adjacent to New Broadcasting House W1. gramophone and walk slowly away from BBC North as an outstanding young artist. You can pick up your complimentary copy the microphone. Max was to become Master of the Queen’s of the Radio Times here too. One course Pre-War it was the studio cast who Music while Julie Andrews surely brought £5, two courses £6.50. (Members only.) opened and closed their own doors. In my our world alive with The Sound of Music. own early wartime BBC days in London, It was on 7 October 1932 that Northern Lottery I was the 16-year-old FX boy who did this Children’s Hour listeners were first to hear Congratulations to E Giles who won the for Tommy Handley and Mrs Mopp on Out with Romany – and soon the whole June £10,000 jackpot! She was one of six ITMA. Jack was paid a full 17/6p a week country. ‘Romany’ was the Rev. Bramwell retired lottery prize winners in June. To be in in 1930 because HE was well worth it. Evens and listeners just adored to hear his with a chance of winning September’s I only got nine shillings more some 12 dog Raq who now barked into almost £10,000 prize, join before 31 August! years later. every home. But, tragically, Raq was Contact Michelle on 0208 752 6666. When he was called up, Jack entered the suddenly to die! BBC Club members’ ticket offer It was Uncle Mac himself who forbade Royal Airforce and spent three years away in Available at the Club in Western House, Egypt, during which time he didn’t once see the BBC to announce this to the Nation. an exclusive offer to buy VUE cinema tickets his wife Mary. And just who did all the barking now? Why, for £7.50 each (non-member price £9.50)! Back with the Beeb after the war, Jack surely the oldest English dog to this day! So just you keep at it Jack, since you already became a studio manager, not only in Got a question or comment? Manchester but also in Leeds and in faraway Raq up that Century. John Hollinshead. Email us at [email protected] Newcastle, such was the extent of BBC North. Trevor Hill or call 020 8752 6666.

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 10 OBITUARIES

Jack was an only child. He attended organised a reception at the Banqueting Secretary in Technical Old-school librarian Grammar School and was then conscripted House Whitehall, which was attended by and then Scenic who supported the into the Army. He served in Palestine at a HM The Queen. particularly difficult time there. One of the Meanwhile, at the BBC, he oversaw the Operations World Service legacies of his Army service was a lifelong construction, building and installation of all Sylvia Lindley (nee Wright) died peacefully dislike for fish as curried fish was served often! technical services in Pebble Mill, the brand- on 31 March at the age of 77 after a three- He joined the BBC as an engineer in new, state-of-the-art radio and television month battle against cancer. November 1952 and served at various headquarters for the Midlands. Sylvia began her career with the BBC transmitting stations – Holme Moss This involved the training of staff to adapt in 1961, joining Technical Operations, (Holmfirth), Sandale (Carlisle), Pontop Pike to the new technology, moving from mono TV working as secretary to Mr McCulloch (Newcastle), Beckley (Oxford), and Wenvoe to colour, from mono radio to stereo and from and Mr Pottinger. She progressed to (Cardiff) twice, from where he retired in 1987. valves to transistors. A major culture change. become Allocations Assistant (Cameras), Jack married Kathleen Bloxham (Kath), on On leaving the BBC, he devoted his time allocating cameramen and their assistants to 30 April 1955. The three girls, Gwen, Beryl to further developing the RTS. productions at Television Centre and Elstree. and Kathy, were all born in different parts of He was forward looking by nature, seeking While working with camera staff, Sylvia the country as Jack moved around, a quite to improve and develop everything he was met Stuart Lindley and they were happily John Owston (or ‘Johnny O’ as he was common occurrence in transmittters! Kath involved in, which brought recognition in married in 1985. known by his many friends and colleagues) passed away in 2007. many ways including the Gold medal of the After an attachment, Sylvia moved to worked in the Reference Library and Jack was my manager for a time at Royal Television Society in 1987, and in 1992, Scenic Operations, working a shift pattern, subsequently the Information Research Unit Wenvoe. Although his title was ‘transmitter the MBE, for services to the television industry. allocating Scenic Operational staff. at Bush House from 1979 to 1993. manager’, his ability as an engineer was He died peacefully in his sleep, aged 91, In 1991, Sylvia and her husband took John was an ‘old school’ reference always evident. During the huge changeover on 21 January 2015. He had been very early retirement and moved to Berwick- librarian with a love of books and literature to VHF/FM frequencies/services, we were happily married to Ysanne for 63 years. Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, where they and a passion for learning. He relished at a VHF/FM relay in one of the South Tony will be remembered with affection by both joined the Berwick Ramblers and were enquiry and research work and his extensive Wales valleys, at night. A stereo parameter friends and colleagues throughout the industry. able to continue their love for rambling. general knowledge and conscientious was wrong… Jack suddenly said ‘I know Sylvia also loved travelling and cruising approach meant that he was both trusted what the problem is!’ An RF filter needed around the world. and respected by programme makers and tuning. At Oxford Jack experienced the same Mildred Panksztelo Sadly, around the year 2000, Sylvia was support staff from across the World Service. problem on Radio 3 – the Oxford service Mildred passed badly affected by retinitis pigmentosa and His knowledge of libraries across London area had a large number of HiFi buffs away peacefully during her latter years she lost her eyesight. enabled him to obtain even the most obscure (including college professors and a HiFi on 14 March Despite all her problems she remained volumes to support the World Service in its news contributor!) meaning deficiencies 2015 at Ealing courageous and resourceful at all times. varied output. were quickly reported. At home he kept a Hospital. She was We extend our deepest sympathy to Stuart Prior to joining the Corporation, John had tumble drier going for 45 years! the widow of and his two daughters. worked in libraries at the Royal Hong Kong Jack had many interests and hobbies. the late Edward Mary Rider Government Office, the Science Museum and He was a good ballroom dancer, a church Panksztelo and the Zoological Society of London. organist and he played the electric organ the much-loved On leaving the BBC he took up the post of at home. He was an avid reader and mum of Vanda, Swansea sound librarian at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, knowledgeable participant in any discussion, Eddy and Andrzej. engineer finally retiring in 2004. He remained active at work or outside. After retirement he She was also Nan to Steven, Susanne, in librarianship and served on the London showed an interest in cooking and cooked Hannah, Becky and Sean. Sidney Roe passed committee of the Information Services Group many family meals. Both Mildred and Edward worked for the away on 30 April of CILIP (formerly the Library Association). Jack is survived by three daughters, none BBC for many years – Mildred as canteen 2015 after a Throughout his life John’s many passions of which followed his love of engineering, manager at the BBC Studios Windmill Road – short illness. Born included languages and films. He studied but four of the six grandchildren are involved and they spoke fondly of their time there. 3 October 1916 Spanish at Birkbeck College, becoming fluent in science and engineering in some way. Her funeral service was held at Breakspear he was 98 when in this as well as a number of other European Peter Condron Crematorium in Ruislip on 30 March. he died. He joined languages. He was an avid cinema-goer and In memory of Mildred, donations to the BBC in around would happily spend hours watching films Dementia UK would be gratefully received. 1938 as a sound and discussing the merits of various actors Tony Pilgrim MBE Eddy Panksztelo engineer and and directors (a number of whom he knew Tony Pilgrim’s BBC career spanned over briefly worked personally). He was a long-standing member 40 years. He set up systems for radio outside in Glasgow. of the British Film Institute and the letters broadcasts, including the first post-war He was called up A burial at sea for Mairi pages of Sight and Sound were often adorned Christmas Broadcast by King George VI from from the BBC in Born in 1926, Mairi MacIntyre passed away with his thoughts on the latest releases or Sandringham in 1945. 