PROSPERO - BBC PENSION AND BENEFITS CENTRE: COVID-19 UPDATE
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PROSPERO
The newspaper for retired BBC Pension Scheme members • June 2020 • Issue 3
BBC PENSION AND BENEFITS
CENTRE: COVID-19 UPDATE
PAGE 2
PENSION
SCHEME
| BBC BENEFITS
COVID-19 UPDATE
As ever, the team at the Pension and Benefits Centre has risen to the
challenge of working remotely from home.
W
e’re focussing on maintaining ‘business as You can view your pension details and make certain
usual’ for Scheme members, although we changes via myPension online. You can view your
have had to temporarily amend the opening pension payslips and P60s, or change your bank or
hours of the pension service line (029 2032 2811), now address details.
open from 10am to 4pm, in order to help us maintain
If you haven’t already registered for myPension online
essential services.
and you would like to, please send an email to
Some tasks may take a little longer, however, please be myPensionFeedback@bbc.co.uk, quoting your National
assured that the payment of pensions will continue as Insurance number. We will then send you your personal
normal. Also, thanks to the very robust data protection security number. Then visit
systems we already had in place, your details remain mybbcpension.co.uk, click
secure even if our staff have to access them remotely. on the ‘register here’ tab at
the bottom of the page and
The team would like to thank everyone for their
follow the instructions.
patience and understanding whilst the restrictions
remain in place.
Please also remember that information relating to
bbc.co.uk/mypension
the Scheme can be found on our website: bbc.co.uk/
mypension.
If you write to us or send an email to
mypension@bbc.co.uk, we may take longer than
usual to reply and we appreciate your patience.
SCAM ALERT
Unscrupulous criminals are exploiting fears about Covid-19 to prey on vulnerable members of the public
who are now isolated from family and friends. Please remember to be vigilant as there has been an
increase of coronavirus-related scams. Some examples which have been reported to Trading Standards
are as follows:
Doorstep crime Refund scams
• Criminals targeting older people on their doorstep • Companies offering fake holiday refunds for people
and offering to do their shopping. Thieves take the who have been forced to cancel their trips. If you’re
money and do not return. seeking a refund, please be wary of fake websites set
up to claim holiday refunds.
• Doorstep cleansing services that offer to clean drives
and doorways to kill bacteria and help prevent the Telephone scams
spread of the virus.
• As more people self-isolate at home, there is an
Online scams increasing risk that telephone scams will also rise,
including criminals claiming to be your bank,
• Email scams that trick people into opening malicious
mortgage lender or utility company.
attachments, which put personal information,
passwords, contacts and bank details at risk. Some of Donation scams
these emails have lured people to click on
• There have been reports of thieves extorting money
attachments by offering information about people in
from consumers by claiming they are collecting
the local area who are affected by coronavirus.
donations for a Covid-19 ‘vaccine’.
• Fake online resources – such as false coronavirus
maps – that deliver malware (a malicious software
program) to damage or infiltrate data on your
To help protect yourself, you should:
computer. A prominent example that has deployed
malware is ‘corona-virus-map[dot]com’. • beware of adverts on social media channels
and paid for/sponsored adverts online
• do not click links or open emails from senders
you don’t already know
• take your time to make all the checks you
need, even if this means turning down an
‘amazing deal’
• do not give out personal details (bank details,
address, existing insurance/pensions/
investment details)
• seek financial guidance or advice before
changing your pension arrangements or
making investments
There is further advice on the FCA’s ScamSmart
website (fca.org.uk/scamsmart) about how to
protect yourself. If you suspect you may have been
contacted in what could be a scam, you should call
Action Fraud straight away on 0300 123 2040.
2
Volunteer Visiting Scheme PROSPERO
In line with Government guidance, face-to-face Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Scheme
visits by the Volunteer Visitors have been members, or to their spouses and dependants.
suspended. However, this doesn’t mean that the
visitors are not keeping in touch. They are making Prospero provides a source of news on former
phone calls and, where possible and appropriate, colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension
utilising technology such as Facetime and issues, plus classified adverts. It is available online
Whatsapp groups to maintain contact with those at bbc.com/mypension
with whom they keep in touch. To advertise in Prospero, please enclose a cheque
If you haven’t received visits in the past but would made payable to: BBC Central Directorate. Rate £6
welcome a friendly phone call, you can send an for 20 words. Please include your pension number
email, quoting your BBC pension number, to in a covering letter.
vvs@bbc.co.uk to opt in to receive a call and
Please send your editorial contributions,
we can put you in touch with your local visitor.
or comments/feedback, to:
If you don’t have access to email, you can also opt
in by calling Cheryl Miles on 0303 080 3558. Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre,
Central Square, Cardiff CF10 1FT
Email: prospero@bbc.co.uk
Please make sure that any digital pictures you send
Available throughout the UK to are scanned at 300dpi. Please also note that the
VOLUNTEER maximum word count for obituaries is 350 words.
VISITING BBC pensioners over age 70
SCHEME
Visitors are also
Contents
Visitors carry ID cards BBC pensioners
with them for your BBC benefits 2-3
security Covid-19 update
Scam alert
Volunteer Visiting Scheme
Would you welcome Mystery Sudoku
occasional contact with
former colleagues? We can also offer
support during Letters 4-5
difficult times such as
Over 2,000 pensioners bereavement
already use the scheme Life after Auntie 6-7
Meet at home for a chat or Keep calm and carry on
somewhere public like a Funnies
coffee shop FEE SHO
There's life after the Beeb
OF
C
P
Operates from the
Pension and Benefits Memories 8-9
Centre H.M.S. Pebble Mill at One
The British Entertainment History Project
BBC producers’ free first colour TV sets
Want to know more about what the VVS has to offer?
Call the pension service line on 029 2032 2811 or
email myPension@bbc.co.uk Obituaries 10-11
Odds & ends 12
Mystery Sudoku Breaking bad (news)
Reunions
Complete the grid so that every row, column and
3x3 box contains the letters ADELORSTW in some E S T Classifieds
Caption competition
order. One row or column contains a five or more
letter word, title or name with a BBC connection. E A
Solve the Sudoku to discover what it is and send
your answer to: The Editor, Prospero, BBC Pension
L D R
and Benefits Centre, 3 Central Square, Cardiff
CF10 1FT by Monday, 6 July 2020.
A O R
Prospero June 2020
The winner gets a £10 voucher. Many thanks to D O A E The next issue of Prospero will appear
Neil Somerville for providing this puzzle. in August 2020. The copy deadline
W T L is Monday, 6 July 2020.
The Sudoku winner in April 2020
WIN was Peter Dean, who correctly E L W
£10 identified the BBC connection
‘Mark Cole’. L A
Please note, vouchers will be issued once the S L O
lockdown restrictions have been lifted.
