Robin was a BBC Radio announcer (1971 – 1979), and a BBC TV network announcer (1979 – 1987). After starting at the BBC in the Gramophone Library in 1966, Robin trained as a BBC studio manager working in network radio, local radio and the World Service.
He tells us: “I had been graded A1 vocally whilst training, and after some pretty intensive sessions with Peter Fettes and Aileen Macleod – the two BBC voice coaches – I was allowed to begin working relief announcer duties on the World Service in 1971, which I did for three years before moving to Southampton. After a short time in Radio Solent, the local BBC station, I resigned my staff post and moved to Television Centre in London, on a two-week contract, as a network announcer on BBC One and BBC Two.
“Initially, I covered the Trade Test Films, Schools programmes and children’s daytime transmissions, including subsequently, the early, single-handed Open University transmissions, before graduating to the full daytime and evening announcer duties. After over seven years of network announcing, an internal attachment to production as an assistant presentation producer/director, allowed me to make trailers, vision mix and direct live programmes including, The Weatherman and Points of View. Towards the end of the 1980s I was presented with a personal award for services to the BBC, and two years later, partly as a result of medical problems, I took the decision to leave the BBC, eventually forming my own production company.
“These days, at the time of writing this some ten years later, I am still performing voiceovers, mainly for specialist video narrations and advertising, as well as producing video programmes. I vision mix for giant LED screens at cricket and rugby events covered by Sky Sports and I am very actively involved in a voice alarm company producing state-of-the-art fire and security products.”
Personal information
Clips of Robin on The TV Room
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