I was very shocked and saddened to hear of my friend Alan's death yesterday. It was the opening subject of yesterday's lunchtime news on BBC1.
In the above photo Alan is third from the right in the top row, and I am third from the left in the middle row. Alan's brother Robert is on the far right of the top row. Between the two brothers is my other very good friend, Aubrey 'Po' Powell, who found fame designing album covers, etc.
We both entered our upper school in 1960, and left together in 1964. Alan went on to study at The Sorbonne, and I went into The City. We kept in touch for several years, then, when I moved to France in 1973, that rather dwindled to just Christmas cards, etc.
Alan had an illustrious career with the BBC, being both Controller of BBC1 and BBC2, he was even in line for the job as Director General at one time. His arts programmes, especially 'Arena' and 'Imagine', were ground-breaking, and brought a new aspect of the arts to the viewing public, he will also be remembered for commissioning many well loved dramas and sit-coms. He made a huge contribution to our more 'serious' TV viewing.
He has been described as 'One of British culture's defining figures'.
I was really shocked to hear of his death. I send my condolences to his family and his brothers.
You are VERY shocked that an old person dies?
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to be unkind but, surely, there comes a time when we prepare and steel ourselves that people will exit any time soon. Mind you, I have given up hope with my parents. They'll be dancing on MY grave.
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I was very shocked because I hadn't heard that he was ill, had taken-up sky-diving, was competing in the TT races, or had a collection of poisonous snakes!
DeleteHe lived a full and interesting life. Shame your lives drifted into different directions but that happens to many old schoolfriends I suppose.
ReplyDeleteIf you attend a school that's near to your home, you tend to keep your old friends, but if you attend one that's a serious distance away, they tend to spread out and disappear!
DeleteWell Cro, it comes to us all in the end!
ReplyDeleteSadly so. But I wasn't expecting it with Alan.
DeleteHis notion of "culture" was wide-ranging and he gave cultural figures time to talk - bringing out their inner thoughts with tact and well-honed listening skills. In this way, he made a generally important contribution to our cultural awareness and was a proud standard bearer for the BBC. Farewell good man.
ReplyDeleteHe was a type of Attenborough for the Arts, with just a couple of hiccups on the way.
DeleteYou went to a school for high flyers. Or maybe they turned you out that way.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your friend's passing.
The entry exam was tough, but it was all downhill after that. However, it didn't stop some of us!
DeleteI'm sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have fond memories of your school friend and his accomplishments through life.
We spent four years together, shared a study, etc. I shall miss him no longer being around.
DeleteYou did have an "in" to BBC.
ReplyDeleteTo get John's story on BBC.
I'm afraid my influence was ZERO. And remains much the same.
DeleteOh dear, I am also very sorry for your loss. I forgot my manners, in my passion of the other thought.
ReplyDeleteNo problem!
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