Legendary local journalist John Abberley has died

One of Stoke-on-Trent's best-known columnists, and one of the pioneers of BBC local radio, John Abberley, has died.

Affectionately known as Abbo, John was North Staffordshire's leading journalist of the post-war years.

He started his career at the Evening Sentinel in 1949 as a rookie reporter but joined the BBC in 1967 to help launch Radio Stoke-on-Trent.

The 78-year-old was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Radio personality

John Abberley was already well known on the Sentinel newspaper when BBC station manager, the late Harold Williams, recruited John for not only his unrivalled knowledge of local affairs, but also his great potential as a radio personality.

John did not disappoint his manager's faith in him and with the opening of BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent in 1968, he brought a credibility to the fledgling news room operation.

John's contacts realised that BBC local radio was here to stay and the service, paid for in its earliest stage by the City Council, was one that should be supported.

It really was an inspired choice by Harold Williams to use Abbo's talents.

Local politics

John's knowledge and views on all forms of local affairs were reflected throughout Radio Stoke's programmes.

Local politics was a speciality, and every local politician held him in awe.

If you walked down a street you would not get far, John knew everyone and if not, they felt they knew him. It could take hours to get from one side of town to another because John had time for all.

If you saw a crowd in the middle of Hanley you would almost certainly find John in the middle of it discussing a local story. Which is probably why he was almost always late getting to things!

Sport was perhaps John's greatest love and Stoke City in particular. 'On the Ball' was John's idea the original Saturday afternoon sports programme on Radio Stoke.

This was a programme that had a starting time but no one knew when it would finish, which would be when John and his guests had no more to say about the match which could easily be around closing time.

John eventually rejoined the Sentinel when he was 57, but his impact on radio in this area remains to this day.


Source:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9166000/9166889.st...

BBC local radio pioneer dies


One of the founders of BBC local radio who helped set up Radio Stoke has died after a battle with cancer.

John Abberley - known as Abbo - joined the BBC in 1967 to help launch the station in his home city.

He was also one of Stoke-on-Trent's best-known columnists, working at the city's Evening Sentinel both before and after his time at Radio Stoke.

The 78-year-old was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last year.

Former colleague Ali Bushnell said: "When I first started working at BBC Radio Stoke, back in 1986, John 'Abbo' Abberley was already a legend. So you can imagine what it was like for me to be working alongside him. He was so much fun. A gentleman who always asked how you were, stopped for a chat and generally made your working day memorable. He really was a pioneer local radio and someone who shall live in the hearts forever of those who have had the honour to work with him during his long career."

From "Radio Today".


Source:-
http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6445.17