Larry Hodgson, a popular Editor of BBC Radio News in the 1980s, has died at his home in Benalmadena, Spain, aged 86.
After National Service and time studying journalism at Berkeley, Larry joined the BBC. His first mention in the Radio Times comes in 1971, as a co-presenter of a Radio 2 show covering the launch of Apollo 14. Though billed as coming from "The Apollo Studio", London, this may have had an element of bombast. Larry was there for the touchdown of Apollo 15, and the various 'moondrives' of Apollo 16. By Apollo 17, Larry's credit moved from presenter to producer.
In 1973 he hosted a run of 15 minutes shows on Radio 3, The Positive World, "A weekly survey of the more hopeful trends in the world's news, compiled and introduced by Larry Hodgson".
He became Foreign News Editor (Radio), at Broadcasting House, a fierce defender of all his correspondents in the field (and occasional critic of domestic coverage). In 1982 he became Editor Radio News, in succession to John Wilson, and decided to defend everybody. Herogram memos on noticeboards were signed off "Cheers, Larry". Some memos of later that year, during the Falklands War, attracted wider attention. "Please do not say 'our forces' when you mean 'British forces'; It is contrary to BBC style. And, to some ears, it can give the impression that we are taking sides - which we don't do even against (to quote secretary of state Haig) 'a bunch of thugs'.
In 1986, when the US space shot Challenger exploded 73 seconds after take-off, Larry wasn't happy with the sequence on the R4 Six O'Clock News. He called in the sub the next day; "Richard, this was poor. Where was the actuality, the drama ? Where, Richard, was the sound picture ? What have you got to say ?" "My name's Rupert".
He moved to become Head of Radio Sport and Outside Broadcasts in time for the launch of the first version of Radio Five in 1988, then, after leaving the BBC, in 1992 set up Radio Wimbledon, an FM service operated by the All England Club on a local transmitter.
In 2001, his book Golden Boy: The Life and Times of Lew Hoad, written with Dudley Jones, built on a long-standing friendship.
No comments:
Post a Comment