Albert Barber
Albert Barber
I was born in 1943. Whilst at the BBC I was known as Albert Barber.
Education
8 'O' levels a couple of 'A' levels and Training as a Typographer Designer.
Previous Jobs
Albert Barber trained as a Typographer/Designer working on Books for Hamish Hamilton and Shell and as a freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer with a number of credits for Readers Digest Books, Shell Guide to Scotland and Temple Press. On leaving the BBC he is a freelance Director which includes work for BBC and ITV productions. These include: The Bill, Casualty, EastEnders. Heartbeat, and was startup director for Family Affairs and River City. He has also Directed, numerous corporate videos including Royal Mail, Mercury, Tonka Toys and for Espresso Internet Education. In 1977 he Directed a Labour Party Political Broadcast for the successful Labour Party Election. He has lectured at both BBC Evesham, and BBC Television Training at Elstree and Ravensbourne. He occasionally designs for print and is skilled with Quark, In Design, Photoshop and illustrator. He is also a member of BAFTA and the Royal Institution of Great Britain. He qualified as a Canterbury Cathedral Guide in 2012.
How I joined the BBC
Joined through persistent letter writing until someone saw me in appointments. Then they kept you on file if they (presumably) thought you might be a potential employee.
My first impressions of the BBC
It was very exciting to be part of what I had only seen on Television and heard on Radio. To walk around Ealing Film Studios, Lime Grove, Alexandra Palace, Broadcasting House and Television Centre and to be part of all the creativity was electrifying and stimulating.
Broad BBC career
I joined the BBC as a Film assistant in BBC Film Department and quickly moved to Presentation Department making Trailers and Network Directing becoming Promotions Producer. Then I joined Children's Department writing and Directing including PlaySchool and Playaway. As a BBC Producer I devised Think of a Number and Think Again with Johnny Ball winning several International Television awards including a BAFTA Harlequin, Prix Jeunesse, the Asian Broadcasting Union Award and was nominated for the United States Television EMI. Devised and Produced Windmill with Chris Serle which was also Nominated for a BAFTA. Moving to Drama he became first a Producer/Director and then Producer of Grange Hill and also acted as Executive Producer for BBC Independent Programmes. Directed and Produced with writer Sid Waddell, two series of Sloggers, A Childrens' Drama about Cricket, with young actors Ralph Little and Jane Danson. Took early retirement package and worked on Casualty and EastEnders.
My training at the BBC
Film Department induction course Attachment to Presentation Attachment to Childrens' Department Drama Directors course Film and Television (12 weeks)