Geoff Fletcher
When our merry band of TOs arrived at Wood Norton for TO19 in April 1964 we were amused to find that the top lamp on the drive had been given this smiling face. (Also seen in the background behind Bob Foley scoffing chipolatas) So – whodunnit?
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see also: http://tech-ops.co.uk/next/to-training-at-wood-norton-hall-evesham/
My Evesham course, TO19, was the first mixed course ever or so we were told. The girls – 12 I think, and all from Radio – were housed in Dorm X well way from our D Block, and we were warned by Major Oldman of the dire consequences if we dared to cross the threshold of that holy of holies. Didn’t stop late night cocoa sessions though!
Here’s another Phoenix Nights photo. Tony Grant on the old joanna , me on the camera and Dudley Derby standing by as my patient tracker.
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Nick Ware
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I think that’s Mr Hider front left, if I’m not mistaken. Then front row, Brian Deffett, me, Lance Andrews and Laurie Taylor. I recognise all the back row faces. Must have been an STO course around 1965 (?).
Peter Hider
The guy immediately behind Nick in glasses is Jim Kinally and immediately behind me is Dick Bellafontaine SA1. It might be Derek Heape on the extreme left but I’m not sure.
And here’s Laurie Taylor about to step forward to behead me, ably assisted by Brian Duffett.
Robin Sutherland
Fifty years ago on 25th April 1966 a group of spotty youths assembled at Wood Norton to begin life in the BBC on TO Course 25. There were three categories on the course- sound, regions and television, totalling I think 46.
Of the thirteen in the television squad two failed the course and disappeared within an hour of the results being announced, sadly never to darken the door of a studio, as we had gone straight to Evesham.
I send greetings to the surviving eleven, including our esteemed moderator Bernie Newnham. Other names are John Hawes, Mike Colcutt, John Nottage, Ray Williams, Chris Woolf, Mitch, Steve Brodie, Dave Beer, James Gould.
I’m still doing the occasional work but plan to finally pack it in after Wimbledon. Can’t believe it’s been so long – I think I’ve been very fortunate.
Bernie Newnham
And here are some of us in 2006:
John Nottage, Robin Sutherland, Bernie Newnham and John Hawes. We were at Epsom – the others were working, I was just visiting, but BBC OBs kindly bought lunch for me too.
Chris, Dave and Mitch are on the Tech Ops email list.
John Nottage
Thank you for the reminder: I’d forgotten the date! 50 years! I remember 40 years on:
http://www.tech-ops.co.uk/page122.html
…and I’ve found a couple of photos from 10 years ago (40 years on, see below), but I can’t lay my hands on any photos from TO25, alas, just a few of rusty memories…
Ascot presentation:
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And after Ascot:
Chris Woolf
I too had forgotten the date – and had no great thought that it was that long ago.
My (largely freelance) career has been atypical in that I have flipped between operational and engineering modes throughout most of it. Nowadays my equipment design, testing and writing work can be done largely from home, which is a considerable benefit, and the conferences and collaborative stuff is mostly limited to Europe now, but the demand for what I do, the economic benefits and the pleasure I get from doing it, means that I have no plans to retire as yet.
Pat Heigham
Reading Bernie’s page 122 that John Nottage flagged up, (“…there is nothing as electric for any cameraman as a live show watched by millions…”), I’m reminded of the feeling that I experienced as a Grams Op, finger poised over the TR90 start to cue the opening music for a live show viewed by millions.
It all commenced with my digit!
