Category: Radio Norfolk
Date: 03.03.2006
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Norfolk presenter John Mills died yesterday (2 March 2006) after a long battle against cancer.
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John was a familiar voice on Radio Norfolk having presented a range of shows since the station first went on air in 1980.
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He also presented programmes for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service.
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He will be best known as Norfolk's consumer champion for his Midday with Mills programme.
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John and his team, many of them CSV volunteers, built up a considerable reputation for solving consumer problems and explaining complex issues to Radio Norfolk's audience.
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John's achievements were recognised nationally when he won the British Insurance Brokers Association Media Award (Journalist of the Year - Broadcast) in 2000 for his work tackling listeners' insurance problems.
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His radio career began as a volunteer on the Gilbert and Ellis Islands in the Pacific, where chickens jumped through the radio studio window every morning.
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On his return to the UK John joined the embryonic Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Blackburn in 1970.
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In 1976 he moved to East Anglia, producing and reporting for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ East regional radio show Roundabout East Anglia.
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In 1980 Radio Norfolk was born and John produced and presented a weekend current affairs phone-in show as well as presenting arts and discussion programmes for the station.
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During this time he also became the regular presenter of Radio 4's disability programme Does he take Sugar?
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Juggling his local and network radio commitments proved difficult so John decided to leave Radio 4.
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He soon started work at the World Service in addition to his shows on Radio Norfolk.
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In 1992 he developed and presented a new early evening drivetime news programme for Radio Norfolk before starting his weekday Midday with Mills consumer programme in 1995.
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David Clayton, Editor, Radio Norfolk, said today: "The Radio Norfolk team is like a big family and we feel like we've lost a great friend as well as a colleague.
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"I've worked with John from the very beginning at Radio Norfolk and in all that time he was utterly charming and professional.
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"On the phone he was sometimes known as Mr Angry because he revelled in getting to the bottom of a difficult issue, but he also enjoyed the fun side of radio and loved every bit of it.
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"We will miss him greatly."
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Tim Bishop, Head of Regional and Local Programmes, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ East, said: "Off air John was a totally charming, scrupulously polite and a truly old fashioned gentleman but on air he was an incisive questioner and I can't think of anyone I'd rather have on my side if I had a problem.
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"Equally I can't think of anyone I'd want to face less if I had something to hide or be ashamed of."
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Tim adds: "When I joined Radio Norfolk he was presenting the drivetime news and he went on to help create the midday programme which helped pioneer consumer and action desk programming on local radio.
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"It was a natural home for him. For over ten years he harried and hounded anyone and everyone who set out to cheat the people of his adopted county.
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"His preparation was as impeccable as his professionalism and demeanour, and he built the skills of a production and volunteer team that made the programme a champion of the rights of the listeners."
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John, who was 59, is survived by his wife, three children and three grandchildren.
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A book of condolences to celebrate John's life will be available to sign in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Norwich reception at The Forum in Norwich from later this afternoon.
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An online book of condolences will also be published for people to post and share their memories, comments and stories at bbc.co.uk/norfolk.
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