Difference between revisions of "David Allen"
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=Mr David Allen= | =Mr David Allen= | ||
I was born in 1939. I began working at the BBC in 1969, my final year at the BBC was 2002. | I was born in 1939. | ||
I began working at the BBC in 1969, my final year at the BBC was 2002. | |||
==Education== | ==Education== | ||
Harrow Weald Country Grammar School, Balliol College Oxford (Natural Sciences) | Harrow Weald Country Grammar School, Balliol College Oxford (Natural Sciences) | ||
==Previous Jobs== | ==Previous Jobs== | ||
Head of Science at Beaumont College, Windsor (1962-1966) and Head of Science at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire (1966-1968) | Head of Science at Beaumont College, Windsor (1962-1966) and Head of Science at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire (1966-1968) | ||
==How I joined the BBC== | ==How I joined the BBC== | ||
In 1968 I was living in Lancashire running a school science department. I went to see my brother in law (Iain Johnstone) read the news on ITV. Sitting in the gallery watching the live ITN programmes going out (I remember seeing Reginald Bosanquet's | In 1968 I was living in Lancashire running a school science department. I went to see my brother in law (Iain Johnstone) read the news on ITV. Sitting in the gallery watching the live ITN programmes going out (I remember seeing Reginald Bosanquet's toupe being adjusted between items) it all seemed rather exciting and I was hooked. One morning Iain rang to say there was an ad. in The Listener for assistant producers 'with a committed interest in education'. So I applied, was interviewed by Donald Grattan at 5 Portland Place and got the job. This in spite of not making a very convincing case for making Chemistry interesting on TV. I didn't take the job up for a while because of seeing people through Oxbridge entrance but joined in January 1969. | ||
==My first impressions of the BBC== | ==My first impressions of the BBC== | ||
Apart from the leaking fish tank in 5 PP other first impressions of the BBC were before I joined. My future mentor Senior Producer JamesMcCloy encouraged me before moving back to London to go to watch Look North, the regional TV news opt-out presented by Stuart Hall at the BBC's Manchester Piccadilly studio. | Apart from the leaking fish tank in 5 PP other first impressions of the BBC were before I joined. My future mentor Senior Producer JamesMcCloy encouraged me before moving back to London to go to watch Look North, the regional TV news opt-out presented by Stuart Hall at the BBC's Manchester Piccadilly studio. | ||
James had said in reply to my letter to Mr McCloy: 'Dear David, it's all christian names at the BBC'. James set me to work with Michael Garrod on 'Know How' a live sunday programme for engineers. I remember staying up all night to make sure a massive lathe was installed in TC2 during the overnight set and light. The presenter was Arthur Garratt. | James had said in reply to my letter to Mr McCloy: 'Dear David, it's all christian names at the BBC'. James set me to work with Michael Garrod on 'Know How' a live sunday programme for engineers. I remember staying up all night to make sure a massive lathe was installed in TC2 during the overnight set and light. The presenter was Arthur Garratt. | ||
==Broad BBC career== | ==Broad BBC career== | ||
Produced and directed TV programmes on educational subjects - ranging from medicine to consumer affairs, disability, child care, pedagogics, and computing (I edited and was series producer for the various BBC Micro Computer series, including MicroLive). | Produced and directed TV programmes on educational subjects - ranging from medicine to consumer affairs, disability, child care, pedagogics, and computing (I edited and was series producer for the various BBC Micro Computer series, including MicroLive). | ||
Later I worked on interactive multimedia and then for Production Modernisation - where new broadcasting techniques (such as the Virtual Studio) brought me in contact with BBC R&D. There we developed a lot of new cost-saving technologies (lightweight kit, dish-free radio cameras and so on). | Later I worked on interactive multimedia and then for Production Modernisation - where new broadcasting techniques (such as the Virtual Studio) brought me in contact with BBC R&D. There we developed a lot of new cost-saving technologies (lightweight kit, dish-free radio cameras and so on). | ||
==My training at the BBC== | ==My training at the BBC== | ||
When I arrived as a tyro assistant producer our exec producer James McCloy would book the TV studio at BH and some lines and we'd go down and take it in turns to direct, present, operate a camera, etc. The BH studio had I think three cameras and a pokey little gallery and was not much used in the mornings. Then we'd go back to Villiers House and view the results on a dreadful early VCR. | When I arrived as a tyro assistant producer our exec producer James McCloy would book the TV studio at BH and some lines and we'd go down and take it in turns to direct, present, operate a camera, etc. The BH studio had I think three cameras and a pokey little gallery and was not much used in the mornings. Then we'd go back to Villiers House and view the results on a dreadful early VCR. | ||
