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 Recollections of BBC engineering from 1922 to 1997		 The British Broadcasting Corporation
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Deaths
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I am very keen to ensure that any notification on this web site would meet the wishes of the deceased's family, but it is not always possible or appropriate for me to contact the family.  On the other hand I am aware that many ex-colleagues would like to know of the news.  So, the policy of this web site is to list the name of the deceased below and, if appropriate, provide further information.  Due to the sensitivity of this issue, please let me know if any changes are required.
 

Date of death (Approx)

Name and relevant information (Links lead to more information)
15 Feb 2012 Peter Legate, Research Department, Kingswood Warren.
3 February 2012 Maurice Williamson, who was a highly respected senior figure in Transmitter Group.
The funeral will take place at the crematorium at Milton Maslor (Northampton) at 1:15 on Friday 17th February.  There will be food afterwards at the Walnut Tree Inn at Blisworth. If you intend to go for the food, then please click here to email so that I can pass on the message to the family, as they need to confirm numbers.
20 Oct 2011 Dave Juland, who was a Transmitter Technician at Daventry HF Transmitting Station.
13 Mar 2011 Geoff Claxton, who worked in Cardiff studios, died when the light ‘plane that he was piloting crashed near Swansea. Click here for an obituary written by Roger Farmer
10 Nov 2010 John Fletcher says: With great sadness I pass on the news that David Kirby died on Monday. As some of you will know, he had been battling a serious illness for many months.  He will be much missed by his colleagues here at BBC R&D.
16 June 2010 Peter Charles McKay worked as a photographer at Kingswood Warren from the early 60’s through to his retirement in 1991.  Sadly he died following complications caused by treatment for cancer, he was 78.  Stuart McKay asked for this notice to be placed here as his father had lost contact with some of his old friends after retiring.
26 May 2010 Phil Wakely 71, had worked at Rampisham as a General Maintenance Assistant, retiring in the late 1990's. Those of you that worked at Rampisham during the 80's and 90's will remember his great attention to detail and his love of Bridport Town football club.
1 Apr 2010 Ron Johnson, formerly Engineer in Charge of the Washford transmitting station. This was one of the early "Regional Transmitter" stations, opened in 1933.

Message from Ron's family: "We are sad to announce that Ronald Oliver Johnson came to the end of life's journey on 1st April 2010 aged 92.  He was the devoted husband to Daphne for over 60 years and loving father to Anthony, Susan and Lesley. The funeral will be held at Taunton Crematorium on 13th April at 1pm.  Family flowers only please.  Donations in lieu of flowers to Diabetes UK c/o Grandfield Funeral Directors, Keenthorne, Nether Stowey, Somerset, TA5 1HZ."

Click here to see an obituary written by Bert Gallon.

Dave Porter says:  "I worked at Washford just for six months and can honestly say he was one of the best EiC I ever met. He led by example and was an inspiration of how to do it properly. The station and its operation and management was a tribute to his professionalism.  If anybody ever needed to see how it was done this was the place and the man.  Since I left I kept in contact and we have seen his offerings to me in terms of reminiscences and technical writings.  In the last ToTT I used some of his training notes for the piece on ferrite combiners.  A true inspiration, I will miss his letters."
17 Feb 2010 John Campion, World Service. Retired in 1982.
12 Feb 2010 Lynda Darlington nee Norman.  Lynda was a secretary in the Studio Group office of Research Department at Kingswood Warren.
Feb 2010

Barry George. Glyn Morgan writes:  "Barry was in Designs Department Measurement Section when I was both new to the BBC and London in 1977. Barry was always a font of knowledge and very supportive in encouraging the younger section members. He had a reputation for devising thought provoking problems as well as the occasional practical joke. Barry later moved into computer support at a time when it was migrating from a small specialist mathematical operation to providing computer access and facilities across the whole department. Here his down-to-earth problem solving skills, and wit, were a benefit to the wider department. Barry took early retirement when Avenue House closed and moved with his wife Ann to Bath. Sadly Ann passed away in 2007. I will always remember him as someone who went to great lengths to help others."

Dec 2009 Doug Latcham, TCPD.
Aug 2009 Les Reece, Daventry.
8 July 2009 Peter Tingey, Designs Department and TCPD.
Mar 2009 Simon Saint, Daventry.
Dec 2008 Charles Sandbank, Deputy Director of Engineering.
20 Sep 2008 George Monteath. He was Head of BBC Research Department form 1976 to 1978 and he was an expert in radio frequency technology.
6 Sep 2008 Alan Herbert  joined the BBC in 1936 as a “Student Apprentice" and went on to to be a leading light in the development of HF antennas. He left the BBC in 1970, but some years later he made a major contribution to On Air.
Sep 2008 Geoffrey Goodship.
Aug 2008 John Shelley. He was a key figure in Designs Department for many years, starting in Neville Watson's Television Transmission Section and retiring as Head of Monitoring & Control Section.
12 Jun 2008 John Gealer, He is is probably best remembered for the expert guidance that he gave to very many engineers who attended his courses at the Engineering Training Department.
Jun 2008 J.G.F. Turner, Antenna STE and A/AEiC Daventry transmitting station.
May 2008 Janet Jones [nee Faulkner], Cook at Woofferton transmitting station.
Apr 2008 Percy Winsor, STE Woofferton transmitting station.
Apr 2008 Mike Barnes. Senior Transmitter Engineer at Wenvoe transmitting station.
1 Feb 2008 Ivor Tupper.  Ivor was a talented and highly respected engineer who, amongst other things, did pioneering work on the development of pulsed klystron techniques which significantly increased the efficiency of the BBC's television transmitter network.
 

Annual Prizes in memory of Ivor Tupper

New: Click here to see an article written for Prospero.

Two annual prizes have been established in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College, London, in memory of Ivor Tupper (1927-2008). Ivor, who spent the whole of his working life with the BBC, was an engineer of outstanding ability who made a substantial contribution to the work of Transmission Group. The prizes are to be awarded for excellence in the fields of signal processing, broadcast and video technology, one at BSc degree level and one at MSc degree level. The first prizes will be awarded in 2010.
Information provided by Bert Gallon.
2006 Brian Bower, Designs Department.
2005 Gordon Parker, Designs Department and Equipment Department.