PROSPERO JUNE 2020 | 3
| LETTERS
Why ‘scanner’? Stephen Peet –
Please excuse an outsider, but I have the feeling Prospero readers are likely
to be among those most likely to help.
Yesterday’s Witness
(I’ve never actually worked in the industry, but have always had a great I am Stephen Peet’s son, Graham. Stephen died in 2015.
interest in broadcasting, both technology and production. I did work at I am working on an illustrated book about his life. During his time at the
what was, when I joined it, Marconi Research Centre for 20-something years. BBC he made a series of oral history programmes, Yesterday’s Witness - 1969
Anyway…) and 1981. He recorded many stories that would otherwise be forgotten to
I have checked (my brother’s an executive editor there), and the Oxford history and it was based on a simple principle – ordinary people telling
English Dictionary does not have an entry under ‘scanner’, covering its use extraordinary stories.
to mean a television control room built into a vehicle: I would like to remedy
I am hoping to record his story in the same way. So, I am trying to find any
that omission!
BBC people who knew or worked with him who would be interested in
My enquiries (mainly in the newsgroup uk.tech.broadcast) suggest that sharing any stories, photos or anecdotes to include in the book.
the term has never been an official term, but is in wide use, and would be
understood by anybody in the industry. So I’d like to appeal, for what is Graham Peet
normally the criterion for an OED entry: can anyone give me a citation of 27 Hodge Bower
a printed use of the word? What’s needed is date, page/column, name of Ironbridge
publication, author of the piece if known, and the sentence containing it Shropshire
(and enough from adjacent sentences to make the meaning obvious, if it TF8 7QQ
isn’t clear from the single sentence). Tel: 0785 5956089
Given the unofficial nature, I suspect the cites may be from Prospero itself,
Email: gpeet@mac.com
or other internal magazines or similar, rather than any technical handbook or
other official publication. I get the feeling that the term dates from at latest
the 1950s, but later examples will do to start with. (A current example is also
useful, anyway.) Some have suggested ‘Pawley’ is a good source.
It’d also be useful – though not essential – to know why they’re called
Ada Green
scanners; I've had suggestions of: source of scanning waveforms (dismissed), Sorry to read of the loss of Ada Hakeney née Green, in April Prospero
vehicles having previously been radar kit (possible but unlikely), and some obituaries. I do remember when Ariel ran a headline story ‘First BBC
connection with intermediate film (Baird system). camerawoman’, Ada Green replied, ‘What are you talking about, I have
‘Folk etymology’ being what it is, though, I’m only after those who are fairly been doing camera in Leeds for the last three years!’
certain of their reason, not just explanations that sound likely. Colin Pierpoint
Any citations or reasons please to G6JPG@255soft.uk, and I’ll pass them on.
John P Gilliver
Looking for Andy Aliffe
I am currently doing some research about music hall singer Steve McCarthy.
I found a letter sent to The Stage about Steve’s father, Victorian Music Hall
comedian John McCarthy from a BBC Radio producer or researcher by the
name of Andy Aliffe who had been researching the McCarthy family.
Mr Aliffe would have retired from the BBC ages ago, I imagine, but is perhaps
a reader of Prospero. If he is or someone knows where his research
notes may be, they could be invaluable to my research – so I would
be most grateful if they would get in touch.
Peter Charlton
peter.charlton@zen.co.uk
Golden age of film
Harry Farrar’s ‘Remembering the Golden Age of Film’ was an
attractive piece of nostalgia. But why not extend the theme to
‘The Golden Age of BBC Television’? Want a simple example?
Well, in 1963 (as a mere 32-year-old) I put up a proposal to produce and
present a five-part series about the American West.
Someone ‘up there’ evidently liked the idea because, just four weeks later,
I and a three-man crew were in Wyoming; we were shooting the first
programme in what, some months later, was the first ‘travel’ series to be
shown on the brand-new BBC2.
Yes, those really were the days – no messing, no committees, no year-long
delays, no farting about. I could give you other similar examples, but I am told
that present-day director-producers would find them unbelievable. As I say,
‘those really were the days…’
Tim Slessor
4
Did you know Cliff Richardson? Covid-19 and BBC Club
Are you in this photo? Did you work with him? Do you have any stories or photos? I’m Cliff’s In this unprecedented time of ‘lockdown’,
granddaughter and I’d love to hear from you. Back in 2003 I met some crew on the set of EastEnders who BBC Club would like to thank all our fantastic
had worked with him. Sadly, we didn’t have much time to talk. I’d really like to discover more about him. members for their support. As an independent,
Please contact me at creativeelc@gmail.com not-for-profit and unsubsidised company, it is
Emma Cook the support of our members and their monthly
subscriptions that will hopefully allow BBC Club
to come through the current pandemic crisis and
be around for many years, bringing a wide range
of benefits to BBC people, retired and current!
At time of writing, the lockdown is still in place.
At time of publication, hopefully things are
beginning to slowly reopen and become
more accessible.
The outbreak of the coronavirus had a huge impact
on BBC Club, starting with a sharp decrease in trade
in the Clubs. The cessation of filming on both the
Holby City and EastEnders sets in late March saw
our Elstree site close its doors first, swiftly followed
by the enforced closure by the government of
BBC Club W1 and gym the following week.
As soon as we are allowed to open, BBC Club W1
will once more be there for morning coffee, retired
BBC radio programme with
members’ lunches, fine wine and good beer and of
course – to pick up the Radio Times!
Ella Fitzgerald theme tune? BBC Club Extra has continued throughout. April’s
My son is helping his professor with some research for a book on competition was for a ‘library of fragrance’ courtesy
Ella Fitzgerald. Apparently there was a BBC radio programme that of Penhaligon’s Regent Street, while in May we
used her song ‘Every time we say goodbye’ as its theme music. offered a £200 voucher from sundried.com.
Do any readers remember what show it was, and maybe when it was
Our pop-up shops and Club Extra offers have been
broadcast and who presented?
offered ‘virtually’ via the website and the lottery has
Answers please to davidscottcowan@btinternet.com seem a fantastic 61 members win prizes in March
Thank you. and the usual 11 winners in April and May. If you
were one of them – congratulations!
David Scott Cowan
Prospero Society
Prospero Society outings are planned to
A long tradition of complaints
recommence in September, but in the meantime it
would be great to hear your personal accounts of
life during the coronavirus pandemic, including any
Bryan Baylis and Neville Withers are following a My career led me from London BH to the moving stories or funny anecdotes. Have you
long tradition of complaints about the use of Radiophonic Workshop and then on to Bristol, become adept at Skype or fed up with quizzes on
irrelevant music in programmes. where I had the great pleasure of balancing Zoom? Has your garden never had so much
orchestras and other music, as well as film dubbing, attention or has this been a particularly difficult
In 1957, when I joined the BBC as a technical
during which I had much exposure to music. time? BBC Club will be compiling your stories as a
operator, I was aware of letters complaining of this
My son is now 30 years into a freelance music record of these times. Please indicate whether you
– and they are still appearing.
career – so music has always been an important
would be happy to share your story with others.
aspect of my life.
