Strategy Going green Adverse Review page 7 music page 3 levels page 5

February 2011 Number 1

With highlights from Ariel Remembering the Northern Dance Orchestra page 6 BBC Pensions BBC waits for full valuation to implement pension changes NUJ reps have endorsed the agreement in principle thrashed out between the BBC and joint unions during days of talks at ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).

They rubber-stamped it in a meeting with It has been agreed that for the whole of the Scheme valuation was known. The Scheme union leaders in December. There will be no next licence fee period, so to spring 2017, the Trustees will provide two figures, one showing PROSPERO more strike action, and the work to rule is over. CAB 2011 Fund the BBC is introducing will be the deficit if no reform was introduced and the NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: ‘We revalued at either 4% or CPI (Consumer Prices second taking into account the effects of the February 2011 will meet again to consider the outcome of the Index), whichever is the lower. BBC’s proposals. valuation, at which point we will see whether The BBC has also agreed that if it wants Adams added: ‘In many ways the real help people think the changes are justified.’ to use its discretion to make a lower revaluation for staff starts now. We now have a firm That full triennial valuation of the BBC of the Scheme it can only do so after proposal that’s being implemented so the Prospero is provided free to Pension Scheme is due to be published in the April 2017, and then only if one of two modeller can be more detailed. We are spring and will reveal the exact size of the circumstances occur: either two consecutive also going to provide one-to-one discussions retired BBC employees. It can deficit, which is expected to be around £1.5bn. years of deflation or a drastic change in the with a pension expert, more seminars, Dear continued: ‘If it [the deficit] is less than BBC’s funding. more information.’ also be sent to spouses or £1.5bn then all the unions will be going back Moreover it will need the consent of the She acknowledges that the staff anger at dependants who want to keep to the BBC, but if it is over that figure it is less Scheme Trustees before it can act. Further, if the pension changes was greater than the likely people will say the BBC doesn’t have a there were to be rampant inflation, the BBC BBC had expected, but points to CAB 2011 in touch with the BBC. case for change. The feedback we are getting and Trustees can agree to award more than 4%. as evidence it responded to staff concerns, It includes news about now is that people do feel we made some decent Lucy Adams, director of Business Operation, adding: ‘Any pension reform for any progress and now they want to wait and see said the BBC hoped to implement its proposed organisation is really tough and it was no former colleagues, pension what the deficit is.’ changes next April, but would wait until the exception for the BBC.’ issues, and developments at The newly disclosed data – which For instance, a head of department the BBC. Prospero includes Executive expenses only covers permanent staff posts and earns around £60-£70k at the lower end classified advertisements. The BBC has published salaries and excludes SM positions where people are in most divisions, but that rises to £215k To advertise in Prospero or quarterly expenses of the regular 110 temporarily acting up – also suggests at the top end in Vision; £195k in FM&T; executives, and for the first time generic that the average SM pay in BBC North £170k in BBC North, Journalism and the BBC Staff magazine, salary details for 462 unnamed is £130k; FM&T, £125k; the expanded Finance; £155k in Operations; and Ariel, see page 12. senior managers. Operations division, £124k; Finance, £145k in A&M. The senior manager pay details show £121k; Audio & Music, £116k. Across By the end of last year, the total that more than half of SMs, in salary divisions, more than 300 senior senior manager paybill had been cut Subscription information for bands spanning 60k to 215k, are in managers earn above £100k. by 13.6% and the number of senior Journalism (179, 31.3% of total) and managers by 8.5%, the BBC says. The Ariel is on page 12. Vision (119, 20.8% of total). target remains to reach 25% reduction But while the journalism jobs account Pay gaps in pay bill and 20% reduction in for almost a third of all SMs they claim Because the jobs categories listed headcount by December. only a quarter of the total SM salary bill are generic – controller, commissioner, The quarterly disclosure also shows (25.6%), meaning the average senior head of department, project manager, that expenses for July to September last remuneration package is around £94k. senior editorial figure – pay brackets year claimed by the 110 most senior BBC Vision, with just over one in five of all vary considerably, particularly in the executives are now 35% lower than they SMs, takes up 23.9% of the total pay bill. big divisions, where there are likely were a year ago and 19.4% down on The average SM salary in Vision works to be the biggest variations in levels last quarter. out at just over £132k. of responsibility. There is more on this story on page 9.

CROSPERO 154 1 2 Editorial contributions Devised and compiled by Jim Palm 3 4 Complete the square by using the clues; these apply only to words running across. Then take these words in numerical order and extract Write to: Prospero 5 6 the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, these letters BBC Pension and Benefits Centre will spell out a BBC production from last Christmas. Broadcasting House 7 8 Cardiff, CF5 2YQ Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 9 10 Tel: 020 7765 1414 House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ by Friday, 11 February 2011.

11 12 Email prospero@bbc.co.uk Clues: 1. Uncooked (3); 2. Piece of furniture (5); 3. Vital urge (6); 4. Distant source of light (3); 5. Floor cover (3); 6. Old lingo (5); 7. Letters for the engineer-in-charge (3); 8. Old Testament book (5); 13 14 Please make sure that any digital 9. Squirrel food (3); 10. Form of recording (3); 11. Sagacious (4); pictures you send are scanned 12. Cain’s brother (4); 13. Mountain (3); 14. Dark resin (3); 15. Nearby 15 16 (5); 16. Burns’s hero (3); 17. Assists (5); 18. Short terrace (3); at 300 dpi. 19. Sash (3); 20. Binding agreement (6); 21. Tale (5); 22. Owing (3) 17 18 Solution to Crospero 153: Vocal; Acne; Oboe; Moira; Erode; Polar; Newel; Ill; Yield; Irate; Ifs; Rabat; Tacit; Atony; Shute; Feat; Arun; 19 20 Sloth. The well-known first line was Come All Ye Faithful 21 22 The winner of Crospero 153 was Sheila Fullom of Bristol.

2 • • February • 2011 Strategy Review

Distinctive, inclusive, accountable and value for money: the BBC of the future

After months of consultation and deliberation the BBC Trust has reached its final conclusions on the Strategy Review

