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The newspaper for BBC pensioners - with highlights from Ariel Heights, Camera, Action Breathtaking stories of extreme filming. Read the full story on page 6. June 2011 • Issue 4 Yes, Prime Lord Patten Minister back takes the helm Sounds better? on stage Page 2 Page 7 Page 12 NEWS • LifE aftEr auNtiE • CLaSSifiEdS • Your LEttErS • obituariES • CroSPEro 02 uPdatE froM thE bbC Patten takes helm at BBC Trust On 3 May, Lord Patten began his appointment as chairman of the BBC Trust – with an interesting first day spent taking questions from staff in a ringmain session. Quality First) should be all about and I hope we’ll be able to discuss options with the Executive during the summer.’ 2011 pay offer It is also apparent that the new chairman is ready and willing to deal with the – an update repercussions of the less popular decisions to be taken, and those which will not always Further to requests by the unions for all be accepted gladly by the licence fee payer. staff in bands 2-11 to be awarded a pay ‘I hope we won’t be talking about closing increase which is ‘substantially above services but, whatever we are talking about inflation’, the BBC has offered a 2% doing, if the Trust and the Executive are increase – which falls far short of the agreed it is the best way of using the money Retail Prices Index (RPI) figures on which then we have to stand by the consequences. If it is intended to be based (5.2% as at that involves answering thousands of emails, April 2011). or dealing with political aggro, then that’s In an all-staff email, Lucy Adams, going to happen.’ director of Business Operations, said, One example of such an unpopular ‘We are facing a very difficult financial message to be delivered is the World Service, position…across the economy as a whole which he refers to as ‘a hugely important pay inflation is running below RPI and we part of Britain’s relations with the rest of need to demonstrate value for money to the world.’ Concerned about the delivery of licence fee payers. In that context our pay Lord Patten this message to the British, at a time when award must be affordable and realistic.’ programmes they enjoy may be axed, Patten The joint unions will now consult Speaking of his new role, Patten explained of the governance of the organisation. His states, ‘If we want good and effective services members and aim to issue ballot forms that he wanted to be the Trust chairman plans include a passion to ‘make clearer that round the world, we will have to explain to on the pay offer next week, without because the BBC is the ‘best broadcasting the Trust’s role is strategic, make clearer the licence fee payer why he or she should be recommendation. organisation in the world, and part of the the relationship between the trustees and paying for, say, short wave services to peasant Secretary of BECTU Gerry Morrissey national DNA’. He added, ‘It has the finest the non-executive directors, clarify where farmers in Indian villages where there is told Ariel, ‘It’s disappointing that BBC radio and tv journalism globally, it has necessary the relationship with Ofcom and no electricity.’ staff may have to endure a third year of produced for decades some of the best speed up the way we deal with editorial Talking further on the issue of unpopular below inflation pay, but the joint unions programmes and it has services which I can’t complaints.’ He stressed that this did not messages, the topic of executive pay have decided to issue a neutral ballot imagine any other country providing.’ mean that governance should remain an arose during a recent slot on Radio 4’s because the big issue here is what’s going Giving an interview with Ariel Editor ongoing issue; rather that it should be Today programme, when Patten told John to happen in coming months. The BBC Candida Watson, Patten was quick to outline addressed, to add value to the organisation, Humphrys, ‘We do not need to pay 50% initially asked for a two-year deal and his commitment as chairman to keep the and focus on what it should do, rather than more to an individual than then we do to run we refused because there are so many BBC truly independent and impartial from what it should not. the Proms. There are some individuals that unknowns at the moment. political influences – a question which was In terms of the purpose of the BBC Trust, are worth millions but I don’t think there are ‘Feedback from members is that the raised during the staff question and answer Patten was keen to define this clearly, too, many of them.’ bigger picture concerns the degree of job session. On this subject, he responded, ‘I saying, ‘The Trust’s role is to be a guardian When asked by Watson how he expects security they have, and what volumes of can’t deny my past, and wouldn’t want to do of the BBC’s independence, to elaborate a the BBC to look at the end of his four- work they will be asked to undertake. That so. I’m an old-fashioned, moderate Tory…I strategy with the Executive and then try to year tenure, the chairman painted a bright information won’t be known until the would be a complete moron if I tried to ensure it’s being implemented…We have to picture of an ever-improving organisation, summer or early autumn.’ secure this job, which I wanted very badly, look at what we require as the Trust of the meeting needs and rising to challenges. ‘I and then didn’t defend the integrity and BBC so that we can spring clean and reduce, hope it will be still producing cracking good impartiality and independence of the BBC.’ as far as we can without too much risk, the programmes and still celebrating the best, Of the questions posed to Lord Patten obligations we place on the Executive.’ most accurate and brave journalism. I hope on his first day in the role, he shared his Throughout the interview, Watson noted it will be more flexible and faster on its feet, comments on possible improvements to that Patten was keen to sing the praises of the combining self-confidence in what it’s doing the organisation. When asked by the chair BBC’s output, despite his evident awareness with a bit of generosity of spirit and humility of the session whether there was ‘one thing of how difficult it is to maintain quality when dealing with other people. I think it’s a he would change’, Patten responded in the while taking steps to cut the necessary 20% great organisation, not perfect and, like all of affirmative, saying that he hoped to close from budgets. On the cuts, Patten said, us, could do better. the gap between high public approval of ‘Across the board, the BBC, if it’s to have the BBC output and the lower public opinion of resources to produce greater quality, will have ‘All of us could do better, but it’s how the corporation runs itself. In addition either to limit some of the things it takes for important for all of us to see where to taking questions, he sketched out his granted at the moment, or step back from and when.’ plan for immediate action with a review doing them. That is what DQF (Delivering The next issue of Prospero will appear in July Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC employees, ARIEL SUBSCRIPTIONS or to their spouses and dependants. Prospero provides a source of news on former colleagues, developments at the BBC, 6 months 1 year pension issues and classified adverts. UK: £26 £50 Overseas: £36 £60 To advertise in Prospero or the BBC Staff magazine, Ariel, please see page 12. Subscription information for Ariel can be found to the right. Please phone: 0161 485 6540 PROSPERO JUNE 2011 03 Interference Foiled by Faraday Graham Hare writes of an on-location alternative to the ‘cocoa tin’, described in March and April’s issue of Prospero. In his interesting dialogue would have to be abandoned, and sure it was well stuck down and making a article in Prospero another location sought, unless a solution good electrical contact with the bare wire. MONEY MATTERS (March), Tony could be devised. For protection we stuck another sheet of Byers recalled ‘What we need,’ said my assistant, Fablon over the kitchen foil, making a kind New kid on the block the Plymouth TV Chris Lovelock, ‘is a Faraday cage.’ of space blanket with a tail of lighting flex Michael Faraday studio dubbed ‘A what?’ said I. hanging out of it. We wrapped the recorder On 31 March the Government published the ‘cocoa ‘A Faraday cage – to completely screen in this screening blanket, bared an inch or draft regulations concerning the long tin’. Cladding a studio in copper mesh to the Nagra.’ two of the other end of the flex, twisted awaited replacement to the Child Trust eliminate electrical interference created a ‘How on earth are we going to do that?’ the bare copper wire around the loop in Fund (CTF) – the Junior ISA. huge Faraday cage, named after the 19th I asked. the end of a skewer and stuck it firmly into Available from 1 November, Junior ISAs century physicist, Michael Faraday who ‘We could try wrapping it in kitchen foil’, the ground.