The Guardian UK - 03 Januari 2023

Tuesday 3 January 2023 The Guardian •

Opinion 3

No one voted
for cuts to
news, local radio and
the World Service.
The slogan ‘It’s your
BBC’ is in danger of
ringing hollow

Do BBC bosses D o we still think public service First lady Contrary to what the Daily Mail constantly
broadcasting matters? For those Olena Zelenska argues, the BBC is now a very efficient business, not
have any plans of us who do, these are worrying speaks to BBC least because of the herculean efforts of its director
times. “The public service journalists general, Tim Davie, who, while cleverly blunting
that aren’t just broadcasting system is undoubtedly in Kyiv, Ukraine, government allegations of bias, has been faced with
facing an existential threat,” November 2022 a 30% cut in real spending power. With inflation
cut, cut, cut? warns the former chair of ITV rampant, further cuts are in the offing, which will
and much else, Peter Bazalgette. PHOTOGRAPH: follow already announced cuts in essential elements
Roger ITV, he reveals, has not yet decided to reapply for a ABACA/PA IMAGES of its public service offering, including news, local
Bolton new public service broadcasting licence because it radio and the World Service.
does not know what the terms will be. He and many 
others await the new broadcasting bill. But no one voted for that. All this is happening
Roger Bolton without the people who pay for the corporation, the
It now seems unlikely that the bill will propose is a former licence-fee payers, being consulted. The oft-used
privatising Channel 4. But what next? Who knows. BBC executive slogan “It’s your BBC” is in danger of ringing hollow.
Could someone please offer an inspiring vision of and journalist.
what its contribution to public service broadcasting He presents The BBC has never been very good on
should be over the next 40 years? Does anyone the podcast consultation or accountability, as I know from my
have a vision of the future to compare with that Roger Bolton’s many years presenting Radio 4’s Feedback, where
which Jeremy Isaacs, its founding chief executive, Beeb Watch all too often there was little feedback. When it came
displayed all those years ago? to inviting executives on to the programme, the
press office would often intervene, saying, “We
And then there is the BBC, the public service don’t think this is the right time to say something
mothership just turned 100 years old. But what is on this subject.” I would reply that the right time was
its vision for the next decade, let alone the next whenever the listener wanted an answer.
century? Two baronesses hit the nail on the head
very forcibly in a recent House of Lords debate. “It When it came to inviting presenters and
remains unclear what the BBC wants to be, beyond producers on to Feedback, requests also had to go
being a significant player in this global media world,” through the press office, and if an interview took
said the Conservative peer Lady (Tina) Stowell, chair place a press officer would usually be present, at their
of the communications committee, who once worked insistence. The good producers, and there are a lot
for the BBC. She wanted to know “what it will do of them, would roll their eyes at being chaperoned.
more of … continue to do … stop doing”. And I got the impression that some press officers
were a bit embarrassed by their role as “minders”.
Lady (Dido) Harding, also a Conservative peer,
fired a warning shot across the bows of Broadcasting D avie has said that he is
House, saying, “No investment proposal should be determined to improve
approved without a compelling long-term vision and accountability, and I am sure
plan.” The implication was clear, she hadn’t seen one. he is sincere, but he then presses
But then, neither have the rest of us. It’s a creative on with his business plan – and
vision thing: is there such a thing at and for the BBC ? those cuts – as though he were
running a commercial business,
There is certainly a business vision, as there not this much-loved, publicly
should be. The BBC board is now top-heavy with owned, publicly financed institution.
bankers and business people. The chairman, Richard
Sharp, tutored Rishi Sunak at Goldman Sachs. The Of course, someone has to take decisions, we can’t
corporation’s future as a big, international business is all vote on what has to go, but surely we would have
pretty secure. A commercial version of it could survive a right to expect the ability to discuss priorities? For
without the licence fee, but is that what we want? instance, Radio 4 Extra may go online only, thus
depriving some older listeners of a service they
greatly value. They had no say in this process. BBC
director of speech radio Mohit Bakaya says, rather
mystifyingly, that the online move of 4 Extra is “not
a done deal”. Maybe protests could tip the balance.

BBC Four, which originally commissioned the
wonderful series Detectorists, is also to go online
and become an archive channel only. Again, no
consultation was undertaken before that decision
was taken. BBC local radio is being decimated,
despite its role in serving so many communities.

