The 60-plus web resistors Learn more 8-9 November 2009 Number 8 Home brewed success page 6-7 On the up: deficit With highlights from Ariel falls as shares recover Page 3 News Memories of Bush and Maida Vale Did you work at Bush House, left, or the Maida Vale studios? If so you may have memories and perspectives to flesh out the histories of two important BBC centres. Recently the BBC marked 75 years at Maida Vale, a former ice rink, taken over by the BBC in 1934. It is the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, seen unloading their instruments in 1935, right, and hosted many famous performances and recordings. Outside its classical remit, it was used for John Peel’s Radio 1 sessions, and was home to the Radiophonic Workshop. And as the big West One building project progresses, World Service is working on its plans to commemorate Bush House as a BBC building. Some PROSPERO departments have already moved, with November 2009 the final phase planned for 2012. Prospero is provided free to Creative approach to history retired BBC employees. It can also be sent to spouses or puts memories at its heart dependants who want to keep The BBC Heritage website has been the day that WW2 broke out (September in touch with the BBC. It relaunched with expanded content – and 3 1939), exploring how the war radically includes news about former in every key section there are windows changed the BBC’s relationship with How to inviting perspectives and memories from government as well as home and colleagues, pension issues, former staff. international audiences. contribute The site, which can be accessed at ‘WW2, more than anything else in our and developments at the bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc, includes an history, defined BBC “voice”, linking it Recent anniversaries have included: BBC. Prospero includes ‘anniversary of the week’, with short clips inextricably with Britishness both in the • Terry and June (October 24 1979) and memories. In addition, an animated national and international psyche,’ adds • Ceefax (September 23 1974) classified advertisements. To timeline lists ten ‘innovation moments’ Robert. • Monty Python (October 5 1969) advertise in Prospero or the for each decade. Looking ahead, next year’s 25th • The Wednesday Play It’s part of a plan to move away from anniversary of EastEnders , alongside 60 (October 28 1964) BBC Staff magazine, Ariel, BBC ‘nostalgia’, and recast the BBC years of The Archers , provides an • The Saga of Noggin the Nog story as one of continuous innovation – opportunity to put groundbreaking soaps (September 11 1959) see page 11. in technology, creative formats and in a historic context, showing how they • BBC Monitoring (August 26 1939) relationships with audiences. have reflected and continue to reflect the ‘I’ve been looking at our story, and story of the UK at a street level. If any of these anniversaries trigger Subscription information for asking what it tells us about our future as ‘I’m particularly keen to hear from memories you would like to share, well as the past,’ explains Robert Seatter, people who have memories of The contact Prospero (see address Ariel is on page 12 head of BBC history. ‘As part of that Archers and EastEnders ,’ he says. ‘We bottom left) or go to Robert Seatter analysis, I’m focusing every year on will be marking those anniversaries in direct. particular anniversaries which say partnership with the National Media The best way to reach him is by email something meaningful about where Museum in Bradford via a season – [email protected]. we’ve come from and where we are. including exhibitions, speaker platforms, ‘However I know that the people with Above all, I’m interested in the impact of learning and community outreach. It the longest memories are those the BBC on people’s lives and how it’s would be wonderful to enrich the least likely to have email. So you made a difference in the life of the celebration with first-hand accounts from can also write to me at BBC History, nation.’ people directly involved in making the Room 5126, White City, Wood Lane, As part of that, BBC History recently programmes. So please do send us your London W12 7RJ.’ held a seminar on the 70th anniversary of contributions.’ Editorial contributions CROSPERO 143 1 2 Devised and compiled by Jim Palm • • 3 4 Write to Robin Reynolds Complete the square using the clues; these apply only to words • • The Editor, Prospero running across. Then take these words in numerical order and 5 6 BBC Pension & Benefits Centre extract the letters indicated by a dot. If your answers are correct, these letters will spell out the names of two BBC performers of • • Broadcasting House yesteryear. 