Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> History >> Wood Norton Pictures http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1298241058 Message started by Administrator on Feb 20^th, 2011, 10:31pm

Title: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Administrator on Feb 20^th, 2011, 10:31pm

A web-site has recently posted some pictures taken around Wood Norton Hall and its environs.

The pictures are here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39746360@N06/5459290488/in/set-72157626088991102/

With an introduction here:-
http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=17878

This is posted out of interest.

Admin.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by F.M. on Feb 21^st, 2011, 6:39pm

Does the BBC still run courses there?
Some of it looks pretty run down.
I know that WN hall was sold to a hotelier but went bankrupt soon after leaving the BBC in the lurch with the plumbing and such.
Someone told me a number of years ago that there were portaloos situated outside the accomodation blocks.
What a shame the BBC had to sell.
I have Fond memories of the many courses I attended there. :'(

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Roundabout on Feb 22^nd, 2011, 3:47pm

Thanks for giving us access to these pictures but what a depressing sight it now is.............whatever will become of this sad memorial to a great part of the BBC's history from wartime broadcasts to 'bunker' by way of the great age of the training of engineers..........thank goodness we have good memories of activities and friends made there.
I vividly recall TA 16 being the only engineers group to be allowed to put on a full production in the Gym Studio.........I was floor manager.
We had a chap from Belfast (ashamed to admit his name is lost in the mists) who built a proper vision mixer especially for the show. I recall him and a group setting off on a trolley at the top of the hill near the garrison sheds that were classrooms and as the thing got out of control as it passed the main building yelling 'opt out everybody' as they all leaped off.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Micro on Feb 23^rd, 2011, 2:22pm

I also remember TA16 and was one of the cameramen on the "production" in the Phoenix. If only we'd had VT then - it was a hoot. I remember the presenter, Sir Brian Beau-Locks and a lot of school boy humour that would probably seem very childish today. But we all enjoyed it, and most of us passed the exam too.

Was the NI chap with the vsion mixer Davey Dillon, who passed away a while back? He was a great guy, spent some time in Libya too. We were both there when Quadaffi came to power. If I remember right, we all got good wishes from the (then) 2nd Lieutenant for our efforts with an OB unit when he made a speech at Benghazi University....

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by alanh on Feb 23^rd, 2011, 10:06pm

I was much later at WN (TA32) but I reckon you are correct re David Dillon. I worked with David in Belfast VT for many years after his return from Libya. I know he built a few more vision mixers!

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Amigo on Feb 23^rd, 2011, 11:35pm

A long time ago...

TO 29

http://s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x432/MainReception/BBC/?action=view&current=74cfdfff.jpg

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Mikej on Feb 24^th, 2011, 10:40am

Ah memories!
Must have spent almost a year there on various courses (TA22 onwards). WN must have trained so so many people all over the UK (and the world - The chief engineer of Kenyan Broadcasting was on my C course - which would have been VERY useful to know when I was setting up an OB there).
One only has to look at the output now to see what is being missed!
So sad to see the piles of rubbish outside "A block" Common Room and in the pathway outside the Warden's Flat (Mr B D Oldman - and his doggie - it says in my "joining instructions" - still kept in the garage of course.
And the filled-in swimming pool (sorry Bear Pit)
Amigo's ones showing the old BBC Green bus bring back memories of returning late from (Reg's) BBC Club.

Who remembers sneaking in to look at this
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_Shower_3s.jpg
and where we trained
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_control_room.jpg
and how much it cost up per week to stay in "D" dorm sheds
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_receipt_2.jpg
to be paid at the cash office up the back stairs in the main building!
Someone posted this as well - Canteen used to be really busy once - with that "Special" room only for lecturers
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_Menu.jpg

Mike

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Roundabout on Feb 24^th, 2011, 11:22pm

Thanks Micro.......that's right Dave Dillon...............sorry to hear he had passed away.
Do you remember anyone else on that course and the production.........and are any of the others from TA 16 in this Forum, John Hartshorn (sound),Alistair Cameron...I think directed, and other names.....Dennis the Yorkshireman..........Pete Dunkley and Peter Dunkley,John King.......of Wimbledon fame,......................................

