Monday 21st May, 12.40 Mortlake Crematorium, New Orleans jazz and bright colours.

Yes - I was vetted.

In January 1992 - before Phil and Anne left on their great US adventure - Phil sold me a lithograph which he'd bought on one of his South American reporting trips. I see it everyday. We worked together in the BBC Journalist Training Department where he was a highly valued colleague.
What seems to have been omitted from other obituaries was his profound knowledge and concern about the spread of HIV - AIDS; a consequence of a brother (I think) having died of AIDS.
We occasionally exchanged news; I was very fond of him.

Production Designer Derek Dodds died recently. Funeral to be held at Mortlake Crematorium 13.15.h Tuesday 8th May 2018.

Costume Designer Reg Samuel died this morning 23/04/2018 having put up a brave fight over ill health for many years. No news of any funeral arrangements as yet but will keep you informed.

As I'd signed the Official Secrets Act in my previous job at AEI as an Electronics Tester on Military Radar, I would assume yes.  

But having to be vetted for the OSA, did they do it again at the Beeb?

I got through. Must not have been an "evilly disposed engineer"

The answer is very probably (shh don't tell anyone)..

'Yes',

according to this BBC news report.

Category "A" ?

I have always defined "news' as "information that affects us". It is an epithet borne out by "Small earthquake in Peru, not many dead" which is often used as a a meter for deciding  what should be in or out of headlines and content of bulletins. So I wonder who shares my disquiet at this top story from the Home Page on BBC News Online tonight....which also appeared as a newsflash on my smartphone?   I ask myself, am I affected? I admit, a very tiny part of my sentimental side was "affected" by a story about a dog adopting fox cubs in Cornwall. But this story?  I don't think so.  I see it as another move in a depressingly downward trend.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43841194

More here

.... and not least because the BBC is no longer required to subsidise it.