About three months in, I was sent on a 10 week directing course at Woodstock Grove where we had a full set of lectures a day and directing sessions in TVC studios. We would be given drama sequences, LE, music, talks and other things to direct and the results would be tele-recorded and played in and shredded. During lunch breaks, tea breaks and any other spare time we had to produce a 1/2 hour multicamera programme with a cash budget of | About three months in, I was sent on a 10 week directing course at Woodstock Grove where we had a full set of lectures a day and directing sessions in TVC studios. We would be given drama sequences, LE, music, talks and other things to direct and the results would be tele-recorded and played in and shredded. During lunch breaks, tea breaks and any other spare time we had to produce a 1/2 hour multicamera programme with a cash budget of ��100. This would just pay for a few graphics, a presenter and so on. Fabulous training. My programme was called "50 years Underground" , was presented by Arthur Garrett and recorded at Riverside 1. The course ended with two weeks working with film - and again, an personal exercise was needed. Filming tended to be around Walpole Park and I chose a scene from Zoo Story (uninspired - two people talking on a park bench). | ||
==Non autobiographical notes and facts BBC about the BBC== | ==Non autobiographical notes and facts BBC about the BBC== | ||
Budgeting in the early 1970s consisted of 'above' and 'below' the line costs. Below the line meant allocated resources and didn't feel like real money. Above the line included T&D, artists and - crucially - film stock. At | Budgeting in the early 1970s consisted of 'above' and 'below' the line costs. Below the line meant allocated resources and didn't feel like real money. Above the line included T&D, artists and - crucially - film stock. At ��100 for a 10 minute roll it meant you really had to watch the shooting ratio. That had enormous advantages when it came to editing - far fewer rushes to plough through. | ||
=Periods at the BBC= | =Periods at the BBC= | ||
==[[year::1969]] until [[year:: | ==[[year::1969]] until [[year::1979]]== | ||
I was an Assistant Producer/producer on a [[BBC contract::Full time permanent staff contract]]. We were based at [[BBC Site::Villiers House]] in the [[BBC department::Further Education then Continuing Education TV department]]., at that time run by Donald Grattan, John Cain, Sheila Innes. | I was an Assistant Producer/producer on a [[BBC contract::Full time permanent staff contract]]. | ||
Assistant producer, then producer, and senior producer within Further Education Department (later Continuing Education Department TV.. | |||
We were based at [[BBC Site::Villiers House]] in the [[BBC department::Further Education then Continuing Education TV department]]., at that time run by Donald Grattan, John Cain, Sheila Innes. | |||
Assistant producer, then producer, and senior producer within '''Further Education Department''' (later Continuing Education Department TV.. | |||
===My main mentors for the period were=== | ===My main mentors for the period were=== | ||
James McCloy (Senior Producer 1969-) | James McCloy (Senior Producer 1969-) | ||
I worked on the following programmes during this time at the BBC: | I worked on the following programmes during this time at the BBC: | ||
===Micro Live=== | ===Micro Live=== | ||
===That's the Way the Money Goes=== | ===That's the Way the Money Goes=== | ||
The presenter was Brian Redhead and the series was produced in association with the Consumers Association (publishers of 'Which' | The presenter was Brian Redhead and the series was produced in association with the Consumers Association (publishers of 'Which' | ||
===The Education Programme=== | ===The Education Programme=== | ||
I worked as an Assistant Producer on [[BBC Programme::The Education Programme]]. | I worked as an Assistant Producer on [[BBC Programme::The Education Programme]]. | ||
===Early Years at School=== | ===Early Years at School=== | ||
I worked as a Producer on [[BBC Programme::Early Years at School]]. | I worked as a Producer on [[BBC Programme::Early Years at School]]. | ||
===16 Plus=== | ===16 Plus=== | ||
===The Electronic Office=== | ===The Electronic Office=== | ||
===Measurement in Education=== | ===Measurement in Education=== | ||
===Making the Most of the Micro=== | ===Making the Most of the Micro=== | ||
===The Computer Programme=== | |||
===The Silicon Factor=== | |||
| Line 60: | Line 152: | ||
=== | |||
===That's the Way the Money Goes=== | |||
===Know How=== | ===Know How=== | ||
From [[year::1969]] I worked as an Assistant Producer on [[BBC Programme::Know How]]. | From [[year::1969]] | ||
I worked as an Assistant Producer on [[BBC Programme::Know How]]. | |||
===Medicine Today=== | ===Medicine Today=== | ||
