I’ve just received this from Anthony Pugh:-
Thought I would let you know that Roger Smeathers passed away in hospital on Sunday 8th November 2015 following a short illness. He worked in VT at Alexandra Palace after training at Wood Norton in the mid 60’s, Roger went on to joined ATV/Central TV in Birmingham where he worked in the VTR Dept until 2003 when he retired. I expect that some of your VT old boys will remember him.
As yet no date set for Roger’s funeral.
From Neil Eccles,
Sadly, I have to tell you that Peter (Massey) died on Wednesday. I had the news from Bob Corps-Reader and phoned Shirley Massey in Scotland.
Peter was a lovely man and incredibly generous to all his colleagues. He was a superb instinctive director and very popular with the crews and his lads and lasses (I was one). He will be sadly missed.
The following is from Shirley and Peter’s daughter Caroline
Dear Neil
Thank you so much for your phone call and your very kind words about Daddy.
The funeral is taking place on Friday 25th September at 11am. Location is Gatehouse Parish Church, Castramon Road, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway.
I know it is short notice and quite a distance but if there are any of Daddy’s colleagues who would like to attend then do let me know at this email carolinemassey2002@yahoo.co.uk. Telephone is 01557 815088.
Any letters or cards can be sent to Mrs Shirley Massey and family, Lakeview, Cally Drive, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas, DG7 2DJ.
We will be sending donations to the RNLI and the Parkinsons UK charities.
From Verena Clark of the Chiltern Open Air Museum Museum where Lawford has been working recently.
Lawford died peacefully at 12.15am on 15th May 2015 at Buckingham House Nursing Home. I am pleased to say that he did not suffer in his last days
and the staff at the home looked after him very well. He was pleased to be there and not at home alone.
His passing will be a big loss to us all as we all knew and respected Lawford for his immense talents and practical capabilities.
The funeral will be on Monday June 1st at 2.30pm at Chilterns Crematorium, (Postcode HP7 OND), in the Milton Chapel.
Afterwards, everyone is invited back to the Chiltern Open Air Museum (post code HP8 4AB in Chalfont St Giles) for tea and the opportunity to see the place which Lawford loved and where he gave so much of his time.
Please pass this invitation on to as many people as you wish to who knew Lawford from his BBC days. .
I would be grateful if you could reply to siteandfarm@coam.org.uk to let me know if you are coming to either the service and/or the tea as I am catering for the event.
Verena Clark
Before joining P&ID where he worked until his retirement 20 years ago, he had been in Telecine. His “Brief History of Telecine in the BBC”, written in 1993 in association with Geoff Rowlands, is reproduced in full under Telecine & FR on the main website.
CB
Dennis Collett passed on details of Ian’s funeral today.
It will be on Thursday, May 28th, at 11.30.
St Dunstan’s Church, Church Road, Cheam SM3 8QH
(0300 330 1456)
Ian Williams has just pointed me to Ken Riddington’s obituary (see post of January 8th 2015).
You can find it in Obituaries.
I have just seen a post on Facebook by Peter Cleaver reporting the death of Ian Smith.
“He was a true gentleman producer who was very caring of his craft, his programmes and specially the people with whom he worked. BBC Events were richer because of him. It was a real pleasure to have known and worked with him.”
More information when I get it.
Please could you let everyone know that very sadly the wonderful Tom Corcoran who directed Late Night Line-Up, The Old Grey Whistle Test, The Live Aid concert in 1985, Wogan and Eight Days A Week amongst many other BBC studio and OB programmes, died last Thursday 23rd October after a short illness.
His sister Cathy is arranging for the funeral to be held at Mortlake Crematorium so that as many Beeb people as possible can attend, on 12th November.
More details see here:-
Apologies for the absence of updates, but Mrs C J and I have just finished writing a book about the Great War which went to the printers yesterday afternoon. A 2½ year project it has taken up a lot of my time – I’m publishing it – but now I can return to the Oldboys website once more.
Nick Martin has just sent me the details of the Surbiton Christmas Lunch; Thursday December 4th is the date for your diaries, and you will find full details, and, in due course, a Menu at http://www.40sand50sreunion.co.uk.
Additionally, Richard Cox’s photographs of the last Oldboys Lunch at “The Black Horse” will be on the web in a couple of days.
Just received my copy of “Prospero” and discovered that Victor had passed away. Many of our ‘older’ Oldboys will remember him – see Obituaries for the full article.
I’ve just received the following email from Michael Watkins, Alan’s son:-