1939 to serve in the RAF as a then, highly on 28 March, aged 89, at Bowmore, Isle the history of cinema. He was also a regular He took charge of communications secret, radar technician. He was posted to of Islay. – and much appreciated – contributor to the facilities at the Wembley Olympic Games. Dover where he ran a radar station where he Mairi worked (I think) in association with letters page of the London Evening Standard and When television began to spread outside witnessed the Battle of Britain, plotting the Horizon documentaries and a weekly music published articles in the scholarly journal waves of enemy aircraft. London he moved to Birmingham. He segment circa 1950s to 1980s. Notes and Queries. After D-Day he followed the advancing married Ysanne Churchman in 1951, and She reported that she had an office close John was a gentle person with an troops to Germany, helping maintain the air they settled in Birmingham when she took to or opposite a then similarly aged young unfailingly polite manner and a sensitive defence system. the part of Grace in The Archers. colleague, David Attenborough. nature that endeared him to his friends, After the war he returned to Swansea From 1960 he progressed along two Mairi never married. colleagues and neighbours. Time spent to work in the various BBC studios parallel lines when he helped to found the After a career with the BBC involving with him was always interesting and never there, eventually moving to the new BBC Midland Centre of the Television Society, of frequent trips abroad on work assignments unpleasant. Alexandra Road studios. One of his notable which he became Chairman in 1964. This and the general hustle and bustle of life in He died in Ealing Hospital on 11 April, a achievements was to supervise the last led to a seat on the Council which in turn London, Mairi chose to retire to Bowmore. few months short of his 80th birthday. He recordings of Dylan Thomas, days before his led to his Chairmanship of the Society in Her funeral instructions requested full will be much missed. final journey to the US. 1970. The Society had been granted Royal burial at sea, and accordingly she was Ian Van Arkadie Around 1970, he left BBC Radio to join status in 1966. consigned to the waters of the Pentland Firth Harry Hynam, a freelance news cameraman During his 19 years as Honorary Secretary on 13 April. who worked for BBC Wales, as his sound Wenvoe transmitter of the RTS, he took the lead in changing the How a young woman made a journey recordist. Much of their work was broadcast Society from being mainly engineering-focused between such diametrically opposed contexts on Wales Today over many years. manager to the more broadly based society it is today. is the stuff of the documentaries she worked on. I suppose there may be retired BBC staff Jack Paley was born in Halifax in 1927 He organised major awards events Messages or any other memories would be who remember him, as he was well known and passed away on 25 April 2015. He was including the Journalism Awards, which gratefully received at the email address below. and well liked. transmitter manager at Wenvoe Transmitting he founded in 1980. In 1987 the RTS Iain Fulcher (nephew) David Roe Station until 1987. celebrated its Diamond Jubilee and he [email protected]

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 MEMORIES 11

major carriage organisations and the with designer Hilary Hayton, creating an CEEFAX Sub-Editor control of budgeting and expenditure. exhibition at The Langham which had Award-winning Miranda His knowledge of printing and production queues reaching down to Oxford Circus! television designer McIntyre, procedures for Radio Times and numerous He and his long-term partner Stewart who has died other BBC publications was invaluable. Ted eventually moved to Spain where together aged 56 after was always prepared to share his knowledge they built holiday homes in Malaga. The a long illness, with members of staff for the benefit of pleasure John gave to millions of viewers served as Chief Publications Department. In 1975 he was during his BBC career is inestimable and Sub-Editor appointed deputy distribution manager, a post there must be many readers of Prospero who with BBC he held until his retirement in August 1978. have the most fond memories of his work. CEEFAX and Ted and Violet were married in October Biddy Baxter and Edward Barnes later worked in 1947. In 1956 they were blessed when their programme son Tony was born. They always enjoyed publicity at being involved with Tony’s numerous A network stalwart BBC North. activities and for several years they were on John Palmer joined the BBC in June 1959, She was born in August 1958 in