From [[year::1970]] I worked as an Assistant Producer on [[BBC Programme::Medicine Today]]. | From [[year::1970]] | ||
I worked as an Assistant Producer on [[BBC Programme::Medicine Today]]. | |||
===I See What You Mean=== | ===I See What You Mean=== | ||
From [[year::1975]] until [[year::1976]] I worked as a Producer/director on [[BBC Programme::I See What You Mean]]. This was a groundbreaking series - the first to address deafness and maybe the first series to address the needs of a disability group. Subsequent series (still running) include See Hear! | From [[year::1975]] until [[year::1976]] | ||
I worked as a Producer/director on [[BBC Programme::I See What You Mean]]. | |||
This was a groundbreaking series - the first to address deafness and maybe the first series to address the needs of a disability group. Subsequent series (still running) include See Hear! | |||
It was aimed at those who become post lingually deafened - i.e., not those born deaf but who became deaf. Those born deaf - whose culture, needs and methods of communication are quite different to those of us who go deaf in later life - were not addressed by this series. | It was aimed at those who become post lingually deafened - i.e., not those born deaf but who became deaf. Those born deaf - whose culture, needs and methods of communication are quite different to those of us who go deaf in later life - were not addressed by this series. | ||
| Line 90: | Line 205: | ||
However, although the deaf community found it very helpful, BBC management decided that live subtitling was not good enough in accuracy and the system was shelved for a while until re-introduced as a permanent feature of the provision for disability access. Nowadays of course, live subtitling of news is a permanent feature of the output and Palentype operators have given way to speaker-dependent voice recognition systems. | However, although the deaf community found it very helpful, BBC management decided that live subtitling was not good enough in accuracy and the system was shelved for a while until re-introduced as a permanent feature of the provision for disability access. Nowadays of course, live subtitling of news is a permanent feature of the output and Palentype operators have given way to speaker-dependent voice recognition systems. | ||
'''Awards''': Live subtitling experiments led to recognition at the Institute of Electrical Engineers when James Redmond presented these in 1976 | '''Awards''': Live subtitling experiments led to recognition at the Institute of Electrical Engineers when James Redmond presented these in 1976 | ||
'''Notable people from this programme''': Jack Ashley (Later Lord Ashley of Stoke) | '''Notable people from this programme''': Jack Ashley (Later Lord Ashley of Stoke) | ||
===Other People's Children=== | ===Other People's Children=== | ||
From [[year::1976]] I worked as a Producer on [[BBC Programme::Other People's Children]]. For some unknown reason a series of 19 x15 minute programmes aimed at childminders. The series saw the launch of the National Childminders Association and covered the practicalities of running a child care service as well as child development issues. | From [[year::1976]] | ||
I worked as a Producer on [[BBC Programme::Other People's Children]]. | |||
For some unknown reason a series of 19 x15 minute programmes aimed at childminders. The series saw the launch of the National Childminders Association and covered the practicalities of running a child care service as well as child development issues. | |||
'''Notable people from this programme''': Had the dubious distinction of having Jimmy Savile present the first programme. The major presenters were Brian Redhead and Mavis Nicholson | '''Notable people from this programme''': Had the dubious distinction of having Jimmy Savile present the first programme. The major presenters were Brian Redhead and Mavis Nicholson | ||
===That's the Wat the Money Goes=== | |||
From [[year::1979]] until [[year::1979]] | |||
I worked as a Producer/Director on [[BBC Programme::That's the Wat the Money Goes]]. | |||
Making a series about consumer law. In association with the Consumers Association - Which?. | |||
Including comedy/drama sketches illustrating consumer dilemmas. | |||
'''Notable people from this programme''': Working with leading actors in cameo roles. Gave Nikki Henson his first TV job. Roy Kinnear, John Bird and others were great to work with. Specific memory is making a film about how the small claims court works. Got a retired judge to role play situations cantred would some dodgy building work. The amazing thing was showing the film at 5 PP to the Lord Chancellor (Elwyn Jones). His response was: "That's fascinating. I've always wondered what goes on in a small claims court'. | |||
===Managing the Micro=== | ===Managing the Micro=== | ||
From [[year::1980]] I worked as a Producer/director on [[BBC Programme::Managing the Micro]]. A stop-gap series of five programmes which in a sense was sandwiched between The Silicon Factor (made for a general audience) and the Computer Literacy Project 'proper'. It dealt with how service and manufacturing businesses could make use of microelectronics in products, processes and offices. It was presented by Brian Redhead. | From [[year::1980]] | ||