Publication of an annual business plan, except when it came to top pay for stars and it ought to be confident. But the process would to as many people as possible, but we need to quarterly reports on the performance of each managers. That pressure will be maintained and be quicker and more secure if the groundwork ensure that audiences approach programmes service and much greater sensitivity to market we need to distinguish between prurient interest was done ahead of time. The BBC has that through a BBC-branded window like iPlayer, impact are all part of the BBC strategy signed in who earns what, and the fact that the BBC responsibility, as a big intervention in the rather than on a programme by programme off by the BBC Trust at the end of last year. had a very difficult time over paying so much to market,’ he said. basis, whereby licence payers may not see the Endorsing the interim conclusions it gave in one person [Jonathan Ross]. There is still trust An annual business plan would put the value they’re getting,’ Lyons argues. July – when it overturned the proposal to close 6 to be regained and it’s a conversation we need corporation on the same footing as any other The Strategy Review was begun to position Music – the Trust has now had its final say on to keep having,’ he said. large organisation, Lyons added and be ‘the the BBC for what was inevitably going to be a Mark Thompson’s wide-ranging Strategy Review. Lyons describes as ‘profound change’ the basis for a clear judgement on whether the BBC tough next licence fee settlement, Lyons The Trustees want the BBC to increase move to proactively engaging with other media achieves what it set out to do’ – something concludes: ‘We did not anticipate a dawn raid distinctiveness and quality of output, offer players at the outset of any new BBC initiative. asked for by both the Trust and the NAO. by the government…but in the event, the better value for money and do more to serve Quarterly quality reporting was not meant to strategy served us well. We’d already had our all audiences. add to services’ admin burden, Lyons insisted, discussion with the public about their priorities.’ They will also be looking for new standards of but to give information the BBC already The size of the BBC was not an overriding issue openness and transparency. There is new ‘There will be some collected about audience appreciation – for both with licence payers, but distinctiveness of content emphasis too on ensuring that, as BBC ratings hits and niche output – a wider airing. was, for both the public and the industry. programmes are made available on more A commitment to the BBC’s continued Beyond reiterating the strategic ambition to platforms, audiences get to them via iPlayer, difficult choices’ investment in DAB, including in improved cut overheads, Lyons would not speculate on rather than programme by programme, mixed coverage, is also underlined and Trustees will how the funding gap could be met. Would there up with content from other providers. ‘When there’s a new development – like now require the director-general to publicly set not be inevitable cuts in content and services? In light of the BBC’s radical new funding Kangaroo or iPhone apps – the BBC simply has out how the BBC will deliver on its Putting ‘You don’t take out 16% [year by year cuts of settlement, freezing the licence fee till 2016 and to give an earlier indication and hold discussions Quality First promises in the separate nations. 4%] from the budget and expect it to be met cutting budgets by 16%, a fresh financial review with those likely to be impacted upon, not The Trust is currently carrying out a just from efficiencies. There will be some early in 2011 will include a reassessment of the leaving it till after the event. syndication policy review which is due to report difficult choices,’ he said. BBC’s television portfolio – originally intended ‘I’m not asking the BBC to pull its punches – in the new year. ‘We want BBC content to get to take place around digital switchover in 2012/13 – and likely to examine programmes within channels, as well as whole services. But the Trust clearly wants to speed up the KEY POINTS of the Strategy Review pace at which the BBC becomes more accountable to licence payers, as well as more After months of consultation and every licence fee pound on creating high the licence fee pound now to under 9p commercially transparent in a more timely way. deliberation the BBC Trust has reached quality content and getting it to the public. by the end of the charter in 2016. The New measures include: its final conclusions on the Strategy senior management pay bill also to be • publishing an annual business plan and Review. For the first time the Strategy TV: A big emphasis on greater quality cut by a quarter and top manager budget, with greater detail than ever before on Review sets out the editorial areas where and distinctiveness, with a strengthened numbers by nearly 20%. plans for each BBC service the BBC wants to focus creative energy BBC2 and daytime schedule, and more Market impact: Spending on imported • regular engagement with the industry on and investment. spent on children’s services. programmes and films to be cut by 20% subjects of greatest market sensitivity – early There are five priorities: the best Radio: Radio 2 to sharpen its and sports rights spending to be capped notice of new BBC investments and gauging journalism in the world; inspiring content of industry reaction before, not after plans distinctiveness further with greater at no more than an average of 9p in the that brings knowledge, music and culture reach Trust approval stage emphasis on how it differs from licence fee pound. There is an undertaking to life; ambitious UK drama and comedy; • industry views about BBC performance to commercial rivals. The Asian Network to to set out publicly a list of the editorial outstanding children’s content; and feed into the Trust’s annual assessment be closed as a national service. The areas the BBC website will not cover. events that bring communities and the • quarterly AI reporting, from existing data, to quality of local radio to be improved, with let the public know how channels and genres nation together. BBC Worldwide: New limits to more investment in local news, breakfast (though not individual programmes) are The plan is for more to be spent on high Worldwide’s activities, which were set out and drivetime, and more content sharing. doing on quality and distinctiveness. quality content within those five areas – in the 2009 Commercial Review, will be The Trust further endorses a commitment to an and for all original content for the web and Online: The number of sections to be fully implemented. In future, Worldwide will annual report on all senior manager pay, broken halved, focusing on priority areas, and focus on international, as opposed to UK, down into bands, and to publishing aggregated other digital media to fit into one of them. talent costs. By 2013, nearly £600 million of the the amount spent on bbc.co.uk to be business development, on evolution rather While Michael Lyons says he would still ‘stop licence fee, about a fifth of total existing cut by 25%. than merger and acquisition, and over time income, will be reprioritised into higher will move away from exploitation in short’ of putting names to the highest star salaries, Teens: Switch and BBC Blast to close. the Trust chairman wants the discussion around quality content. physical media like magazines. the legal and commercial arguments to continue. From 2013, the BBC wants to commit Overheads: The cost of running the ‘In our [strategy review] consultation, the that it will never spend less than 90p in BBC to reduce by a quarter – from 12p in public were satisfied with value for money February • 2011 • • 3 Letters Contacts This issue… Remembering Richard Butt, Visiting Scheme If you would like a visit or information on how to become a volunteer visitor, please Lead balloon ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged In response to the letter ‘What, no monitor?’ only as a local call. in the December edition of Prospero , John K Renegade Rickard writes: Queries When Pope Pius XI died in 1939, Harman For benefit and pension payroll queries, (not Herman) Grisewood, an Italian-speaking call the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Catholic, went to Rome to report the funeral for the BBC. Prospero As some point in the ritual, the Papal coffin To add or delete a name from the has to be sealed with lead – but all the local distribution list, ring the Service Line plumbers had the day off. (number above). Prospero is provided free nostalgia Harman, prudently, had lots of background of charge to retired BBC employees. On material and just kept talking (about the history request, we will also send it to spouses or of Rome, etc.) until ‘normal service’ was resumed. dependants who want to keep in touch He stayed in Rome to report the election of with the BBC. Prospero is also available on the new Pope – but the local engineers routed audio tape for those with sight impairment. his piece to BG (Bulgaria) instead of GB… To register, please ring the Service Line on 029 2032 2811. Ffoulkes info BBC Club Would any former colleagues of Martin The BBC Club in London has a retired Ffoulkes be able to assist his friends in writing category membership costing £24 a year an obituary? They don’t know very much about for members; and £36 a year for family his BBC career and are looking for someone to membership. Pre-1997 life members are help them complete the jigsaw. not affected. Regional clubs may have If you can assist, please contact Prospero different arrangements. ([email protected]) and we will put you Please call BBC Club London in touch. administration office on 020 8752 66 66 or email [email protected]. Memories of Medway Benevolent Fund This is funded by voluntary contributions (and Kent) from the BBC and its purpose is to protect My husband, David Penny, and I both used to the welfare of staff, pensioners and their work at BBC Radio Medway (now Kent), and families. Grants are made at the discretion then at BBC Radio Norfolk. David was EiC at of the Trustees. They may provide both stations, whilst I, having first worked as a assistance in cases of unforeseen financial production secretary at Medway, moving onto hardship, for which help from other Norfolk, was largely freelance. So you can sources is not available. imagine, we were highly entertained to see Tel: 029 2032 3772 letters from both Harold Rogers and Michael Chaney appearing in Prospero’s latest edition. I Prospero Society should say we both devour Prospero – now Prospero Society is the only section of the turning to the obituaries first! Happily, most BBC Club run by and for retired BBC staff of our acquaintances are still with us! A and their spouses. Its aim is to enable BBC Nostalgia’s a funny thing – it can hit you when as it was, we were always looking for free items long-lived lot! pensioners to meet on a social basis for you are least expecting it – for instance, during and when an agent rang to say a local pop group We would very much like to contact Harry theatre visits, luncheons, coach outings a Wallender film on BBC4. called the Renegades had topped the hit parade and Mike as we have lost touch over the years. etc. Prospero is supported by BBC Club The eponymous Swedish detective, in his first – in Finland! – we signed them up. By miming, Both of them are fantastic personalities and in funds so as to make events affordable. incarnation, though the third on BBC4, ended they avoided Musicians’ Union fees. their unique ways, excellent station managers; The only conditions (apart from paying a his first outing driving along a country road, The record was dreadful – no wonder we their stations reflecting differences, whilst both small annual subscription) are that you singing along with the car radio – ‘My baby never heard it again, until recently – still being highly successful and appropriate to the must be a BBC pensioner and a member threw up in a brand new Cadillac...’ apparently a hit in Scandinavia. It had outlived areas in which they operated. of the BBC Club. Write for an application My wife and I looked at one another – the last the Broad Street studio and, indeed, Broad Harry ran the Medway studios like one big form to: Graham Snaith, 67 Newberries time we heard the song was 45 years ago in the Street itself. happy family: husbands, wives, children were all Avenue, Radlett, Herts. WD7 7EL. unlikely setting of the BBC Broad Street studio As I said, funny thing nostalgia. Oh, by the encouraged to take part in the station’s social Telephone: 01923 855177 in Birmingham. way, on a second hearing we realised the refrain and other events, of which there were a lot, and Mobile: 07736 169612 I was on attachment from Alexandra Palace was ‘My baby drew up in a brand new Cadillac.’ if he detected any kind of talent in anyone, no Email: [email protected] for a few months, during which I edited We were the ones who nearly threw up. matter who they were, a cigarette rep, a local Midlands Today. Chronically under-resourced Mike Broadbent handicapped young man, or like me, a BBC products production secretary, then this was put into BBC retired staff are entitled to a 30% service – on and off air. As station engineer, for discount off the RRP of most products instance, David produced Waterfline , a in the BBC TV Centre shop. There is a Butt, Bach and Britten programme about sailing and boating generally, postage charge of £2.95 per order (not whilst I got involved in several programmes, per item). Pensioners must quote their Please allow affable gift for dealing with artists, however notably presenting and working on Spotlight , BBC pension number when ordering. me to add a demanding or nervous they might be. There Gwen Grindley’s arts programme, and later Contact: BBC Shop, Audience Foyer, few words to were many, I know for certain, who regarded taking responsibility for the Production Television Centre, Wood Lane, London Alan Ward’s it as a privilege to be produced by Richard. Department’s press releases. W12 7RJ. Tel: 020 8225 8230. perceptive and Alan Ward has referred to Richard’s Mike was urbane; a huge presence and when Email: [email protected]. sensitive adoration (for it was nothing less) of the music he walked into a room everyone knew he was Other ways to order (quoting your tribute to of Bach and he also mentioned Richard’s close there. He also made good use of his ability to pension number when ordering): Richard Butt association with Benjamin Britten. This spot talent in his staff (having selected them in By phone: 08700 777 001 in the brought back to me the memory of a delightful the first place) and used this to full advantage. 8.30am-6pm weekdays. By post: BBC December accident which once appeared in the East His staff produced station trails on the lines of Shop, PO Box 308, Sittingbourne, Kent edition of Anglian edition of Radio Times . It concerned clever, amusing advertisements, and produced ME9 8LW. Email: [email protected]. Prospero . As it a concert of music by Bach which Benjamin jingles reminiscent of Norfolk folk music – Or visit BBC Shops in Eastbourne, happens I had Britten was conducting from Aldeburgh. To brilliant. It is no surprise that many of Mike’s Brighton, Leicester, Birmingham or the good accommodate Radio Times’ passion for snappy staff went on to bigger things: Bob Ledwidge, Liverpool. UK postage £2.45 for fortune as HMRM (head of Midland Region titles, Richard had headed his billing ‘Britten Rob Bonnet, Keith Roberts and Julian Rush, telephone, post and email orders. Music) at the time to be guiding Richard conducts Bach’. Unfortunately a sub-editor among many others. Certainly I was delighted Overseas: £4.50 for one item and £2 for during the first three years of his distinguished had accidentally managed to reverse this to see that, in Mike’s letter, his incredible each additional product for telephone, and influential quarter century of service to the billing, which duly in some editions appeared writing skills are still going strong, while Harry, post and email orders. BBC and music in Birmingham. as ‘Bach conducts Britten’ – an improbable until quite recently, was organising reunion In point of fact Richard needed no guidance manifestation whatever may be thought to be parties. Long may they have continued! BBC PA from me. He was a natural music producer the limitless powers of radio! These were such happy, happy times. For details of how to join the Pensioners’ with authoritative knowledge, wide-ranging Sir John Manduell, CBE Annette and David Penny Association, see panel on page 5. musical sympathies and above all a naturally Annette, the Prospero team has passed your details onto both Harry and Mike. 4 • • February • 2011 Letters mondegreens and music levels Adverse music levels Now that it has been revealed how exceedingly intrusive music won, and no amount of MMOONNEEYY MMAATTTTEERRSS well-paid some executives at the BBC are, is it fiddling could get the words to be heard over too much to expect that at least one of them the music. It not only jarred, but totally would be able apply their expertise and drowned some of the commentary. They were management skills to ensuring that both switched off; the only alternative holdings are not affected and when programmes can be heard properly as well was viewing with the sound off and Inflation – options these mature their money can be as seen? reading subtitles! rolled-over for a further period or Radio broadcast the spoken word, music was Regrettably, not only is drama drowned with for investors invested in a different Savings something to be listened to, but with the music but now documentaries as well, plus I by Arnie Vashisht, Independent Financial Certificate issue. advent of television there was a marriage of notice that trailers are also suffering from the Adviser, AWD Chase de Vere However, many savers face making a sound and vision. However, while we have same fate. difficult choice between accepting they excellent HD television, attention to sound The problem is that producers and editors Many people are worried about the rate seems to have slipped though the net. Soon we and directors are so familiar with their work are losing money in real terms or taking will have Hamlet with music by Joe they forget the viewer only has one chance. of inflation and the impact it has on their more risk to try and generate Bloggs and occasional dialogue by They work in cloistered cells and get so cost of living. With savings in banks and better returns. William Shakespeare. caught up in their own skills they forget the building societies generating pretty Investing in gold is often promoted as a Garrow’s Law (BBC1) at peak time on a viewing audience. dismal returns, a higher rate of inflation hedge against inflation, and gold is Sunday in November was only watchable by So please can at least one of the many means the real spending power of their perceived by many to be a secure asset. sitting on the edge of my seat. Then I was able executives do something to make television money is falling also. It should be remembered though that to pick out some dialogue and follow the plot viewing once again possible… some of us The Government’s preferred measure gold produces no income, interest or as the music swooped in and out at enjoy the words of Shakespeare, Pinter and of inflation, the Consumer Price Index dividends, its price has risen high volume. Brecht, even Hislop! (CPI), stood at 3.7% per annum in considerably over the past decade and The following night, with Ian Hislop on Chris Cherry BBC2 and Mat Frei on BBC4, the totally December. However, the other performance can be very volatile. We are commonly used measure, the Retail very nervous about committing money to Price Index (RPI), stood at 4.8% per an asset class that has already risen so annum. It has also been shown that much in value. many people’s personal rate of inflation The most cautious investors should is even higher than this. A personal rate remain in cash and accept that the value of inflation looks at the expenditure of their savings may continue to fall in related to an individual and it is usually real terms. For everybody else, the best the case that older people will spend a approach to beat inflation is to hold a higher proportion of their money on diversified investment portfolio items such as food and utilities, which containing shares, property and fixed tend to rise faster than inflation. The interest. The mix of investments should double-whammy for older investors is be determined by the circumstances, that they are the people who are more objectives and attitude to risk of the often reliant on their savings. individual investor, and for some Whilst the Bank of England is tasked investors other asset classes, such as with keeping inflation at the alternative investments, can Government’s target of 2% per annum, be considered. we have seen in recent months that it is Most people should take independent prepared to accept a higher level of financial advice to ensure the right inflation in order to keep interest rates investments are selected, they are held Garrow’s Law, BBC1 low and thereby support the tax efficiently and they can meet the UK economy. investor’s objectives without exposing Everybody needs to keep at least some them to too much risk. money in cash. It makes sense for If you would like to discuss your people to use their annual cash-ISA investment planning, call AWD Chase de allowance, which is £5,100 for the Vere on 0845 140 4014. Your initial 2010/11 tax year and will rise by the rate discussion with an adviser will be of inflation in April 2011. This will ensure without charge or obligation. that all interest is tax free, where as those saving outside of an ISA face Arnie is an independent financial adviser paying income tax of 20%, 40% or even with AWD Chase de Vere. AWD Chase 50% on their returns. However, even de Vere is one of a panel of independent within cash ISAs, most accounts are financial advisers selected by the BBC. paying interest considerably below the AWD Chase de Vere Limited is rate of inflation, even using the authorised and regulated by the Financial CPI measurement. Services Authority. Some 587,000 investors have used National Savings & Investments Index Linked Savings Certificates, as these provide tax-free returns, backed by the Government, which are guaranteed to beat the rate of inflation. Tax-free returns such as these are particularly attractive to higher rate taxpayers. Unfortunately, the Government closed these products to new business in July last year. This being the first time they have not been available since their launch 35 years ago. The good news for existing investors is that their current

