Alan Hardwick
Encyclopedia
Alan Hardwick is an English
television presenter based in Lincolnshire
.
coal miner, living on Chesterfield Road in Staveley. He attended Netherthorpe Grammar School
in the town.
from 1965, although while he was writing to dozens of newspapers to try to break in to journalism, he worked in the men's clothing department at the now-disappeared Swallows department store in Chesterfield
. Unbeknown to the young Hardwick, the news editor of the Derbyshire Times
had his suits made in the store and another assistant, Vincent Cleary, arranged an interview for Alan at the newspaper. One of the first stories he covered was the death of his old school Latin master, Horace Oakley, the man who had first advised him to pursue journalism as a career. He left Derbyshire to become a sub-editor with Wiltshire Gazette and Herald in Swindon
in 1969 then moved onto being a news editor for the now defunct Lincolnshire Chronicle which also at one time employed Elton John
's lyricist Bernie Taupin as a journalist. From Lincoln he became district editor for Faversham News, Kent. After a short spell in the South East, he went on to being a sub-editor and sports editor for Scarborough Evening News
.
. He had first encountered YTV when covering a story at Butlins
in Filey
. The staff TV presenter, who was travelling by helicopter, was unable to land due to fog, so Alan stepped in. From 2002 - 2003 he presented his own daily news/current affairs programme, on Radio Lincolnshire
. From 2003–present he has been a self-employed voice-over artist and PR consultant
. Alan recently set up his own website, East Coast Television - his idea is to create a web based television service specialising in general interest programmes.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television presenter based in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
Early life
He is the son of a DerbyshireDerbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
coal miner, living on Chesterfield Road in Staveley. He attended Netherthorpe Grammar School
Netherthorpe School
Netherthorpe School is a secondary school designated science college status that is based in the town of Staveley in the Chesterfield district of Derbyshire.-History:The school was founded in 1572A quote from an 1857 directory:...
in the town.
Newspapers
In his early years, Alan Hardwick was a junior reporter with Derbyshire TimesDerbyshire Times
The Derbyshire Times is a weekly local newspaper published in northern Derbyshire, each edition being on sale from Thursday. Its headquarters are in Chesterfield and much of its coverage centres on the town and the surrounding area. The newspaper also covers parts of the Peak District and Amber...
from 1965, although while he was writing to dozens of newspapers to try to break in to journalism, he worked in the men's clothing department at the now-disappeared Swallows department store in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
. Unbeknown to the young Hardwick, the news editor of the Derbyshire Times
Derbyshire Times
The Derbyshire Times is a weekly local newspaper published in northern Derbyshire, each edition being on sale from Thursday. Its headquarters are in Chesterfield and much of its coverage centres on the town and the surrounding area. The newspaper also covers parts of the Peak District and Amber...
had his suits made in the store and another assistant, Vincent Cleary, arranged an interview for Alan at the newspaper. One of the first stories he covered was the death of his old school Latin master, Horace Oakley, the man who had first advised him to pursue journalism as a career. He left Derbyshire to become a sub-editor with Wiltshire Gazette and Herald in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
in 1969 then moved onto being a news editor for the now defunct Lincolnshire Chronicle which also at one time employed Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's lyricist Bernie Taupin as a journalist. From Lincoln he became district editor for Faversham News, Kent. After a short spell in the South East, he went on to being a sub-editor and sports editor for Scarborough Evening News
Scarborough Evening News
The Scarborough Evening News, is a local, paid-for daily newspaper distributed in and around the Scarborough, North Yorkshire, area. The newspaper gives a local slant on the day's news....
.
Television
From August 20, 1973 - 2002 he was a senior journalist, presenter, producer, and director with Yorkshire TelevisionYorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
. He had first encountered YTV when covering a story at Butlins
Butlins
Butlins is a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. Butlins was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families....
in Filey
Filey
Filey is a small town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the borough of Scarborough and is located between Scarborough and Bridlington on the North Sea coast. Although it started out as a fishing village, it has a large beach and is a popular tourist resort...
. The staff TV presenter, who was travelling by helicopter, was unable to land due to fog, so Alan stepped in. From 2002 - 2003 he presented his own daily news/current affairs programme, on Radio Lincolnshire
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
BBC Lincolnshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Lincolnshire — apart from the northern parts, which are covered by BBC Radio Humberside...
. From 2003–present he has been a self-employed voice-over artist and PR consultant
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
. Alan recently set up his own website, East Coast Television - his idea is to create a web based television service specialising in general interest programmes.
Family
Alan Hardwick married Julie in 1978. They have two daughters, Emma and Georgina. Alan has an older daughter, Clare, from a previous marriage.External links
- ECTV website
- Alan Hardwick - Yorkshire TV's `Mr. Versatile' - interview by Tom Bates.
- Radio - Digital Spy Forums