Bill Dennay  -  Director of Engineering from 1987 to 1993

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Eulogy by Bert Gallon

Bill’s wife, Shirley, wanted today to be a celebration of his life. There is much to celebrate. It was a long life, full of achievements, and rich in experience and friendships. Bill was born in 1935 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, and educated at the local Grammar School. After leaving school he trained as a Marine Radio Officer. His award of a PMG Advanced First-Class certificate and Radar certificate meant that he could be in charge of the entire Radio installation and Radio staff in any British Merchant ship, but, instead of a life at sea, Bill joined the Scientific Civil Service.

This involved a move to Christchurch, then still part of Hampshire. It is where he met Shirley. She was not impressed with him initially, and told friends that she didn’t care for the fellow with the northern accent who kept appearing in the drawing office and talking to her. Bill didn’t give up, Shirley became less concerned about the northern accent, and they married. They obviously made the right choice as theirs was an exceptionally happy marriage for all of 67 years.

They had a son, Bob, who followed his father into engineering and had a very distinguished career in the RAF before becoming a civilian pilot. Bill spoke frequently about Bob’s latest projects and adventures, and where he happened to be in the world - he was always on the move. Bill and Shirley were rightly very proud of him.

Bill’s time with the Scientific Civil Service was relatively short. A BBC advertisement seeking applications for technicians and trainee engineers led to his arrival at the Daventry Transmitting Station in 1956. He worked at a number of other transmitting stations, before he joined the lecturing team at the BBC’s Engineering Training Centre at Wood Norton in Worcestershire.

He spent just over ten happy years at Wood Norton, where he was highly regarded by the students before, in 1971, there was an opportunity to return to operational engineering, and he moved back to the Transmission Group as Head of Transmitter Operations. This was the first step in a series of senior managerial appointments, culminating in 1987, with his appointment as the BBC’s Director of Engineering. He enjoyed all of the appointments but he had a particular fondness for his time as the Chief Engineer, World Service, and he also enjoyed, what was an unusual role for an electronic engineer, as the Project Manager responsible for planning the new BBC Headquarters at White City.

Bill developed a deep level of knowledge in all of the areas of the BBC in which he worked. His preparation in everything he did was meticulous, and he set high standards for himself and for those who worked for him. As a lecturer, he could make the driest of subjects interesting, complex subjects understandable, and his patience and encouragement ensured that none of his students fell behind. As a manager, he expected his own high standards from his staff. He expected results, but advice and guidance was always available. Staff were encouraged to develop their own solutions. Staff development was important to Bill. He also believed that work should be enjoyable and he did his best to make that possible.

There was, however, one rule that everyone had to follow. Any problems had to be referred to him at the earliest possible time. Bill didn’t like surprises or problems being revealed to him late in the day, and particularly not from anyone other than his own staff.

There was obviously a seriously good talent spotter in the BBC’s hierarchy back in the 1960s, because Bill was one of a small number of young engineers deemed to have the potential for senior positions. He attended a fully funded year-long course at the Borough Polytechnic in London, and emerged with a Dip. E.E., an important step on his path to becoming a Chartered Engineer. He also became a Member of the IERE, a Fellow of the IEE, and following his retirement, President of the IET. He played a prominent role in the activities of all of these engineering institutions, as well as in various broadcasting committees, and he was held in high regard throughout the industry.

He was held in equally high regard within the BBC, by his staff in the various areas where he worked, and by the BBC’s Board of Management. Sir Michael Checkland, the BBC’s Director General for much of the time that Bill served on the Board of Management as Director of Engineering, paid this tribute: “For six years, from 1987, Bill showed his commitment to a wide vision of the public service broadcasting role of the BBC, embracing organisational and technological change with enthusiasm and expertise. He was a highly supportive team player who upheld with pride the great tradition of BBC Engineering.”

We missed Bill when he retired in 1993, and he went off to spend eight productive years with Quantel, a company who designed and manufactured equipment for the broadcasting industry. It was an entirely different experience from that of the BBC. He enjoyed it and made a significant contribution, but his first love remained the BBC. He was always happy to talk about his time at the BBC and particularly about the people he worked with.

Despite his commitment and obvious love of his work, it was by no means the only part of his life. His interests extended well beyond engineering and the BBC. They included aviation, and he was almost as expert on the history of the different types of aircraft, civilian and military, as he was of broadcast engineering. Opera was a great love, together with classical music. He was particularly fond of the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, a favourite of mine, and again he was able to talk with some expertise about the music of this English composer and what had influenced it.

He was also wonderful company at work and socially, great fun, he mixed easily with all of the different levels of staff, and made the point of trying to speak to everyone during visits to transmitting stations and other engineering premises. He was very humble in spite of all of his achievements, and he was always seeking to improve. He was proud of his Lincolnshire roots, and more than happy in his adopted county of Hampshire, his home for over 50 years.

Most important of all for Bill, however, was his family. They positively came first.