February • 2011 • • 5 Memories

Northern Dance Orchestra (Stephen Garner) Hulme Playhouse Theatre (Edward Bottle/courtesy www.arthurlloyd.co.uk)

Northern Dance Orchestra on tour Mixing desks (Tony Nuttall) ‘The NDO must not go’ Ian C Reed , a supporter and self-appointed archivist of the Northern Dance Orchestra (NDO), looks at the history of ‘the finest band of its kind in the United Kingdom’ and explains his role in keeping the memories alive… In the late Sixties, ‘the NDO must not go’ was Kingdom. Their sensitivity in accompanying the same name. It didn’t end there, and the the public domain. This really was one of the a sticker on many motor vehicles, at a time soloists was legendary, and many well-known band subsequently featured on many prestigious finest bands around, which from my research when the existence of the orchestra was artistes made it known that they would like to programmes, including Morecambe and Wise . seemed to have vanished from the planet! threatened by the ‘Mansell Committee’, which be invited back! The NDO eventually became the Northern The majority of early sessions were recorded proposed that it should be disbanded. Syd Lawrence was a member for many years Radio Orchestra – but that is another story! on the original Type B (augmented) valve desk, The public campaigned strongly for its and always talked about how good the NDO Most of the NDO recording sessions were in mono, monitored on a huge LS 10, and survival and many figures in the music world were, and how they inspired him to form his done in the BBC Playhouse Theatre studios in recorded on EMI TR 90s in a separate recording signed a petition calling upon the BBC to own band. Hulme, Manchester. channel. Later on, a state-of-the-art Neve desk amend its decision. The Musicians’ Union The Playhouse Theatre was the home to many was installed, and recordings were made in proposed a national musicians’ strike if the BBC BBC radio productions and originally had a stereo in the cubicle. In the 1960s, the band was did not withdraw its proposals, and the ‘…the quality of their capacity of 1,500, which suited both comedy involved in recording material for experimental Corporation’s Symphonic musicians threatened and music. It also contained a ‘Mighty stereo transmissions made by the BBC. The to assemble outside Broadcasting House and ensemble playing was far Wurlitzer’, had a classy interior, and excellent sounds my talented audio supervisor colleagues perform Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, using acoustics. got from the band were really excellent, and live ammunition! It worked – the greater than the sum of Sadly it was found unsuitable for TV some of the mono recordings, now over 40 years NDO survived. recordings owing, I understand, to lack of old, sound as if they were recorded yesterday. their abilities’ sufficient ventilation, otherwise it might have The orchestra did make one LP, and there was become ‘The City Varieties of the North West’. a CD made on a private label (with the usual History The band was ‘let out’ occasionally, and did permissions), both sadly no longer available. In 1951 the BBC formed the Northern Previous main conductors had been Ray concerts in many parts of the UK. However it Variety Orchestra. However, seeking a new and Martin, and Vilem Tausky, but in the early was primarily a band that did studio sessions for different sound, in 1956, the BBC disbanded 1960s there was a change of NDO music many Radio 2 programmes of the era, recording Keeping the the NVO strings and the Northern Dance directors when flautist Bernard Herrmann took individual numbers to ‘W’ reels, which then Orchestra (the NDO) was born. Interestingly, over from Alyn Ainsworth. Bernard was asked were played into the shows. The real tragedy is memories alive the NDO was occasionally augmented by to embrace the up and coming pop industry, that after a repeat playing, the inserts were Inspired by the recordings I have heard, and strings for some sessions, so I suppose the NVO and as a result shows like Pop North and Here wiped and the tape re-used, so that precious the fact that I feel many others might want to never really died. We Go With The NDO were produced. In the little remains of the band’s recordings – or so hear them as well, I am actively investigating Although mainly a studio-based band, what latter the Beatles made their radio debut I thought! how this might be possible – any ideas was unique about the NDO was that all the in 1962. gratefully received! musicians were virtuosos at the top of their It was the show Make Way For Music which In the meantime, I have set up a holding game. When they came together to play it was made the NDO a household name, with Searching for website, to which I hope colleagues will obvious that they enjoyed the camaraderie, and announcer Roger Moffat, and vocalists Les contribute, with their memories and pictures. the quality of their ensemble playing was far Howard and Sheila Buxton. The programmes recordings greater than the sum of their abilities. were very relaxed, the musicians joining in the I have spent an intensive six months searching Please email me at: [email protected] if you It quickly became, in the view of many both fun with Roger. They did have a foray into TV, for any recordings of the NDO, in whatever can contribute. The website address is: inside and outside broadcasting, that this was with Barney Colehan taking the radio show and condition. The news is good – there is certainly www.northerndanceorchestra.org.uk the finest band of its kind in the United transforming it into a well-loved TV series of excellent material still around, but sadly not in 6 • • February • 2011 Life after Auntie Having your organic cake and eating it!

Ken Wright, a BBC Pensioner Visitor and former engineer in the Research Department, shares his personal experience of the pros and cons of having a microgenerating electricity system installed on his roof.

As a pensioner I am interested in getting the gain the maximum possible light, ideally on a in sequence during daylight hours. Why pay best return on invested money, and with south facing sloping roof, unobstructed by trees Cost your electricity supplier for power when you are increasing age I have changed from speculation and adjacent buildings. A minimum size system will cost about £10,000 producing it and getting paid 41.3p a unit? to safer income investments. Cash ISA returns Solar panels are ‘permissive’ developments and fitted. We have a 2kW system which cost just One friend, with a 4kW installation, lives in are poor and, even though they are tax free, still do not normally require planning permission. over £12,000. a village with no gas and uses oil for heating. He lag behind the real rate of inflation for Each panel measures1 metre by1.5 metres and The return on capital will vary depending has gone to the extent of buying second-hand pensioners. As with any investment there are produces 200 watts, so for a 2kW system you upon the size of the system, but from the storage heaters to charge up with excess solar caveats, and anyone contemplating an need 10 panels. experience of those I have contacted it varies power, so as to reduce his evening heating bill. installation should do their own research as to The UK is legally bound by an EU agreement from 8% to near 10%, tax free. I have not had Your roof has to be suitably sited, and if you live the desirability of what is a relatively to produce a given percentage of the country’s a long enough period to give a year’s return. The in a listed building or preservation area, planning long-term investment. electricity by so called green methods, and is larger the system, the greater the saving on permission can be a problem. We live within the somewhat lagging in this respect. imported electricity. Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural In order to get business and private house If you want a safe, long-term investment Beauty and had no problems. What are solar owners to help out, the UK Government is which produces a handsome RPI-indexed A note of caution: some firms advertise a free giving a very handsome sweetener to ‘green’ return and to some extent protects against the installation with the promise of income for you voltaic panels? producers, known as the ‘feed in tariff’ or FIT. inevitable future rises in energy costs, then for the use of your roof. You only get the 3p Solar water heating panels are a common sight In the case of private houses this amounts, perhaps this is well worth looking into. exported power rate, giving an income of about overseas. Most houses in Cyprus, for instance, today, to no less than 41.3p for every kWh that £50 a year. Think carefully about problems have a solar water heating system installed on an installation produces. To drive the point arising from the fact that you no longer the roof. This article is about using sunlight (not home: not every kWh produced that you use, So what are the snags? effectively own your roof, and what happens if necessarily full sunlight) to produce electrical but every kWh generated by your solar panels. Firstly, you must have capital which you don’t you want to sell your property. (Incidentally, power using solid state solar voltaic panels, with On top of this largesse, your electricity need to access quickly. It will take about eight they must think that solar voltaic panels are a no moving parts, to convert incident light to supplier has to pay you 3p for every kWh years before you get a real return in reasonable investment.) direct current electricity. In order to be able to exported to the grid. And there’s more: the conventional investing terms. Against this you If you are interested, please feel free to email me. use this power for household appliances, it has return is totally tax free, RPI increase linked and will have added value to your property, which I will not recommend particular installers, but if to be converted into mains standard electricity guaranteed for 25 years. You gain in three ways: will have a guaranteed income attached to it – you decide to invest I would suggest that you by an electronic device called an inverter. That’s a tax-free, RPI-linked income; a small tax-free a good selling point. Next, in order to fully contact several firms and look at the entire package a brief, not very technical explanation, of income from your exported power; and about a utilise the system you will have to change the offered, including warranties and installation the system. 50% reduction to your electricity bill depending way you use power hungry household history. Information is available on the web. It is important that the panels are mounted to upon the size of the installation. appliances, such as dishwashers etc, using them Email: [email protected] A celebration of Maida Vale The BBC Elstree Concert Band enters its heartbeat of BBC music for seven 25th anniversary year in 2011 with an decades. Famous artists recorded there historic concert. include Bing Crosby, The Beatles, Led The 45-strong woodwind and brass Zepellin and Andrea Bocelli. On Sunday players will bring to life part of the BBC’s 3 April, Keith Clements presents the story heritage in a one-off event hosted by The of Maida Vale and celebrates its 75 Voice of the Listener Trust in the iconic historic years of music. Under the Maida Vale Studio 1. musical directorship of Andrew Morley, The largest classical music studio in the BBC Elstree Concert Band will fill London, hidden away in W9, it has been Maida Vale 1 with a programme of music the home of the BBC Symphony for all tastes. Join in the celebration! Orchestra since 1934. As well as classical music, the studios have been Sunday, 3 April, 3pm. used for all the BBC Light Orchestras Doors open 2.30pm. from Henry Hall and the Dance Orchestra For ticket information, please contact: to the BBC Big Band. Email: [email protected] Maida Vale studios have been the Tel: 01474 338711 or 01474338716

