Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> Notices, obituaries and tributes >> Dianne Oxberry http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1547196816 Message started by Administrator on Jan 11^th, 2019, 8:54am

Title: Dianne Oxberry
Post by Administrator on Jan 11^th, 2019, 8:54am

 BBC News reports the death of TV and radio presenter Dianne Oxberry.

51 year old Dianne died from cancer on Thursday.

She became the BBC Manchester weather presenter in 1994, and took part in many of BBC Manchester's regional TV programmes.

In 2002 she was asked to present BBC Radio Manchester's lunchtime show. She then co-hosted the station's flagship breakfast show with Eamonn O'Neal between 2006 and 2008.

"Aziz Rashid, head of BBC North West, said: "We are all devastated by this dreadful news. The coming days will be difficult but we will do our best to pay tribute to someone who meant so much to us all and made such an enormous contribution to broadcasting in the North West.

Helen Thomas, director of BBC England, said: "Dianne had a remarkable career. For more than two decades, she was a key part of one of the most watched regional news programmes in the country. Prior to that, she'd had a successful stint working on air at Radio 1."

"The Guardian" has a tribute, here.

"The Independent"'s tribute is here.

Title: Re: Dianne Oxberry
Post by Administrator on Jan 11^th, 2019, 5:38pm

The BBC web-site opened for viewer's comments.
Here are a couple:-

"Trish Spillane, via email
As viewers, we can't claim to really know her, but she's often been mentioned in my daily telephone conversation with my elderly mother (no weathers apps for her).
Mum: "What's the weather gonna be like tomorrow?"
Me: "Well Dianne said..."
She was a genuine part of lives - as such her death has shocked me. How must it feel for her family.

Kevin Hey, via email
One summer school holiday, when my daughter was at high school, she and three of her chums set off on a cycling adventure to Wycoller - a journey of a couple of miles.
It was a blisteringly hot summer day and when they reached the village they were "all-in".
Dianne Oxberry was there with the BBC and she'd just bought an ice cream for herself but when she saw the girls she went back into the shop and came out with four ice creams for them!
I remember to this day my daughter and her chums returning home and describing the day as "mega" (which was high praise indeed), and all on account of kindness from Dianne.
From that day onwards, I fell in love with Dianne Oxberry.
I am very sad to hear of her passing. My heartfelt sympathy to all at NWT."

Title: Re: Dianne Oxberry
Post by Administrator on Jan 12^th, 2019, 1:52pm

This article from "Sale Today" (Covering Sale, Brooklands, Ashton on Mersey and Priory), written by Barbara Metcalfe (Dianne's first TV producer in 1994), explains why Dianne will be missed by so many people.

The article is entitled:-
"Sandals in the snow and everyone’s friend – why we all loved Dianne Oxberry"

"One of my favourites was walking across the snow and ice on the grass of Jodrell Bank to her position under the huge dish – which was lit up for the Stargazing programmes with Professor Brian Cox. We would do inserts into North West Tonight every year and this particular year it was -4C at 6 pm, yet when I looked down Di was wearing high-heeled sandals, open toe ones at that! Yet it was me who slipped over in my fur lined boots.

Whatever we asked her to do she just got on and did it, whether broadcasting live from an ice-cream van or somewhere more serious where she was able to question those who are accountable."

H/T Judith Moritz

 Here is the News Channel 'Afternoon Live' tribute.

H/T Simon McCoy