After a mention of a little project that Alan Taylor was undertaking, this message appeared.
Jackie Shorey
Hello guys!
This is Jackie Shorey, the late Len Shorey (sound supervisor)’s daughter!
Did you ever work with Len?
I’m intrigued that I have somehow gatecrashed your conversation, although it’s just the thing my dad would have loved – and helped with if he could!
I hope you are able to help each other out and send you my warmest wishes.
Alan Taylor
You haven’t gatecrashed in any way at all.
People here chat about all manner of things, anything from discussions of vintage equipment to moaning about shows on the telly last night. Along the way we talk about all sorts of random topics and reminisce about people who we worked with. It’s a bit like how people used to hang out in the TVC bar at lunchtime. Sometimes talking shop, sometimes gossiping and sometimes discussing DIY or fixing cars.
I’m from OBs, so never actually worked with Len and only met him socially, but obviously everybody in Tech Ops knew of his legendary reputation. I’m sure you are very proud to be his daughter and quite right to be proud too. Top bloke in every sense of the phrase.
If you have any stories to tell about Len, we would love to hear them and they would later be archived for many years to come. Often when somebody tells one story, others will remember a subsequent story and a more detailed picture emerges.
Geoff Hawkes
I was a studio cameraman based at Television Centre and remember your Dad well from the many LE shows we did together. He was quite a character with a wonderful sense of humour, necessary I think for survival in what we did.
In his spare time, apart from a fondness for golf, he was a highly skilled cabinet maker and when I called at his house in Pinner he showed me some of the amazing pieces of fine furniture he’d made. I enjoy doing woodwork too but nothing to touch what he accomplished.
I grow sweet peas and for a number of years both before and after he retired, used to supply him with plants in the spring which he always insisted on giving me something for them. I remember your mother, Rose too as she was often the one to answer the phone when I rang to say the plants were ready. I last met her when I attended your dad’s funeral, is she still in the same house? I spoke to another lady there too who I think was your aunt and enjoyed chatting with her.
It was nice to hear from you and I’m sure lots of Len’s old colleagues will be adding memories of him. He was much liked and highly respected both for his technical expertise and for the man he was.
Mike Giles
Len was not only a legendary sound mixer, but also one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet and only too willing to share his technique with others, but it was difficult in the extreme to match his flair.
Others will have better recollection than I do of an incident which involved a sliding window between the sound and production galleries ~ cue the official version!
Pat Heigham
I often worked with Len and always enjoyed every minute – he educated me in how to balance a band,
which stood me in good stead when, much later, I was to record the Pasadena Roof Orchestra at the
London Palladium.
But my best story is here:
As a Gram Op in the ’60’s I sometimes had a short day.
Discovered that TVT had the Woody Herman band in for Jazz 625. Len Shorey mixing.
I phoned the sound gallery and asked if I could come and hover.
After the final rehearsal, on which Len always ran a tape, the brass section asked if they could have a listen. (I was lurking in the gallery).
After a playback of a couple of numbers, there was a deathly silence.
I could see that Len was a bit disturbed.
Then the lead trumpet said, quietly:
“That’s how we sound. Why can’t we get that in the recording studio?”
I think they were about to offer Len molto $$$$ to come and be their engineer.
Jackie Shorey
Wow chaps!
Thank you so much for your lovely messages.
You’ve really made my day.
I will be sure to pass on to my mum (Rose – going strong at 88!) and my brother Tony.