Truly, to use Bazalgette’s phrase, this is an
existential threat, and with a new year we need
new thinking: pause the BBC cuts now, postpone
the debate on the privatisation of Channel 4 and
ensure that ITV remains a public service broadcaster,
while conducting a proper cross-party inquiry
into the future of the public service media and
how to pay for it. We have, by accident and design,
created a landscape and a tradition of public service
broadcasting in this country that is very special.
We must be vigilant of it. It would be careless, not
to say criminal, to let it slip away.

• The Guardian Tuesday 3 January 2023

4 Opinion

Thunberg on pumping gas into one of his vehicles, coupled with  He was hoping to promote himself with his sneer
his claims about their “enormous emissions”, had at Thunberg; he managed to raise his visibility just
machismo and unsolicited dick pic energy. Thunberg seemed aware Rebecca Solnit in time to make news of his arrest and the charges
of that when she replied: “yes, please do enlighten me. international news. By at least one account, the pizza
the planet’s fate email me at [email protected].” is a Guardian box in his video helped cue Romanian police to his
US columnist location, although the authorities have thrown doubt
Rebecca Her reply gained traction to quickly become one of and the author on that. Still, had he not harassed Thunberg, his arrest
Solnit the top 10 tweets of all time. As I write, it’s been liked of Orwell’s and the charges would not have been major news. He
3.5 million times and shared directly 650,000 or so, Roses and went looking for attention, and he got it.
O n 27 December the former and the exchange became the topic of countless news Recollections of
kickboxer, professional stories around the world, from India to Australia. My Nonexistence Thunberg drily tweeted on the 30th: “this is what
misogynist and online happens when you don’t recycle your pizza boxes,”
entrepreneur Andrew Tate, 36, There’s a direct association between machismo mocking her own earnest public image. As I write, it has
sent a boastfully hostile tweet to and the refusal to recognise and respond appropriately 2.6m likes. Beyond the entertainment value of what
climate activist Greta Thunberg, to the climate catastrophe. It’s a result of versions of transpired over the past few days is a serious reminder
19, about his sports cars. “Please masculinity in which selfishness and indifference of the intersection between machismo, misogyny,
provide your email address so – individualism taken to its extremes – are defining hostility to climate action and climate science, and
I can send a complete list of my car collection and characteristics, and therefore caring and acting for the dank underworld of rightwing characters like Tate
their respective enormous emissions,” he wrote. the collective good is their antithesis. recruiting white boys and young men to their views.
He was probably hoping to enhance his status by
mocking her climate commitment. Instead, she “Men resist green behavior as unmanly” is the Greta Thunberg PHOTOGRAPH: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/GETTY
burned the macho guy to a crisp in nine words. headline for a 2017 story on the phenomenon.
He went looking for attention, and he got it. Cars Machismo and climate denial, as well as alliance
are routinely tokens of virility and status for men, with the fossil fuel industry, is a package deal for the
and the image accompanying his tweet of him right, from the “rolling coal” trucks whose plumes of
dark smoke are meant as a sneer at climate causes to
Republicans in the US who have long opposed nearly
all climate action (and are recipients of oil money).

Thunberg’s takedown clearly stung Tate – who,
10 hours later, tweeted out a video in which he tried to
reassert his masculinity by blathering on in a dressing
gown, with a cigar and a pizza box as props. Not long
after that, he and his brother Tristan were arrested
by Romanian authorities linked to allegations of sex
trafficking. Tate is a troll and a creep; he’s also alleged
to be a pimp and rapist. He denies all wrongdoing.

Tate is part of a huge network of far-right men
online and he’d been banned from most social media
platforms. Elon Musk’s Twitter let him back on not long
before the tweet that was seen around the world.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 The Guardian •