I worked as a Producer/director on [[BBC Programme::Managing the Micro]]. | |||
A stop-gap series of five programmes which in a sense was sandwiched between The Silicon Factor (made for a general audience) and the Computer Literacy Project 'proper'. It dealt with how service and manufacturing businesses could make use of microelectronics in products, processes and offices. It was presented by Brian Redhead. | |||
===Making the Most of the Micro - Live=== | ===Making the Most of the Micro - Live=== | ||
From [[year::1983]] I worked as a Series Producer/Editor on [[BBC Programme::Making the Most of the Micro - Live]]. | From [[year::1983]] | ||
I worked as a Series Producer/Editor on [[BBC Programme::Making the Most of the Micro - Live]]. | |||
==[[year::1979]] until [[year::1987]]== | ==[[year::1979]] until [[year::1987]]== | ||
I was a Series Editor. We were based at [[BBC Site::Villiers House]] in the [[BBC department::Continuing Education (TV) department]]., at that time run by Sheila Innes. | I was a Series Editor. | ||
We were based at [[BBC Site::Villiers House]] in the [[BBC department::Continuing Education (TV) department]]., at that time run by Sheila Innes. | |||
This was a major BBC Education Project consisting of a preliminary report (sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission, about 140 hours of TV - in 8 or more TV series, the BBC Microcomputer, The Computer Book, National Extension College 100 hour BASIC, and BBC software.. | This was a major BBC Education Project consisting of a preliminary report (sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission, about 140 hours of TV - in 8 or more TV series, the BBC Microcomputer, The Computer Book, National Extension College 100 hour BASIC, and BBC software.. | ||
===Main memories of the period=== | ===Main memories of the period=== | ||
Initial Research | Initial Research | ||
| Line 116: | Line 269: | ||
==[[year::1987]] until [[year::2002]]== | |||
=Clubs= | =Clubs= | ||
| Line 122: | Line 308: | ||
I was a member of the BBC Symphony Chorus from about 1990-2003 and was chairman for ten of those years. The Chorus is one of the most successful - if not the most successful - amateur choruses in the country. It is the mainstay of the Proms - often performing in up to 6 proms a year, including the Last Night. | I was a member of the BBC Symphony Chorus from about 1990-2003 and was chairman for ten of those years. The Chorus is one of the most successful - if not the most successful - amateur choruses in the country. It is the mainstay of the Proms - often performing in up to 6 proms a year, including the Last Night. | ||
My memories of this period are mixed. It was a period of intense rehearsals, committee meetings and fabulous concerts. | My memories of this period are mixed. It was a period of intense rehearsals, committee meetings and fabulous concerts. | ||
=Links= | =Links= | ||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Symphony_Chorus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Symphony_Chorus] | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Symphony_Chorus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Symphony_Chorus] | ||
* [http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=0&q=Making+the+Most+of+the+Micro+Live&media=all&yf=1923&yt=2009&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00#search http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=0&q=Making+the+Most+of+the+Micro+Live&media=all&yf=1923&yt=2009&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00#search] | |||
* [http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/57131bd408e042d08fa60adc6483a0d6 http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/57131bd408e042d08fa60adc6483a0d6] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:48, 16 November 2022
Mr David Allen
I was born in 1939. I began working at the BBC in 1969, my final year at the BBC was 2002.
Education
Harrow Weald Country Grammar School, Balliol College Oxford (Natural Sciences)
Previous Jobs
Head of Science at Beaumont College, Windsor (1962-1966) and Head of Science at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire (1966-1968)
How I joined the BBC
In 1968 I was living in Lancashire running a school science department. I went to see my brother in law (Iain Johnstone) read the news on ITV. Sitting in the gallery watching the live ITN programmes going out (I remember seeing Reginald Bosanquet's toupe being adjusted between items) it all seemed rather exciting and I was hooked. One morning Iain rang to say there was an ad. in The Listener for assistant producers 'with a committed interest in education'. So I applied, was interviewed by Donald Grattan at 5 Portland Place and got the job. This in spite of not making a very convincing case for making Chemistry interesting on TV. I didn't take the job up for a while because of seeing people through Oxbridge entrance but joined in January 1969.