February • 2011 • • 7 Back at the BBC

020 8752 6666 Lottery BBC to act on ageism Winners Congratulations to this month’s lucky winners. after O’Reilly victory (One of them scooped the £10,000 jackpot – lucky them!) David Youell, Rebecca Wilmshurst, Nicky McAllister, BBC People and the BBC Academy are to oversee development of new Timothy Long, Anne Czuchnowska, training and guidelines on hiring presenters, following Miriam O’Reilly’s Jonet Slater, Mr Hardy, Stephen Rose, David Hodges, Roger Pearce, Louise landmark ageism ruling against the corporation. Croft, Christine Stocking, William Jones, Jake Bernard, Joseph Adam, Fresh guidance, along with the promise of among criticisms the judges made as they found treatment. BBC commissions dried up, Patrick Brady, Ronald Osborne, Joseph additional fair selection training for all senior the BBC guilty of ageism, but not sexism, when including on Countryfile Magazine and Costing Waters, Henry Burgess, Bryan Showell, executives who appoint on-air talent, was the it dropped O’Reilly (then 51), Charlotte Smith the Earth . Paul Morris, Lucy Pryke, Mark Tyrrell, BBC’s immediate response to an employment (44) and Juliette Morris (43) from BBC One’s But the judgement was that O’Reilly would tribunal finding that will have repercussions ‘refreshed’, primetime Countryfile . not have been offered a continuing role on Joanne Housden, Peter Colson, Henry across the industry. Thirty-somethings Julia Bradbury and Matt Countryfile had she been a man of the same age Cleaver and Deirdre O’Donovan. The BBC says it is too early to know what Baker were brought in as main presenters, with and ability. Dropping her from the show was To be in with a chance of winning next form the extra training will take, but denied that veteran front man John Craven, now 70, staying ‘an act of age discrimination alone’. month, email [email protected] any new process would be one of ‘box-ticking’, on in a reduced on-screen role. But the whole The BBC publicly, and Mark Thompson or log on to your account on the BBC as some critics have warned. ‘This will not age profile of the programme skewed younger personally, apologised to O’Reilly, paying Club website. restrict our ability to get the best person for the when a new ‘second tier’ of presenters arrived, tribute to the ‘important contribution she has role,’ a spokeswoman said. including Jules Hudson (38), Katie Knapman made to the BBC over more than 20 years’, and Currently, everyone with responsibility for (36) and James Wong (26). welcoming the chance to offer her more work Young At Heart recruitment must undergo fair selection O’Reilly, Smith and Morris were ‘dismissed in the future. ‘We clearly did not get it right in BBC Club’s next retired members lunch training, but up to now there has been no almost entirely out of hand’ as rural affairs this case,’ the corporation admitted. day is Tuesday 1 March. separate guidance on signing presenters. editor Andrew Thorman and former BBC One ‘Overwhelmed’ by her victory, after a For more details please contact While Mark Thompson, as new chairman of controller Jay Hunt cast the new presenters. 14-month campaign, O’Reilly said it had been [email protected] the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN), would ‘The discrimination was not justified’, nor was hard to take on an organisation she loved, and be leading the industry on the issue, it would be it ‘a proportionate way to do away with older loved working for: ‘But I felt I was treated badly up to the whole organisation to effect changes: presenters simply to pander to the assumed because of my age and standing up to the BBC Checkmate! ‘HR and the Academy will facilitate this, but prejudice of some younger viewers’, the tribunal was the right thing to do.’ If you like to play chess, join our Chess staff across the BBC need to make it happen concluded. Moreover, the selection criterion TV executives should be able to ‘pick and and it’ll be expected that senior managers ensure cited by Jay Hunt – that the move to primetime choose’ presenters on merit, she added, but it was Club! An informal fun evening of rooks, both letter and spirit are followed in their areas,’ meant the show needed people who were ‘not beyond the wit of broadcasters to be fair’. pawns, knights, kings and queens – the BBC said. already household names – was not met by the Compensation in the case is still to be decided. held at Bush House, LG CB, every first In the O’Reilly case, the lack of a clear decision newer presenters. Meanwhile, a return to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Tuesday of the month from 6pm. making process, and conflicting evidence about The panel also ruled that O’Reilly was which O’Reilly has already presented, was one Everybody is welcome! how presenter choices had been decided, were victimised, after she had spoken out about her option she’d be ‘very happy’ to consider. For more information, please contact [email protected] expected to move into its new home in TV programme spend outside London. New home for the autumn, with the first episode of the ‘There’s still a lot more work to do,’ 10% Discount At drama in Wales hospital drama made in Cardiff to be Menna Richards, director BBC Wales, said The BBC’s new drama centre in Cardiff broadcast in early 2012. at the ceremony, ‘but once completed, Cottages4you Bay has been officially named during a The waterfront development, sited in Roath Lock studios will become a focal cottages4you offer the largest choice of topping out ceremony. the newly-named Porth Teigr area of point for the creative industries in Wales – over 15,000 holiday properties The 170,000 square foot studios – which Cardiff Bay, is being backed by the Welsh brimming with energy and talent – and we throughout the UK, Ireland, France, will be home to BBC One’s Casualty, BBC Assembly, which is the major investor. It are all extremely proud to be a part of Spain, Portugal and Italy. Choose from Wales soap Pobol y Cwm and Doctor hopes the BBC’s move to the area will the project.’ the extensive collection of country Who – will be called Roath Lock, after attract other creative companies. The BBC Wales also announced that it is to cottages, villas with pools, rustic consultation with BBC Wales staff. BBC regards the centre as key to its move its Wrexham office to purpose built farmhouses, rural gites and apartments. Just a year after plans for the commitment to double television premises offering new production For details of how to redeem this offer, development were set, the shell of the production from Wales by 2016 and as facilities at Glyndwr University’s new please go to Club Save building is complete. Casualty is part of its plan to move 50% of network Creative Industries Building. (www.bbcclub.com) just about name the planets when we started, so it was a massive learning curve.’ Classic Breaks Another stellar performance She is particularly grateful to all those who sent Two for One Brochure For Only £9.99. in their own images of the stars and planets, Two nights for the price of one, and Sales of telescopes, reportedly up 50% after many of which featured in the programme with also includes breakfast with no a picture credit. ‘We set up a Flickr account and obligation to take an evening meal, for Wonders of the Solar System , are rocketing had a great response.’ two people to share a twin or double For Andrew Cohen, head of Science, part of room. The brochure lists the price of again – this time in response to Stargazing Live . Stargazing Live’s popularity was that it reminded people to look skywards and discover ‘amazing’ the stay and all availability and facility The BBC Two special attracted an average unknown – was finding out what would happen things. details. There is one voucher which can audience of 3.3m to each of its three episodes when we united Brian’s science credentials and ‘It was a call to action that made people want be used any time within 12 months of together with thousands of questions from personality with Dara’s comic gene. The to go outside and look up,’ he says. ‘I wanted an receiving the brochure. interested viewers and online users, which are combination really worked, ably supported by event piece that didn’t appeal only to a niche For details of how to redeem this offer, still being dealt with by the programme’s web Liz and [astronomer] Mark Thompson, and I’m audience. Stargazing Live offered wonderfully please go to Club Save team. keen to see where else the science/comedy rich content – and great entertainment.’ (www.bbcclub.com) It also generated huge interest in the ‘star cross-fertilisation can take us.’ parties’ and other viewing events organised Commissioned to build on the success of around the UK during January by BBC Wonders of the Solar System , Stargazing Live was Europcar discounts Learning in partnership with astronomy groups, timed around three unusual astronomical events: 15% discount for UK rentals and up to observatories and local councils. a partial solar eclipse, a meteor shower and 10% discount for international hires Such has been the popularity of Stargazing Jupiter aligning with Uranus. with Europcar. Europcar locations can Live , presented from Jodrell Bank by Brian Cox ‘We delivered on all three,’ says executive and Dara O’Briain, with Liz Bonnin of Bang producer Lisa Ausden, noting that ‘the audience be found in all major airports, railway Goes the Theory fame in Hawaii, that the BBC is gave us a nudge’ when Thompson memorably stations, and large towns and cities. already considering a follow-up. missed a meteor streaking through the sky With more than 3,800 locations in over ‘We’re thinking about possibilities for 2012 behind him as he did a piece to camera. 80 countries, you can be assured that and beyond, although it would be great if the Working on the special had been a ‘fantastic’ we’re never far away. For details of how cosmos could arrange for some summer celestial experience, adds Ausden, explaining that it had to redeem this offer, please go to Club events,’ says Kim Shillinglaw, commissioning embraced a team of both astronomy experts and Save (www.bbcclub.com) editor, science and natural history. non-specialist production staff. ‘Along with ‘The interesting thing for me – and the great series producer Alan Holland, I could probably 8 • • February • 2011 Back at the BBC Persian Service celebrates Edwards to Radio 3 HD All Radio 3’s live output online is now lead coverage being broadcast in HD. HD sound uses 70 years of broadcasting higher bit rates and improved encoding to give the highest audio quality yet by Lisette Johnston from the Abbey broadcast, and for fans of classical music it also offers a wider dynamic range, accentuating the difference It has covered every major event in the region, between loud and quiet. from the abdication of Reza Shah in 1941 to Roger Wright, controller, Radio 3, said: ‘I hope as many people as the 1979 Iran revolution, and now the Persian possible take the opportunity to experience our Mozart season in the Service is celebrating its 70th anniversary with new year.’ Special events on other BBC radio stations will also be heard in HD – special programming on TV, radio and online. Radio 2 used it for the broadcast of Elton John’s Electric Proms performance in October. People listening through a laptop speaker might not notice much difference, but listeners connected to a good-quality sound system or headphones should get extra clarity and detail. Taxi bills Eye-catching figures from the publication of BBC quarterly expenses include two taxi bills each over £240 for Roger Wright, both claimed during the Proms season when the Radio 3 controller, who lives out of London, Huw Edwards is to attends every late night concert. Alan Yentob, the BBC creative director, anchor the BBC’s had three weekly taxi bills which totalled more than £700, due to the coverage of this time he spends travelling to and from Before the Iranian revolution and the Russian invasion meetings with programme makers, the of Afghanistan, journalists visit Bush House in 1970. year’s royal wedding, BBC says. The Persian Radio Service first aired on information. This bond was leading a team of ‘His taxis are routinely invoiced for on a December 28 1940, and has broadcast demonstrated two years ago following weekly basis rather than by trip – but uninterrupted for seven decades. To the disputed Iran elections when the presenters across this doesn’t mean a taxi was hired for mark this milestone, and Persian TV’s service was getting up to six video clips television and radio. the entire week,’ a spokesman said. second birthday on 14 January, Ali a second from people inside the country. Menna Richards took two minicabs in Hamedani produced a documentary on A dedicated team was established to Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry July with bills of £348.20 and £331.93. the challenges the Service has faced. ensure the video was usable, and it was in Westminster Abbey on 29 April, with the The BBC says that the claims were ‘When something happens in Iran the then broadcast and passed to other world’s media expected to descend on justified because late night trains from concept is that the event is down to the BBC outlets. the capital. London don’t get to Cardiff until 1am Persian Service,’ explains Hamedani, ‘Whenever there was a major event in Commenting on his appointment, Edwards and taxis are sometimes shared. who first produced a package detailing Iran, the Persian Service was involved said: ‘I am delighted with the news and consider Director of Vision Jana Bennett’s taxi it a great honour to play a part in what I am sure bill for the quarter dropped to £1,300, the adversity facing the service back and we also covered major stories in will be a huge national celebration.’ in 2009. Afghanistan so it’s important for us to compared to a figure of over £4,000 The last major royal wedding, that of Prince back in April. ‘We spoke with BBC staff, former celebrate this huge achievement,’ William’s parents, Charles and Diana, took colleagues, officials and even went to Saba adds. place almost 30 years ago at St Paul’s Cathedral. As a general principle, the BBC says it Reading to the BBC archives to detail The anniversary was also marked with expects senior managers to take the documents about what has happened a modest party at Bush House. most efficient route to and from within the Service.’ As for the future, Saba is looking meetings, but says it isn’t always Other anniversary programmes forward to radio and online moving into feasible to use public transport. included a joint radio and TV phone-in, Egton Wing in 2012, which will allow Commenting on the latest disclosures, and a special webpage, with major Persian to become a fully chief operating officer, Caroline figures from the Persian world such as integrated service. Thomson, said: ‘We want to ensure that the Afghan ambassador to London and He also welcomes the licence fee as much of the licence fee as possible Iran’s former press attaché in London at agreement which means the World goes into making quality programmes. the time of the revolution detailing their Service will be BBC funded. This means reducing our remaining memories of the BBC. ‘It will help a lot, and is welcome news, overheads wherever possible – for ‘When we started 70 years ago there because a lot of my energy is used example choosing the cheapest option were about a dozen listeners and the explaining to our audiences that, despite rather than the quickest. programme was only 15 minutes a day,’ being funded by the government, we are ‘That’s why we have set more stringent explains Sadeq Saba, head of the independent,’ he says. ‘No matter who efficiency targets for the background Persian Service. we are funded by we adhere to BBC cost of running the BBC than for our ‘Today we have four hours of radio, a guidelines, but it is important for the content areas, and today’s publication 24-hour online service, 16 hours of TV perception of the service by demonstrates we are acting to cut pay, and an audience of more than 10 million the audience. expenses and overheads.’ across the world. ‘People have concerns because they She added: ‘We also know that licence ‘The Service has never been allowed to don’t know why the British government fee payers want more information about have a bureau in Iran, so we have would fund a TV channel for the Persian how we spend their money. Our achieved this position without even speaking world, but at the same time we disclosure of more salary information being in our target country.’ are the most trusted outlet, and I think than ever before demonstrates that Without reporters in Iran the Service that is a truly remarkable relationship.’ the BBC is leading the way in being has, at times, relied on its audience for open and transparent.’

