Radio & TV news & sport in six decades. BBC Midlands Today, Good Morning Anne & Nick, TV-am, ITV Sport. Ex chairman Luton Town. Derbyshire CCC. Views my own.
I can barely believe that Trevor Francis has left us. Iβd known him for about fifty years and heβd become a good friend. I am so shocked and deeply saddened. A top man and a brilliant footballer. RIP Trev and thanks for the memories.
@peterjamesuk
Had a slightly similar situation in Gibraltar once. Walked into a shop & owner was watching recording of Good Morning with Anne & Nick. Looked up, saw me and nearly fell off his legs!
Simply wonderful ! Can barely believe it after such a torrid decade or so for our beloved football club. Very special moment. Thrilled. And proud. And shaking. And about to go on TV to read the news. And trying to control my frantic phone. Going berserk!
Such sad news about the passing of Joan Morecambe, Eric's beloved widow. Such a lovely person to know, full of humour, dignity and the utmost charm. She lost Eric way back in 1984 and now she has moved on too. It would be so good to think that they are together again. RIP Joan.
So incredibly chuffed tonight. Well done Luton Town FC! What a brilliant run after lockdown. Well done the players, well done Nathan Jones and well done the board for having the b*lls to appoint him. Barely believable turnaround.
Exactly 50 years ago today, I started life as a journalist, a trainee on the Doncaster Evening Post. Exciting and extremely happy times. I was over the moon, albeit overshadowed by a couple of blokes who were actually on it!
I canβt help thinking about
@LutonTown
capt Tom Lockyer at the moment. The events on the field
@afcbournemouth
on Saturday were simply shocking . The response from players, fans, medics & officials exemplary, the wider football world incredibly supportive. Get well soon Tom.
Football can be so cruel. Truly excellent dominating performance by Luton tonight, deserved to win but Huddersfield snatch it in the dying minutes. Good luck to them in the play off final.Proud of Luton Townβs astonishing surge out of the Conference to the Championship play offs.
On this day,60 yrs ago,my father took me to my 1st football match,at Luton.The fire was lit&still burns as brightly,after decades of exhilarating highs & devastating lows. My 4 children became hooked,my grandchildren are now going.Thanks, Bertie Owen, for a life changing moment.
All my fatherβs fault. Sixty five years ago today he took me to my first football match, Luton v Leeds. Led me to a life of supreme joy and abject despair, with just about every emotion in between. Wouldnβt have had it any other way. Football fans the world over will understand.
Thanks to all my wonderful work colleagues who made such a fuss of my return. I was stunned! And thanks to everyone kind enough to send cards while I have been away. I can assure you they are greatly appreciated.
Itβs been a long old season, full of outstanding, exhilarating performances with a few stumbles on the way, but weβre there. Promoted. The dark days seem a long way behind us. Brilliant. Well done, all. So proud and happy tonight.
After 60 years supporting Luton Town FC, this a truly wonderful moment. Thrilled for all my fellow fans and for the officials at the club whoβve worked so hard to make this happen. Thank you.
Desperately sorry to hear of the death of Lynn Faulds-Wood. A terrible shock. A valued friend and colleague in the earliest days of breakfast television at TV-am. My thoughts and condolences with old mate John Stapleton, Lynn's husband, and son Nick.
RIP Sir Michael Parkinson. A hero from my younger days in journalism to a colleague and friend. We even shared an office for a time at TV-am. A broadcasting giant and great man. Such a terribly sad day. Thoughts with Mary and the family.
Wonderful moment for Luton Town FC and for the town itself. Historic moment. Onwards and upwards. Well done Gary Sweet and all whoβve worked so hard to make this happen. Historic moment. So thrilled.
Really proud of Luton Town FC tonight at Arsenal, despite defeat. The squad devastated by injuries to some 12 senior players, they had two keepers on the bench plus four teenagers , including a schoolboy. Brave effort in such trying circumstances. Makes you proud to be a Hatter!
On this historic night for Luton Town, huge thanks to the players, coaches, manager Mick H , staff, investors and die hard fellow fans. All played a part and done so much to lift us back into the Championship.
No groaner today out of respect for my best friend. We buried him this morning after he died suddenly four weeks ago. He came to our village as a young constable in 1974 & never left. Eeerily quiet ceremony on a breezy hillside. So poignant. RIP Geoff.
RIP Frank Bough. I regarded him as the ultimate broadcaster who combined news and sport brilliantly. Whatever the scandals that broke around him, he was an inspiration to me when I started in tv more than 40 years ago.
Absolutely sensational news. At last, Luton Town Football Club can go ahead with building a brand new stadium. I've been waiting for this moment since 1958!
@LutonTown
's plans to build a new stadium at
#PowerCourt
and mixed use scheme at
#NewlandsPark
can finally go ahead after the High Court confirmed Capital & Regional have failed to appeal the decision not to grant a Judicial Review into the plans.
βΆοΈ
#COYH
Shattering news about former BBC colleague Steve Lee. Always seemed so fit, yet heβs gone. Canβt believe it. First class sports broadcaster and always good company. RIP Steve.