It dawned on me early on that, of the billions of Please note, we are accepting correspondence by
people in the world, no two have the same musical post or email only as the office is closed at time of
taste – something of which programme makers writing and at this time we do not know the date
should be aware. Also, those of us who have old of reopening.
ears, such as me now, just can’t hear dialogue or
commentary with intrusive music poured over it. Stay safe and healthy.
I ended my BBC career as a radio producer in
the NHU and I hope I avoided these mood
musical pitfalls.
Producers, do please ask yourself why you are
putting music into your production when your
choice can upset so many people. From my film
dubbing time, I realise cameras can work well at a
much greater distance than microphones do, and a
bit of music fills the gap in the soundtrack – but at 020 8752 6666
what expense? Ask yourself, ‘why am I putting this
BBC.CLUB@BBC.CO.UK
possibly irritating music into my programme?’
BBC Club Broadcast Centre, BC2 B3,
John Harrison 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP
PROSPERO JUNE 2020 | 5
| LIFE AFTER AUNTIE
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON By Joe Keaney
As the Volunteer Visiting Scheme (VVS) update
on page 3 sets out, the VVS has had to adapt
during these unusual times – with phone calls
(and video calls) taking the place of face-to-face
visits. BBC visitor Joe Keaney shares his experience
of ‘visiting’ during lockdown.
A
s someone privileged to be a in January and that her dog had a Another reflected on how kind people One lady scoffed at comparisons
volunteer on the BBC Visiting garden to run around in. Another was were and how she felt kindness was being made with World War II though.
Scheme, it has been great over getting her head around the mysteries returning to our national conversation. She spent that bleak time as a pre-teen in
many years to regularly meet face to of Skype and seeing her grandchildren Quite a few noted how much support the most bombed corner of unoccupied
face with what my wife cheerfully calls online and getting mightily frustrated they were getting from church Europe, Malta, and said seeking refuge in
‘my BBC ladies’. trying to join Gareth Malone’s organisations they were attached to a cave was far harder than anything she’s
virtual choir. and all remarked on how wonderful been asked to endure since. She laughed
Now that this activity has unfortunately
technology like the phone was in at the toilet roll crisis – we used
had to stop, we hope temporarily,
helping them stay in touch. newspaper, she recalled.
I spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon
before Easter phoning round to check 'What a lucky person But of course only so far. One lady who I came off the phone some three hours
listens regularly to Radio 3 misses later thinking what a lucky person I am
that all the people I normally see are
safe and well.
I am to talk with such meeting ‘her boyfriend’ at lunchtime to talk with such a band of spirited,
What a wonderful, uplifting afternoon
a band of spirited, concerts at Manchester’s Bridgewater resilient people who are discovering
Hall. A few reflected on the fact that, for via new technology (Skype) and older
I had! My cohort are mainly in their resilient people.' the first time in their lives, they would forms (Scrabble, jigsaws) ways to
eighties and early nineties, with one
not be attending church services in reframe lockdown into something
young one, a spritely 71.
One lady joked that at the start of the actual churches over Easter. Another positive and life affirming.
They were all in good form, all resilient, year her children were badgering her as lamented she couldn’t be there for her
The last word goes to the lady who said,
all surrounded by friends and family to how she wanted to celebrate her granddaughter’s 5th birthday party and
‘I must go now, Joe. I've spent all
who are making sure they have all 90th birthday in June. She chuckled missed the cuddles.
afternoon talking to you and to family
they need. that the pressure to come up with All reflected on how lucky they were as well and it’s giving me a headache.
One was happy that she had managed something clever and innovative was and how grateful they felt at having And I’ve a new pasta recipe I want to
a two-week family holiday in Benidorm now mercifully off. such a warm, close network of friends. try for my tea.’
FUNNIES
by Chris Blount, Volunteer Visitor, West Cornwall and Scilly
You may well have seen this among the scores of so-called ‘funnies’ that are doing the rounds at present,
but, as you’ll see, it did trigger a strangely familiar memory from nearly sixty years ago...
There was a separating door with electronic connection to Reception during the
caretaker’s night shift – probably after 10pm, I can’t quite remember. Anyone
crossing the great divide would be quickly apprehended and dismissed from
On her first day at the seniors complex, the new manageress addressed all the the monastery – sorry, hostel.
seniors, pointing out some of her rules:
I was soon told by ‘lifers’ among the inmates that cigarette packets could easily
‘The female sleeping quarters will be out-of-bounds for all males, and the male be employed to silence the alarm. I couldn’t possibly confirm the effectiveness
dormitory to the females. of such functionality.
Anybody caught breaking this rule will be fined $20 the first time.’
She continued: ‘Anybody caught breaking this rule a second time will be
fined $60. Being caught a third time will cost you a fine of $180. Are there
any questions?’
On this point, an older lady named Alice stood up in the crowd and inquired:
‘How much is a season pass?’
When I arrived at the BBC’s Beaumont Hostel in Bayswater back in 1961, it was
soon evident that socialising with one’s newly met colleagues would be a
pleasurable introduction.
Many of us were teenagers far from home and there was a healthy mix
of genders! However, the Corporation took its Duty of Care seriously
and the matronly manageress in the Reception Office was quick to point
out the House Rules. Priority was given to the one that informed us of
the strict division between men and women on the upstairs floors.
6
THERE’S LIFE AFTER THE BEEB
by Walter Acosta
After 23 years at the BBC, the highlight being a hugely enjoyable
period working as a radio drama director for BBC World Service,
the idea of retirement to feed pigeons or sink into oblivion and
slothful lethargy was never within my plans. On the contrary!
W
hen I retired, John Pitman – my
predecessor – wished me luck and said,
‘There’s life after the Beeb, Walter.’
He was absolutely right.
Soon after I left Bush House in 1990, I braved the
London stage, directing my play ‘No one writes to the
Colonel’, based on a García Márquez short story and
led by Bernard Hepton in the title role. Then, as my
wife joined the United Nations in Switzerland, I left
dear old England and moved to Geneva.
There, my association with GEDS, the oldest English
speaking language theatre in the Continent, led to
some gratifying productions; works by Priestley,
Ayckbourn, Sophocles and Neruda’s epic poem
‘The heights of Macchu Picchu’, which had moved
Emrys James and Michael Bryant to tears when I
produced it in Bush House a decade earlier.
