:: Jane Bennett Powell
Programme Assistant and Producer, 1976-81
How did you come to be working for Radio Sheffield?
It was an 'obvious' career choice, having studied French at Hull University! In 1975, one of Radio Nottingham's producers, Steve Panton, invited me to see what his job entailed: he was compiling a report about poaching, knitting interviews with miners (some of whom had a lucrative sideline in poaching), a gamekeeper and a policeman, with woodland sound effects. I was hooked, and months of indecision about a career were over.Μύ
Jane Bennett Powell today
And where has life taken you since?
Anna Ford and Angela Rippon were leading the way as women in news. I didn't have Rippon's legs, but I applied for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Trainee scheme, and they took me. I spent two years in the TV Newsroom in London as a sub-editor/writer, then a year on Newsnight when Peter Snow and John Tusa were presenting.
Channel Four News offered me a job, and for the next few years I worked in politics as a producer, then as a Lobby Correspondent at Westminster, reporting on the demise of Mrs Thatcher. I covered news stories from Bosnia to the Basque country, via occasional trips back to Barnsley, to compere concerts for Dodworth Male Voice Choir.
I'm now freelance, reporting for News 24, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World, as well as hosting events and running training courses.Μύ
Proudest moment at Radio Sheffield
My first assignment as a producer: the gardening programme. I didn't even have a window box to my name, but my boyfriend at the time had a horticultural business so perhaps the management thought there'd be a cross-fertilisation of knowledge!
Gardeners Don Williams and Bill Nelson
It led to a wonderful collaboration with the presenter, Bill Nelson, who'd been in gardening since the days of big houses and green baize aprons.
I'd pick a garden to visit, and Bill would fold all six-foot-four of himself into my Mini and we'd go and record the weekly Garden Talk.ΜύHe was genuinely interested in anything that grew, shared his deep enthusiasm, and gently taught the less skilled gardeners a thing or two along the way.
Other memories?
Nellie the cleaner was a much-loved personality at Radio Sheffield. She told everyone what she thought. People recount how she thought tidiness was as important as radio, and saw to it that the waste-paper bins in the studios were emptied whatever was being broadcast.
Radio Sheffield splurged the budget one year and had jingles recorded by the Mike Sammes Singers for everyone who spoke on-air. I had two. To the tune, E, EDC, FG, my first one went, "Jane Bennett-Powell". The second went, "Jane Bennett hyphen Powell!" I treasure them.
Worst moments
Being on the rota to open up and get us on air on the Sunday morning after Radio Sheffield's 10th birthday party. I overslept. Winton Cooper rang from the newsroom to ask where I was at about 9.45am, because Radio Hallam had called to ask whether we were on strike.
"Winton Cooper rang from the newsroom to ask where I was at about 9.45am, because Radio Hallam had called to ask whether we were on strike!"
Jane Bennett Powell
Being a relative southerner caused problems occasionally in understanding older local residents. I went vox-popping (recording people's opinions) in the city centre one day for my holiday programme. I thought one old boy's answer to my question: "Where are you going on holiday this year?" was "Norway!"Μύ "How unusual, I volunteered. Why Norway?" "No, he replied, Norway!" "Yes", I struggled, "and what made you choose Norway?" Those with better hearing than mine will have realised he would be going "nowhere" !
Favourite place in South Yorkshire
Sheffield Botanical Gardens, the road to Ringinglow, and Barnsley Civic Hall, for its great acoustics and when filled, fabulous atmosphere. Now lying empty, I gather. What a waste.
How would you sum up your Radio Sheffield experience?
I couldn't have asked for a better first job: five years of discovery, not only learning about radio, but also developing an abiding love for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