Letters  [email protected] 5
 @guardianletters

Established 1906 Sunak’s shelter incident understanding in who is hungry Corrections and
exposes our prejudices in our society today. Hunger isn’t clarifications
Country diary a class issue any longer.
Willington, When I first saw the headlines assumptions about people, even Fiona Dalgleish • An article said Gen Mark Milley,
County Durham about Rishi Sunak asking a when we think we do not. Peebles, Scottish Borders chairman of the US joint chiefs of
homeless man if he was in Meher Pocha staff, had claimed that as many as
The growl of high street traffic had business, I shared the view that Letchworth, Hertfordshire • It’s good to see some considered 100,000 Russian soldiers had been
barely faded as we walked uphill, it showed how out of touch he comment on this farcical fuss. killed in the war in Ukraine; in
away from the town centre, when was with reality – that’s what • If our prime minister believes that I am no Tory supporter, but fact, this number related to those
we saw the kestrel. She was sitting headlines do. The thoughtful business and finance careers are the gleeful response to this killed or wounded (How Russia’s
on a leafless branch of a cherry article by Simon Hattenstone and possible for homeless people, then conversation exposed not only the past traps Putin in today’s conflict,
tree, feathers fluffed, her back Daniel Lavelle made me rethink and his vision is one I would like to see prejudiced perceptions that Simon 26 December, p26).
turned towards the icy wind. She recognise my own prejudices and realised. If Rishi Sunak takes the Hattenstone and Daniel Lavelle
seemed reluctant to fly as we drew preconceptions, which I usually time to engage with disadvantaged describe, but also the fact that many • A feature misspelled the Scottish
closer. Cautiously sidling around try to be aware of and compensate communities, then mocking him of the critics did not listen closely city of Stirling as “Sterling” (‘By this
her, we could see that her pale for (When Rishi met Dean: a lesson for his efforts is counterproductive – (or at all) to the recording. What point my friends were saying I was
eyelids were closed; dozing in the for us all, 29 December). how else is he to rectify his perceived Rishi Sunak actually asked was: “Do stalking her’, 19 December, G2, p3).
early morning sunshine, perhaps lack of understanding? I think the you work in a business?” That “a”
digesting her last meal. Then her Homeless people are drawn debate could more fruitfully centre shows that he meant any business, Editorial complaints and corrections can be sent to
head swivelled and our eyes met; from many walks of life, yet we on access to opportunities for the which encompasses a vast number [email protected] or The readers’
mirrors of polished jet glared down persist in thinking that they must homeless and disadvantaged. of jobs. He did not ask whether the editor, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU.
at us. A shimmy of plumage, to be people of low capacity, with Barbara Loon guy worked in corporate finance. You can also leave a voicemail on 020 3353 4736
smooth ruffled feathers, and she poor prospects, who are somehow Horncastle, Lincolnshire Sue Johnson
was away, chestnut wings scything responsible in some way for their London Inspired to strive for
across the grassy hillside. homelessness. The writers are right • I run a food bank and one of our greater immaturity
when they say: “The fact that this key concerns is operating with • Rishi Sunak’s conversation with
Willington grew around a conversation became a source of respect. I agree that Rishi Sunak Dean was annoying because he Having left the army at the age
coalmine that closed in 1967. For hilarity for so many people says wasn’t excruciating – he was asked closed questions. It came of 61, I took up festival-going,
120 years, a jagged mountain of more about us and our prejudices responding without assumptions, across as controlling the narrative grew my own cannabis and
colliery waste, known locally as than it does about Sunak.” which is a key tenet in maintaining so that he could use the encounter bought an open-topped sports
Twin Peaks, stood on this spot. dignity. I am not a big Tory fan, to push his own agenda for the car. My children categorised this
Earlier generations called it Dante’s, I also wonder if the reaction but in this he was right. Presuming camera. I’d have seen it differently behaviour as “Dad’s midlife crisis”.
a reference, some say, to coal spoil had an element of people thinking a homeless person couldn’t if he’d asked Dean for his story. Simon Hattenstone’s article (‘I’m
tips’ potential to spontaneously that Sunak isn’t really one of us possibly be in business illuminates When I speak to people on the 60! Time to embrace being an old
combust and become an inferno. and doesn’t quite understand preconceptions, instantly writes street, I first ask if they’ve eaten and fart’, 29 December) has put the
Many would have experienced social norms. Thanks, Simon that person off and shows a lack of then use open questions to start a record straight and encouraged
hellish conditions, hewing coal and Daniel, for reminding me conversation and listen to them. me to strive for yet greater feats
in labyrinthine mine tunnels that we are all guilty of making But listening to people isn’t this of immature irresponsibility.
under it. The miner and poet government’s strength. Mark Hainge
Richard Watson’s words – “Large My uncle’s role in Polish codebreaking efforts Pauline Galloway Hay-on-Wye, Powys