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Russell W. Barnes on Feb 25^th, 2011, 10:41pm

There are a few of my pics of BBC ETD WN here - early 1980s.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Micro on Feb 26^th, 2011, 5:31pm

It almost sounds as if you are about to organise a TA16 reunion Roundabout! Heaven forfend!

It would be good to hear from some of the chaps again though. Pete Dunkley however died in a scuba accident some years ago.

Mustn't be morbid...... I'm sure there's lot if us still around

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Roundabout on Feb 28^th, 2011, 6:15am

Thanks Micro!
A re-union?.........heaven forbid!
Would you care to identify yourself ...as a TA16-er?

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Micro on Mar 3^rd, 2011, 6:45pm

Hi Roundabout. No secrets - Andy Hughes.

And I wonder if you are P**** S******?

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Roundabout on Mar 3^rd, 2011, 10:04pm

Well guessed! Pete it is.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Dickie Mint on Mar 5^th, 2011, 4:55pm

alanh wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2011, 10:06pm:

..I was much later at WN (TA32).......

Me Too! Do you remember the exact starting date of TA32, Alan? For some reason I had it fixed in my mind as 31st December 1968, but checking with the WN office last year their records said not!

Richard Taylor

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by alanh on Mar 7^th, 2011, 5:09pm

Richard, had a look at 1968 calendar. I would say you are a day out, assuming we started on a Monday it was 30th Dec 1968. Cannot imagine how we put in New Year's Eve! Probably special canteen meal on New Years Day. The date is definitely correct but it does seem a strange starting date.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Dickie Mint on Mar 9^th, 2011, 10:31am

Yes I always remember thinking we can't have had a New Year's Day Public holiday back then! Ah! From : http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/bankholidays.html 1974!

And there's so much junk on my PC drives I can't find the WN email yet!

Richard

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by HMG on Mar 9^th, 2011, 12:01pm

I joined the BBC on 29th December 1969 and I was (with 13 others) sent to Wood Norton. I joined BBC Film Unit (TFS) as a trainee recordist which meant we did a 4 weeks condensed TO course. I remember that New Years Eve. So did my wife 80 miles away!!. Only the Beeb could do that to you....but it was all worth it ;D

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by HMG on Mar 9^th, 2011, 12:33pm

The first New Years Bank Holiday was in 1973

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Dickie Mint on Mar 9^th, 2011, 4:52pm

This site : http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/bankholidays.pdf also says 1974 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As does http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/metinfo/NFL/UKBankHolHistory.htm. No official references given though, apart from the Act mentioned.

An earlier paragraph in the TUC document seems to suggest that Scotland had it earlier due to the 1871 Bank Holidays Act.

Richard

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by HMG on Mar 10^th, 2011, 5:25am

Thank you Dickie you are correct

QUOTE:

1973
2 January became an additional bank holiday in Scotland

1974
New Year's Day became an additional bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Boxing Day became an additional bank holiday in Scotland.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by KevinH on Mar 18^th, 2011, 1:12am

So sad to see how run down the place looks.
I spent most of my BBC career at Wood Norton, 10 of the 11 years.
I started out with TA21 at the place. Returned less than a year later as a Lab Tech and built many of the training aids, wired studios and rebuilt the Lawlette 16mm processor.
Went on to do equipment maintenance and repair; that was followed by becoming an attached Lecturer for the final 4 or 5 years in the BBC.
35 years later I still have great memories of the place.
Living in Silly con Valley for the last 30 years; Ampex, Sat TV and semiconductors have paid the mortgages.
Great photos' guys.
All the best, Kevin

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by alanh on Mar 18^th, 2011, 9:38pm