February • 2011 • • 9 Obituaries Founding Engineers at Ottringham member of The following three obituaries all concern engineers who at one time or another worked at Ottringham transmitter near Hull, and whose paths may Directors’ have crossed. Ottringham was a powerful long-wave transmitter (800kW) that was used to broadcast into occupied Europe, and its high power Rights Society enabled reception by crystal sets and other simple receivers. He wrote a report and gave presentations From ‘youth-in- on his return, which influenced BBC training’ to chief colour preparations. As a result, experimental colour transmissions engineer were made from Wimbledon and colour transmissions on BBC2 were started on 2 December 1967. Colour was extended to BBC1 and ITV in November 1969. With the re-organisation of television engineering, Bob became Head of Engineering Television Studios, and in 1978 he became Chief Engineer Television. One of the things In the late 1960s, a re-organisation involving that pleased Bob about this job was that he was the amalgamation of Links and Lines given a key to the hospitality cabinet. Sir Paul departments saw Clive re-titled as a Fox, one time Managing Director of BBC communications engineer. He trained to do a Television, said, ‘He was a great television much wider range of duties and in the early engineer. He was there to see the programmes 1970s was based in Pebble Mill, from which he were made to the highest technical standards retired in 1985 after 41 years’ service. and get them on the air.’ Bob was awarded an Coincidentally, on the day of his retirement OBE for services to television in 1982. party, the main aerial at the Droitwich As his son Steve said during his address at the transmitter, where he had worked earlier, was Pennant Roberts was a rare man – a funeral: ‘not bad for a boy from the wrong side being replaced. This necessitated the close down director who commanded the respect of Hull’. of Radios 1, 2 and 3 on medium wave and and affection of all who worked with We extended our sympathy to Bob’s sons, Phil Radio 4 long wave for the whole day. This him and who kept writers, producers, and Steve, and their families. unheard-of occurrence was jokingly explained actors and crew happy during shooting, CR (Bob) Longman OBE died on 1 December Compiled by Norman Taylor; from by Clive as his tribute and farewell from with a final product which shone on the aged 83, after a series of illnesses bravely borne. contributions made by Bob’s sons and many BBC Droitwich! screen to the acclaim of the viewing He joined the BBC at Hull H Group retired BBC colleagues. Clive was a staunch family man and a proud Transmitter in 1943 aged 16, as a YIT grandfather. In retirement he was always active public. Pennant did this with BBC (youth-in-training). Bob was eventually – he organised a ‘lunch club’ for ex BBC successes like Tenko , Survivors , Blakes promoted to technical assistant and transferred One of the ‘old school’ colleagues and local friends, and he was a keen 7, Dr Who and Howards’ Way among to Ottringham transmitter. gardener, a Probus member, a coin collector and many others. In 1945 Bob was called up for military service Radio Link engineers shrewd stock market investor. Born in Weston-super-Mare in 1940 and joined the Parachute Regiment. A measure of his esteem was that the and educated at Colstons and Bristol After leaving the Army, Bob married his Worcester Crematorium was packed to capacity University, Pennant joined the BBC childhood sweetheart Audrey, in March 1949. with standing room only at his funeral. Drama Department as a floor manager. He returned to the BBC as an engineer on Tel Sadly, Clive’s widow Kathleen, died just His rise through the ranks was swift, O.B.s and, after attending an engineering course 31 days later. at Wood Norton, he transferred to Alexandra Our condolences go out to his children and in 1972 he made his directorial Palace as a vision control engineer. He was Pamela and James and their respective families. debut in Doomwatch . eventually promoted to vision control supervisor. John Malby (with the help of many others) Pennant’s CV at the BBC includes He and Audrey and their son Philip lived in a work on many of the classic flat in Muswell Hill near Alexandra Palace. programmes of the 70s and 80s, but he During this time he managed to study for, and 40 years of service had many strings to his bow, and apart achieve, an Electrical Engineering Degree. Alfred Edward Snowdon died just before from writing and producing (and He was promoted to assistant technical Christmas in Perth, at the age of 86. becoming a fluent Welsh speaker) he operations manager in Television Studios, and He was born at Norton on Tees and moved to later to T.O.M. Among the programmes for York at the age of five. After primary school in was a founder member and chair of the which he planned the technical aspects, and led York he went to St Michael’s College in Leeds. Directors and Producers Rights Society the tech ops crew, was the first Grandstand, At the age of 17 he joined the BBC at (DPRS), securing royalty payments and produced by Bryan Cowgill. York H Group Transmitter. In 1942 he was improved terms and conditions for He then changed direction, and in 1960 he transferred to Moorside Edge, the BBC’s North directors in TV. applied and was appointed to be an OB Clive Kendall , who really was a ‘larger than life’ regional transmitter, and then to Ottringham He was a mentor and teacher to many engineering manager in Manchester. While character, sadly died after a short illness on near Hull. of our present day directors, a there he worked on programmes such as The 16 September, aged 85. In June 1944 he was posted to France sympathetic and always encouraging Good Old Days and Come Dancing , and his unit He grew up in Yorkshire and at the age of 16 and Holland, where he served as an guide to actors young and old, and a contributed to coverage of the Grand National started work for Hull Corporation Telephones. engineer correspondent with the BBC’s War and The Open Golf Championships. Whilst studying at night school, he met a local Reporting Unit. passionate supporter of all While planning a programme, at a remote BBC engineer who arranged for him to have a After the war he returned to Skelton where things Welsh. location in 1963, he received a message to ‘ring probationary position at the nearby Stoneferry he remained until 1980. In 1980 he went A man for all seasons, who was sadly London’. It was before the days of mobile transmitter. Having completed a Wood Norton to Ascension Island to recuperate from illness. lost in the early autumn of his life, telephones, and there was no public phone training course, he was given a permanent job at He had planned to stay for three months Pennant Roberts sadly died on 22 June within miles. Bob was offered a phone by a the wartime BBC Ottringham transmitter, also but found himself staying for eight months. after a long and courageous battle GPO technician at the top of a telegraph pole; near Hull. Following conscription to the RAF at The following year he returned for a four-year against cancer, in which he was he shinned up the pole to be told that he had the age of 18, he joined the Forces Broadcasting tour. While there, he celebrated his 40 years supported by the care and love of his been appointed assistant engineer in charge of Service as a wireless operator in Alexandra in with the BBC. wife, the actress Betsan Jones, and TVC, under Bryce Mc Crirrick. Egypt and also Basra and Baghdad in Iraq. Here he was presented with a hand-painted He and Bryce were on duty for the opening After the war he moved to the BBC Daventry meat platter by Bill Dennay, chief engineer close members of their families. of BBC2 in 1962 when there was a massive site and later to BBC Droitwich where he met broadcasting. Norman Shacklady, resident The words of friends and colleagues power failure, and they were using candles to and married his wife Kathleen. In the late 1950s engineer, presented Alf’s wife Beryl with a since his death sum up the man – find their way round TVC in an attempt to he joined the TV OB Radio Links Department bouquet of Ascension Island flowers ‘patient, generous, thoughtful, shrewd, restore power, before realising that the failure which was based at Carpenter Road in Mr Ned Abell, on behalf of BBC Atlantic kind, helpful, tireless, welcoming, funny, affected the whole of West London, and that Birmingham. There he was continually involved Relay Station, presented the couple with a fair, intelligent.’ The director David TVC had to be evacuated. In fact, the in live TV outside broadcasts, some of the most magnificent inlaid wooden tray. This unique Tucker described him simply as ‘a cancellation of the opening of BBC2 was a memorable being the last of the Queen’s live tray, made by local craftsmen, depicts the BBC lovely, honourable man’. blessing in disguise, because the media coverage Christmas messages from Sandringham in Lion and bears a brass plaque commemorating Ian McCulloch of it created very large audiences for the opening 1958; a link from the island of Iona in the outer Alf’s 40th anniversary. on the following day. Hebrides in 1963, which in those days was six Alf is survived by his wife Beryl and his When Bryce moved on in 1967, Bob became hops to a BT inject point near Oban; and the son Paul, to whom we extend our prayers EiC Television Centre. He was sent to the USA link from The Old Man of Hoy, all of course in and sympathy. to observe colour installation and operations. monochrome 405 lines! K Shepherdson 10 • • February • 2011 Obituaries Recorder of the greats Information of jazz and blues institution sound supervisor in the North Television Unit. occurred in 1973, when the Liberal Party When ‘Broadcasting in the Seventies’ resulted Conference was held in the New Theatre, in major reorganisation, he was appointed the Southport, which is adjacent to the Marine first audio manager of the new North Audio Lake. Alan took advantage of this to have a Unit, but management proved not to be to his quick sail on the lake before transmission. taste, and after a couple of years he successfully Alighting from his hired dinghy with little time applied to be a senior audio supervisor to spare, he slipped and fell into the lake. There (television), a post he held until his retirement was no time to sort himself out, so he did the in 1989. transmission sitting on an anorak in the Association with a wide range of programmes scanner, dripping all over the floor, while the resulted in Alan finding a particular speciality crew rushed about gathering towels to mop in folk music, and he did practically all the him up. The transmission went ahead without popular Spinners programmes in the studio a blemish. and on OBs as well as working with Steel-eye Anything to do with boats, sailing, ships and Span and others. Among other assignments the sea were in Alan’s blood. He loved sailing was some of the earliest coverage of the popular and at one time had a half share in an Cherry Hinton Folk Festival in 1979. His Enterprise