John Dunn(1934-2004)
- Actor
Educated at Christ Church Cathedral Choir School and The King's School,
Canterbury. Following that he undertook National Service with the Royal
Air Force in Germany. Deciding to pursue his interest in broadcasting,
he joined the BBC in 1957. His first job was as a studio manager for
the Home Service's Nine O'Clock News. He was especially inspired by the
professionalism of newsreaders
Alvar Liddell and
Frank Phillips and became a
newsreader himself. He worked as a presenter for BBC Radio 2 from its
inception, building a loyal audience for the early evening weekday show
he occupied from the mid-1970s until his retirement in 1998. Its
attractive mix of interviews, quizzes and music won him the accolade of
Radio Personality of the Year on three occasions and a Gold Sony Radio
Award for the best Drivetime Music Programme. On his retirement he made
no secret of his disdain for BBC Director General
John Birt and his policies, which Dunn said
had reduced the atmosphere and morale at the corporation in his final
years.