My first impressions of the BBC
Apart from the leaking fish tank in 5 PP other first impressions of the BBC were before I joined. My future mentor Senior Producer JamesMcCloy encouraged me before moving back to London to go to watch Look North, the regional TV news opt-out presented by Stuart Hall at the BBC's Manchester Piccadilly studio. James had said in reply to my letter to Mr McCloy: 'Dear David, it's all christian names at the BBC'. James set me to work with Michael Garrod on 'Know How' a live sunday programme for engineers. I remember staying up all night to make sure a massive lathe was installed in TC2 during the overnight set and light. The presenter was Arthur Garratt.
Broad BBC career
Produced and directed TV programmes on educational subjects - ranging from medicine to consumer affairs, disability, child care, pedagogics, and computing (I edited and was series producer for the various BBC Micro Computer series, including MicroLive). Later I worked on interactive multimedia and then for Production Modernisation - where new broadcasting techniques (such as the Virtual Studio) brought me in contact with BBC R&D. There we developed a lot of new cost-saving technologies (lightweight kit, dish-free radio cameras and so on).
My training at the BBC
When I arrived as a tyro assistant producer our exec producer James McCloy would book the TV studio at BH and some lines and we'd go down and take it in turns to direct, present, operate a camera, etc. The BH studio had I think three cameras and a pokey little gallery and was not much used in the mornings. Then we'd go back to Villiers House and view the results on a dreadful early VCR. About three months in, I was sent on a 10 week directing course at Woodstock Grove where we had a full set of lectures a day and directing sessions in TVC studios. We would be given drama sequences, LE, music, talks and other things to direct and the results would be tele-recorded and played in and shredded. During lunch breaks, tea breaks and any other spare time we had to produce a 1/2 hour multicamera programme with a cash budget of ��100. This would just pay for a few graphics, a presenter and so on. Fabulous training. My programme was called "50 years Underground" , was presented by Arthur Garrett and recorded at Riverside 1. The course ended with two weeks working with film - and again, an personal exercise was needed. Filming tended to be around Walpole Park and I chose a scene from Zoo Story (uninspired - two people talking on a park bench).
Non autobiographical notes and facts BBC about the BBC
Budgeting in the early 1970s consisted of 'above' and 'below' the line costs. Below the line meant allocated resources and didn't feel like real money. Above the line included T&D, artists and - crucially - film stock. At ��100 for a 10 minute roll it meant you really had to watch the shooting ratio. That had enormous advantages when it came to editing - far fewer rushes to plough through.
Periods at the BBC
1969 until 1979
I was an Assistant Producer/producer on a Full time permanent staff contract.
We were based at Villiers House in the Further Education then Continuing Education TV department., at that time run by Donald Grattan, John Cain, Sheila Innes.
Assistant producer, then producer, and senior producer within Further Education Department (later Continuing Education Department TV..
My main mentors for the period were
James McCloy (Senior Producer 1969-)
I worked on the following programmes during this time at the BBC:
Micro Live
That's the Way the Money Goes
The presenter was Brian Redhead and the series was produced in association with the Consumers Association (publishers of 'Which'
The Education Programme
I worked as an Assistant Producer on The Education Programme.
Early Years at School
I worked as a Producer on Early Years at School.
16 Plus
The Electronic Office
Measurement in Education
Making the Most of the Micro
The Computer Programme
The Silicon Factor
Computers in Control
That's the Way the Money Goes
Know How
From 1969 I worked as an Assistant Producer on Know How.
Medicine Today
From 1970 I worked as an Assistant Producer on Medicine Today.
I See What You Mean
From 1975 until 1976 I worked as a Producer/director on I See What You Mean. This was a groundbreaking series - the first to address deafness and maybe the first series to address the needs of a disability group. Subsequent series (still running) include See Hear!
It was aimed at those who become post lingually deafened - i.e., not those born deaf but who became deaf. Those born deaf - whose culture, needs and methods of communication are quite different to those of us who go deaf in later life - were not addressed by this series.
The series was aimed at better communication and included elementary lessons on clear speaking and on lip-reading. We simulated a variety of hearing losses so that those living with deaf people could understand the limited sounds they could hear.