racing dinghy. He was of a rather interests ranged from folk, through trad jazz slight build and whenever he tried to sail it by and modern jazz to big band music. One of the himself, he always capsized at the first decent personal highlights of his career was working puff of wind. He became very adept at Alan Fox , who died on Christmas Eve 2010, with the North Film Unit on a jazz cruise in capsizing and righting the boat without even was, for many years, a popular and 1976. This was on the liner SS Rotterdam, out getting his feet wet and he was extremely good accomplished senior audio supervisor based in of New York to the Caribbean, when he met at bailing out. Manchester. and recorded many of the jazz and blues greats Alan had a unique sense of humour and Alan served his two years of National Service including Count Basie and his orchestra, the loved poking fun at some of the more Ron Shipley joined the BBC just after the in the navy in the fifties and began his BBC Duke Ellington Orchestra led by Mercer ridiculous aspects of official jargon and war and spent over 40 years in the career in Manchester as an engineer in Lines Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzie Gillespie, political correctness and he was fiercely proud Corporation, mainly in the Library and Department, but soon became a studio Earl Hines, Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Lane of his Yorkshire roots. He was a good friend Information Services. manager in radio. There, his interest in a very to name but a few. The result was a series of and a delightful colleague to very many people In those pre-internet days, hard copy was wide range of music enabled him to develop BBC2 programmes called Jazz Ship produced and he will be sadly missed. To Christine, Sally, king, and newspapers and magazines were his talent for balancing music, including by John Duncan. Tim, the grandchildren and Pam we extend the prime source of information for working with the Northern Dance Orchestra. A career in broadcasting gives rise to many our sincere condolences. programme makers. In 1968 he crossed the floor and became a amusing incidents. One involving Alan Jerry Clegg Ron was often first port of call for anyone eager to get their hands on that elusive government white paper or obscure publication from behind the old Part of the ‘VT’ family In 1983 he joined BBC Worldwide as an Indispensable Radio Iron Curtain. operations manager, running the new VT area. He was also responsible for the daily Besides solving operational problems, he was Sheffield freelancer delivery of all the BBC’s newspapers and popular supporting trainee recording operators. Peter Cooper , who died in October at the age magazines, a huge operation across the Beeb’s Many staff owe a great debt to Ray. of 77, was a contributor to the output of BBC sprawling London offices and even further When Enterprises secured a contract Radio Sheffield almost from the word ‘go’ in afield to outposts such as Caversham. with the SSVC, ‘gentleman’ Ray, with November 1967. Anyone joining Ron’s fiercely loyal team of his sympathetic ear for customers, got He was the Daily Mirror’s sports staff soon realised that this man was an on well with the military personnel. correspondent in Yorkshire, covering mainly institution in the Beeb. Incidentally He enjoyed visits to Germany, helping football and cricket, but he found time to do ‘institution’ was the word used to describe Enterprise get a good return on some wonderful broadcasts for the station, Ron at his funeral address – clearly a pillar in their investment. including his ‘Red Card’ talks on Saturday his own local community too. By 1989 Ray’s section in Worldwide mornings. These gave him a chance to have a Joining Ron in the 1970s I soon became became JCA. He was in the forefront of the ‘right good go’ at the mad and bad things that accustomed to that most regular of enquiries: move. By the following year, his excellent were becoming features of professional sport ‘Is Ron around?’ This came from everyone, reputation upheld, he left to devote time to his and not only in his own bailiwick. from seasoned journalists and broadcasting private life. He had a command of English as good as any legends (Roy Plomley was a regular), to Ray was a member of BBC Skiing and Yacht broadcast journalist you can name, a rich people who worked for him in the past and Clubs, making many friends. He learnt to fly Sheffield voice and detailed knowledge of the still wanted to stay in contact. He ran a tight and proudly followed the yachting exploits of technical aspects of both major sports. But he ship but was always huge fun to work for, his nephew, Mike Golding. was best at observing character and analysing with a mischievous sense of humour and an He always attended the Television Recording the behaviour of players and officials and the infectious laugh which rang around the Christmas Lunches. To colleagues attending in murky politics of club boardrooms. He was an office. Ron retired in 1988 and had a long, 2010, he appeared the same cheerful Ray, but indispensable help to me when I did a year at happy and very busy retirement with his wife he was, sadly, very ill. Radio Sheffield as sports editor. Peter knew Val, his two children, grandchildren and one Typically he kept it to himself, and made his what was going on behind the scenes at great-grandchild. Ron passed away suddenly own preparations – this article is written from Wednesday and United and indeed further just before Christmas and will be greatly Ray Johnson died on 3 January after a short his notes. afield. And he was generous in giving us the missed by all those who knew him. illness. Honest and dedicated, he enjoyed the Colleagues, friends and family cannot benefit of his inside knowledge. Steve Garrett BBC at its very best, always smiling and never conceive that Ray is no longer with us – we shall He was also a very funny man who would saying an unkind word. miss him. quote Rudyard Kipling at the drop of a hat – After National Service in the RAF he joined Chris Booth how many times have I heard him declaim ‘On I first met Ralph in 1948 when I joined Tel the BBC in 1958, at Lime Grove Telerecording the road to Mandalay, where the flyin’ fishes O.B.s after the ‘48 Olympics at Wembley. Maintenance. He took great pride in passing his play…’? – so shattering the peace, or some He always had good ideas, one of which was Grade C Exam and, to his delight, would have said the gloom, of the Radio the ‘parrer-peep’ – a periscope with two large reorganisation meant that engineers now Gerry Millerson Sheffield newsroom! mirrors on the front of a dolly that enabled us performed operational work. Gerry Millerson died on 14 October 2010, just Jack Thompson to see the feet of the dancers. A transfer to the new Videotape Recording before his 87th birthday, after 51 happy years He was an excellent teacher and great Department bought exciting times. There was of marriage to Pam. Unfortunately, his latter fun to work with, but he never wanted to much to learn and develop. During these years years were marred by his very poor health. become ‘In Charge’ of a unit. Rather, he of the World Cup and Apollo moon landings, Gerry joined the BBC in 1941 and became a The man behind the always suggested an easier way of achieving an videotape was often production’s focus point. lighting engineer at Alexandra Palace (where I excellent output to a programme. During his Ray became an important part of the VT was a vision mixer), when it reopened after the ‘parrer-peep’ last years with the BBC, he assisted in the layout ‘family’; patient, good humoured and dedicated war. He will be remembered for the technical I was sad to hear that an old friend of many of the Outside Broadcasting complex at to doing things properly. Very popular, he books he wrote, which were published years, Ralph Parrott , has passed away at the age Wimbledon, and his last OB was at the 1977 helped newcomers, always willing to give good worldwide. of 95. He was a typical BBC engineer, always tennis finals. advice as tributes have highlighted. Mary Ticehurst ready to work. Ron Chown February • 2011 • • 11 History BBC archive project Classifieds Kalkan, SW Turkey. Apartment for sale. £60,000 ono. Lounge, BBCPA calls for Prospero readers to complete kitchen and 2 bedrooms with own bathrooms. Shared pool. Pictures online questionnaire www.kalkanapartment.org.uk. Tel: 01643 841602. Typical weekly BBC pensioners have been given the chance to be involved summer rental income ranges from in the early stages of an ambitious plan which would £200 to £450. Winter rates return eventually open the BBC’s enormous archive to ‘One member recalls… telling Roger about £150 per month plus water the public. and electricity. The BBC Pensioners’ Association (BBCPA) has been Moore he should ‘try modelling’’ co-operating with the BBC since the start of the scheme, Venice, Giudecca apartment, called the Genome Project. In what it describes as a ‘toe sleeps 5. Fully equipped, very in the water’ exercise, it has asked members if they would ‘Of immediate topical interest are royal weddings,’ says quiet, vaporetto to St Mark’s. like to contribute memories of working for the the BBCPA. ‘We would be very interested to know anyone Tel: 01260 227262, Email: corporation. involved in covering these since 1947.’ [email protected] Part of the project will be to create a new record of staff In early replies, one member recalls employing the biographies, facts and anecdotes. Each person will have an 16-year-old Julie Andrews for a fee of ten shillings and Menorca. Detached villa sleeps archived ‘page’ to record personal history. sixpence and telling Roger Moore he should ‘try 2-7. Private pool. Close Es ‘We may have squirreled away documents or modelling’. Some years later the member received a note Castell/Mahon. Brochures/prices photographs,’ says the BBCPA in a questionnaire sent to from Roger Moore, saying: ‘Still can’t act, but 01621 741 810 pr visit all members. ‘Some of us may still have copies of the doing alright!’ www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk programmes the BBC has lost. Above all, we have our own A representative group of pensioners who respond to the stories to tell about life in the corporation.’ questionnaire will be invited to meetings this month Somerset holiday flat. Near coast The questionnaire was devised to gauge the level of (February) and the project will be discussed at the and Exmoor National Park. Sleeps interest in Genome and to find a small group of BBCPA’s annual meeting in April. two. Affordable rates. pensioners who might like to be involved in the early The questionnaire is on the association’s website: Tel: 01643 704778; planning stages. It is also hoped to gather some ideas for www.bbcpa.org.uk . www.cottageexmoor.co.uk the project, such as themes and anniversaries. Seaview, Isle of Wight. Wanting to get away for a break? Pleasant ETB 4* studio annexe, sleeps two comfortably. Near beach and village. For details contact Snows stops RELC lunch [email protected] or tel 01983 812180.

