Thomas Brownrigg
Thomas Marcus Brownrigg | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 July 1902 |
| Died | 9 October 1967 Finchampstead |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Royal Navy officer; public administrator; television executive |
| Employer | Associated-Rediffusion |
| Title | Captain, RN |
| Spouse |
Joyce Chiesman (m. 1926–1967) |
| Children | 2 |
Brownrigg began his naval career as a
World War II
During the
He then became commanding officer of HMS Scylla for D-Day itself, whilst also serving as Flag Captain for the Eastern Task Force during the landings. He finished the war in command of the Royal Navy Air Station at Rattray (HMS Merganser).[1]
Post-war
After the war, Brownrigg served briefly on
Nevertheless, he had made enemies within the Admiralty due to his idiosyncratic nature and failed to progress beyond the rank of captain. He was placed on the retired list in July 1952.[1]
Bracknell New Town
Following his retirement from the navy, Brownrigg became General Manager of the
Associated-Rediffusion
The experience of managing Bracknell was put to use in Brownrigg's next post, the one where he would, his war service notwithstanding, gain the most fame. The
Because of the extensive planning and construction involved, they approached Brownrigg to become their General Manager. He accepted and put his imprint across the entire structure and output of the company.[2]
Contemporaries reported that he commanded A-R as though it were a battleship.
Many stories are told by old ITV hands about Brownrigg's idiosyncrasies, especially his dominant - or domineering[8] - manner,[2] his name-dropping, his willingness to generalise outrageously on any subject[6] and his requirement for very junior staff to salute him and his fellow directors. However, personal friends also point out that he had a great sense of humour and an ability to laugh at himself[2] - many of the anecdotes about him may therefore have derived from him in the first place.
Retirement
Brownrigg's A-R pitched itself as a formal, rigid broadcaster. In order to avoid comparison between A-R and the American networks, Brownrigg ensured that A-R was more "British" and "Empire" in its attitudes and identity than even the BBC. This had the desired effect, removing the accusation the commercial television would be "vulgar" or too light.[9]
However, by the 1960s, increased competition and a change in spending-power demographics was evident in the United Kingdom. With the planned launch of
In this new environment there was no place for Brownrigg and he retired to Finchampstead in Berkshire at the end of 1963, although he took on a directorship of the TV Times.
One of his last acts before his death was to condemn the Independent Television Authority for forcing Rediffusion into (minority) partnership with ABC Weekend TV to create the new Thames Television. His letter to The Times doesn't mention Rediffusion, London once - he stuck to calling the company he created "Associated-Rediffusion" until the end.[11] He did not live to see the birth of Thames Television.
Family
Thomas Brownrigg was the son of Colonel H J W Brownrigg and Evelyn (née Huleatt). He married Joyce Chiesman in 1926 and they had a son and a daughter.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Houterman, Hans and Koppes, Jeroen Unithistories.com Archived 3 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Netherlands (undated), Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f Henry, Brian (Ed.) British Television Advertising: The First Thirty Years London: Century Benham 1986
- ^ Graham, Russ J Vital vulgarity Archived 31 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine, The Authority from Transdiffusion 1 April 2005, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- ^ Graham, Russ J A Short History Archived 18 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Television House from Transdiffusion 1 January 2004, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- ^ Copy of OOM Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Transdiffusion archives
- ^ ISBN 0-297-77278-3
- ^ Graham, Russ J London Calling Archived 6 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Television House from Transdiffusion 1 January 2004, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- ^ Bromsgrove, Mark Brian Masters MBE Archived 9 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, TV Heroes from Transdiffusion, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- ^ Rediffusion Archived 2 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Ident from Transdiffusion 24 May 2004, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- ^ Graham, Russ J 1964 and all that Archived 8 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Inside TV from Transdiffusion, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- ^ This is London: The Times 17 June 1967 Archived 12 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Photomusications from Transdiffusion, Retrieved 27 November 2008
- Sendall, Bernard Independent Television in Britain: Volume 1 - Origin and Foundation, 1946-62 London: The Macmillan Press Ltd 1982 (1984 reprint); pp116–117, 147-148
Further reading
- Turok, Ivan Development Planning and Local Economic Growth: Study of Process and Policy in Bracknell New Town MacMillan Publishing Company ISBN 0-08-037365-8