Bruce Parker
Encyclopedia
Bruce Parker is a British
journalist and television presenter whose career spanned the middle 1960s to 2003, when he retired. Strongly committed to regional broadcasting, he was responsible in the mid-1960s for a pilot local radio station in the Channel Islands
, which eventually led to the setting up of a string of BBC Local Radio
stations across the whole country. In 1967 he joined BBC South
in Southampton
, where he remained for most of his career, making a name as a regular presenter and reporter for South Today
. He was also a respected political interviewer and later BBC South's political editor, hosting the parliamentary roundup South of Westminster (later South on Sunday).
In the 1970s he became a familiar face to viewers in the rest of Britain, first as a news reporter and later as the first (though short-lived) host of The Antiques Roadshow
and a regular contributor to Nationwide
. In September 1977 he filed probably his most famous news reports, about the story of Victor, a giraffe at Marwell Zoological Park
. He also presented the short-lived BBC1 arts magazine Mainstream in 1979. He was also the BBC commentator for the raising of the Mary Rose
in October 1982, clips of which regularly appear on nostalgia and retrospective programmes.
He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey
, the University of Wales
and Reading University. He now lives in Hampshire
with his second wife Suzanne, his son Charlie died in 2009.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist and television presenter whose career spanned the middle 1960s to 2003, when he retired. Strongly committed to regional broadcasting, he was responsible in the mid-1960s for a pilot local radio station in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, which eventually led to the setting up of a string of BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
stations across the whole country. In 1967 he joined BBC South
BBC South
BBC South is the BBC English Region serving West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, western Berkshire, Oxfordshire, south east Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight.-Television:...
in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, where he remained for most of his career, making a name as a regular presenter and reporter for South Today
South Today
South Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for East Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, West Sussex and the western fringes of Surrey...
. He was also a respected political interviewer and later BBC South's political editor, hosting the parliamentary roundup South of Westminster (later South on Sunday).
In the 1970s he became a familiar face to viewers in the rest of Britain, first as a news reporter and later as the first (though short-lived) host of The Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is a British television show in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom to appraise antiques brought in by local people. It has been running since 1979...
and a regular contributor to Nationwide
Nationwide (TV series)
Nationwide was a BBC News and Current affairs television programme broadcast on BBC One each weekday following the early evening news. It followed a magazine format, combining political analysis and discussion with consumer affairs, light entertainment and sports reporting...
. In September 1977 he filed probably his most famous news reports, about the story of Victor, a giraffe at Marwell Zoological Park
Marwell Zoological Park
Marwell Wildlife, formerly known as Marwell Zoological Park, is a zoo situated at Owslebury in the English county of Hampshire, near Winchester...
. He also presented the short-lived BBC1 arts magazine Mainstream in 1979. He was also the BBC commentator for the raising of the Mary Rose
Mary Rose
The Mary Rose was a carrack-type warship of the English Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. After serving for 33 years in several wars against France, Scotland, and Brittany and after being substantially rebuilt in 1536, she saw her last action on 1545. While leading the attack on the galleys of a...
in October 1982, clips of which regularly appear on nostalgia and retrospective programmes.
He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey
Elizabeth College, Guernsey
Elizabeth College is an independent school in the town of St Peter Port, Guernsey, founded in 1563 under the orders of Queen Elizabeth I.- History :...
, the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
and Reading University. He now lives in Hampshire
Hampshire
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...
with his second wife Suzanne, his son Charlie died in 2009.