Forum for former BBC staff - Wood Norton Pictures

Administrator YaBB Administrator Offline Posts: 3268	Wood Norton Pictures Feb 20^th, 2011, 10:31pm A web-site has recently posted some pictures taken around Wood Norton Hall and its environs. The pictures are here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/39746360@N06/5459290488/in/set-72157626088991102/ With an introduction here:- http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=17878 This is posted out of interest. Admin.
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F.M.

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Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Reply #1 - Feb 21^st, 2011, 6:39pm

Does the BBC still run courses there?
Some of it looks pretty run down.
I know that WN hall was sold to a hotelier but went bankrupt soon after leaving the BBC in the lurch with the plumbing and such.
Someone told me a number of years ago that there were portaloos situated outside the accomodation blocks.
What a shame the BBC had to sell.
I have Fond memories of the many courses I attended there. Cry

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Roundabout

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Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Reply #2 - Feb 22^nd, 2011, 3:47pm

Thanks for giving us access to these pictures but what a depressing sight it now is.............whatever will become of this sad memorial to a great part of the BBC's history from wartime broadcasts to 'bunker' by way of the great age of the training of engineers..........thank goodness we have good memories of activities and friends made there.
I vividly recall TA 16 being the only engineers group to be allowed to put on a full production in the Gym Studio.........I was floor manager.
We had a chap from Belfast (ashamed to admit his name is lost in the mists) who built a proper vision mixer especially for the show. I recall him and a group setting off on a trolley at the top of the hill near the garrison sheds that were classrooms and as the thing got out of control as it passed the main building yelling 'opt out everybody' as they all leaped off.

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Micro

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Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Reply #3 - Feb 23^rd, 2011, 2:22pm

I also remember TA16 and was one of the cameramen on the "production" in the Phoenix. If only we'd had VT then - it was a hoot. I remember the presenter, Sir Brian Beau-Locks and a lot of school boy humour that would probably seem very childish today. But we all enjoyed it, and most of us passed the exam too.

Was the NI chap with the vsion mixer Davey Dillon, who passed away a while back? He was a great guy, spent some time in Libya too. We were both there when Quadaffi came to power. If I remember right, we all got good wishes from the (then) 2nd Lieutenant for our efforts with an OB unit when he made a speech at Benghazi University....

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alanh YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 26	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #4 - Feb 23^rd, 2011, 10:06pm I was much later at WN (TA32) but I reckon you are correct re David Dillon. I worked with David in Belfast VT for many years after his return from Libya. I know he built a few more vision mixers!
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Amigo Full Member Offline Posts: 174	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #5 - Feb 23^rd, 2011, 11:35pm A long time ago... TO 29 http://s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x432/MainReception/BBC/?action=view&current=...
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Mikej

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Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Reply #6 - Feb 24^th, 2011, 10:40am

Ah memories!
Must have spent almost a year there on various courses (TA22 onwards). WN must have trained so so many people all over the UK (and the world - The chief engineer of Kenyan Broadcasting was on my C course - which would have been VERY useful to know when I was setting up an OB there).
One only has to look at the output now to see what is being missed!
So sad to see the piles of rubbish outside "A block" Common Room and in the pathway outside the Warden's Flat (Mr B D Oldman - and his doggie - it says in my "joining instructions" - still kept in the garage of course.
And the filled-in swimming pool (sorry Bear Pit)
Amigo's ones showing the old BBC Green bus bring back memories of returning late from (Reg's) BBC Club.

Who remembers sneaking in to look at this
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_Shower_3s.jpg
and where we trained
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_control_room.jpg
and how much it cost up per week to stay in "D" dorm sheds
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_receipt_2.jpg
to be paid at the cash office up the back stairs in the main building!
Someone posted this as well - Canteen used to be really busy once - with that "Special" room only for lecturers
http://www.bmanor.co.uk/pics/WN_Menu.jpg

Mike

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Roundabout

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Re: Wood Norton Pictures
Reply #7 - Feb 24^th, 2011, 11:22pm

Thanks Micro.......that's right Dave Dillon...............sorry to hear he had passed away.
Do you remember anyone else on that course and the production.........and are any of the others from TA 16 in this Forum, John Hartshorn (sound),Alistair Cameron...I think directed, and other names.....Dennis the Yorkshireman..........Pete Dunkley and Peter Dunkley,John King.......of Wimbledon fame,......................................

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Russell W. Barnes YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 9	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #8 - Feb 25^th, 2011, 10:41pm There are a few of my pics of BBC ETD WN here - early 1980s.
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Micro YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 13	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #9 - Feb 26^th, 2011, 5:31pm It almost sounds as if you are about to organise a TA16 reunion Roundabout! Heaven forfend! It would be good to hear from some of the chaps again though. Pete Dunkley however died in a scuba accident some years ago. Mustn't be morbid...... I'm sure there's lot if us still around
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Roundabout Full Member Offline Posts: 214	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #10 - Feb 28^th, 2011, 6:15am Thanks Micro! A re-union?.........heaven forbid! Would you care to identify yourself ...as a TA16-er?
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Micro YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 13	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #11 - Mar 3^rd, 2011, 6:45pm Hi Roundabout. No secrets - Andy Hughes. And I wonder if you are P** S****?
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Roundabout Full Member Offline Posts: 214	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #12 - Mar 3^rd, 2011, 10:04pm Well guessed! Pete it is.
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Dickie Mint Senior Member Offline Posts: 261 Solihull, West Midlands Gender:	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #13 - Mar 5^th, 2011, 4:55pm alanh wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2011, 10:06pm: ..I was much later at WN (TA32)....... Me Too! Do you remember the exact starting date of TA32, Alan? For some reason I had it fixed in my mind as 31st December 1968, but checking with the WN office last year their records said not! Richard Taylor
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alanh YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 26	Re: Wood Norton Pictures Reply #14 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 5:09pm Richard, had a look at 1968 calendar. I would say you are a day out, assuming we started on a Monday it was 30th Dec 1968. Cannot imagine how we put in New Year's Eve! Probably special canteen meal on New Years Day. The date is definitely correct but it does seem a strange starting date.
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