What state is our former college at? I've seen the many sad pictures, know that the once main building became a hotel but is now closed. (Relations stayed there less than 2 years ago and thought it was very good.) If I look at http://www.bbctraining.com/facilitiesWN.asp it seems courses are still run there. Would I be correct in saying, yes to the training part (top of the drive) but no to any onsite accomodation (bottom of the drive) The bunker seems to be better guarded since I was there 1969 first (TA32), last about 1994 (some 3mc editing course). You could walk past it, in fact the bus went almost past it when they made the drive one way. It was always easy to know when it was going home time on a Friday if you were in Bredon Wing - they tested the generators (that didn't exist :)) and the building vibrated. The picts make the place look a bit like a location for Dr. Who (again) - signs of life having been there but the people have all disappeared.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by ibeattieedwards on Apr 8^th, 2012, 6:44pm

I think I was on TA31 or 32.

I did visit the bunker, and took pics.... but wife no 1 threw them away.

Then to Bristol.

Stayed about 4 years then got out, and went into aviation, and been there ever since.

In Dubai, for last 5 years....

Ian Beattie-Edwards.

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by RogerS on Apr 26^th, 2012, 12:55pm

Definitely not 1968. I was on TA28 and that started in Jan 1968.

The bunker was a great disappointment when it was finally released for us to use it for training purposes when I was a lecturer back in the '70s. Brought up on stories of 24/7 lorries carting the spoil away for months on end. Of them using the tallest tower crane in the UK and the jib would only just clear the ground, it was so deep.....

...the reality two stories and not very big either. Two other crazy things about the place. First, there was no means of locking the main door from the inside. So come Armageddon and the hordes roaming the countryside, there would be no way of keeping them out! Second, they seemed to have connected up the airco the wrong way round as the inside was under negative pressure....so each time the front door was opened, any radioactive dust would have been sucked in!

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by AndrewU on Dec 20^th, 2012, 2:57pm

Just found the site. Now asking where the years have gone! Great photos, but so, so sad. I joined in 1976, and was on the TO course A36. The accommodation was in "A" wing, not as plush as the nice rooms that were built in the 80s. I remember the menu, and the restaurant opposite the Breedon wing. I remember the old bus that took us to the BBC club in town, before The Phoenix was built. But mostly I remember lining up valve ppms, tape machines, amplifiers. I also remember constant announcements for Mr I V Munn to pick up a call on extension... Can anyone tell me about I V Munn? so many memories. Happy Holidays, everyone. Andrew :)

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Roundabout on Dec 21^st, 2012, 9:28am

Fine memories indeed Andrew, my first course was TA 15 in 1963 and lectures were often held in some prefabricated buildings out at the back. names of staff like Henman, Bowsfield and others. We lived in prefeb dorms which were like army barracks. We had a chance to produce a TV programme in the 'Gym' studio at the end of or final course TA16.
the old club was quite a place and we would congregate there to watch
Peter Coke and Dudley More on the club TV quaffing the famous BBC Club bacon sandwiches and yards of ale!

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Mikej on Dec 21^st, 2012, 1:10pm

I go back to TA22 and still the wooden huts and "D Block"
Was down there for a morning a few months ago. Very sad. At that time all the bit around the Main Building was fenced off and a sewage tank in the drive by the canteen as the sewage farm had been managed by the defunct hotel.
Only one Tx hut left full of junkj but loverly new News studio just opened behind the Phoenix.
Loads of empty classrooms and loads of kit but NO ONE there.
Canteen still open and brought back memories.
Breedon Wing (over that bit we didn't talk about) has some offices in use but fairly empty.
All very sad.
Mike

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Roundabout on Dec 22^nd, 2012, 9:24am

I have now traced some Low Def. pictures of TA 16 at Wood Norton in the ea4rly 1960s...remember anyone?
Link to http://s1126.beta.photobucket.com/user/petesimpkin/library/The%2060s%20at%20Wood%20Norton

Title: Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Post by Micro on Dec 22^nd, 2012, 11:29am

Oh, I have been looking for a TA16 group photo for years. Being mean, I never bought a copy! Thanks so much Pete.

Should you not offer the group picture to one of the websites that host WN pictures? Such as bbceng.info or vtoldboys.com - both of these have an incomplete set of course photos.
Micro