Keeping B.B.C. Employees Young and Healthy

Radio Record, 17 July 1936, Page 5

Keeping B.B.C. Employees

Young and Healthy

Bu

W. J.

Cross

young organisation, young in history and young in personnel Its employees are selected from people in all walks of life. The present staff numbers well over 2000 persons-probably a surprising figure to many people-and it does not consist solely of announcers, proramme producers and engineers, which is a popular supPosition. Besides these officers. the staff includes accaunT HE British Broadcasting Corporation is essentially a

tants, editorial staff, legal advisers, auditors, publicity experts, stenographers, filing clerks, watchmen, liftmen, commissionaires, librarians, advertising representatives, labourers, carpenters, caterers, telephonists, cleaners, waitresses, cloakroom attendants, bookkeepers, pages, porters, firemen, packers, studio attendants and photographers. As in the Navy, so with broadcasting: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," and even

more makes Jill a dull girl, so that in the interests not only | of its staff but of its own efficiency, the B.B.C. has made ample provision for adequate recreation. It has followed’ the example of some other large employers by adopting as far as possible the five-day week, work on Saturdays being. reduced to a minimum. This concession, which was introduced in the interests of the general health of the staff in order to allow greater time for exercise, fresh air, and outdoor pursuits, has shown that there is no reduction at all in the genera] output of work, but rather an increase in allround efficiency. , : Nearly all members of the B.B.C. staff belong to the B.B.C. Club, From a very modest beginning this club, in the course of a few years, has become the possessor of facilities for recreation proomaemecmtames ea a

bably unsurpassed by any other organisation in Great Britain, The headquarters of the club are situated at Motspur Park, where there is ample provision for cricket, football, hockey, tennis and netball. There is a magnificent clubhouse, with facilities for every kind of indoor game-from billiards and badminton to shove-ha’penny-and _ containing not only a restaurant, but a sma]] swimming bath, There is also a large central hall where dances and concerts and other activities take place. In addition to. Motspur Park, there are branches of the Club at all’ Regional stations, where adequate -provision has been made for recreation. At Daventry, the home of the Empire Broadcasting station, for instance, there has been many a tussle at billiards, cricket, football, and ten-

nis between the B.B.C. engineers and the inhabitants of this ancient town. Cricket matches between the B.B.C. and the Town Council are held each year. S. Fry, the son of the famous C. B. Fry, plays cricket regularly for the B,B.C. He is in every respect a worthy son of his father. The redletter day in the history of B.B.C. cricket is when a visit is paid to Hamble to meet the team captained by "C.B." who, despite his sixty-four years, is still more than a match for many of the younger generation.

Sunday cricket matches are a great attraction. : The standard of Rugby: ball is also high. Several men who distinguished themselves at their universities are now playing for the B.B.C. Howard Marshall, formerly of the B.B.C, staff, and now one of the best-known: commentators on sporting and general events, at one time played for the Harlequins, The swimming section of the B.B:C. Club

also has a large membership. The motoring section of the club is in a flourishing condition. Extraordinary ingenuity is displayed in maintaining interest on the part of members. there are treasure hunts, scavenger parties, and reliability trials. The rifle section is one of the more. recent activities of the club. Naturally, its appeal is mainly. to men, but the membership includes a number of. promising. shots drawn from women members of the staff. Matches with other organisations are regularly held. The tennis section probably has the most general appeal to all, although closely rivalled in popularity by its younger brother, table tennis. : Squash rackets are available within easy travelling distance. of Broadcasting House. Hockey and netball also flourish. main-

ly among the women members of the staff, but quite a number.of men have now taken up the former game seriously. Physical culture classes are also held near headquarters, and _ violet-ray treatment is at the disposal of all who care to apply for it. It may be mentioned, incidentally, that the B.B.C, is most careful of the health of its employees, and at Broadcasting House a matron and nurse, with a well-stocked dispensary, are constantly’ in attendance, Facilities are also provided for more expert medical advice and inoculations against the common cold. Many members of the staff known especially to Empire listeners take considerable part in the activities'of the Club W. M. Shewen, chief Empire announcer, is captain not only of the men’s _ tennis (Continued on page 51.)

[X% this article. W. J. Cross, well-known B.B.O. writer, tells of the other side of the B.B.0.s activities-the social and sportivig aspect. On page 9isa picture of the clubhouse and a portion of the B.B.0.’s sports grounds at Motspur, near London. .:

Next week’s signed article,

by

Stuart

Perry

gives sidelights in the daily ‘round of.-a city . _ librarian. | oo. .

B.B.C. Employees and Sport

(Continued from Page 5.) team, but of the B.B.O. squash team. He is also an enthusiastic hockey and cricket player, and an excellent shot, R. N. Dougall, another Empire announcer, has for the past two years won the squash cup and is also qa keen cricketer. A. W. Russell, of the Empire news department, who hails from New Zealand, is also an enthusiastic cricketer. J. ©. S. Macgregor, Empire programme director, finds his relaxation in gol" on one of the ‘courses on the northern heights of London, while J. B. Clark, Director of the Empire Service, finds the hobby of carpentry an exceedingly useful re creation and a relaxation from his or. dinary duties. In addition to purely sporting activities, the B.B.C. has debating societies a photograph section, and a very live. dramatic section. Many ambitious plays have heen produced. : including "The Passing of the Third Floor Back." and "Trelawney of the Wells." but pantomimes and revues are probably the mest appreciated. In these productions the B.B.C, is often thoroughly "onyed" by mombers of its own staff. The next play to be produced by the B-B.C. Club is "The Sport of Kings." in which the director-general, Sir John Reith, will take the part of a butler.