rubbish heaps along the hillside Ladybank, Fife
show / the vast extent of hollow Robert Gawłowski properly drew Africa, then travelled via Spain and • Great that fast food companies in
ground below”– chiselled into a attention to the cracking of the Gibraltar to Britain in 1943. to the Rejewski revelations, he France now have to wash crockery
commemorative stone, testify Enigma code by Marian Rejewski had never breathed a word of his and cutlery in their outlets (Fast
to their toil. and other Polish mathematicians Różycki sadly died at sea on the wartime adventures to his family. food giants face up to ban on
from the University of Poznań way to the UK, so with Rejewski’s disposable cups and tableware,
In the early 70s, Twin Peaks was (Letters, 21 December); and return to Poland, my uncle became A memorial stone was laid at 29 December). This will revive the
reduced to a gently regraded grassy Michael Saunders (Letters, the only one of the team to remain Chichester crematorium in 2018, art of the plongeur, the occupation
hill, creating an open public space, 29 December) pointed out that in Britain. He was billeted to my on the 40th anniversary of my of struggling artists and radicals
a pleasant place to spend a morning there is a memorial to the Polish aunt, Bertha Blofield. After she uncle’s death, after a campaign by made famous in George Orwell’s
watching birds or even, in summer, contribution at Bletchley Park. The was widowed in 1948, he became my brother Jeremy Russell, John Down and Out in Paris and London.
enjoying a picnic, just a 10-minute two other members of Rejewski’s her lifelong partner. Henryk Gallehawk (a former archivist at Sam White
walk from the town centre. Now team also deserve a mention: became a British citizen, and Bletchley), Anya Zygalska-Cannon Lewes, East Sussex
it’s known as Willington Woods. my uncle, Henryk Zygalski, and taught mathematics and statistics (Henryk’s cousin), and Dermot
Oaks and hawthorns were planted Jerzy Różycki. Rejewski, Zygalski at Battersea Polytechnic (later the Turing, who has written an account • It’s interesting that, in his
by community groups and and Różycki left Poland in University of Surrey). He never of the codebreaking in XY&Z: The letter defending the House of
schoolchildren in 2005, more trees September 1939 to continue their returned to Poland, but kept in Real Story of How Enigma Was Lords (2 January), Baron Timothy
added later by a local hospice. This codebreaking in France and north touch with Rejewski by phone. Broken. The 90th anniversary of Kirkhope states that it is important
morning, a noisy flock of fieldfares Henryk died in 1978 but, prior the first Enigma codebreaking that steps are taken to avoid the
plundered a fine crop of haws. was celebrated by a service beside “accusation” of cronyism, rather
Much of the hillside remains open I have skills and experience but can’t get a job the memorial in December. than avoiding cronyism itself.
grassland, clothed in winter with a Georgina Donaldson Phil Coughlin
deep thatch of dead grass, riddled I read with interest the letter I have not retired – I do not want Lympne, Kent Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne & Wear
with tunnels of field voles; a land of from Chloe Jepps (27 December) to, nor can I afford to. I have tried
opportunity for a hunting kestrel. regarding where “Britain’s missing to get temporary and part-time am I not getting offered a job? Is it • “Nearly 90% of bicycle thefts
workforce” has gone. I was made work, have not asked to work something more sinister such as unpunished…” (2 January).
From our kestrel’s-eye view on redundant in July 2021. I am in from home, nor do I need any age discrimination? Sadly, I think Sergeant Pluck from Flann
the hilltop, we had a panoramic view my mid-50s and had, until then, flexibility – for example, to care this is happening to me. O’Brien’s surreal masterpiece
of the Wear valley beyond. Below, been working since my late teens for an elderly parent. The Third Policeman would be
in the town, sunlight glinted from in various offices as a PA/secretary/ I wish the government would shaking his huge head.
solar panels on house roofs that administrator in London and So while I am not arrogant sit up and listen to us middle- David Feintuck
would once have been wreathed in the home counties. I have been enough to think that every job aged, experienced staff who are Lewes, East Sussex
coal smoke, rising from chimneys for more than 25 job interviews interview should have led to a desperately trying to get work – I
on winter mornings like this. (mostly face to face) since being job offer, I am baffled about what really hope that someone takes • Christmas Day: last jar of 2022
Phil Gates made redundant, but despite British companies want. They a chance on me this year. I don’t marmalade opened. New Year’s Eve:
receiving positive feedback, I say that they need experienced know what else I can do if my Seville oranges bought. New Year’s
When sending a letter, please have not had a single job offer. staff. Well, I am experienced, CV, skills and experience are just Day: first batch of 2023 marmalade
include a postal address, a reference flexible and adaptable, so why what a company wants, but they cooked. Happy new year!
to the article and a phone number. are not willing to employ me. If Elizabeth Pearson
We may edit letters. Submission anyone has any ideas, I am open New Barnet, London
and publication of letters is subject to reasonable suggestions.
to our terms and conditions: see Katerina Ayres
theguardian.com/letters-terms Hertford

