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http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> Notices, obituaries and tributes >> Robin Jones, S4C's first presenter, dies at 71 http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1264096185 Message started by Administrator on Jan 21^st, 2010, 5:50pm

Title: Robin Jones, S4C's first presenter, dies at 71
Post by Administrator on Jan 21^st, 2010, 5:50pm

Robin Jones, the first presenter to appear on the Welsh language channel S4C, has died at the age of 71.
Mr Jones helped to launch S4C in 1982, and he was also a newsreader for BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru.
S4C said he made a "huge contribution", was a favourite with viewers and was "hugely respected" in broadcasting.
He was originally from north Wales and had lived since the beginning of the 1960s in Cardiff. He leaves his wife, Eirlys, and two daughters.
He was also a presenter with the Welsh language news programme Heddiw, which was on BBC Wales before S4C began.
He began his career as a teacher in Prestatyn before moving into broadcasting, which lasted more than 40 years.
S4C said: "It is with profound sadness that we heard of the death of Robin Jones.
"He was a cornerstone of the S4C service in the early, pioneering days of the channel and made a huge contribution as one of our first announcers.
"With his warm and natural presentation style and his thorough professionalism, he was a favourite among viewers and was hugely respected by the broadcasting industry.
"We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family."

Source:-

BBC Web-site

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8464021.stm

Title: Re: Robin Jones, S4C's first presenter, dies at 71
Post by Administrator on Jan 21^st, 2010, 5:53pm

More information regarding his career:-

http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/tvheroes/robin_jones.php

From the above:-

BBC Wales began on February 9th 1964, and Robin was once again on duty on launch night, the first time the BBC had broadcast an all-Wales television service. He had many happy years as a BBC Wales announcer and remembers the occasional visits from heads of continuity in London who would visit the ‘Regions’ in order to confirm that the BBC’s standards of presentation and pronunciation were being maintained.

After several years Robin was again invited to change his job in 1969, when he became main anchor of the nightly Welsh language news magazine, Heddiw (Today). He relished the challenge of introducing such a well-respected programme and enjoyed his time there immensely. He returned to announcing duties two years later and was one of many distinguished voices to be heard on BBC Wales continuity during the 1970s. Working with him were names such as Iwan Thomas (who had also worked at WWN), Geraint Jones and Nia Rhosier. It was a golden age for Welsh continuity and BBC Wales announcers maintained an air of friendly, but authoritative voices, all in an almost melodic Welsh accent.