Berkeley Smith
Encyclopedia
Berkeley Alexander Smith (December 8, 1918 - April 22, 2003). Broadcaster and a senior figure in the television world for nearly 40 years.
, he was the son of Rupert Barkeley Smith (1883–1970) I.C.S., of Mettingham
, Suffolk
, former District Magistrate and Commissioner at Agra
, and the author of Indians Told Me. His mother, Honor Ashley Pettilot Penrose was the youngest daughter of (Edward) James Penrose (d.1936), J.P., M.V.O., of Woodhill House, Co. Cork and Ethel Charlotte Coghill (d.1938). His mother was a first cousin of the novelist Edith Anna Somerville
and a niece of Nevill Coghill (VC) and Sir Egerton Coghill, 5th Baronet
.
and the University of St Andrews
, on the outbreak of World War II
he quit his studies and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery
, serving in the Western Desert and then in Burma.
Following D-Day
, the army in Burma began to think of itself as the "Forgotten Army", and Smith was sent back to England
to lecture on the Burmese campaign. He was so successful that he was next sent to the United States
to do the same in front of an American audience. Following this, for six months he was British press liaison officer during the Nuremberg Trials
.
, starting in outside radio
broadcasts. Three years later he took a producer's job in the equivalent television
department.
As the service grew, sport became an important part of the BBC
's output, and Smith was soon interviewing golf champions on camera as well as producing the programme. In the historic coverage of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
in 1953, Smith was one of the commentators, stationed on the Victoria Memorial, London. In 1955, he became head of the department.
Though a senior figure in television for nearly forty years, Smith only appeared in front of the cameras himself a few times in the 1950s, most memorably as one of the BBC's gentlemen-callers who descended on celebrities of the day for a quaint programme called At Home. This was one of the BBC
's steadfast programmes. It was broadcast live from the seats of the eminent or titled. He took over from Richard Dimbleby
, the original caller who had given the programme a respectful tone. But, according to his obituary, Smith was altogether "cheerier, breezier and renowned as a charmer. When he went calling, his manner conveyed a faint threat that he might stir his tea with his pencil or absent-mindedly pinch her ladyship's bottom, thus giving the proceedings a hint of the danger that all good live TV needs". On one occasion he was received by the butler, who ushered him into the drawing room with the words, "The television, your lordship."
In 1957 he provided the UK commentary at the Eurovision Song Contest
.
In 1958, Smith transferred his talents in the same position as chief of outside broadcasts to the newly enfranchised ITV
contractor, Southern Television
. Amongst his achievements there, he set up the relay of opera
from Glyndebourne
and Covent Garden
. In 1964 he became Southern's programme controller; he was so successful that, in the contract reshuffle four years later, Southern was one of the few companies to have its contract unconditionally renewed. Smith and his team were singled out for praise.
He represented the ITV companies in meetings at the European Broadcasting Union, acting as chairman of their religious sub-committee. At hat time the committee was there to ensure that only suitable programmes should fill the break in the Sunday evening schedules in order to protect church services. His final appointment was as head of the secretariat of the independent television companies' association (1976–84).
. Later he moved to Abergavenny
to be near his son. He was a passionate golfer, and though he never returned to St Andrews to complete his degree course, he did become a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
. He loved entertaining, travel, good food and wine. According to his obituary, "by general consent he was excellent company".
Both his marriages (firstly to Penelope Harling and secondly to Shirley Horton) were dissolved. By his first wife he left a son and two daughters. His step-grandson is the 'Guardian' columnist Matthew Norman.
Birth
Born in BournemouthBournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, he was the son of Rupert Barkeley Smith (1883–1970) I.C.S., of Mettingham
Mettingham
Mettingham is a village in Suffolk, England, close to the border with Norfolk.Its church, All Saints, is one of 38 existing round-tower churches in Suffolk, UK....