'Soon after I left Bush House in
1990, I braved the London
stage, directing my play ‘No
one writes to the Colonel’,
based on a García Márquez
short story and led by Bernard 1985: Gordon House, Head of BBC World Service Drama with his team in Studio N41, Bush House. Standing
from left to right, producers Walter Acosta and David Hitchinson, and production assistants Jo Hill,
Hepton in the title role.' Nici Hildebrandt and Joanne Hopper.
It was in Geneva where I also started writing plays.
The confidence I had gained under Gordon House What now? My most cherished ambition is, of course,
to see my plays on the stage – some of them at
leadership in BBC World Service Drama spurred me
onwards. There was a providential stroke of luck: my least – for as Brecht said, ‘every play worth its name
'The past two years have been
friend and great playwright Edward Bond sent me a can only be understood once it has been staged’. particularly demanding.
hand-written poem on Pinochet as a Christmas Time will tell.
greeting in December 1998. I owe that poem the In 2018, I published some
inspiration to write ‘The scorpion and the weasel’, autobiographical memoirs, with
a play which was awarded a prestigious theatre prize
by Casa de las Américas in Havana, Cuba, 2001. many chapters about my work
Since then, life has taken me to rural France, for the BBC and elsewhere.'
provincial Spain and finally, Buenos Aires. I have
concentrated on playwriting, workshops and one-man
shows written by myself to brave the boards
portraying both Shakespeare and Cervantes.
The past two years have been particularly demanding.
In 2018, I published some autobiographical memoirs,
with many chapters about my work for the BBC and
elsewhere. The title in Spanish is taken from Hamlet´s
dying words ‘the rest is silence’.
But despite such emphatic statement implying I
would be keeping my mouth shut in the days ahead,
I have just published in Buenos Aires my plays in
Spanish, English and French. Whatever merits they
may have, they show my interest and concern not
only for history in the making (the Stalin regime, the
Spanish Civil War or dictatorships in South America)
but also for more intimate turmoils and tribulations
like those of Diderot defying the French Parliament,
Lope de Vega’s own hell, Brecht and Walter Benjamin
in exile, Lorca shot in Granada or Miguel Hernández
dying in Franco’s jails…
PROSPERO JUNE 2020 | 7
| MEMORIES
H.M.S. PEBBLE MILL AT ONE
The famous lunchtime magazine programme of the 70s and 80s
had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the military.
Tom Ross explains how a live broadcast from an aircraft carrier took
the programme to new heights in audience terms.
A
generation of students, the sick, the How easy it would all be nowadays with the technology
housebound and those – mainly outside of available. It was a little more challenging then.
London – who went home for lunch each day
Tony Rayner effortlessly wove the live elements with
recall the mix of celebrity interviews, practical tips, music
some pre-recorded packages involving Samantha Fox,
and spectacular stunts that were the show’s speciality.
the celebrity of the time, and regular cookery expert
In addition to Bob Langley and Marian Foster, the likes Michael Smith. It was the first, and perhaps the only
of David Seymour, Jan Leeming, Donny B MacLeod, time, Tony had been given temporary command of
Paul Coia, Josephine Buchan and Magnus Magnusson two Sea Harriers at RNAS Yeovilton.
were among the regular presenters through the years
Nicky Barfoot, Beverleigh Wildman, Yasmin Archer,
from 1972.
Annette Martin and Steve Pierson made up the rest
The programme prided itself on being mainly ‘live’: and The famous foyer in action. of the Pebble Mill Team.
live meant that things could go wrong – and frequently
The ‘we bring you live pictures’ problem was solved by
did. That, as they say, is another story. Although the programme was produced in a dish at the front of the ship and a dish at the back and
Marching bands, motorcycle display teams, abseiling Birmingham, Ark Royal would set off from Portsmouth a poor links engineer in a duffel coat dashing between
special forces and even a couple of Fleet Air Arm Sea so it would be serviced by London OBs. A planning both to keep Ventnor in line of sight.
Harriers would literally drop in to get the show under meeting was duly arranged with the experts at Kendal
Avenue... Not to worry, I was told, OBs were used to It all went splendidly – as did many live programmes
way with a bang from Monday to Friday. Occasionally,
doing live programmes from ships under way in the that day from Ark Royal by Radio 2’s Ken Bruce
the programme would do specials from places all over
Channel. In these pre-satellite days, live pictures would and others.
the world, as far apart as the Falkland Islands, India,
Russia and New York. be bounced off a links vehicle near Ventnor on the Isle That day, 7 April 1986, was the highest ever recorded
of Wight. audience for Pebble Mill at One, with BARB measuring
Just one problem I pointed out. Ferries and regular nearly 6 million viewers.
commercial ships tend to travel in a straight line from Sadly, it was a bittersweet experience for many.
left to right or whatever. An aircraft carrier on the other The programme was due to come to an end later that
hand had to be able to change direction at a moment’s year when Michael Grade and Roger Laughton claimed
notice in order to turn into the wind to recover aircraft. the one o’clock slot for their new Daytime programmes.
Ah, they said, we will need to think about that!
Gone would be the 12.40 Lunchtime News, trade test
transmissions, the test card and Pebble Mill at One.
How easy it would all be HMS Pebble Mill at One was sunk, but, as it happened,
not without trace.
nowadays with the technology
available. It was a little more Tony Rayner and Josephine Buchan
(and Sea Harrier) at RNAS Yeovilton.
challenging then.
A Sea Harrier lands In the end, London OBs, Mobile VT and Links came up
at Pebble Mill in 1979. trumps. Lo 21 under engineering manager John Wilson
and sound supervisor Chris Holcombe, LMVT4, a Lee
generator and Links vehicles were winched onto the
I joined the show from BBC Scotland as assistant editor
vessel’s focsle and hidden under tarpaulin. The show
in 1984. One particular programme with which I was
was transmitted live on BBC1 with only brief picture
heavily involved helped bring together the military,
break-up at the start from the live link from a Sea King
the unusual and the full live television experience.
helicopter as presenter Josephine Buchan landed on
That was an April 1986 special from the-then newly
the deck pre-title to join Bob Langley on board.
commissioned aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, in the
middle of the Channel.
It all began with one of those live marching bands.
The senior naval officer in charge of the Band of
HM Royal Marines that day, Captain James Weatherall,
revealed that he was about to take up a new posting as
Captain of Ark Royal. I may not have been long with the
programme but I saw a golden opportunity when it bit
me. Would there be any chance, I asked, that we could
do the programme live from the new carrier? Of course,
he said. ‘Take a signal, Wren Chasen’, as they would say
on The Navy Lark.
Producer/director Tony Rayner and I set about planning
the technicalities. The first problem to be overcome was
the Ministry of Defence (Navy) itself. To put it mildly,
they were not too keen. The suggested day was when
the Queen Mother was due to visit. It was all very
difficult. Maybe it was not a good idea.
