Sad to read of the passing of this exceptional campaigner who founded and lead the most intelligent group lobbying for the preservation of standards in public service broadcasting.
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Sad to read of the passing of this exceptional campaigner who founded and lead the most intelligent group lobbying for the preservation of standards in public service broadcasting. -
We have lost an ally of whom I had not heard before this. Thanks for letting us know, SHB. -
Jocelyn and the VLV have done more for the cause of public service broadcasting than any other group in recent years. She will be greatly missed. A lovely lady who was known to make haughty men blanch.
Go here if you'd like to know about the VLV: http://www.vlv.org.uk/ they could do with your support.Comment
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I met Jocelyn once (she was over 75 then, since she said she had a 'free' TV licence) and was amazed that she still carried on, in formidable fashion, for so long. I hope VLV will have people to continue, even half as determinedly as she did. A wonderful woman, and I'm pleased to see the BBC has recognised her with a worthy piece of reporting.It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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I had a personal interest in starting this thread. I came to know Jocelyn when I began attending various VLV events. Mostly seminars and the like, they were of the finest order and the invited contributors were of the highest calibre.
Too often the VLV was mistaken for Mary Whitehouse's organisation which was something of an injustice given that the VLV would field responses and rebuttals to green and white papers in draft form, and the like, in considered and academic form. Here was an entity that was concerned with more than opposition to the growing tide of commercialisation. The VLV was very good at counter-proposals.
Through it's very esteemed membership (including names like Gerard Mansfield, Monica Sims, Prof. Vincent Porter and many more) it spoke with an authority that was well respected in the media world.
In time, I became the VLV's Hon. Sec. for a couple of years and accompanied Jocelyn on meetings with Virginia Bottomley (then DCMS minister), Tony Hall (then BBC Head of NCA), the ITC and even before parliamentary committees.
Such was Jocelyn's intelligence and integrity that there were few doors in the broadcasting industry that were not open to her. Much of the time, I'd have to admit, the holders of these offices would nod politely then usher us to the door assuring us how valued our input was only to carry on regardless, but there were occasions when the VLV's approval was desperately sought.
As for Jocelyn herself, she was a most personable presence with a genuine glint in her eye. She was an adult in which you could still see the charisma of a former Head Girl. True, we had occasion to cross swords once or twice, but she was a pragmatist and we could emerge from such moments still friends.
During her absence from one of the monthly steering group meetings I had the chance to propose that we put her forward for an honour. I duly completed the necessary paperwork accompanied by the sponsorship of Lords Barnett and Whitelaw, as I recall, and forwarded the same to the Cabinet Office. This resulted in Jocelyn being awarded the MBE, with which I'm sure she was delighted. I, on the other hand, wasn't best pleased. I knew that her efforts deserved something much more than an honour which mainly gives a nod to 'personal endeavour' and I was pleased to see her a number of years later awarded the CBE.
Now, I'm not sure who pressed for that, but I suspect it was some senior mandarin or broadcasting chair who had had dealings with Jocelyn and realised that the first gong had been inappropriate and this 'upgrade' was a recognition of the respect that was held for her between White City, Whitehall, Grays Inn Road and Horseferry Road.
In truth, the VLV lost far more battles than it won, but no one in the know would suggest that this organisation, run out of a front room in Gravesend, was anything less than the worthiest of opponents. It punched well above its weight and while there is much to despair of in Britain's 21st Century media world, I regularly find myself thinking how much worse that vista might have been but for Jocelyn Hay and the VLV.
SHB.
Ps. From 2008 a short piece by Gillian Reynolds who was a regular chair at the VLV seminars.
Last edited by Stillhomewardbound; 24-01-14, 15:42.Comment
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Thank you for that link, Jean, which I've just checked. Nice segment and a good advocate in Professor Steven Barnett.Comment
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Thanks Jean. Yes, Steven wasa good choice, he would know as well as anyone what Jocelyn was about. Did you note his use of that E word!!Originally posted by Stillhomewardbound View Post
The best thing we can do in her memory is to keep the movement alive and thriving; there is still a lot to do.Comment
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