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Designs Department - Pictures of People - 1950

Home Up 1950 Caption

Designs Department staff in 1950, photographed in the concert hall of Broadcasting House, London
Picture contributed by David Savage
 

DD in 1950. With names. Reduced quality, 330KB

DD in 1950. Without names. Reduced quality, 289KB

DD in 1950. With names. LARGE FILE 1772KB

DD in 1950. Without names. LARGE FILE 2186KB

Notes about some of the people in the picture (in the order shown in the caption):
Please send me corrections and additions to this list.
 

Walter N Anderson became a founder member of the ITA Engineering Group in 1954 and went on to be Head of Experimental and Development Dept., ITA, later IBA.

John Shelley became Head of Monitoring and Control Section, DD.

John Tucker went to the organisation running Radio Luxemburg and later became organiser of the IBC exhibitions.

Ken Quinton became head of Robert Maxwell's cable TV enterprise.

Dennis Packham became Chief Engineer, Tyne and Tees TV.

F.J.Stringer was Head of Sect 2 (Lines) at the time of the photo.

Neville Watson became Head of Designs Department and then Chief Engineer Television.

Jim Moon became Head of Site Acquisition Section, Transmitter Department.

David Ellison was the Coil Winder in Freddie Stringer's Section (Section 2), at the time.

Peter Rainger became Head of Designs Department, Head of Research Department and then Deputy Director of Engineering.

Don Brothers became Assistant Head of Transmitter Capital Projects Departments.

Jack Holgate became Head of Recording Section (?), DD.

H.Davies was Head of Recording Sect in 1950.

George Dilworth became Head of Test Laboratory, DD.

Stuart Padel became Head of TV Transmission Section, DD.

David Savage became Head of Monitoring and Control Section, DD.

George A. McKenzie left DD in 1959 to try his luck in British Industry.

Gordon Parker became Head of Equipment Department, then Head of Designs Department.

Desmond Morse became Head of Communications Department.

Geoff Larkby became well known for his extremely innovative projects.

John Bliss became Head of Telecine Section (later called Special Studies Section), DD.

Tom Worswick became Head of Transmission Group, DD.

John Chorley became Head of Measurements Section, DD.

Edward Pawley produced the book "BBC Engineering 1922-1972"

J.H.Holmes became Head of Lines Department, retiring in 1962, Then, with two others, he assembled the material for "BBC Engineering 1922-1972".

Dr Rendall became Head of Designs Department.

Harry Rantzen was the first Head of Designs Department (and father of the broadcaster Esther Rantzen).
A programme called "Who do you think you are" featuring Esther Rantzen, broadcast on 3 September 2008, referred to Esther's father by saying "Harry, who was chief engineer in the early days of the BBC...".  The caption on the above picture says that he resigned from the BBC in 1950, so perhaps he returned.

Roy Toombs became Head of Radio Frequency Section, DD.

H.D.M. Ellis was Head of Sound Section (Sect 3) at the time of the photo and later (before 1959) Head of Equipment Department

Frank Peachey became Head of RF Section, DD.