I joined a large intake at the BBC in 1964. We assembled in the council chamber at BH for the week's induction. Having all had our individual photographs taken for the staff records, we watched a lovely old black and white film about the BBC and its transmitters. We went on vists to BH, Bush, and TVC.
My TA course, number 21, had a large number of people destined for transmitters and another lot for TVC or Lime Grove. There were three of us due to go to London communications, and three for Tatsfield receivers (later became Caversham). The others with us were overseas students. In 1965, after six months at Evesham, we arrived at BH Communication E.i.c.`s office on the second floor of BH extention. The E.i.c. was a Mr. Laurence (not sure about the spelling).
I was taken along to meet my new boss Colin Seabright in the Sound Test Room also on the second floor. Ken Turner and Rusty Waters were there, and a young Pete Holman and some others who`s faces I see but names slip my mind. It was in this room I saw the first Folding Bread Board for lash ups (before 'Vero board' I think). Also the tape machine for playing a loop tape of BBC staff in-house news which could be picked up via PBX. This was before the staff magazine 'Ariel'. In this room we did all those familiar sound line tests for radio and television OBs. The permanent lines to All Souls Church opposite BH always seemed to have low insulation. I can recall staying on (overtime) to do a special test from the EBU for a live concert from Europe. The measurements were taken in Nepers and had to be converted to dBs.
As a London TA, we were part of the regional reserve, so I recall going to the old BBC Manchester studios in Piccadilly to fill in for the TA who looked after the telecoms side of things.
In London at the time, there was the Field Group run by Roy Carpenter. Here we sat in an office on the first floor, next door to the Pronounciation Unit, waiting for the 'phone to ring to give us a job somewhere in or around London to do lines test for radio or TV OBs. This unit eventually combined with OBs at Acton. We had the choice to go or stay. I was getting married, so decided to stay as I already had my eye on the TV Switching Centre.
After some time in places such as CAU, the Sound Records office, ATA, maintenance, Swain Lane PCM Link, and SIS base maintenance, I became one of the Switching Center Supervisors in 1978 (before eventually leaving to go to ITN).
Alan Baukham
19th Jan 2005