Radio Four Newsreader Rory Morrison has died.



Rory Morrison studied English Language and Literature at Durham University before embarking on a career in broadcasting at Beacon Radio, an independent station in the West Midlands, as a travel reporter (perched on the back of a motorcycle!) and presenter.


He joined the BBC in 1990 to host the afternoon show at Radio Leeds and was also heard on BBC Radio York and on the breakfast show at BBC Radio Cleveland.

After leaving local radio he worked for a time for the British Forces Broadcasting Service before joining BBC Radio 4 as a continuity announcer. Over the years he has both presented and reported for From Our Own Correspondent, spent New Years Eve 1999 on standy-by in case the millenium bug threatened the BBC's output (it didn't!) and eventually joined the newsreading team, presenting the Six O'clock bulletin for major events such as the Queen Mother's funeral.

In 2004 he was diagnosed with a rare type of Lymphoma.

A fund raising walk by his Radio 4 colleagues raised well over £20,000 for the Lymphoma Association.

(Biography from the BBC Web-site.)


You can hear some of Rory's work here, courtesy of "Audioboo".


BBC Web-site tribute here.

"BBC Radio 4 announcer and newsreader Rory Morrison has died aged 48, the corporation has said.

He had been suffering from a rare form of cancer.

Morrison joined the BBC in 1990, first working in local radio and later becoming a continuity announcer and newsreader on Radio 4.

The station's controller Gwyneth Williams said he was respected for his intelligence, integrity and complete professionalism.

She added he had been at the heart of Radio 4 for many years. "

By Katy Hubbard, here is "The Guardian" obituary for Rory.


Rory Morrison, who has died of a rare type of cancer aged 48, was a consummate broadcaster. He would glide with ease across the BBC Radio 4 schedule, from the early news in the Today programme to the ribaldry of the News Quiz to the poetry of the Shipping Forecast. Rory was universally respected for his intelligence, integrity and professionalism.

His voice was known and loved by millions of listeners to Radio 4 who regarded him as a friend even though they had never met him. A fan of cricket, Rory could be described as an all-rounder; as thoughtful and spontaneous a continuity announcer as he was authoritative and articulate a newsreader. Outside the studio, Rory was a witty, naughty, noisy man who loved a gossip. Inside the studio, even when surrounded by giggles and chaos, he kept calm and carried on.

Rory Morrison and Max, the family spaniel
Born in London, Rory was the eldest child of Anne and Bob Morrison, and brother to Iain and Lynn. He went to Malvern College, Worcestershire, and from there to Durham University, where he studied English, graduating in 1986.Rory joined the BBC in 1990, presenting an afternoon show at Radio Leeds, as well as working at Radio York and Radio Cleveland. It was at Leeds that Rory met Nikki Jenkins, the BBC journalist who became his wife in 1994.

After leaving local radio, he worked for the British Forces Broadcasting Service before joining Radio 4 as a continuity announcer in April 1994. Here Rory mentored other announcers, once telling a green new recruit to pause "long enough for it to hurt". He was a passionate advocate of the English language and brought a fresh, natural sound to Radio 4.

In 2004 he was diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma. He once said: "I don't think in terms of having a battle with this cancer; I prefer to think of it as a chronic condition that I can, and will, manage. When something like this happens, you realise how lucky you are to have such great friends and family."

Since the first diagnosis, Rory continued to be part of the Radio 4 presentation team, taking time off for treatment. Throughout his illness he maintained his distinctive sense of humour on Twitter, describing his trials and tribulations to his many followers.

In 2008, his determination to raise funds for the Lymphoma Association led Rory and his fellow Radio 4 announcers on a fundraising walk to Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, the historic home of the Greenwich Time Signal. Billed as A Pilgrimage to the Pips, it was featured in Radio 4's Ramblings in April that year.

Rory will be missed by those who knew him and by the millions who loved his voice. He is survived by Nikki and their children, Honor and Reuben.

• Rory David Morrison, radio announcer and newsreader, born 5 August 1964; died 11 June 2013


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jun/12/rory-morrison

"Ariel" has an obituary here  by Chris Aldridge (Senior Announcer).

"As one colleague puts it, 'I can think of very few people who were respected, admired and loved to the degree that Rory was, professionally and personally in equal measure. That is one hell of a legacy.'"