7 8 9 Cardiff, CF5 2YQ • • Please send your answers in an envelope marked Crospero to The • Tel: 020 7765 1414 Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Broadcasting 10 [email protected] House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ by November 20. • 11 Clues: 1. Distant (4); 2. Earthquake (5); 3. Wide awake (5); 4. Please make sure that any digital • Council dump (3); 5. Helmsman (3); 6. On fire (6); 7. Feminine pro - 12 pictures you send are scanned noun (3); 8. Worcestershire Town (3); 9. Catch (3); 10. Bird in fable (3); 11. People with gavels (11); 12. Period (3); 13. Title (3); 14. • at 250 dpi Chief (3); 15. Popular gardens (3); 16. Go over again (5); 17. 13 14 15 Concealed (3); 18. By way of (3); 19. Make a speech (5); 20. Lazy Design & production editor: Ann Ramsbottom • • • person (5); 21. Refute (4). 16 17 Solution to Crospero No. 142: Map; Apace; Rodent; Ova; Haw; • • Mixed Sources Elate; Fan; Emend; Icy; Mob; Area; Erse; Wit; Red; Troll; Mud; Aisle; 18 19 Product group from well-managed forests, controlled sources and Rip; Mil; Reason; Lycee; Per. • • recycled wood or fiber The BBC series was Parahandy: Master Mariner. WWW.fsc.org Cert no. SA-COC-1468 20 21 c 1996 Forest Stewardship Council The winner of Crospero 142 is Mr Richard Cox of Norwich. • • 2 • • November • 2009 News Tributes to an Better news as share old campaigner Panorama reporter, author and campaigner Sir Ludovic Kennedy has died aged 89. Obituaries paid tribute to his style and his pursuit of justice. markets turn a corner ‘Ludo added much to the stock of public life, education and gaiety,’ said The Guardian . It may not be orange, but the future certain - graph, ‘the market recovered from both the values, and even if the markets continue to Duncan Campbell wrote: ‘He frequently ly isn’t as grey as it was. At March 31 the 1987 and 1993 crashes. It also recovered make a recovery, the valuation is still likely to challenged the establishment notion that FTSE 100 was 3926. At the end of from the crash after the technology bubble show a shortfall. reopening [historic] cases undermined faith September it stood at 5133. in 2003.’ ‘One of the things the actuary will look at is in the judicial system.’ The figures, as Pension Investments Looking at more recent movements, the how long pensioners are living,’ she cautioned. And The Times said: ‘With his trademark manager David Shaw explained at the figures from March to September 30 – the ‘And every time they do a valuation, they find look of wry bemusement, Kennedy laced his pensioner liaison meeting on October 1, add day before the liaison meeting – equity that pensioners are living longer.’ incisive questioning with an idiosyncratic up to good news for the BBC fund. markets showed a 30% improvement. While that’s good news in one sense, it charm that became the blueprint for a gen - He shared them with around 60 retired staff ‘So don’t get too depressed,’ he said. ‘These means that new assumptions will have to be eration of journalists and a huge hit with at the meeting in London, and he also figures significantly increase the value of the made about longevity. viewers.’ produced a graph showing share movements assets held by the scheme.’ ‘It means the scheme will need more over recent decades. And it wasn’t a one-day wonder. As money to pay those pensions over that The purpose was to illustrate points the Prospero went to press, the FTSE 100 was longer period.’ Ernie’s anguish Trustees have been making ever since shares fluctuating around 5000. Discussions about that will continue after Ernie Wise wanted to break up his double plummeted last year. But no one is counting any chickens. Jan the valuation, she said, but it’s likely to mean act with Eric Morecambe, Eric’s son Gary Namely, that markets fluctuate and bounce Killick, head of Pensions, stressed that the true bigger contributions from the BBC, and has revealed in a book, You'll Miss Me When back, and that pension investments are for picture of assets against liabilities won’t be additional securities – which could take the I'm Gone , marking the 25th anniversary of the long term. known until a full valuation of the scheme as form of BBC assets signed over to the Fund his father’s death. ‘As you can see,’ he said, pointing to the at next April. It won’t depend entirely on share – to bolster the asset base. His father’s papers include a letter from Ernie, written around 1950, before the pair had made their mark in television. Ernie made it clear how much he valued his friendship with Morecambe, but feared he BPA to test was losing his ‘zip’. Gary says his father told Ernie: ‘Rubbish!’ best month ‘Mud’ singer dies Opera singer and long-running radio panel - list Ian Wallace has died aged 90.