:: Tim Neale
Managing Editor, 1972-78
How did you come to work at Radio Sheffield?
I had just finished a two and a half year secondment from the 91Èȱ¬ African Service as head of programmes at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Central Africa (where I had got the hang of running a radio station on a shoestring). My first wife came from Worksop so Sheffield or Nottingham seemed the best targets.
What happened next?
After Sheffield I was Manager at 91Èȱ¬ Radio Solent (1978-86), Chief Assistant to Controller Local Radio (86-87), and Head of Radio Training (87-94).ÌýSince then I have been a freelance "Media Consultant", training and advising radio stations, electoral commissions, government ministries of informations etc around the world.ÌýIn November I may well be back working in Malawi - a country I have now been visiting for work and pleasure for almost 42 years. I say "may well be" because I have learned late in life of the unreliable flow of work freelances can expect.ÌýI would have been more sympathetic all those years in the 91Èȱ¬ if I had known what it is like.
Feast of Brass, Sheffield City Hall
What was your proudest Radio Sheffield moment?
Difficult question... I was always very proud of Radio Sheffield and its reputation in South Yorkshire for truth, balance, entertainment and total commitment to serving the public. A moment? The cheering at the end of the first of Geoff Sargieson's 'Feast of Brass and Voices' spectaculars in a packed City Hall. A period? The way the staff re-united after the resolution of "The Great Greengrocer Strike" of the mid seventies.
Other good memories?
Too many good memories:
- ÌýBeating Radio Hallam's music with an all-speech breakfast
- ÌýThe mast coming out of the top of the radio car live on day one (ask Ted Gorton)
- ÌýSending Ian Masters back up a huge chimney to interview Blaster Bates for the second time - this time with a tape in his recorder
- ÌýHelping Engineer in Charge Ken Beard and his side-kick Peter Mason stick hundreds of egg-boxes as acoustic treatment on the walls of Studio 3 at Ashdell Grove.
- Allan Kassell getting uncontrollable giggles when trying on the live angling programme to stay sombre when reading the report of the deposit of the ashes of a late angler on the waters of the Forty Foot Drain. Not sure why that was so giggle-making but it was a definite if regrettable "Oh do stop Aggers" few moments.
Tim Neale, 2007
Worst moment on-air?
Failing to complete editing the inserts for a programme before transmission and deciding to go for it by starting the first insert and frantically slash the second while the first was on air.Ìý Nearly got there but the fourth tape ran off the spool with the final insert still in two pieces. I can't (or prefer not to) recall the clumsy way I tried to explain the technical hitch and ad lib for three minutes up to the news.
Who were your favourite presenters?
Impossible to choose.ÌýCapstick probably because he was an absolute one-off who could fill a programme of any length, at any notice, with not a single note.ÌýFor me as, as I was called, a Southern Jessie, Tony was the heart and soul and humour of South Yorkshire.ÌýBut what about Michael Cooke? Dinah Maiden? Peter Crabtree?
"I had never experienced or expected quite such warmth, humour,Ìý openness, directness and welcome"
Tim Neale, Manager 1972-78
How do you spend your free time these days?
Growing the finest raspberries in Wiltshire.Ìý Cycling in France, Germany, Czech Republic, East and Central Africa.Ìý Giving respite foster-care for children and learning to paint.
Looking back now, how would you sum up your Radio Sheffield experience?
Well I've enjoyed every job I have had but Radio Sheffield was the best. We are not all cold and toffee-nosed down here in the South but I had never experienced or expected quite such warmth, humour,Ìý openness, directness and welcome. It was a great time.Ìý Being involved in a successful local radio station can't be beaten.