The series was subtitled after recording, using the technology of the time. This involved a punched paper tape triggered by cut points in the recording and the subtitles were superimposed as part of the as-transmitted programme. The BBC was, however, subtitling some recorded output using closed subtitling over the Ceefax system, similar to the 'line21' system in the USA.
However, in the last two programmes, which were presented by Jack Ashley the MP for Stoke he explored new technologies being tried out for him for following debates in the House of Commons. These included the use of a 'Palentype' machine (as used in court rooms). Palentype operators type a phonetic code and he thought he could learn to read this himself. He also suggested that the system could perhaps be used for live TV programmes by the Ceefax closed subtitling system. The argument was that if you were very deaf (and Jack was totally deaf), anything was better than nothing if you were trying to follow, say, a news story.
The live subtitling experiment However, a bold experiment was carried out at BBC Broadcasting House with the help of BBC Engineering Designs Department and BBC Research to carry these ideas forward to produce something better.
Jack sat with a TV monitor in a BH basement room. A news programme was played in and a palentype operator watched it alongside Jack, sending live phonetic code by telephone link to Loughborough where a recently developed university computer system translated the phonetic code into written English. This was sent down the line to TV centre and put on the ceefax system and this was then displayed in a small box at the bottom of the picture. The delay was acceptable and so was the comprehensibility of the text coming back. The experiemnt was so successful that the Director of Engineering, James Redmond, presented it to the Institute of Electrical Engineers. It eventually became a working system and was notably used for the royal wedding in 1981.
However, although the deaf community found it very helpful, BBC management decided that live subtitling was not good enough in accuracy and the system was shelved for a while until re-introduced as a permanent feature of the provision for disability access. Nowadays of course, live subtitling of news is a permanent feature of the output and Palentype operators have given way to speaker-dependent voice recognition systems.
Awards: Live subtitling experiments led to recognition at the Institute of Electrical Engineers when James Redmond presented these in 1976
Notable people from this programme: Jack Ashley (Later Lord Ashley of Stoke)
Other People's Children
From 1976 I worked as a Producer on Other People's Children. For some unknown reason a series of 19 x15 minute programmes aimed at childminders. The series saw the launch of the National Childminders Association and covered the practicalities of running a child care service as well as child development issues.
Notable people from this programme: Had the dubious distinction of having Jimmy Savile present the first programme. The major presenters were Brian Redhead and Mavis Nicholson
That's the Wat the Money Goes
From 1979 until 1979 I worked as a Producer/Director on That's the Wat the Money Goes. Making a series about consumer law. In association with the Consumers Association - Which?. Including comedy/drama sketches illustrating consumer dilemmas.
Notable people from this programme: Working with leading actors in cameo roles. Gave Nikki Henson his first TV job. Roy Kinnear, John Bird and others were great to work with. Specific memory is making a film about how the small claims court works. Got a retired judge to role play situations cantred would some dodgy building work. The amazing thing was showing the film at 5 PP to the Lord Chancellor (Elwyn Jones). His response was: "That's fascinating. I've always wondered what goes on in a small claims court'.
Managing the Micro
From 1980 I worked as a Producer/director on Managing the Micro. A stop-gap series of five programmes which in a sense was sandwiched between The Silicon Factor (made for a general audience) and the Computer Literacy Project 'proper'. It dealt with how service and manufacturing businesses could make use of microelectronics in products, processes and offices. It was presented by Brian Redhead.
Making the Most of the Micro - Live
From 1983 I worked as a Series Producer/Editor on Making the Most of the Micro - Live.
1979 until 1987
I was a Series Editor.
We were based at Villiers House in the Continuing Education (TV) department., at that time run by Sheila Innes.
This was a major BBC Education Project consisting of a preliminary report (sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission, about 140 hours of TV - in 8 or more TV series, the BBC Microcomputer, The Computer Book, National Extension College 100 hour BASIC, and BBC software..
Main memories of the period
Initial Research
1987 until 2002
Clubs
BBC SYMPHONY CHORUS
I was a member of the BBC Symphony Chorus from about 1990-2003 and was chairman for ten of those years. The Chorus is one of the most successful - if not the most successful - amateur choruses in the country. It is the mainstay of the Proms - often performing in up to 6 proms a year, including the Last Night. My memories of this period are mixed. It was a period of intense rehearsals, committee meetings and fabulous concerts.