This is taken from the current edition of Prospero, April 2007:

BRILLIANT WITH PEOPLE

Forty years ago, Michael Hancock and I were leading a hectic life as newly appointed managers preparing to launch the BBC’s first local radio stations. Maurice Ennals was with us (due to open Radio Leicester, the first of the batch of eight) and together we recruited staff, helped with their training and made frequent trips to our chosen destinations -- Michael to Merseyside and I to Sheffield. We were Frank Gillard’s missionaries in the field and it’s a matter of great sadness to me and many others that Michael, and indeed Frank and Maurice, will not be part of the celebrations in November.

Michael and I met in the late fifties at the BBC in Manchester when he was a dashing young television reporter complete with Triumph sports car. When he married Jill, a vivacious BBC secretary, I was their best man and we’ve been close friends ever since.

He took his work seriously and he was good at it. Perhaps the most outstanding of his news reports was the coverage of a pot-holing tragedy in the Peak District. Neil Moss had become lodged in a funnel of rock and in spite of the heroic efforts of the rescue services, he died after several days. Michael was there night and day reporting to the nation -- never mawkish, always sensitive and concerned, striking precisely the right balance between hope and the fear of failure.

His skill with words and his keen news sense had been honed on local newspapers and at the BBC in London where one of his first jobs was to be a sub and reporter on /Sports Report. /Working for the formidable Angus Mackay as editor taught him discipline and how to cope with pressure -- qualities which were to serve him well in the nine jobs he undertook at the BBC.

Being a presentation editor at Television Centre was one such example.  The 1966 World Cup took place on his duty day and naturally it was over-running. /Harry Worth /was the next scheduled programme and his anti- football fans were unimpressed by Michael’s decision to let Ken Wolstenholme have his great moment: ‘they think it’s all over, it is now!’

On November 22, 1967 Radio Merseyside exploded onto the air with Michael at the helm. He was made for local radio; not only did he have the journalistic skills, he was brilliant with people. Staff were encouraged to take risks (and always supported if they failed).

He built up friendships throughout the community and was bursting with ideas including the creation of a daily soap opera /45 Derby Terrace --/ the/ /first of its kind on local radio. When a bus strike paralysed the area he invited personal contacts at the council and the unions to attempt to resolve their differences on air. They did and the strike was called off.

For many years, Michael was based in Pebble Mill -- first as regional television manager and later running Press and PR. He attracted great loyalty. How many line managers would welcome their newly appointed staff with an immaculately hand-written note of welcome? This was all part of Michael’s natural style as was his compassion, his kindness and his willingness to share a problem. But his professionalism and flair for innovation were never compromised and in his final contribution to the BBC he worked vigorously to influence opinion formers in the Midlands as the BBC was going through a period of change.

His talents had been spotted by JCB -- the digger company -- and it was with them as director of PR that Michael enjoyed his remaining working years. But sadly the tragic loss of his beloved Jill meant that his retirement was not to be the rewarding experience he anticipated.
Cruelly he contracted Parkinson’s disease which he bore with great courage and dignity. His four sons were unstinting in their love and support and they have our deepest sympathy.

Michael Barton