Sue MacGregor
Encyclopedia
Susan Katriona MacGregor CBE (born 30 August 1941, Oxford
) is a British
writer and broadcaster.
and emigrated to South Africa
where she was brought up. Her father was a doctor, a neurologist
who was in the British 14th Army in Burma in the Royal Army Medical Corps
. She attended the Herschel Girls School
, an independent boarding school in Cape Town
. She completed her education at the Ecole de Commerce in Geneva
and at an English college called the House of Citizenship.
Returning to South Aftrica she began her broadcasting career there on the SABC's English language
radio service. Initially joining the BBC
in 1967 as a reporter for The World At One
, she went on to host Woman's Hour
from 1972 until 1987. In 1984 she became one of the hosts of BBC Radio 4
's Today programme
, a position she held until 2002.
That same year she was appointed a CBE for her services to broadcasting. Sue is a trustee of UNICEF and also of the John Ellerman
Foundation. She is also on the Chancellor's Forum for the London Institute and an honorary graduate of several universities, among them Nottingham, Nottingham Trent
and Dundee
.
She hosts The Reunion on BBC Radio 4
.
In late 2010, she recorded her final episode as chair of the popular book programme A Good Read
, also on BBC Radio 4. At seven years and approximately 500 book reviews, she is the show's longest serving presenter.
, via her niece Janet
, MacGregor used her local knowledge in BBC broadcasts over many years about the struggle against South Africa
's apartheid system .
Her autobiography, Woman of Today, published in 2002, contained candid revelations and outlined her relationships, including an affair with Leonard Rossiter
.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
) is a British
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...
writer and broadcaster.
Early life
Her parents were ScottishScottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
and emigrated to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where she was brought up. Her father was a doctor, a neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
who was in the British 14th Army in Burma in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. She attended the Herschel Girls School
Herschel Girls School
Herschel Girls' School is a private, boarding and day school for girls, located in Claremont, a southern suburb of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.-History:...
, an independent boarding school in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. She completed her education at the Ecole de Commerce in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and at an English college called the House of Citizenship.
Career in broadcasting
For a time in London, she worked as a typist at Australia House, then became a temporary junior secretary at the BBC. This entitled her to an induction course, where she was taught the BBC's method of working.Returning to South Aftrica she began her broadcasting career there on the SABC's English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
radio service. Initially joining 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...
in 1967 as a reporter for The World At One
The World At One
The World at One, or WATO for short, is BBC Radio 4's long-running lunchtime news and current affairs programme, which is broadcast from 1pm to 1:30pm from Monday to Friday. The programme describes itself as "Britain's leading political programme. With a reputation for rigorous and original...
, she went on to host Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
from 1972 until 1987. In 1984 she became one of the hosts of BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Today programme
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
, a position she held until 2002.
That same year she was appointed a CBE for her services to broadcasting. Sue is a trustee of UNICEF and also of the John Ellerman
John Ellerman
Sir John Reeves Ellerman, 1st Baronet, CH was an English shipowner and investor. He was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in modern British history, and the only Briton of his generation whose wealth rivalled the leading plutocrats of America's gilded age...
Foundation. She is also on the Chancellor's Forum for the London Institute and an honorary graduate of several universities, among them Nottingham, Nottingham Trent
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
and Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
.
She hosts The Reunion on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
In late 2010, she recorded her final episode as chair of the popular book programme A Good Read
A Good Read
A Good Read is one of BBC Radio 4's longest running programmes where two guests join the main presenter to choose and discuss their favourite book. Sue MacGregor stepped down in 2010 as the programme's longest serving presenter...
, also on BBC Radio 4. At seven years and approximately 500 book reviews, she is the show's longest serving presenter.
Personal life
A friend of Helen SuzmanHelen Suzman
Helen Suzman, DBE was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician.-Biography:Helen Suzman, a life-long citizen of South Africa, was born as Helen Gavronsky in 1917 to Jewish immigrants....
, via her niece Janet
Janet Suzman
Dame Janet Suzman, DBE is a South African-born-British actress and director.-Early life:Janet Suzman was born in Johannesburg to a Jewish family, the daughter of Betty and Saul Suzman, a wealthy importer of tobacco....
, MacGregor used her local knowledge in BBC broadcasts over many years about the struggle against South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's apartheid system .
Her autobiography, Woman of Today, published in 2002, contained candid revelations and outlined her relationships, including an affair with Leonard Rossiter
Leonard Rossiter
Leonard Rossiter was an English actor known for his roles as Rupert Rigsby, in the British comedy television series Rising Damp , and Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin...
.