London the supporters committee for the Cubs and starting at ETD Wood Norton on course and educated there at St Paul’s Girls’ School, Scouts in Hillingdon. In 1980 they moved to PTA 1 (the first intake direct from school). before winning a scholarship to Bryanston Dorset where they spent many happy years He was then assigned to the Central School in Dorset and going on to read of retirement. In 2014 they fulfilled a Area section at Lime Grove, working in English, again as a scholar, at St. Anne’s lifelong dream when they enjoyed a 12-day the Central Apparatus Room, BBC Network College, Oxford. cruise in Norway with Tony. Control Room, and Presentation Studio P. Miranda joined CEEFAX in 1983 after I had the pleasure of working closely with He transferred to Television Centre when the serving her apprenticeship helping establish Ted for many years. He was a true gentleman main operation moved from Lime Grove. the look and content of British Telecom’s who was always fair and kind to everyone. He was promoted to senior engineer telephone-based teletext service, Prestel, Ted will be greatly missed by Violet, his soon after, working closely with Presentation which she was later to describe as the cherished wife of 67 years, their son Tony Department in the Network Control rooms ‘dinosaur antecedent of the internet’. and niece Sandy. and Presentation studios. Barry Newbery, who died in his sleep in She might have been less inclined to Brian Leaver say the same of the BBC’s own pioneering With the advent of colour, John was one February, was a designer who brought to teletext service, the world’s first, which her of the first group working in Presentation television design an exceptionally creative father, Colin McIntyre, had launched just Blue Peter film-maker Studio B on a wide variety of programmes talent. Throughout a long career he designed nine years earlier and ran until his retirement John Adcock began (Late Night Line Up, The Old Grey Whistle Test, etc.) for every type of television production, yet, in 1982. his BBC career in John also worked in the International he will always be recognised and held in Miranda quickly established herself as a 1958 as a trainee Control Room (TVC, 2nd floor, Union Jack great esteem for his design for Doctor Who. calm, authoritative presence in a CEEFAX studio cameraman. in the window), where I first met him. Until Barry’s immense experience and newsroom that valued speed and accuracy His parents, George that time we were on opposite shifts and command of the realities of television studio above all else. Her appointment as Chief Sub- and Matilda of never met. production, together with his sheer ‘know- Editor in 1986 surprised no one. Worksop were John was very well organised, both in how’ of the requirements of the construction In 1989, she followed her husband, both butchers, but planning and operation of International workshops, enabled him to realise the exotic Christopher Shennan, a research manager John didn’t want to Transmissions, not only for the BBC, but for settings demanded by this very popular at Ciba-Geigy, to Cheshire and took up a follow the family other UK and international broadcasters, programme (despite initially being seriously position at BBC North. tradition and aged frequently handling several simultaneous and optimistically under budgeted). Settings From now on, marketing was the area on 17 joined BBC Television’s training scheme transmissions. He was always keen to devise of this style and ‘imagination’ were not which she focused her abundant energies and became a successful studio cameraman, improvements in the operation, particularly available from the stock resources of TVC, and where she completed her BBC career, frequently working on Blue Peter where, with regard to paperwork, and also to ensure which provided essentially for the needs of culminating in a three-year stint until 1996 after winning an attachment, he was soon the Control Room was kept in a tidy state ‘traditional’ drama productions. as BBC North’s Press and Publicity Officer assigned to make a film with John Noakes (the Control Room was in use every day of The arrival of Doctor Who, with its demands for both Religious Broadcasting and as the ‘Button Boy’. Noakes was to join the the year). on designers and managers on an already Network Radio. Naval Apprentices on HMS Ganges and climb Anyone who worked in ICR will fully stretched Programme Services, was Diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013, the rigging to the ‘Button’ at the top of the remember the ‘Palmer pads’, and the not exceptional; expansion was the name Miranda confronted her impending death tallest mast. But in the event, Noakes didn’t under-monitor magnetic labelling strips, of the game in those days! Much that was with a fortitude that aroused the admiration quite make it. He ran out of puff for the final an idea that John had following a visit to the achieved in bringing so many fine and of family and friends alike. 