• The Guardian Tuesday 3 January 2023

6 Obituaries

Barbara Walters said he had had a relationship The casual Steinem. The casual sexism of the
American TV journalist “that was not appropriate”. It was sexism of time was reflected in the headline:
who was the first female one of the most watched news the time “Nylons in the Newsroom”.
co-anchor of a network interviews in US TV history. was
evening news show reflected Sexism was evident, too, when
Walters asked: “What will you in the out on jobs with the press pack,
tell your children when you have headline: such as Nixon’s trip in 1972 to China,
them?” ‘Nylons where she was largely shunned by
in the male journalists who regarded her
Lewinsky: “Mommy made a big Newsroom’ as a lightweight. But viewers liked
mistake.” her and TV executives, in turn, liked
T heaward-winning for the generations of female TV Walters on set the ratings. Two years later, she was
journalist Barbara journalists who followed. with her veteran Walters: “And that is the named co-host of Today.
Walters had to co-host Harry understatement of the year.”
break through lots As well as this pioneering Reasoner in When she switched to ABC in
of glass ceilings to role, her reputation rests on 1976. Initially She was born in Boston in 1929 1976, she made news not only
become one of the the hundreds of interviews she he could barely – though occasionally claimed to because she became the first female
best-known faces conducted over five decades. They conceal his be two years younger – to Louis co-anchor of a network evening
in US television included every US president from disdain for Walters, a theatrical promoter, news programme but because of
news. Walters, who has died aged Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. having to work originally a Londoner, who the size of her salary, $1m a year.
93, began her career in the 1960s The interviewees were an eclectic with a woman emigrated to the US, and Dena
when the prevailing attitude among mix, ranging from other world Seletsky, a shopworker. Barbara The move was initially a disaster.
TV executives was that viewers leaders to Hollywood stars, from DISNEY/ABC/GETTY was brought up in Boston but Her male co-host, the veteran Harry
would not take seriously women sports celebrities to murderers. moved with her family to Miami Reasoner, failed to hide his disdain.
delivering news about politics, war and then New York, where her She resolved the problem by
or other weighty subjects. Walters was very much an father ran nightclubs. He often keeping out of the studio as much as
establishment insider, close to the brought his daughter backstage to possible, doing her own interviews,
Through a combination of elites in Washington and New York, mix with can-can dancers. her Specials. The first, in 1976,
talent and drive, Walters went and faced criticism throughout her included the president-elect, Jimmy
on to make TV history in 1974 as career of being too cosy with some With that background, she chose Carter, and Barbra Streisand.
the first female co-host of NBC’s of her interviewees, too fawning. theatre as her major at the Sarah
Today morning news show. Two Lawrence college in New York state. She recalled those years in the
years later, she switched to ABC to Other journalists accused her of She got her start in TV as a publicity second half of the 70s as the high
an even more prestigious job: the blurring the line between journalism assistant at an NBC affiliate in New point of her career. She secured a
first female co-anchor of evening and entertainment. Her trademark York, and made her first appearance rare interview with Fidel Castro
news on any network. At the time, became finding an interviewee’s on screen when she was producing in 1977. Later that year, she did
the three networks – ABC, CBS vulnerable spot and making them a children’s show, Ask the Camera. the first joint interview with the
and NBC – were a prime source of cry. She was criticised, too, for Short of a question, she wrote her leaders of Egypt and Israel, Anwar
information for many Americans. allowing her own views to intrude, own - “I’ve always wondered: Sadat and Menachem Begin, a
as she did when talking in 1999 to how does a hippopotamus eat?” – symbolic moment in the Middle
Her success opened the way Monica Lewinsky, the former White and answered it. East. “From that time on I was more
House intern with whom Bill Clinton or less accepted as a member of the
She briefly left television and the old boys’ club,” she wrote in her
US for Europe, where she worked autobiography, Audition (2009).
as a model in Paris. Back in the US
she became a writer in 1961 for NBC She was creator of The View,
Today and three years later became which began in 1997, a popular
a regular on screen as a reporter. chat-show covering politics and
other issues. The co-hosts were all
Such was the paucity of women women, from different generations
in top TV reporting jobs she merited and backgrounds. She was one of
a profile in the New York Times in the co-hosts from 1997 until 2014.
1965, a sympathetic piece by Gloria
At the end of Audition, she
devoted eight pages to listing some
of the hundreds of interviews
she had done. Among them were
Margaret Thatcher, Michael
Jackson, Muammar Gaddafi,
David Beckham, Truman Capote,
Judy Garland, Bashar al-Assad
and Vladimir Putin. Her favourite
interviewees included Cher and Tom
Hanks: her worst Warren Beatty.

