from Geoff Fletcher

In 1969 BBC cameramen at TV Centre went on strike. I can’t remember why, apart from the fact that it was unprecedented, and those of us who went out were badly divided in our loyalties. The BBC had definitely let us down, but we also believed in it and it’s principles – a difficult time in an era long gone.

Geoff says – “Remember the strike? I was a quite active in founding our breakaway Tech Ops section of the ABS – TV5 it was called. Originally we had been lumped in with the engineers who didn’t quite understand the issues concerning us non-tech and arty horny handed sons of toil. The 24 hour strike was a big shock to the management – it was unheard of for the tame poodle of the in house ABS to suddenly turn round and bite them. Those rough chaps in the ACTT were the ones who habitually used industrial action, which is why the BBC didn’t recognise that trade union.

Geoff Feld was an excellent spokesman for the cause, and loads of us pitched in to man picket lines. That’s me holding the second from left “ABS Official Strike” placard outside the TV Centre in the second photo down. I remember many actors refusing to cross our line, which was another surprise for the upper echelons. Heady days! “

This report assumes you know the context…

Our spokesman

Presumably the three on the right meant something at the time, but may have been a little too clever for their own good even then.

In this sort of photo I always look around the edges more than the subject. This is the entrance to Lime Grove Studios now long ago turned in to a housing estate. The car in the foreground is a Morris Traveller, or “little half timbered car” according to Edna Everage

Here a driver of an Austin 1100 is trying to decide whether or not to cross the picket line. The BBC sign on the wall of TC1 is the original. I wonder if it still exists, or went on the skip when the designer vandals removed it?

Bill Jenkin says “I remember that strike day. It was a Saturday, which upset some people because no office staff were involved – this was deliberate because we knew we were strongest in the technical areas. I was despatched to TFS (Ealing) to picket there, there were only two of us to cover all the entrances, no-one appeared the whole of the time I was there until one woman turned up and I spent 10 minutes trying to persuade her not to cross – which she eventually ignored. I departed for the Red Lion!”