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| Remember Sir Isaac Shoenberg’s role in development of TV and the BBC | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| In your article (Export bar imposed on John Logie Baird archive, 30 June), the culture minister, Ed Vaizey, is quoted as saying: “Britain led the world in the development of television technology in the 1920s, all due to the pioneering work of John Logie Baird and his colleagues.” | In your article (Export bar imposed on John Logie Baird archive, 30 June), the culture minister, Ed Vaizey, is quoted as saying: “Britain led the world in the development of television technology in the 1920s, all due to the pioneering work of John Logie Baird and his colleagues.” |
| While not wishing to diminish the contribution made by Logie Baird, I think it is unfortunate that Vaizey completely omits to mention the key role played in the development of television in this country by my grandfather, Sir Isaac Shoenberg. It was Shoenberg’s vision and leadership as director of research at EMI that guided his team of gifted electronic engineers in developing the high-definition television system, which was adopted in preference over Logie Baird’s system at Alexandra Palace in 1936 and which resulted later that year in the opening by the BBC of the world’s first public television service. | While not wishing to diminish the contribution made by Logie Baird, I think it is unfortunate that Vaizey completely omits to mention the key role played in the development of television in this country by my grandfather, Sir Isaac Shoenberg. It was Shoenberg’s vision and leadership as director of research at EMI that guided his team of gifted electronic engineers in developing the high-definition television system, which was adopted in preference over Logie Baird’s system at Alexandra Palace in 1936 and which resulted later that year in the opening by the BBC of the world’s first public television service. |
| Despite my grandfather’s shyness, which led him to shun publicity, his work was acknowledged during his lifetime, with the award of the Faraday medal in 1954 and of a knighthood in 1962. However, with the 125th anniversary this year of my grandfather’s birth and the 80th anniversary next year of the first television transmission from Alexandra Palace, I hope that his unique place in the history of television will finally receive the wider recognition it deserves.Jane Gatrell (née Shoenberg)Sale, Cheshire | Despite my grandfather’s shyness, which led him to shun publicity, his work was acknowledged during his lifetime, with the award of the Faraday medal in 1954 and of a knighthood in 1962. However, with the 125th anniversary this year of my grandfather’s birth and the 80th anniversary next year of the first television transmission from Alexandra Palace, I hope that his unique place in the history of television will finally receive the wider recognition it deserves.Jane Gatrell (née Shoenberg)Sale, Cheshire |
| • I hope someone in the government listened to Cerys Matthews’ interview of Mavis Staples on BBC6 Music on 29 June. She was grateful to the Glastonbury punters of course, but most of all she was grateful to the BBC. She kept on saying so. From a thinking American’s perspective, the BBC is an utterly glorious thing. The BBC is the only broad-spectrum public service broadcasting network in the world that is devoid of advertising. To change its funding model to something more appealing to commercial interests would be an act of vandalism of historic proportions. The only possible change would be to end the licence fee and fund it from general taxation: but the BBC’s funding would have to be ringfenced and inflation-proofed, and unfortunately the British have a habit of electing governments who renege on deals (Hundreds of jobs to go at ‘leaner and simpler’ BBC, 1 July). | • I hope someone in the government listened to Cerys Matthews’ interview of Mavis Staples on BBC6 Music on 29 June. She was grateful to the Glastonbury punters of course, but most of all she was grateful to the BBC. She kept on saying so. From a thinking American’s perspective, the BBC is an utterly glorious thing. The BBC is the only broad-spectrum public service broadcasting network in the world that is devoid of advertising. To change its funding model to something more appealing to commercial interests would be an act of vandalism of historic proportions. The only possible change would be to end the licence fee and fund it from general taxation: but the BBC’s funding would have to be ringfenced and inflation-proofed, and unfortunately the British have a habit of electing governments who renege on deals (Hundreds of jobs to go at ‘leaner and simpler’ BBC, 1 July). |
| If anyone in government disagrees with any of the above I would be fascinated to hear from them.Tim BarnesSt Peter Port, Guernsey | If anyone in government disagrees with any of the above I would be fascinated to hear from them.Tim BarnesSt Peter Port, Guernsey |
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