The local broadcasting kings and queen I’ve had the pleasure to study – masters of their craft

Last weekend when I heard about the death of John Bennett, I immediately reflected on how much I disliked Dr Who. It was a strange but understandable thought. To me John was Mr Saturday Teatime. There wasn’t an Irish League, rugby or hockey result that he didn’t seem to have on the tip of his tongue. He was like a 1970s Jeff Stelling. It didn’t matter if I wasn’t that interested in the actual teams. I was studying the presentation and John was a must-see broadcaster. He was usually on before Dr Who, and when John said goodbye I switched over.

Years later, as a baby-faced producer, I would land a job in the BBC. I never worked with John, but he greeted me many times with a warm smile. The news of his passing prompted me to think about the host of outstanding broadcasters sadly no longer with us who influenced me in a variety of ways.

It was Walter Love I worked most closely with when I first came to Belfast. At that time Walter was possibly the best known broadcaster in Northern Ireland. Modest, kind and supportive.

A few years later, production duties would take me to Downtown Radio. I was there in a supporting role to Lynda Jane Campbell. On my first day, the music librarian suggested to me that Lynda will “eat you up and spit you out”. Apparently she had a reputation for not suffering fools.

Well, she suffered this one. I was introduced to her through a haze of cigarette smoke. She was brushing her amazing blonde locks, and still with the cigarette on the edge of her strawberry red lips she said: “I like the look of you, we’re going to get on just great,” and so we did. Without doubt the best Northern Ireland broadcaster not to seek a career across the water. When she died suddenly, the country was shocked. I often think about how much I learned from her about phone-in radio. A genuine queen of the airwaves.

Brian Baird was another broadcasting icon I had the pleasure of studying. When I worked in UTV as a programme announcer, Brian was the principal news reader. Flawless presentation and a velvet voice, he too was so pleasant to be around.

Each day at 4pm he would read the news headlines. For the main programme at 6pm he would have the advantage of autocue, but not in the smaller afternoon studio. That never deterred Brian. With pages in hand, he could read to camera with only occasional glances towards the script. Word-perfect heavy news delivered with a Midas touch. He always had time for newcomers like myself. A generous gentleman.

Keep It Country DJ John Greer was another fine presenter who had the warmth of personality to make you feel welcome. He reminded me of my first boss, the glorious Hugh Hardy from Radio Carousel. I learned so much about the importance of being friendly on radio from them both. As Gerry Anderson told me, “It’s no place for the sour, dour and grumpy.” I never had as many opportunities to work with Gerry or David Dunseith as I would have liked, but both of them in different ways were supportive and encouraging. Masters of their craft.

I wonder, do the newcomers to broadcasting look towards us older presenters and feel a positive influence, or do they see us as obstacles to their own path of progress? I’ll probably have to wait until my funeral to find out.

Frank presents U105 Phone In Monday-friday from 9am-noon