Helen Rollason
Helen Rollason BBC Six O'Clock News | |
---|---|
Spouse |
John Rollason
(m. 1980; div. 1991) |
Children | 1 |
Helen Frances Rollason
Born in London, Rollason studied to become a
Rollason was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1997, and fought a two-year battle with the disease. A 1998 documentary, Hope for Helen, followed her treatment, and won her much public support for her courage. She continued to work throughout her illness, and shortly before her death was appointed an MBE in the 1999 Birthday Honours. Later that year, the BBC established an award in her memory which is presented at the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony. A cancer charity was also founded in her name. Rollason's television career also helped to open up the way for other women to enter the world of sports broadcasting, with presenters such as Sue Barker and Gabby Logan following in her footsteps.
Early life
Helen Grindley was born in London on 11 March 1956, and adopted at the age of nine months.
After leaving school she studied at the
Broadcasting career
Rollason continued to aspire to a career in broadcasting, and while still teaching did screen tests for
After just over a year with Cheerleader, Rollason left the company to concentrate on her broadcasting career, and became a freelance reporter.
In 1990, Rollason joined
Later career, illness and death
Rollason began feeling unwell in 1996 during an eight-week assignment to the US, where she was covering that year's
In April 1999, the BBC announced plans to overhaul its
Rollason became involved in charity work, raising
Legacy
As the first female presenter of Grandstand, Helen Rollason was a pioneer of British sports broadcasting, an industry that was predominantly male at the time, and she established a precedent that allowed others to follow.
On 4 November 1999, the BBC announced the establishment of a
The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity was established in her name in 1999.[45] The charity funds and operates three cancer support centres – in Essex, Hertfordshire and London.[46] Lord Coe, who had known Rollason since her days in radio broadcasting, is the charity's patron.[47][48] The first Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre was opened in Chelmsford, Essex in April 2002.[49] in 2011, a new research centre named after Rollason and offering treatment for patients as part of clinical trials of new cancer therapies was opened at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital.[46]
In April 2006,
Publications
- Rollason, Helen (2000). Life's Too Short. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-0-34076-772-6.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Szreter, Adam (10 August 1999). "Obituary: Helen Rollason". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Helen Rollason". The Daily Telegraph. 10 August 1999. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Helen Rollason: Presenter with fighting spirit". BBC News. BBC. 10 August 1999. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Alexander, Brian (10 August 1999). "Helen Rollason". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 92.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rollason 2000, p. 51–69.
- ^ a b c "Brave Helen receives honorary degree". BBC News. BBC. 28 July 1999. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 181.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 144.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 128.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 88.
- ^ a b McGregor, Stephen (10 August 1999). "Helen Rollason". The Herald. Newsquest. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Universiade 87 Zagreb". BFI Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "International Athletics". BFI Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ Marks, Kathy (10 August 1999). "BBC sports presenter Helen Rollason dies". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "30 years of Newsround: 1987". CBBC Newsround. BBC. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ Millar, Stuart (10 August 1999). "Tributes paid as TV sports pioneer dies of cancer". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-41522-849-7. Archivedfrom the original on 25 November 2017.
- ^ "TV presenter Helen denies cancer scare". The Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. 30 March 1998. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 17–32.
- ^ "Sports presenter in fight for life". BBC News. BBC. 26 October 1998. Archived from the original on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Helen holds out hope". The Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. 21 October 1998. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 131–132.
- ^ Gibson, Janine (21 April 1999). "Friday sports slot for the BBC's 6 pm news". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Supplement No. 1" (PDF). The London Gazette. HM Government of the United Kingdom. 12 June 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Honours at home for brave Helen". The Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. 29 July 1999. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ Rollason 2000, p. 199.
- ^ "Mourners remember Helen Rollason". BBC News. BBC. 17 August 1999. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "BBC tribute to brave Helen". The Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. 11 August 1999. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Parkes, Diane (21 March 2000). "Courage inspired a nation; Television sports presenter Helen Rollason shared her battle againstcancer with the nation. Now her autobiography reveals the hardships behind that fight". Birmingham Evening Mail. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Story of sports presenter's cancer battle". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Trinity Mirror. 14 December 2000. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b Hill, Graham (15 August 1999). "Gabby so sad for tragic TV trailblazer Helen". Sunday Mercury. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Gabby's ready to tackle her big challenge". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 19 November 2001. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Sports Personality voting & judging: Terms & conditions". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
- ^ Shannon, Sarah (4 November 1999). "BBC bravery award to remember Helen". London Evening Standard.
- ^ "Lewis heads sporting honours". BBC News. BBC. 12 December 1999. Archived from the original on 3 December 2002. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ^ "Ellen's tough voyage". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 December 2001. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Sports Personality: The winners". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 December 2005. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "BBC Sports Personality: Prince Harry presents Invictus award". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ Grimshaw, Emma (18 December 2016). "Bristol runner Ben Smith wins top sporting award after completing 401 marathon in as many days". Bristol Post. Local World. Retrieved 18 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards". Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "'Inspirational' Jo scoops top Times award". Eastbourne Herald. Johnston Press. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ Mathieson, Amy (9 November 2012). "Claire Lomas wins Helen Rollason award for inspiration". Horse & Hound. IPC Media. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Charlotte Dujardin named Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year". Sky Sports News. British Sky Broadcasting. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Dunmow concert to raise money for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity". Herts & Essex Observer. Local World. 6 October 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Helen Rollason Cancer Charity research centre opened". BBC News. BBC. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ Matthews, Melissa (21 July 2009). "Olympic visitor at cancer charity site". Essex Chronicle. Local World. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "The man with a PLAN – Olympics Q&A with Lord Seb Coe". Essex Life Magazine. 8 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Cancer centre opens in memory of Helen". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Trinity Mirror. 17 April 2002. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Members' Newsletter" (PDF). Brentwood Borough Council. 30 April 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Rollason Way". Google Maps.
External links
- Helen Rollason at IMDb
- Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
- Helen Rollason: Presenter with fighting spirit, BBC obituary