10 feet and was overtaken by a 12-year-old aircraft control centre for Heathrow. innovative programmes to those ‘Golden She is survived by Chris, whom she married who stood on the Button and saluted. It It was always reassuring to work with Days’ was carried on the willing broad in 1987, and their children, Rosie and Ben. was a marvellous story of gallant failure and John, knowing that you would find the work backs of designers like Barry Newbery and well planned and organised. his colleagues in costume and make-up: by William Garforth it established John Adcock’s position as a superb Blue Peter film-maker. John was always noted for being working long and late. John’s greatest achievement was diligent, efficient and loyal, and was always Barry Newbery was a naturally gifted Loyal Service to undoubtedly on 26 November 1979 when welcoming for new staff. artist and designer as the work he has left he, with presenter Simon Groom, became Due to failing eyesight, John took us, in every medium, testifies. During his BBC Publications the first reporters to enter Cambodia which redundancy in 1995. retirement he was elected member of Colleagues and friends will be sorry to hear had been made a living hell by Pol Pot and In retirement John was active in his local the Artists’ Society and Langham Sketching that Ted Waterman passed away on 5 June his disgusting acts of genocide. His film, U3A, giving several talks on his work Group, taking many senior roles in after a short illness at the age of 93. for which he was director, cameraman with BBC. He also continued growing fruit its service. Ted joined BBC Publications in 1938 and and recordist, gave rise to Blue Peter’s most and vegetables. Cliff Hatts in 1940 volunteered to serve in the RAF. successful appeal, which raised over £4m for John died suddenly at home in February Barry’s daughters, Rachel and Joanna, added: During his training he attended a course on the starving people of Cambodia. 2015, age 74. Our dad died exactly six weeks after his wife radar at Squires Gate Airfield in Blackpool. John became assistant editor of Blue Peter Brian Elliott Zena. Although remembered for Doctor Who, He served in Britain, South Africa and Burma. and trained the programme’s film directors, the three programmes he was most proud of Ted returned to BBC Publications in 1946 among whom were Sarah Hellings, were The Critic, Prince Regent (nominated for a (Distribution Department) and subsequently Daniel Wolf, William Nicholson and Renny Duncan Flockhart BAFTA) and The Lost Boys (for which he won was promoted to assistant traffic manager. His Rye who all had distinguished careers in Notice has been received that James Duncan the RTS Design Award). wealth of experience was recognised in 1968 film after they leftBlue Peter. Flockhart died on 23 April 2015. Duncan This is a quote from a talk he gave to the when he was seconded to a more senior In 1981 John left the BBC to set up a was born on 13 February 1930 in Yorkshire local church: ‘A set designer’s task is to create position within Distribution Department. company to make travel films with Rosemary and had a lifetime career as an entertainer settings in which actors can feel they belong He became traffic manager in 1972 being Gill, a former Blue Peter producer, but returned and a dresser with the BBC. He worked as the when they perform. I think I am quite good responsible for the distribution to the trade in 1983 to take charge of The Diamond head dresser on the TV series Tenko. Duncan at it. Anyway I certainly enjoyed it. It’s not of Radio Times, The Listener and all other BBC Jubilee of Children’s Programmes, making lived in Rhyl and in the last few years was often one’s job becomes a hobby, as it did for publications. This required close liaison with an excellent documentary and, together resident at a care home in Colwyn Bay. me and still get paid for it. Wonderful!’

PROSPERO AUGUST 2015 12 REUNIONS T.O. 21 and 22 – 50 years on On 23 March 2015, 39 ex-members of the BBC who joined as trainee radio and TV operators 50 years previously, gathered at Wood Norton for an anniversary celebration.

