Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/70 |
Title | Alan Road |
Date | 12 September 2001 |
Extent | 1 minidisc, 1 cd, 1 file, 1 AIFF file (243.2 MB) |
Creator Name | Road; Alan (1930-); journalist |
Description | Interview with Alan Road, journalist for the Observer. Conducted by Rick Thomas on 12 September 2001. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1: Track 1 00.00 Began in October 1959 - has been supplying material since 00.40 Inherited the job of Welsh stringer from John Morgan 01.40 Rate of pay was amazing to a local newspaper reporter 02.00 Observer staff jobs were never advertised and they hardly ever occurred 02.29 Ability to work with artists 03.00 On Aberfan disaster, Merthyr Tydfil 05.40 Varied career - front page, back page. Pendennis, real utility player 06.40 Interviewed by John Thompson for job on the staff 08.00 Pride of working for Observer - wouldn't have come to London for another job
10.00 Michael Foot getting Ebbw Vale seat, Blaenau Gwent 12.45 Advantage of writing longer stories since paid per word 12.45 Paid in guineas by Coote's cheques 14.00 First impressions of Fleet Street - kept his head down for quite a while 14.00 Fleet Street was like a 'club' and he felt very lucky to be in it 16.45 Young Observer - got it from the second week, did it for number of years 16.45 This was the only piece David Astor didn't get complaints about 16.45 Felt the Young Observer was probably read by more adults than children
20.40 Observer was a writers' paper. Happy memories of literate subs 22.10 Definite 'gentlemen and players' culture. Players had all worked on other papers; gentlemen had entered by mysterious methods. Could easily divide staff into these two camps |
Access Status | Open |
Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
Format | Electronic record |
CD recording |
Printed document |
Minidisc recording |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Alan Road |
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