QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Five: What further stories can you tell about your time at the BBC?

Working at 1 Portland Place opposite Broadcasting House (BH) at London W1A, we often saw well-known presenters and personalities. Broadcasting House, London W1A

We’d be queueing up for lunch in the canteen at the top of BH and I’d see a familiar media figure in the queue just ahead of me, and think, ‘He looks much smaller and more ‘ordinary’ in real life’. It’s true that people always appear much sharper, brighter, larger-than-life on television and cinema screens; and we can put that down to the skills of the lighting directors, make-up artists and camera operators!

However, I can say that when I met Cliff Richard face-to-face at a reception in the crypt at All Souls, Langham Place (across the road) he looked just as good as I expected! All Souls, Langham Place, London W1A

That came about because my producer was away for a few days and an invitation came in from the Scripture Union for him to attend a reception to launch Cliff’s new initiative, a series of readings on cassette from John’s Gospel called ‘Start the Day.’ I lost no time at all in inviting myself instead of my producer; I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to meet Cliff.

I found myself in the same group as Cliff with our flutes of champagne and chatted to him for a couple of minutes as a representative of BBC Radio; he was very natural, pleasant, and attractive and I was thrilled to meet him. Cliff Richard in the 1970s

In BBC Schools Radio religious programmes, we sometimes recorded live on location in All Souls. School parties from all over the UK would be invited and the church would be packed with teachers and eager children. At the time Michael Flanders and Donald Swann were very popular comic song-writers and entertainers, and I was stationed just outside the door of the vestry where Donald lay in wait ready for the moment when the presenter introduced him.

The Songs of Michael Flanders and Donald SwannI gave Donald the signal: ‘You’re on, Donald,’ and he sped past and lightly sprung onto the platform straight to the piano and began playing ‘Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud’ for which he was renowned at the time. Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, comedy due, ‘At The Drop of a Hat’ recording

We became used to working with nationally-known presenters, and one of them, famous for hosting a much loved religious programme on BBC TV, presented several of our programmes for schools. I had to do a private viewing for him of our new technology (which of course sounds almost primitive now!); that is, Radiovision. The BBC would supply a set of slides that accompanied a radio programme schools would purchase as a package, so teachers would play them in the classroom.

Our popular presenter came in, charming, good-looking and charismatic, and saw straightaway that he would be hosted by me for the next hour in the absence of my producer.

I’ll call him RG (not his real initials). He was well known among the secretaries for being flirtatious (if I put that politely). There we encounter the BBC culture at the time – and in many workplaces, I’m sure. There was a culture of, ‘He’s a bit of a lad, just laugh at it, don’t take it seriously.’ I won’t name here the hugely reviled BBC celebrity (someone else, I hasten to add) whose reputation eventually cast the BBC in a very bad light.

I certainly experienced a selection of moves from this handsome presenter’s repertoire during that radiovision showing. Fortunately some of my colleagues came in too to watch so I wasn’t left entirely to his mercy.

Afterwards, my producer said conversationally, ‘Was old R up to his tricks again in there?’ and we all laughed it off as we always did. I must say a good sense of humour carried us through at the BBC!

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Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.

I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK. 

My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)

In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.

My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.

In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.

I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!