She was ridiculed for off-the-wall
questions, such as asking Katharine
Hepburn: “What kind of a tree are
you? If you think you are a tree?”
She was lampooned in the mid-70s
on Saturday Night Live, portrayed
as pronouncing “r” and “l” as
“w”: across the US, she overnight
became “Baba Wawa”.

She won several Emmys and other
awards and in 2007 was given a star
on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Her first two marriages ended in
divorce. The third, to a TV executive,
Merv Adelson, in 1981, ended in
divorce in 1984. She remarried
him in 1986, only to divorce again
in 1992. Walters is survived by her
daughter, Jacqueline, from her
second marriage, to Lee Guber.
Ewen MacAskill

Barbara Jill Walters, television
journalist, born 25 September 1929;
died 30 December 2022

Tuesday 3 January 2023 The Guardian •

 [email protected] 7
 @guardianobits

Other school in Reading, he first thought Elinor, in 1972, were adopted as Tony Flower In 1981 he met Young, who had
lives up a short routine and discovered babies. Arthur travelled widely, invited him for lunch to discuss
that he could “communicate whether performing, lecturing, Social entrepreneur and right- setting up the Tawney Society,
Arthur Pedlar silently with an audience”. teaching, visiting circuses or hand man to Michael Young at the and quickly became his right-
attending clown conventions. Institute of Community Studies hand man. From then on until his
Clown known worldwide who funded After national service (1951- My friend Tony Flower, who retirement, whether working for
the purchase of his first unicycle by 53), he joined a troupe of British He was thrilled to be part of a has died aged 71 of cancer, was a Young or independently, Tony was
selling miniature ships in bottles clowns for a season at the Cirque show at the Leningrad Circus in social entrepreneur and writer. based at the ICS’s headquarters in
My husband, Arthur Pedlar, who Medrano in Paris. There, he had 1991, and for many years taught at He was also a maker of musical Bethnal Green, east London. He
has died aged 89, was a clown with the opportunity of “stooging” for the clown camps held at La Crosse, instruments, models and charities. was a benign and cheerful presence
an international reputation. Buster Keaton. However, after nine Wisconsin. He joined the World at the heart of the office.
months he refused an invitation to Clown Association, becoming their For 20 years he worked with
Although his main occupation join the show’s tour of France and president in 2003-04, and was a Michael Young (Lord Young Young said of him in 1996:
until he retired at 65 was managing returned to Southport to help his member of Clowns International of Dartington) at the research “You have so many qualities I
a shop – Wayfarer’s Arts in father and aunt in the family shop. and the Holy Fools. organisation the Institute for admire – humour, braininess, good
Southport, Merseyside, which sold Community Studies, helping Young judgment (a priceless asset, and so
modern Scandinavian furniture Nevertheless, as Vercoe (his Although not a talkative man, develop some of the organisations rare, in our sort of field anyway),
– it was through clowning that he middle name), he continued to Arthur loved sharing his knowledge that made him one of the most unflappability, capacity to get on
found his greatest satisfaction. clown whenever he could. It was about clowns of the past, prolific social activists of the 20th with all sorts of people, an inner
when he was appearing as part of explaining that good clowning was century. Tony was deputy director confidence which draws people
Born in the seaside town, the a show put on by the Magic Circle not simply a matter of slapstick, but of the ICS, where I was a fellow to you … excellent writing [and]
eldest child of Margaret (nee at Chichester Festival theatre, that it required skill and thought. trustee, from 1994 to 1996 and chair perseverance.”
Mercy), a housewife and former that I (then Valerie Robinson, from 2001 to 2005 (before and after
nurse, and Vyvian Pedlar, a banker, the daughter of a magician) met He is survived by me, Joe and Young’s death), and he then chaired Tony’s special talent was an
Royal Navy air reservist, actor, him. We married in 1968 and our Elinor, our grandsons, Patrick and the Young Foundation until 2007. ability for getting on with people.
singer and dancer and founder of children, Joe, born in 1970, and Jamie, and his sister, Angela. He claimed to be interested in
Wayfarer’s Arts, he inherited from Valerie Pedlar Tony played an important role
his father a love of greasepaint. in more than 30 organisations, everything – except football. He
Arthur Pedlar worked as the managing director of his family’s furniture shop where his contributions included lived in an old house in Stepney,
As a child Arthur was inspired by in Southport, Merseyside, but clowning gave him his greatest satisfaction writing constitutions and funding filled with objects he had picked
the great American clown Emmett applications, helping recruit (and up or made himself and with
Kelly, whose hobo character was to retain) staff and, often, chairing an ancient bubble car sitting
influence his first clown persona. the trustees. He was co-founder immobile in the front room. After
He learned to play the clarinet and and general secretary (1982-88) of he retired, he and his collection
ride a unicycle, which he financed the Tawney Society, the thinktank (minus the bubble car) moved to a
by selling miniature ships in behind the SDP; a consultant with small house in Faversham, Kent.
bottles. (He made The Guinness the Joseph Rowntree Reform
Book of Records for having made Trust, for a decade from 1993; and In his last years Tony suffered
the smallest ship-in-a-bottle, in a trustee and chair of trustees for from cancer and sight loss, which
1956, in a 2.38cm by 0.9cm medical Education Extra, the foundation for was frustrating for somebody who
phial. The ship had three masts, after-school activities. was always making small, delicate
five sails and three flags.) things, but he remained stoical.
Tony was born in Fordingbridge,
As a pupil at Leighton Park Hampshire, the son of Frank, He is survived by his sister,
a Hurricane pilot in the second Carol, brother, John, and
world war and later a civil servant nephews, Matthew and James
working on aircraft development, Kate Gavron
and Dorothy (nee Williams), a
postmistress. He attended Chipping
Sodbury grammar school, followed
by the universities of Exeter (for a
BA in philosophy and sociology and
an MA in sociology) and Leicester
(for a PhD in mass communication),
and worked as a graphic designer.