The BBC RELC Christmas Collection of classical 78 rpm records available. Well known lunch planned for December performers, 1940s. Anyone interested? Tel: 020 8902 2063. last year had to be Email: [email protected] cancelled at the last minute Lake District. Historic watermill, secluded in woods and fields, due to the heavy snowfall sleeps six, beautiful all year for walking, climbing and sailing. across the country. Tel: 020 7387 6654; Email: [email protected]

The RELC lunch organiser, Russell Horne, has arranged Provence. Modern traditional-style a replacement lunch for Wednesday 29 June. He says: three-bedroom villa (sleeps six) with ‘I think I must have been the only person to cancel two pool. Near enchanting mediaeval Christmas lunches in one year. Our 2009 Christmas lunch village. From £550pw. Tel: 01908 was arranged for early January and it coincided with the 561324 for brochure. bad icy condition then!’ No further charge will be made to those who already Salcombe, Devon. Family paid for the Christmas lunch. cottage, spectacular views, sleeps Additional numbers would be very welcome and details six, three minutes to wonderful The next issue will will be sent out together with the notice for the normal beaches, National Trust walks, spring lunch to be held on 14 April 2011. sailing, great restaurants. appear in March Please contact Russell ([email protected]; Email: [email protected] tel: 01590 624389) for further information. Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff, CF5 2YQ Would you like to join Please enclose a cheque made payable to: BBC Pension Trust Ltd. Prospero’s Book Club? Rate: £5 for 20 words In a covering letter please include your pension number. BBC colleagues are a talented lot it seems, with many turning their hand to writing a book after they retire, whether a novel, a volume of poetry or a memoir. The Pension Liaison Prospero would like to create a database of readers to help us with the vital, and interesting, task of reviewing Meeting has been the books that are sent to us. re-scheduled and will If you would like to participate, please send your take place on Friday details to [email protected], with the subject heading ‘Prospero Book Club’. It would be useful to have a brief 4 March 2011 between ARIEL SUBSCRIPTIONS summary of your BBC career and also an idea of the 11am and 1pm in Rooms types of books you’d be interested in reviewing. 12, 13 and 14 at The UK: 6 months £26 We would then contact you if we receive a book that we think you might like to review (although you would Mailbox Birmingham. 1 year £50 be under no obligation to review it if the timing etc was To book a place please Overseas: 6 months £36 not convenient). In December, our publishers will send ring the pension service 1 year £60 a high street voucher to the best review received during Please phone: 0161 485 6540 the year. line on 029 2032 2811.

12 • • February • 2011