Wilmott, David

Born in Windsor, David Wilmott began his broadcasting career during National Service (1950 – 1952) with the Forces Broadcasting Service in the Canal Zone of Egypt, where he rose to become the station’s chief announcer.

He joined the BBC in Birmingham on Coronation Day (June 1953) as a studio manager producing sound effects on The Archers. He was cautioned that the position would last “only as long as the programme lasts”.

In 1955, he joined BBC Television drama as a floor manager and subsequently directed drama documentaries, including series such as You Take Over and The Case Before You.

He produced a live Sunday night play, Up a Gum Tree, before moving to television presentation (1955), working in network control and the trailer unit.

In 1958, David was seconded to Libya to advise on establishing the state television service.

In 1960, he returned to Television Presentation as a voice-only announcer and read letters on Points of View, which he later produced for two years.

In 1964, he was appointed Presentation Organiser North based in Manchester, tasked with ‘Bringing BBC Two to the North’ whilst also announcing on the regional Home Service.

He joined BBC Radio Presentation in London under David Lloyd James as an announcer on the Home, Light and Third Networks, then Radio 4 (1967 – 1977).

In 1977, David accepted another secondment, this time to Dubai Colour TV as a newsreader and advisor.

Upon his return, he completed a stint as newsreader on Points West in Bristol before joining BBC Radio 3 as a staff announcer, where he particularly enjoyed presenting the annual Promenade concerts.

David took early retirement in 1983 but continued as a freelance on Radio 4 and voice-only announcer for Anglia Television in Norwich.

In 1985, he became anchorman for a daily news magazine programme, Beacon Report, for Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton, where he also presented the station’s classical music programme.

In his spare time, he wrote three series of children’s stories, Mr Antonio, for Listening Corner on BBC Radio 4.

Together with his wife, he established Sunflower Productions, recording promotional material for use on local radio stations.

He also wrote and presented features for Radio 4, including Passing Trades and Great British Concert Halls.

David finally retired in 1989 following a spell as a continuity announcer for BFBS 2.

The wheel had come full circle.

David married Kate, who was also working in BBC Manchester, in 1966. They had two children and four grandchildren.

David died after a long battle with cancer, aged 88.  The memorial service was held at Malvern Priory on 6th November 2019.

Correspondence

Paul R. Jackson corresponded with David in September 2017.

Paul asked if he recalled any names of colleagues during the early 1960s, apart from John Trevor, and did he only voice daytime as evenings were the ladies in-vision

“I didn’t work in Lime Grove presentation – only in my drama days.

“In 1960 at TV Centre, there was a mixture of presentation during the evenings – the ladies did the in-vision look at what’s on, while the voiceover did trails, idents and time checks. Remember the clock before the Nine o’Clock News?”

Paul asked about Points of View

“Points of View was recorded during the afternoon on 405-lines, with Robert Robinson in the chair – no retakes or editing.

“The duty announcers of the day were used as readers – e.g., Valerie Pitts, Meryl O’Keeffe, Trevor Maskell, Clive Roslin, and freelance Delia Corrie who went on to read for What the Papers Say on Granada TV.

“In Manchester there was a team of announcers who did presentation for radio and opt-out television including Sandra Chalmers (Judith’s younger sister, who died 2nd February 2015), Alan Sykes, Ray Moore (who went on to BBC Radio 2) and Tom Naisby.”

 

Personal information

Clips of David on The TV Room

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Acknowledgements