Leo Sheridan a Hull deep sea trawler, the Gaul, and I settled in Hull and our son, were giving out distress signals. Birthdays
which disappeared in the Barents Sea Kevin, was born in 1978. Divorce On a number of occasions he
Investigative reporter determined to in 1974, thanked him for his efforts to in Ireland was not possible at the guided the Falmouth coastguard Sarah Alexander, actor, 52;
find out what happened to the Gaul, find the wreck and traces of its crew. time. We eventually decided to lifeboat by telephone to vessels in David Atherton, conductor, 79;
a Hull trawler lost at sea in 1974 marry in 2015. trouble. He was much loved and Sir Geoffrey Bindman, human
As a boy in Ireland, during the He discovered that the Gaul might appreciated by Cornish and Hull rights lawyer, 90; Eamonn Butler,
second world war, my husband, Leo have been suspected of espionage After leaving Hull, our family fishermen alike. director, Adam Smith Institute, 71;
Sheridan, who has died aged 89, by Russia and could have been sunk moved to Lizard Point in Cornwall, Lord (Robin) Butler of Brockwell,
witnessed a crash into Galway bay by a collision with a submarine, where our daughter, Bridget, was He continued his work for more former cabinet secretary, 85; Dame
of an RAF pilot attempting to avoid work for which he risked his own born. Leo highlighted the lack of than 30 years after we left Britain Linda Dobbs, former high court
the city when his plane developed life – and liberty. He was arrested on adequate rescue facilities around to live in France. He was widely judge, 72; Mel Gibson, actor, 67;
mechanical problems. He later fraud charges, apparently in an effort the Lizard after the sinking of a admired for his commitment, Gavin Hastings, rugby player,
helped local fishermen to recover to silence him, but was acquitted coaster during a storm in 1981 and courage and perseverance during 61; John Paul Jones, musician,
the wreck to honour this pilot. unanimously by the jury. the disastrous loss of the whole his investigations. 77; Anya Linden, ballet dancer,
crew of the Penlee lifeboat. 90; Josie Pearson, Paralympic
Leo went on to become a Leo was born in Cork, the His friend, Paul Brown, the former athlete, 37; Florence Pugh, actor,
fiercely independent investigative fifth of six children. His father, Our cottage had a full view Guardian environment reporter, 27; Michael Schumacher, racing
journalist and was involved in John Sheridan, was Ireland’s over the cliffs and sea off Lizard said: “Leo exposed wrongdoing driver, 54; David Starkey, historian
numerous battles to reveal the representative for the scales Point, and Leo helped Falmouth that would otherwise have been and broadcaster, 78; Rory Stewart,
truth through the columns of the manufacturer Avery, and was Coastguard by training his hidden from public view. In doing former Conservative MP and
Guardian and other newspapers. transferred to Galway when Leo binoculars on the dangerous so he took risks because many of minister, 50; Stephen Stills,
was four. His mother, Elizabeth waters, telling them when vessels those he exposed were powerful and musician, 78; Lord (Matthew)
Although he was regularly (nee Harvey), was a talented pianist sometimes corrupt people.” Taylor of Goss Moor, former Lib
invited to appear on television and and organist. When his father Dem MP, 60; Greta Thunberg, .
radio, there were those who tried died, Leo left school to support Family and friends remember climate activist, 20; Hilary
to silence him. His thirst to reveal his mother financially. But in his Leo as a beautiful singer and Wainwright, founding editor,
incidents that threatened the lives late 20s he plunged into accident a captivating and humorous Red Pepper, 74; Justin Webb,
and security of others at sea and in investigation. storyteller, a good man and a broadcaster, 62.
the air disturbed governments. fighter to the end.
I first met Leo in Galway in the
The families and those close 1970s; he had two children, Mary He is survived by me, his
to the men who perished on board and Leo, from his first marriage. He children and four grandchildren.
Pamela Sheridan

