July 1994
author
I will mention only in passing the fact that a very successful time, an experience which indeed gives a whole new meaning to the very word 'successful' was had by all parties during our fling at the wind-powered end of Glastonbury this year.
If anyone tuned in to 87.7 between 2 and 4 or 6 and 8 in the afternoon, they would have heard some of the most original and entertaining broadcasting I have heard in my life.
My main task for the next two months will be to sort the logs and needless to say, a lot more, both in terms of written accounts, pictures and most importantly tapes will become available in one form or another as time meanders on. But there is clearly no rush. Thank God for that.
No, it's the BBC I wish to draw my attention to. I was preparing a soft rebuke for the Community Radio Association, some of you (and indeed even some of them) may already be aware of. I wished a mild lack of attention to detail on the part of the CRA to be drawn to the attention of a gentleman called Nick Higham.
Now I'm sure I don't need to tell too many of you what Nick does, but for the benefit of those people like the BBC switchboard staff who haven't a clue who he is, Nick deals with media, and of course RADIO stories for that flagship broadcast known colloquiallyas 'The Nine o'clock News' on the telly.
I've known Nick for years... I used to write years ago the usual column of self- opinionated rubbish on the back of his shaky Radio Month operation until it folded. Owing me money, it has to be said.
Now although nowadays Nick and I have had contact with each other amounting to little more than a dozen words in the past five years, it's a plain fact of life that no journalist forgets his first relationship with an editor worthy of the name. However much, I might add, the latter, now that he has reached such elevated heights of importance, might appear on the face of it to have no desire to reciprocate.
Anyway, having a juicy little press release and sending to the snooty old duffer can hardly be a bad idea, can it. I knew that Nick was in TV centre somewhere and I was also convinced that he could hardly be so far from a fax machine that if one came in with his name prominently marked about it another BBC employee might possibly draw it to his attention before it got too late to be useful. So I approached the BBC with the following (to me at least) fairly straightforward enquiry.
You know Nick Higham - the chap who covers media stories on the telly news? I want to send a fax to him. What's the best number to dial into?
You would not believe the rigmarole it took to extract this apparently straightforward information from the switchboard operator banging furiously away on some no doubt damn digital-information- obscurity-maximising system in front of her. It was completely pathetic. Try it for yourself.
Same question, different name.
Any readers wishing to comment on what I have said are welcome to call me on 01 273 684 172 or send e-mail to normac@fastnet.co.uk
Copyright NJ McLeod 1995