Mercifully, Captain Weatherall came to the rescue and
helped overcome that initial bureaucratic reluctance. The crew of Lo21 with EM John Wilson.
8
THE BRITISH ENTERTAINMENT
HISTORY PROJECT
For more than 30 years, the members of the British Entertainment
History Project have been quietly and painstakingly recording and
archiving interviews with working men and women from the UK film,
television, radio and theatre industries to ensure that their lives and
experiences are preserved for future generations.
T
he interviews tell us about the challenges they had to overcome, We continue to record new interviews, and as the collection continues to grow we
the skills they employed, the enduring human relationships they forged welcome suggestions of potential interviewees. Would you like to interview or
as Britain developed into one of the world’s major centres of the shoot some of our interviews for us? Perhaps you would enjoy transcribing some
entertainment industries. of our many BBC interviews?
The project was the brainchild of producer/director Roy Fowler who started his Please browse our website and tell us about any of the interviewees that you
BBC career working at Alexandra Palace in 1948. recognise – do you have any memories or photos of them?
Fearing that the story of early British film, radio and television production would For further information on how to become involved in the History Project,
disappear forever with the passing of industry pioneers, the History Project please contact Sue Malden, BEHP Secretary at: sue.malden@btinternet.com,
volunteers set about the task of recording interviews with some urgency. or Mike Dick, BEHP Chair, at: mikedick@blueyonder.co.uk
In the space of a few brief years, they had created a unique archive of international
importance. Their pioneering work means we now have an audio and video
collection of almost 800 interviews which are archived at the BFI.
We have hundreds of BBC Television and Radio voices from the past century
since its inception in 1922. Our collection includes many interviewees who will
be well known to Prospero readers: Sheila Hancock, Shaun Sutton, John
Schlesinger, Pete Murray, Jimmy Gilbert, Julia Cave, Bill Cotton Junior, Jenny
Barraclough, Johnny Speight, Philip Donnellan, Charles Wheeler and too many
more to mention here.
There are also interviews with men and women who you may personally have
worked with at the BBC over the years – camera operators, radio producers, film
editors, hair and makeup artists, actors, OB technicians, writers, dubbing mixers, Johnny Speight. Charles Wheeler. Philip Donnellan.
costume designers – every craft is there. You can browse through the Gallery View
of the collection on www.historyproject.org.uk.
The History Project is entirely reliant on volunteers to help nominate interviewees,
conduct research, shoot interviews, digitise, transcribe, index, and manage the
digital archive.
Our main driving force is to fulfil the vision of the original History Project
pioneers – to make these valuable recordings freely available to current and
future generations.
To this end we have been in discussions with the BBCPA committee chair,
Albert Barber and colleagues, to explore ways in which we can draw on one
Roy Fowler and Mike Dick. Julia Cave.
another’s strengths for the benefit of members and the archive itself.
BBC PRODUCERS’ FREE FIRST
COLOUR TV SETS by David Morris Jones
Anyone remember these large – and very heavy – colour TV sets which were issued Sorry the photo of the set is in black and white – that’s what happened to be in the
for ‘home viewing’ to BBC staff producers in the late 1960s? camera when the picture was taken... back in the days when fake-brick anaglypta
wallpaper was as trendy as a colour TV.
Most TV producers at the time were, of course, still working in black and white.
These big Radio Rentals sets (Baird 701 models) were issued to us to presumably Even though these colour sets came free to staff producers, we still had to pay for
familiarise us with colour production – but were, in fact, a huge tax-free perk. our new colour TV licences out of our pockets – and rightly so.
The cost of buying such a set was evidently considered to be outside the financial
reach of most BBC staff at the time – and given the sort of salaries the BBC paid in
the 60s there was some weight to that argument (although it was rather unfair to
staff who didn’t qualify for the largesse).
As far as I remember, the sets were ‘dual standard’ 405-line and 625-line (hence the
two tuning knobs). There was a clumsy and rather crude Heath Robinson
mechanical switching mechanism clunkily buried somewhere inside the set.
BBC1 was still in black and white on 405 lines and BBC2 was a ‘piebald’ service
– only partially in colour. I think the first colour TV programme had been the 1967
Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
PROSPERO JUNE 2020 | 9
| OBITUARIES
Chairman of By the time that the programme ended in the early
1990s, Jim had presented around 250 editions of the Pebble Mill
the Bushmen monthly show, however his personal favourite was the
40th edition in which he interviewed the nation’s
senior dresser
We have lost a brilliant, gentle, positive force for good best-loved railway enthusiast, Sir John Betjeman. Joy Pugh joined the Costume
with the passing of Bennett Maxwell. Department at Pebble Mill in
Having left the BBC staff in 1984, Jim and his sister, 1975 as a dresser. She brought
In his quiet way, Bennett infused his life with joyful Doris, moved to Salisbury and in addition to his with her a maturity of
enthusiasm. If at first sight Bennett seemed freelance work for the BBC, he narrated several steam judgement and sound
unassuming, his conversation soon corrected that railway videos and produced articles on railways and common sense, plus
impression. Bennett was the most skilful anecdotalist light music, as well as crosswords for Prospero and experience as a professional
who ever held an audience enthralled. The skill Best of British. singer and dancer.
was inherited.
It is as editor of the latter publication that I had known Quickly settling into the team,
Bennet admired his father. In emulation of this doctor Jim for the past nine years and will treasure my many she was a splendid example to us all. Efficient,
parent, Bennett studied science. Then, unexpectedly, telephone conversations with this good humoured, conscientious, caring for the Wardrobe stock, her
he switched to humanities for his ‘A’ levels. Oxford learned and gentle man. I finally got to visit Jim at his work colleagues and her artistes and unfailingly
dons were intrigued by this radical student. Bennett Salisbury home last summer, where we enjoyed lunch cheerful despite an unhappy marriage, she endeared
won a place at Magdalen. while talking about his life, career and collections, herself to everyone.
After graduation he made his way to London to take which included a near-complete set of Radio Times,
plus stacks of records including transcription discs of I valued her opinion highly and she was later
up a role as an assistant stage manager at the Arts
his own field recordings for the BBC, and Mantovani’s appointed to the post of senior dresser, to the
Theatre under Peter Hall. This was the period of
‘Holiday for Strings’, the first record he ever bought, unanimous approval of her colleagues.