• The Guardian Tuesday 3 January 2023

8 Puzzles Codeword

Yesterday’s Killer sudoku Each letter of the alphabet makes at least one appearance in the grid,
solutions and is represented by the same number wherever it appears. The letters
Easy decoded should help you to identify other letters and words in the grid.
Killer sudoku
Easy The normal rules of
sudoku apply: fill each
Medium row, column and 3x3
box with all the numbers
Codeword from 1 to 9. In addition,
the digits in each inner
shape (marked by dots)
must add up to the
number in the top corner
of that box. No digit can
be repeated within an
inner shape.

Medium

Cryptic crossword Guardian cryptic crossword No 28,957 set by Nutmeg
Solution No. 28,956
S AMP L E R D E B A T E R 12345678 Across Down
CA I EORHO
RTREV MENDAC I T Y 1 Devious follower aiming to 1 Male jockeys tucked into cereal, a
E E R I OMN A
WE S T E RNE R B AGE L kidnap a king (7,2,6) taboo food nowadays? (5,4)
UT I L W
PRANK SENT I ENCE 9 Teasing adult I see in very old hat 2 Minions have no means of access,

I NCONE 9 10 (7) one cell being shared (7)
MI L L I CENT GATES
O F R PO 10 Outbids American wallies, 3 Passivity I confronted primarily
NUDGE SME L L ARAT
I AE KAOOH extreme characters taken in (7) in country (8)
KERBDR I L L GAF FE
E TGNLO I R 11 Former English West Country 4 Tropical bird’s gullet swallowing
RE S PECT YANGTZ E
11 12 banker (3) roughly (5)
Stuck? For help call 0906 200 83 83.
Calls cost £1.10 per minute, plus your 12 Big adjustable spanner a boon to 5 Make sense of dignitary made
phone company’s access charge.
Service supplied by ATS. estuary’s shipping (5,6) public (6,3)
Call 0330 333 6946 for customer
service (charged at standard rate). 13 Translating a poet is no Yankee 6 They cut bill dropped by flyers at
Want more? Get access to more than
4,000 puzzles at theguardian.com/ 13 14 15 16 idler’s preference (4,6) sea (6)
crossword. To buy puzzle books, visit
guardianbookshop.com or call 15 Bearing children is always painful 7 Itinerant mounted police
0330 333 6846.
17 (4) working across America (7)

18 Backing spoils instrument (4) 8 Go after opponents at table, then

18 19 20 21 20 Measuring device for farm prosecute (5)

vehicle (10) 14 Waterproof covering setter in

22 23 Back row in Palladium booked in rickety train (9)

advance (11) 16 Courts approve standard (9)

23 24 25 25 Broadcast overlooks woman’s 17 Uncompromising firm’s leading

entitlement (3) chain (8)

26 Put straight tabloid’s missing 19 Direct lots of deliveries here from

26 27 section with ferocious expression time to time (7)

(7) 21 Lottery raised a good deal — order

27 Capital tour, lastly to coral island British to split it (7)

(7) 22 Strong drink artist put up on shelf

28 28 This precursor of flood proving (6)

ruinously expensive (8,3,4) 23 Choice morsel of Brie? Precisely

(5)

24 Criticise mean bribe (3,2)