or the majority, their first day at the Wood Norton during the training. All these Standing: Roger Casstles, Peter Page, BBC was 25 January 1965 and were set to music that had been played live Dave Ramsey, Derek Anderson, Bob Hewison, because there were so many they were during the end-of-course programme John Otterson, Ian Stacey, Geoff Wheeler, Forthcoming reunions accommodated on two courses T.O. 21 exercises and recorded at the time. Guest of Roger Francis, Ken Osbourn, Terry Mounsey, Fand 22 run sequentially at the Engineering honour at the lunch was Alan Birmingham, a Bob Auger, Roger Bunce, Chris Beer, Martin Kisner, John Vincent, Steve Jellyman, Dave Taylor, Training Department at Wood Norton. The lecturer at Wood Norton who taught the Keith Hatton, Keith Gibson, David Deane, Ian Lewis, BBC Transport Group intake included 84 recruits for television fundamentals of electronics to both courses Tony Pattinson, Peter Street, Barry Bonner, – 24th reunion sound and cameras and 41 for radio. and was prepared to repeat his ohms law Dick Blencowe, Diane Whitelaw nee Thorpe, This year will be the 24th reunion for Eighteen partners also came to enjoy the lecture if anyone wanted a refresher. Bill Jenkin, Margot Pattison nee Patterson, BBC Transport Group, Kendal Avenue staff, day which consisted of a buffet lunch at the Many of those present had left the BBC Dave Pattison, Neil Dormand, Tony Reason. ex-BBC drivers. A chance to come for a Wood Norton Hotel, a tour of the BBC training over the intervening years. Some left for Kneeling: Piers Ford-Crush, Mike Borer, drink and a chat at Royal British Legion facilities and skittles in the evening at the employment by commercial TV companies Dave Brook, Pat Kyle, Sim Harris. Club, Ruislip High Street from 8pm on Not in picture: Geoff Thonger. ST Ecgwins Private Club, formally the BBC and others for a complete change of career, a Saturday 12 December 2015. For further (Evesham) Club, on Evesham High Street. couple becoming airline pilots. Whether they The day was a great success as many of those information contact Paul McArdle on: Many of the attendees brought with them stayed or moved, most had remained in attending had not seen each other for many, 07957 592326 or email: memorabilia of their early days with the BBC operational jobs in sound or as cameramen, or if not all, the intervening years. Many anecdotes [email protected] – including copies of the exam that had to be had transferred to lighting or into supervisory covering the experiences of people over the passed (but no one would say whether they positions. Others moved into production and 50 years were shared throughout the day. Design and Scenic Services could still answer all the questions!) a few rose up the management chain both The event was enjoyed so much that it was – 35th reunion During the meal there was an AV within the BBC and in ITV companies. even suggested that there should be another Design and Scenic Services’ annual presentation which included some 8mm Over the previous two years, of the 84 TV reunion in five or 10 years’ time. reunion lunch will take place at Ealing footage along with still photographs of life at recruits contact was made with 58. Neil Dorman Golf Club’s Function Room, Perivale Lane, Perivale, West London, on Friday 30 October 2015 at 12 noon. If you CLASSIFIEDS WIN would like to attend, booking forms Venice, Giudecca. CAPTION competition are available from Matt Conway on: Beautiful apartment in quiet private £10 07903772191 (office hours only) or courtyard, sleeps 5, fully equipped. email: [email protected] Experience the real Venice. Tel: 01260 227262 BBC RELC Congratulations to John Brewser, who won a Email: [email protected] BBC RELC’s next lunch will take place on £10 voucher for his one-liner: ‘It’s a lovely car Tuesday 8 September 2015 at The Miramar Provence, France. but there’s no leg room!’ Other entries included: Hotel, Bournemouth. All former BBC Modern detached villa. Sleeps 6. Heated ‘I’ve arrived, in my ‘top gear’, to replace that staff and their friends and families are pool. Close to delightful medieval hilltop scruffy lot!’ (Ron Mitchell), and ‘I’m so used to most welcome. The cost of a three-course village. From £600 per week. me pushbike I keep putting my foot down when lunch is £20. For more information, Email: [email protected] I stop…’ (William Dudman). please contact John Murphy (who has Portugal. taken over from Russell Horne as RELC Post your caption suggestion Traditional country house B&B. Pool; organiser) on: 01202 739248 or email: to Prospero by 11 September garden of oranges, olives, vines and figs. [email protected] (see page 2 for address) or email Between World Heritage cities of Evora and Elvas. £45. [email protected], with ‘caption competition 4’ in the Yorkshire Region annual Email: [email protected] reunion/pensioners’ lunch Tel: +351 925393701 subject line. Please include your BBC pension number. Good luck! Thursday 13 August, 12.30pm for 1pm, once again at the Dower House Hotel, Demonstrating the treatment Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and Knaresborough. Catch up with your Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, of muscles weakened by Cardiff CF5 2YQ. rheumatism, arthritis and other former colleagues at this superb venue and enjoy excellent food! For details, Please enclose a cheque made payable to: disabilities through the use of a BBC Central Directorate. suspension frame which supports please contact Sue Pagdin on: 0113 261 the whole body while weak 2613 or email: [email protected] Rate: £6 for 20 words. In a covering letter muscles are being exercised. please include your pension number.

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