Beckett and Pinter.
back in 1944. Each of the designers wanted Joy allocated to their
His experience led to the BBC, where he added further
Simon Stabler programme and she willingly adapted to them all,
strings to his bow. As a successful producer in radio
costumes period, modern or futuristic, but her two
and television, Bennett was able to deploy all his skills
favourites were Howard’s Way and Nanny. The theme
as Number Two in radio training. Between devising
memorable courses, Bennett was given licence to Publicity Section music from Howard’s Way was played at her funeral
on 11 February.
broaden his experience even further.
manager, Engineering The accompanying photo shows how happy she was
Information
As if training in the BBC was insufficient, Bennett
to be retiring from such an energetic and important
taught radio production at Morley College. When the
position but it was a sad day for the rest of us and she
opportunity presented itself to lead a group of Morley
students on a trip to Paris, Bennett was happy to take
Department was very much missed.
on the challenge. This led to annual Morley trips to John Hawkins died on She left her Birmingham home and moved to
European cities to visit museums, places of worship 27 December 2019, shortly Hampshire, where many of us remained in touch, and
and tasteful restaurants. after his 80th birthday, while we rejoiced that she found happiness in her marriage
he and his wife June were in 1993 to Charles Leach and all his loving family. She
In some ways, Bennett’s forte were his short courses
visiting their daughter and took on a large garden, which blossomed under her
in memory training. His final flourish would be to
family in the United States. skilful fingers, and made new friends while keeping
recite, in correct order, hundreds of numbers hidden
her old ones.
in a coil of paper. He joined the BBC in 1962 as
a TA at Sutton Coldfield The bond with artistes is exemplified by the
Finally, Bennett gave up Morley for the pleasures of
Transmitter, and in 1965 he knowledge that Wendy Craig remained in contact
co-founding a theatre group which still meets after
moved to Site Acquisition Section at Transmitter HQ in with Joy for the 30 years since Joy was her personal
20 years.
London, where promotion to planning engineer led to dresser on the series Nanny.
Bennett deployed his accumulated wisdom as a
his assuming responsibility for the technical aspects of The Costume Department at Pebble Mill was much
much-loved secretary of the Bushmen. It was quite
the section’s work and for the site acquisition teams. enhanced and our lives enriched by our friend,
natural that he should conclude his career as
In 1973, he joined Engineering Information Department Joy Pugh.
Chairman of the club he had served so well and
among the colleagues with whom he had shared and in 1979 was promoted to manager of Publicity Joyce Hawkins
such a rich and varied life. Section, assuming responsibility for a wide range of
EID’s printed material produced for the public, retail
Michael Kaye
trade, broadcasters and industry.
From junior technician
to Head of
John’s ‘farewell’ tribute, written for Ariel by colleague
Prospero’s crossword
Henry Price on the occasion of John’s early retirement
in 1990, describes some of the many humorous
Corporate Publicity
compiler episodes in his career. John once described his own
career as ‘a series of humorous episodes punctuated My husband, Richard Gilbert,
With a fascination for music by odd annual interviews and paid for by the very died peacefully on 4 April
and recording technology, listeners and viewers that he always tried to help’. 2020 after a long illness.
the BBC was the ideal home When he was retiring from the
Henry continues, ‘One particular project in Wales, where
for Jim Palm who died on BBC, his friend and colleague
a small community could not receive television, involved
9 April 2020. Michael Williams (who died in
removing the signal measuring equipment from an EID
2018) wrote the following
Born in 1935, he grew up in survey vehicle and humping it over difficult terrain to the
about him:
Edgware, Middlesex and after top of a hill, using a team of Welsh ‘Sherpas’ from the
grammar school, became a village. It was found that good television signals could Born in London 1937, Dick was
Post Office engineer. be received at the summit and the community was able educated at Midhurst Grammar School and Corpus
to install its own cable system – one of the first self-help Christi, Oxford, where he read History.
Briefly returning to the GPO following National
schemes to go into operation.’ After leaving Oxford, he became a teaching assistant
Service, Jim joined the BBC in 1957 where he worked
in the Sound Effects Department under Harry Morriss. In retirement, John was able to make much use of at the UCLA campus in Los Angeles for a year.
his ‘hands on’ engineering skills and the very Dick’s career began as a junior technician, then a radio
When Morriss retired in 1972, Jim accompanied him
well-equipped workshop in his garage. Much of this producer at Bush House in the mid-60s, when we
on to BBC Radio 2’s Late Night Extra where listeners
involved helping others. I benefitted greatly from his were both members of that broadcasting college
challenged them to come up with an array of
help during our 50 years of friendship, ranging from known as Overseas Regional Services, run by that
outlandish effects. It was with a sense of pride for
teaching me about plumbing to the six very happy dean of two cultures, George Steedman.
Jim that nobody was able to beat them. That same
weeks that we spent working together restoring my
year, Jim became assistant librarian (intake and He moved from there to Radio 4, where he
unwisely purchased MG Midget.
returns) in the Gramophone Library. demonstrated unusual versatility by producing
John’s very well-attended service of thanksgiving took
Jim also made programmes, and from 1973 presented a range of totally different broadcasters and
place at All Saints’ Church in Marlow, where moving
and produced Rail, a programme for railway programmes. He put his stamp on numerous
tributes were read by June, daughters Caroline and
enthusiasts. Initially on BBC Radio London, it magazine programmes, especially Start the
Sophie and grandson Kaylan.
later aired on a variety of local stations including Week, the arts programme Kaleidoscope and
BBC Radio Bedfordshire and BBC Radio Solent. Dave Le Breton many documentaries, where he worked with
10presenters as different as Marghanita Laski and
Monty Modlyn, Derek Cooper and Vivian Stanshall. BBC Scotland Head In the 80s, he produced the programme as well as
spin-offs; 6.55 Special, and the comedy series Cool It
Later he moved to The Listener as deputy editor of Personnel with impressionist Phil Cool.
and finally moved to working as Head of Corporate Steve Ansell, who died on Pebble Mill at One was axed in 1986 as Steve was busy
Publicity. Dick moved gracefully between these 25 February aged 73, was Head producing The Tom O’Connor Road Show, an OB
two worlds. He could come from a session with of Personnel at BBC Scotland variety show. Steve recalled this as ‘the most fun show
Jeffrey Bernard (broadcasting a cure for hangovers) from 1983 till 2005. to work on’ and had appeared on location in his
and turn out a finely crafted feature and book on the signature chicken suit for the merriment of all. He loved
Steve was born in Northampton
culture of Los Angeles or a riveting magazine dressing up.
and after school trained as a
programme with the likes of Kenny Everett.
psychiatric nurse but never In 1987, he was appointed Editor of Daytime Live, a
He had a mole’s ear for the quirky revelation, the practised. He felt the pull of music and chat show which he renamed Pebble Mill
compelling oddities, the tantalising tangents of life. London and found his way into in 1991. His staff adored him, but like its namesake the
a junior administration post in show was finally axed in 1996.
