BBC 2 - Late 60s

[jess]

I start with apologies. This is my second thread and both are pleas for help!

I am trying to get hold of a copy of a programme from around 1968/69 called "Eye to the Countryside", which I believe was on BBC 2 . This featured the late Sir John Betjemin as he raised issues about industry "spoiling" the beauty of the countryside in Britain. One episode involved Betjemin interviewing my father who, at the time, headed up the Wayleave department in the West Midlands with the Central Electricity Generating Board. I remember Dad boning up on trees and wild flowers and birds and was well able to discuss all these as well as his own work of positioning pylons and establishing the national grid.
Sadly my father has been dead now for 26 years. But my mother is now 88 and I feel it would be so good to be able to see and hear my father before she goes. Sadly these programmes seem to have dropped off the planet... unless anyone out there knows differently?

[lfbarfe]

Contact [e-mail]. If it was a BBC programme, it still exists and you can prove a family connection, they should be able to help you with a copy, at a price. John Betjeman also did a lot of programmes for TWW, but I don't think this will be one of those.

[Deleted]

Sounds like the series "Bird's Eye View", which was shown around 1969 / 70 and featured Betjeman. They were made on film and so presumably all exist (I have a couple myself). Is this the one you mean, Jess?

[Andrew Martin]

Apr 20, 2008 12:32:21 GMT @jess said:

I start with apologies. This is my second thread and both are pleas for help!

I am trying to get hold of a copy of a programme from around 1968/69 called "Eye to the Countryside", which I believe was on BBC 2 . This featured the late Sir John Betjemin as he raised issues about industry "spoiling" the beauty of the countryside in Britain. One episode involved Betjemin interviewing my father who, at the time, headed up the Wayleave department in the West Midlands with the Central Electricity Generating Board. I remember Dad boning up on trees and wild flowers and birds and was well able to discuss all these as well as his own work of positioning pylons and establishing the national grid.
Sadly my father has been dead now for 26 years. But my mother is now 88 and I feel it would be so good to be able to see and hear my father before she goes. Sadly these programmes seem to have dropped off the planet... unless anyone out there knows differently?

Jess, was your father called Archie Lusk? However, it's not good news... The series was called "Eye to the Countryside", an occasional series shown between 1965 and 1967 on BBC1, but only shown in the Midlands and sometimes the North and West regions. The episode on 23/6/65 featured a discussion "pylons" between John Moore (the programme's presenter), John Betjeman and Archie Lusk; there was also a film sequence with 'talks' on the subject between 'Mr Archie Lusk of the CEGB' and John Betjeman. Unfortunately however this programme has not been kept by the BBC archives. Since it was a regional production there is a very slim chance that the film sequences were kept in the region but it is quite unlikely, frankly. You could try writing to BBC Birmingham, or just contact the contributor access address given above and they may be able to make that enquiry for you. But don't get your hopes up!

[jess]

Thank you SO much! You are the first person who knows anything about this and I have been looking for some years now.

Yes, Dad was Archie Lusk. Can I ask how you know?

I will indeed contact the BBC in Birmingham. Fingers crossed, eh?!

Thanks again.

[Greg H]

Andrew martin knows all and sees all! He even sees what youre doing now