A beloved figure at the BBC, John Williams, a cameraman with a three-decade tenure, has passed away. Former colleagues have paid heartfelt tributes to the esteemed professional.
The sad news of John’s passing was shared on Pebble Mill’s Facebook page on Sunday evening. The post, conveying the loss, read: “Hi, I’ve heard sad news from James French. John Williams, whom we knew was very ill, has sadly died. He will be greatly missed.”
Renowned for his camerawork at BBC, John was recognized for his contributions to various shows filmed at the iconic Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham. A photo of John during his work on the BBC drama “Howards’ Way,” a popular daytime series depicting the Howard family and the yachting realm from 1985 to 1990, accompanied the tribute.
Colleagues and friends poured in with their memories and condolences, highlighting John’s dedication and talent. One shared, “Had no idea he was unwell. A dedicated and highly respected cameraman.”
Another expressed, “Oh, how very sad. Such a delightful, talented, and respected colleague. I was only reading his moving tribute to sound recordist John Gilbert recently in Prospero. The irony of now paying tribute to John himself. Rest in peace, and my condolences to his family.”
Reflecting on his illustrious career spanning thirty years at the BBC, John chronicled his experiences in the book “Shoot First, No Ordinary Life.”
Prior discussions about his book and his time at the BBC saw John remarking on Pebble Mill’s website: “I like to think we were a family with all that entails, and that family still shows itself, meeting every month as pensioners support one another and reminisce on the good old days.
“My one hope is the BBC has not lost this family and is still there amongst my colleagues working in the brave new world.”
Meanwhile, recent days have also seen BBC Director General Tim Davie tendering his unexpected resignation amid controversy over the editing of a Panorama episode featuring a speech by President Donald Trump. Davie acknowledged errors made, taking responsibility for the situation. Following suit, BBC News Chief Executive Deborah Turness also resigned in the wake of allegations surrounding the selective editing of Trump’s speech during the US Capitol attack.
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