Category Archives: Stories

Goodbye Bernie

Posted on August 20, 2023 by Alec Bray

Pauline Langfield It is with great sadness that I share with you that Bernie died [on the 17th August 2023]. He had been ill for some time, but was able to spend his last few months at home where he wanted … Continue reading →

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Going Live with “Softly,Softly” 1966

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Alec Bray

Alec Bray This is a fictionalised account of going live with a fictional episode of “Softly, Softly” in 1966 – 1967. It is an attempt to portray what it was like – and some of what was involved – for … Continue reading →

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Remembering Those who have left us

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Alec Bray

Martin Eccles Barry Bonner Some very sad news I’m afraid. Martin Eccles Sound Supervisor died at home a few days ago [message posted 03 August 2022]. More details later but as he had no descendants it may be some time … Continue reading →

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Mike Giles – Life at the BBC

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Bernard Newnham

A few reminiscences of life in the Beeb by Mike Giles (be warned ~ there are 31 pages!) I left school in 1964 with a reasonable ‘A’ level in physics, plus indifferent ‘A’ levels in chemistry and biology. The BBC’s … Continue reading →

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Alec Bray – My time at the BBC

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Bernard Newnham

Technical Operator – Dolly Operator One (Dolly Op 1) I was in the fast Arts stream at Reading School. At the end of the fourth form, we went straight into a two-year “A” level course, taking “A” levels at the … Continue reading →

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Some Alexandra Palace history – the first BBC camerawoman

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Bernard Newnham

This was instigated by Simon Vaughan, who is the Archivist of the Alexandra Palace Television Society. Simon asked on the tech1 email list – “I wonder if members of Tech-Ops could help in identifying the female floor manager in this … Continue reading →

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