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, former District Magistrate and Commissioner at Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, and the author of Indians Told Me. His mother, Honor Ashley Pettilot Penrose was the youngest daughter of (Edward) James Penrose (d.1936), J.P., M.V.O., of Woodhill House, Co. Cork and Ethel Charlotte Coghill (d.1938). His mother was a first cousin of the novelist Edith Anna Somerville
Edith Anna Somerville
Edith Anna Œnone Somerville was an Irish novelist who habitually signed herself as "E. Œ. Somerville". She wrote in collaboration with her cousin "Martin Ross" under the pseudonym "Somerville and Ross"...
and a niece of Nevill Coghill (VC) and Sir Egerton Coghill, 5th Baronet
Sir Egerton Coghill, 5th Baronet
Sir Egerton Bushe Coghill, 5th Baronet was an Irish painter.-Career:Coghill was born in Castletownshend, County Cork, the second son of Irish painter Sir John Joscelyn Coghill, 4th Baronet, and his wife the Hon. Katherine Frances, daughter of John Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket...
.
Early career
Educated at Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
and the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he quit his studies and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, serving in the Western Desert and then in Burma.
Following D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, the army in Burma began to think of itself as the "Forgotten Army", and Smith was sent back to England
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...
to lecture on the Burmese campaign. He was so successful that he was next sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to do the same in front of an American audience. Following this, for six months he was British press liaison officer during the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
.
Broadcasting career
Finally demobilised in 1946, Smith sought a career in broadcasting on the back of his communication skills. He joined the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, starting in outside radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcasts. Three years later he took a producer's job in the equivalent television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
department.
As the service grew, sport became an important part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's output, and Smith was soon interviewing golf champions on camera as well as producing the programme. In the historic coverage of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which the newly ascended monarch, Elizabeth II, was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth...
in 1953, Smith was one of the commentators, stationed on the Victoria Memorial, London. In 1955, he became head of the department.
Though a senior figure in television for nearly forty years, Smith only appeared in front of the cameras himself a few times in the 1950s, most memorably as one of the BBC's gentlemen-callers who descended on celebrities of the day for a quaint programme called At Home. This was one of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's steadfast programmes. It was broadcast live from the seats of the eminent or titled. He took over from Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby CBE was an English journalist and broadcaster widely acknowledged as one of the greatest figures in British broadcasting history.-Early life:...
, the original caller who had given the programme a respectful tone. But, according to his obituary, Smith was altogether "cheerier, breezier and renowned as a charmer. When he went calling, his manner conveyed a faint threat that he might stir his tea with his pencil or absent-mindedly pinch her ladyship's bottom, thus giving the proceedings a hint of the danger that all good live TV needs". On one occasion he was received by the butler, who ushered him into the drawing room with the words, "The television, your lordship."
In 1957 he provided the UK commentary at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
In 1958, Smith transferred his talents in the same position as chief of outside broadcasts to the newly enfranchised ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
contractor, Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
. Amongst his achievements there, he set up the relay of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
from Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne is a country house, thought to be about six hundred years old, located near Lewes in East Sussex, England. It is also the site of an opera house which, with the exception of its closing during the Second World War, for a few immediate post-war years, and in 1993 during the...
and Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. In 1964 he became Southern's programme controller; he was so successful that, in the contract reshuffle four years later, Southern was one of the few companies to have its contract unconditionally renewed. Smith and his team were singled out for praise.
He represented the ITV companies in meetings at the European Broadcasting Union, acting as chairman of their religious sub-committee. At hat time the committee was there to ensure that only suitable programmes should fill the break in the Sunday evening schedules in order to protect church services. His final appointment was as head of the secretariat of the independent television companies' association (1976–84).
Retirement
He retired in 1983, and devoted himself to his house and garden in HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. Later he moved to Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
to be near his son. He was a passionate golfer, and though he never returned to St Andrews to complete his degree course, he did become a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
. He loved entertaining, travel, good food and wine. According to his obituary, "by general consent he was excellent company".
Both his marriages (firstly to Penelope Harling and secondly to Shirley Horton) were dissolved. By his first wife he left a son and two daughters. His step-grandson is the 'Guardian' columnist Matthew Norman.