Although possessed literally of a first-class mind,
Broadcasting House.
no one could be less ‘academic’; if Dick were forced Steve created one last show, Style Challenge, and took
to live in an ivory tower, it would be equipped with A successful attachment to personnel set his future path. early retirement in 2000. Since then he published three
a piped supply of real ale and New Orleans Jazz. He moved to TV Centre and working in Design and books, ran a marathon and became a passionate
Scenic Services gained a reputation as someone who season ticket holder at Spurs.
He had an eagerness for the multitudinous variety
solved problems and unlike some ‘was not a fence-sitter’.
of life – there was a mischievousness in him, the He was gutted by the demolition of the Pebble Mill
quality Hugh Green insisted every true journalist Arriving in Scotland, he restructured and expanded the building and started the successful campaign for a
should have. personnel operation, driving change across the commemorative blue plaque.
operation, consolidating his reputation as someone who
He was a wit, a bon viveur and a ray of sunshine in got things done. Steve seemed to know everybody and Irreplaceable and sadly missed.
a greyish world. would wander through BH Glasgow, or any of the other Stephanie Silk
Michael Williams (written before Michael died in nine centres, dropping in to see people, checking all was
2018) and Nikki Gilbert OK or teasing out a problem with someone who seemed
Tom Beesley
off-form. He was trusted by everyone and everyone
knew that he and his colleagues were there to offer help.
Film equipment He took a real interest in staff development, welcoming
students on work experience, mentoring younger staff
When Tom Beesley died
suddenly at his home in
manager and encouraging people with talent to aim higher. Many
senior people in the broadcasting industry tell of the
Southwell, Nottinghamshire,
on 22 March, the Midlands lost
Ron Steer was one of many Film Department admin conversation with Steve that changed their career. one of the most effective
staff supporting some 400-plus mobile film crew Steve was at ease in Glasgow’s West End, taking full champions of Local Radio and
personnel, who together made a significant contribution advantage of the many social opportunities it offered. Regional Television of his
to the output of BBC Television in the 60s, 70s and 80s. He liked meeting people and work and leisure generation. He was 82.
Ron was a Devonshire man although he was born overlapped with many a problem solved over a glass of Tom was a larger-than-life
in Acton, West London on 31 May 1925. His parents, wine or two. character. He was a talented
Ernest and Nellie, moved to Devon just six weeks In 1994, Steve graduated with an MBA degree from the journalist and an outstanding manager who inspired
after his birth and settled in South Molton, where Ron University of Glasgow; his dissertation was on ‘The strong loyalties in those who worked with him.
grew up. introduction of Producer Choice into BBC Scotland’. He learned his craft on papers in Leicester before Army
When he retired from the BBC, he took on a part-time service in Cyprus, where he was seriously wounded.
Some years later, Ron moved to Kingsbridge, Devon
role as tutor in the Department of Management Studies
where he started his working life in the local cinema He joined the BBC as East Midlands Correspondent
at the Business School.
as a film projectionist. Unfortunately, military duty in the l960s. He was an entertaining raconteur who
called and in 1944 Ron initially joined the Royal Navy Steve was kind, generous and unassuming, with a loved to recall how he reported on the planned path
as a conscript, although he later transferred to the wonderful self-deprecating sense of humour. The crisis of motorways in England by tracing their routes
Parachute Regiment. averted, the problem solved are rarely known about. with toilet rolls in the absence of sophisticated
The tributes being paid to him now by so many are a electronic graphics.
In 1945, Ron became part of the biggest airborne wider recognition of how he enhanced the lives of so
operation of the Second World War, Operation Varsity, Tom was personally drawn to the community aspect
many over the years.
which saw the deployment of 16,000 paratroopers over of BBC Local Radio and became Manager Radio
John McCormick Nottingham where in the 1970s he helped to make it
Germany. Later, he went on to serve in India, the Far
one of the most successful stations in the country.
East, Palestine and finally Singapore.
He was then appointed Senior Manager Local Radio
Having served for his country, Ron settled with his wife
Gladys in south London and returned to his career in
Irreplaceable editor, with responsibility for stations east of the Pennines.
the cinema. Working for the Rank Organisation, he was Pebble Mill Former Controller of Local Radio, Michael Barton, said,
‘Tom brought all his skills to the more senior role. He
assigned to many cinemas in the south of England and knew instinctively how to allow stations freedom to
Steve Weddle died suddenly
in 1960 the family moved to Hemel Hempstead, where celebrate their individual character and encourage them
from a heart attack following
Ron took up the post of Chief Projectionist at the newly to be journalistically sharp and fearless.’
a chest infection in early March.
constructed Odeon Cinema.
The unique and ever-youthful Tom later became Regional Television Manager
He subsequently joined the BBC in Projection Steve had just celebrated his Midlands and managed much of the coverage of the
Department, working initially at Crystal Palace then 70th birthday. He was an Miners’ Strike. He also increased output for the East
TVC and finally in Film Department at the TFS Ealing absolute ‘legend in his own Midlands, which paved the way for separation from the
preview theatre suite. lunchtime’ and his sudden West Midlands years later.
Having sought promotion, Ron took up a position in the death has shocked and When Tom left the BBC in 1986, he set up a commercial
Equipment Allocation office and was later promoted, saddened his numerous friends from the great days company which included the Leicester News Agency.
responsible for the location of well over 80 film cameras, of BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham. I went into partnership with him when I left the BBC in
audiotape recorders, microphones, lenses and Steve was born and died in his beloved Sutton 1994. Among other activities, we helped to win licences
miscellaneous support equipment. Ron’s responsibilities Coldfield. After graduating in Sociology in London, for six commercial radio stations.
also involved the hire of film equipment and he became a cub reporter on the Birmingham Post Tom was also Chairman of the Broadcast
freelance Grips. and Mail and his press cuttings reveal his mischievous Journalism Training Council which oversaw national
sense of fun and love of the ridiculous. industry standards.
For many years, Ron managed an efficient, well-run
happy office with a combination of authority and good In 1976, he joined Radio Stoke but soon moved to Tom Beesley is survived by three children and seven
humour; he was a joy to work with. Pebble Mill at One as a researcher. He was very versatile, grandchildren. His wife, Iris, died in 2012.
excelling in hard news items, comedy, music and the
Ron will be remembered as a loving caring father, David Waine
offbeat. First and foremost, Steve was fun. He was of
husband and grandfather. He passed away December
course talented and creative, wacky and wonderful and
2019 aged 96.
supremely sociable, but he also had great empathy and
Mike Robinson kindness and was friends with one and all. A lot of
creative thinking was done in the BBC Club.
