Roger Climpson
Encyclopedia
Roger Climpson OAM
MBE
(born 18 October 1931) is a British
-born Australia
n newsreader
, best known for his time at Seven News
in the 1980s and 1990s and for his hosting duties on various shows from 1977 until 1998.
, England
. The son of a butcher, Climpson aimed to become a pilot in the Royal Air Force
, until a rugby union
accident at the age of 14 punctured his lung, leading him to take up acting instead of flying. He emigrated to Australia in 1949, and met his future wife Claire at a Christmas party in 1952.
as an announcer, weatherman and newsreader. He got the job at Nine after asking his friend Brian Henderson to have a word with the head of the network, Bruce Gyngell
. During his time at Nine, he hosted two programs of his own: Rendezvous with Roger and The House and Garden Show.
He left Channel Nine in 1965 after chairman Sir Frank Packer
refused to grant him a five pound pay rise. Climpson found himself briefly unemployed and worked at his father's butcher shop, until he was asked to fill a temporary newsreader role at Channel Seven
– where he stayed for fifteen years.
In 1977, he began hosting This Is Your Life
until returning to newsreading in 1978. In 1982, Climpson retired from television work, but returned to the station in 1989 as anchor of Sydney's Seven News
, until a diagnosis of prostate cancer
in 1995 forced his temporary retirement. Ann Sanders
replaced him that February.
In 1997, he was host of Australia's Most Wanted
, which lasted until 1998 when he retired from television.
, which lasted for several years.
In recent years, Climpson has been heavily involved in Christian radio
, and from 1995 until his retirement in 2004, was chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Association Ltd, licensee of Sydney Christian radio station HOPE 103.2.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 18 October 1931) is a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
-born Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n newsreader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
, best known for his time at Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
in the 1980s and 1990s and for his hosting duties on various shows from 1977 until 1998.
Early life
Roger Climpson was born on 18 October 1931 in PeterboroughPeterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, 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...
. The son of a butcher, Climpson aimed to become a pilot in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, until a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
accident at the age of 14 punctured his lung, leading him to take up acting instead of flying. He emigrated to Australia in 1949, and met his future wife Claire at a Christmas party in 1952.
Television career
Climpson began his television career in 1957, working at Channel NineNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
as an announcer, weatherman and newsreader. He got the job at Nine after asking his friend Brian Henderson to have a word with the head of the network, Bruce Gyngell
Bruce Gyngell
Bruce Gyngell was a hugely influential Australian television executive, prominent for 50 years in both Australian and U.K. television. Although Gyngell began his career in radio, in the 1950s he stepped into the arena of early television broadcasting, helping to set up Channel 9, the first...
. During his time at Nine, he hosted two programs of his own: Rendezvous with Roger and The House and Garden Show.
He left Channel Nine in 1965 after chairman Sir Frank Packer
Frank Packer
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer, KBE , was an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network.-Biography:...
refused to grant him a five pound pay rise. Climpson found himself briefly unemployed and worked at his father's butcher shop, until he was asked to fill a temporary newsreader role at Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
– where he stayed for fifteen years.
In 1977, he began hosting This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
until returning to newsreading in 1978. In 1982, Climpson retired from television work, but returned to the station in 1989 as anchor of Sydney's Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
, until a diagnosis of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in 1995 forced his temporary retirement. Ann Sanders
Ann Sanders
Ann Sanders is an Australian television journalist and news presenter.Sanders is currently the presenter of Seven Morning News and she also presents hourly Seven News updates through The Morning Show with Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur.-Career:...
replaced him that February.
In 1997, he was host of Australia's Most Wanted
Australia's Most Wanted
Australia's Most Wanted was a television program based on the format made popular by America's Most Wanted. It screened on the Seven Network from 1989 until 1999....
, which lasted until 1998 when he retired from television.
Radio career
In 1977, he was a presenter in the afternoon shift on Sydney's 2GB2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
, which lasted for several years.
In recent years, Climpson has been heavily involved in Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
, and from 1995 until his retirement in 2004, was chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Association Ltd, licensee of Sydney Christian radio station HOPE 103.2.