Such an honour to be awarded an honorary doctorate from
@GylesB1
Chancellor of the University of Chester today at St.Chads, Shrewsbury courtesy of
@ucshrewsbury
@uochester
Thank you
Nathan J back at LTFC. Fans,right up to the boardroom, were incensed when he left & how.I was too,but I applaud his return at this crucial time.He's contrite,the hatchet's buried:he's the best man for the job.Please get behind him for the sake of a club that'll outlive us all.
Oh no. Devastating news that Greavesie has died. Dear, dear Jimmy. What a great man and fantastic colleague on ITV Sport, TV-am and Good Morning with Anne and Nick. Shattering.
Absolutely shattered about the death of Bob Willis. Knew him for well over forty years and I have such happy memories of fun times, particularly in the 70s and 80s. Feel desperately sad tonight and my thoughts go out to the family. RIP Bob.
Filming at Molineux today, alongside the legend that is Billy Wright, who just happened to give me my first job in television 41 years ago and thus changed the course of my life. Forever grateful to you, Bill!
Gone, but not forgotten.
The late, great Eric Morecambe, comedian, Luton Town fan and club director who would have lifted the spirits of everyone in a crisis.
Eric was born on this day 94 years ago (May 14, 1926) and was only 58 when he died on May 28, 1984.
So there I was, having lunch with two of my grand daughters, when who rocks up? The old rocker himself Dave Hill of Slade. Great to catch up with the old boy! Weβll all be hearing that Christmas song soon!
May I just say thanks to all
@bbcmtd
and regional tv viewers as a whole for again giving us the biggest audience for the whole of tv in England last night? That's the 6.30 slot on BBC 1. Again,thank you.
God bless you Dame Vera Lynn for all that you meant to my parents' generation when your beautiful voice travelled on crackly radios across the miles, here and abroad, to give comfort to men and women who had no idea whether ever again they'd meet their loved ones. RIP
Shock news today that Slade legend Noddy Holder was given 6 months to live when diagnosed with cancer five years ago. After intensive treatment he is still here and ok. I talk to his wife Suzan on
@bbcmtd
this evening. BBC 1 6.30 Sky 956
@theJeremyVine
Birmingham by a mile, Jeremy. Astonishing number of huge bands to emerge from the city, including Spencer Davis, The Move, ELO, Black Sabbath, Moody Blues, Duran Duran, UB40.
John Still.A towering figure in the history of Luton Town.He united the club when sections were riven with conflict, bitterness and despair.He turned us round with flair, humour and bonhomie. An absolutely pivotal factor in our resurgence. Thank you, John, happy retirement.
A tremendous honour to be asked to unveil the plaque. Pebble Mill studios mean so much to me & many more who worked there in its 33 year history. I started my broadcasting career there in 1973 & learnt so much. Forever grateful and proud to be part of its history.
A new blue plaque on the Pebble Mill site, home of BBC Birmingham,
@bbcmtd
and
@bbcwm
for many years, has been unveiled by our very own
@nickowentv
π
Remembering this great man on Fatherβs Day. An inspiration to generations of schoolboys, huge influence on me, much loved husband, father& grandfather. And a Luton fan! Think of him and miss him every day.
Iβve just watched A Hard Dayβs Night for the first time in decades. Transported me gloriously back to my teenage years. You have to have been there to understand the excitement of it all.The Beatles were simply sensational. Feel quite churned up after reliving it all.
One of my very first heroes. Goalkeeper Ron Baynham who played for Luton in the 50s and 60s. Wearing his old England blazer today. I am almost speechless! He is 90 in June. Met him ahead of todayβs game v Blackpool.
So sorry to hear that Lionel Blair has passed away. Always good company and great guest on the breakfast sofa at TV-am and Good Morning with Anne and Nick. RIP Lionel
Unbelievable weather today! Spot of gardening, then a spell of sunbathing with the old shirt off. A last chance for my rippling six pack to catch a few golden rays. Sorry, no pix in case Twitter crashed. π
RIP Gordon Banks. Such a good man. Never heard a word said against him. Privileged to have worked with him during World Cup 1990. Happy memories, terribly sad day.
Thanks so much for joining us and supporting Jim. It was really good to remember our old mate Bob Willis who fell victim to this horrible disease. A report on BBC Midland Today
@bbcmtd
6.30 BBC 1, Sky 956.
Really appreciate the thought in the email below, but worried I might fail the medical....
Dear Nick,
We are excited to remind you that you have been nominated for the prestigious Business Woman of the Year Award 2019.
You have just 1 week to complete your application.....
So sad to hear about the death of Nicholas Parsons. Showbiz to his fingertips. Such a kind, gentle man, always entertaining, fascinating company and so versatile, going back to those hilarious days as sidekick to Arthur Haynes. Privilege to have known him. RIP Nicholas.
Congratulations to our colleague
@nickowentv
, who was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his outstanding contribution to broadcasting by University Centre Shrewsbury. He received the award from
@GylesB1
, the Chancellor of the
@uochester
.
(1/3)