This is taken from The Guardian:

Geoffrey Braithwaite

by Charles Armour
Thursday February 16, 2006

Geoffrey Braithwaite, who has died aged 75, worked as a radio producer for the BBC's education department from 1962 until his retirement. A born linguist - he read modern languages, including Czech, at Trinity College, Cambridge - Braithwaite had learned Russian as a journalist in Paris when he lodged with a Russian emigré family.

In the 1960s the BBC made a big effort to extend provision of language programmes for schools and adults. When it came to expanding the Russian output, it inevitably fell to Geoffrey to make recordings in Moscow. Today, it is hard to realise how difficult it was then to do just that. Negotiations had to be undertaken with the Soviet Unon. BBC management had to be persuaded to send a member of staff behind the iron curtain. They were extremely concerned about communist penetration into national broadcasting. This took time and patience, but all went well. Geoffrey got to Moscow, made his recordings, and all was fine.

While there, however, he had become attached to a young lady, Alla, and wanted to bring her to England. Colleagues watched with bated breath. Yet Geoffrey was successful and for both of them a new life and many years of happiness followed.

He had an adventurous spirit. The story goes that when the BBC's further education department was searching wihtout success for someone to write and produce an Arabic series,, the name of Geoffrey Braithwaite came up. Amazingly, Geoffrey said: "I've got to start from scratch but give me three months; I will have mastered enough to do the job." And this he did.

Though he was from Yorkshire, born in Shipley and educated at Bradford grammar school, he bore on the surface few traces of his origins. These he revealed on occasions in funny stories, and from time to time, at work when he stood firmly on principles, stubbornly and courteously. Geoffrey often seemed a very private person. In company he could be the humorous raconteur and mimic, but he always protected the inner sanctum of himself. His penchant for large, broad-brimmed hats, coloured jackets and bright shirts and ties certainly helped to define Geoffrey. He also drew delightful line drawings that would brighten invitations and many formal occasions. In recent years, many retired colleagues enjoyed his little notes with witty drawings in the margins.

Visiting Geoffrey and Alla's Battersea home was a wonderful experience: full of books, Russian memorabilia and objets d'art that reflected the culture of educated and peasant Russia, enduring over centuries. The story of Alla and Geoffrey covered a remarkable period of change, but in their home one had a view of some enduring strands.

She survives him.