A BBC star who worked for the broadcaster for 30 years has sadly died, with shocked former colleagues and friends sharing a series of warm tributes to the broadcasting stalwart
A much-loved BBC star who worked for the broadcaster for 30 years has sadly died. BBC cameraman John Williams has passed away, with former colleagues offering up warm tributes to the “well-respected” worker.
The news was revealed on Pebble Mill’s Facebook account on Sunday evening. The post read: “Hi, I’ve heard sad news from James French. John Williams, whom we knew was very ill, has sadly died. He will be much missed.”
A cameraman for the BBC, John was known for his work across various shows from the iconic Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham. The post was accompanied by a photograph of John, while filming for the BBC drama Howards’ Way, a popular daytime drama about the Howard family and the yachting world, which ran from 1985 to 1990.
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Friends and colleagues swiftly flooded the comments section with their own memories, one sharing: “Had no idea he was unwell. A dedicated and highly respected cameraman.”
Another wrote: “Oh how very sad . Such a lovely, highly talented, and respected colleague. I was only reading his very touching tribute to sound recordist John Gilbert the other day in Prospero. How ironic we are now paying tribute to John himself. Rest in peace and condolences to his family.”
Another shared fondly: “Such a very lovely man to work with and a great mentor to all.” Meanwhile, a fourth penned: “I was forever in his debt. He was brilliant for helping me shoot my very first short film in early 90’s.”
John, who worked for the BBC for an impressive thirty years, wrote about his colourful career in the book, Shoot First, No Ordinary Life.
Previously discussing the book and his three decades at the Beeb, he had written on Pebble Mill’s website: “I like to think we were a family with all that entails, and that family still shows itself, meeting every month as pensioners support one another and reminisce on the good old days.
“My one hope is the BBC has not lost this family and is still there amongst my colleagues working in the brave new world.”
Meanwhile, the weekend also brought news of BBC Director General Tim Davie’s shock resignation over the alleged editing of Donald Trump’s speech of a Panorama episode. Davie handed in his resigned amid the fallout over the selective editing of a speech made by President Donald Trump for an episode of Panorama.
In a statement, he admitted there had “been some mistakes made” and that he had to “take ultimate responsibility”. The chief executive of BBC News, Deborah Turness, also announced her resignation following a newspaper report earlier in the week, which accused the corporation of selectively editing a speech by Donald Trump on the day of the US Capitol attack.
Source: Mirror
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