PROSPERO JUNE 2020 | 11| ODDS & ENDS
BBC Radio London,
BREAKING BAD (NEWS)
50 years on
The organisers of the Radio London
50th anniversary reunion on
6 October are still hoping to go
There have been many alarming moments as the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded, not ahead with it, but at the time of
least when UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson was admitted to intensive care. BBC World going to press, it’s obviously difficult
News presenter Kasia Madera (pictured) was live on the BBC News channel as the news to predict. For the latest information,
came in. Kasia recounted the experience for Ariel. email ann@annkaye.com
O
n the evening of Monday 6 April, Mr Johnson’s twitter feed proved a good
while presenting BBC Outside
Source, I broke the news that
source, enabling me to quote him directly. CONTACTS
His earlier tweets were characteristically
the Prime Minister had been moved into upbeat so it felt the right balance given
intensive care. the gravity of what we were learning. Queries
For benefit and pension payroll
At that point, the UK was starting its Within a minute Laura was on the line
queries, call the Service Line on
second week in lockdown. Previously we and I was relieved to hear she also
029 2032 2811
had been gripped by the rising figures reiterated the shock of this news. or email mypension@bbc.co.uk.
of deaths in other countries. Now the We were able to focus on the question
deadliness of Covid-19 was becoming a she had posed during that day’s daily Prospero
government press briefing: whether the To remove a name from the
brutal reality in the UK. So to see a line of
PM was in a position to govern if he was distribution list, ring the Service
copy from 10 Downing Street saying the at the BBC – so much goes on behind
not well enough to leave hospital. Line on 029 2032 2811. Prospero is
PM was in intensive care was an immense the scenes. Everyone pulls together
provided free of charge to retired
shock for a country in trauma. Laura and I spoke for 10 minutes before as the BBC News machine kicks in.
BBC Scheme members only.
Although Mr Johnson had been admitted she went to our radio services. For the The newsroom becomes a hive of activity
Prospero is also available on audio
to hospital the night before, we were told next five minutes, I was acutely aware of and the gallery is at the centre. disc for those with sight impairment.
it was for routine checks. Until that night, my tone while I reminded our viewers of Currently, we are working with fewer To register, please ring the Service
the Government had made it clear the what was happening. Then the guests people who are more spaced out across Line. Alternatively, it is also available
PM was in charge. Earlier on Monday, Mr started coming through. The first was the gallery and all communication is online at bbc.com/mypension,
Johnson had even tweeted that he was in Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, who sounded via open talkback, rather than through under ‘Documents’.
good spirits. Now we were dealing with shell shocked. headsets. This means presenters can
BBC Club
an unexpected situation, made all the Aaron Safir ably took over outputting hear more of what is happening in the
The BBC Club in London has a
more serious by the devastating nature the next hour and with a mixture of live background, which can be disconcerting.
retired membership costing £3 per
of this disease. guests and our health correspondent, However, on that night I was able to month or £36 per year. Members
As I was saying the words out loud, I was James Gallagher, on set we sustained witness the Herculean efforts of my can also add friends and family
taking them in for the first time myself. hours of rolling news. colleagues and am extremely grateful to to their membership for a small
At that moment I knew our running order With these breaking news scenarios – everyone involved. It is also a huge relief additional cost. Regional clubs
was being metaphorically ripped up. and I have had a fair few in my 18 years that Mr Johnson has recovered. may have different arrangements.
After initially breaking the news, I can still Please call the BBC Club London
hear the words spoken in my earpiece office on 020 8752 6666 or email
by Harriet Ridley, the senior journalist Yorkshire Region reunion bbc.club@bbc.co.uk for details,
outputting that hour: ‘Stay with this. or to join.
I would ask you to SAVE THE DATE, Thursday 13 August 2020, but of course
We’re trying to get Laura.’ With just those right now I cannot tell you whether our reunion will go ahead. However, we Benevolent Fund
few words I knew I had to fill will be optimistic and make plans anyway so, yes please, do put 13 August in This is funded by voluntary
until we could get our political editor, your diaries! contributions from the BBC and its
Laura Kuenssberg on air. There was no The Reunion/Pensioners’ Lunch for the Yorkshire Region will once again be purpose is to protect the welfare of
script, just a line of copy and hours of held at the very popular Dower House Hotel, Knaresborough on Thursday staff, pensioners and their families.
output ahead. 13 August 12.30 for 1pm. Grants are made at the discretion
Within 40 seconds of first breaking Come along and catch up with your former colleagues and meet new of the Trustees. They may provide
the news, Roger Simpson, the director, acquaintances. Enjoy good food and good company! assistance in cases of unforeseen
played images of St Thomas’ Hospital. financial hardship, for which help
Please will you pass on this information to any colleagues who may not know
Although I was ad-libbing, cutting away from other sources is not available.
about this very popular gathering and venue.
from the studio let me look away from Tel: 029 2032 2811
the camera to search the wires for For any further information please contact me, Sue Pagdin, on 0113 2612613
or email spagdin1@aol.com Prospero Society
more details.
Prospero Society is the only section
of the BBC Club run by and for
CLASSIFIEDS Caption competition
WIN
£10
retired BBC staff and their spouses.
Its aim is to enable BBC pensioners
to meet on a social basis for theatre
Menorca. Stunning detached villa visits, luncheons, coach outings, etc.
The winner of a £10 shopping voucher
with private pool. Sleeps 2-7.
is Neville Withers with the caption: Prospero Society is supported by
Es Castell. Close to amenities, bars
Freddie is saying ‘What do you mean you BBC Club funds so as to make
& restaurants. Air conditioned.
forgot to renew our AA membership’. events affordable. If you would like
Brochure: 07860 232854.
an application form, please contact:
www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk Please note, vouchers will be issued once
the lockdown restrictions have been lifted. Gayner Leach, BBC Club,
BC2 B3 Broadcast Centre,
Andalucia, Spain. Modern villa south
201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP
of Granada, 20 metres from beach. Post your entry to Prospero by
Traditional fishing village. Sleeps 8. Monday, 6 July 2020. Tel: 020 8752 6666
Email for brochure: Email: bbc.club@bbc.co.uk.
Or, you can email your entry to
kaymarilynbrooks@gmail.com BBCPA
prospero@bbc.co.uk, with ‘caption
competition 3’ in the subject line. The BBCPA was founded in 1988 to
Prospero Classifieds, BBC Pension promote and safeguard the interests
Please include your BBC pension
and Benefits Centre, 3 Central Square, of BBC pensioners. It is independent
number. Good luck!
Cardiff, CF10 1FT. of the BBC. For details of how to
Please enclose a cheque made payable join, see the panel on page 4 or
to: BBC Central Directorate. Rate: The picture shows Ronnie Barker and download a membership form
£6 for 20 words. In a covering letter, Ronnie Corbett in a Star Trek spoof at bbcpa.org.uk.
please include your pension number. for series 9 of The Two Ronnies.
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