David Dunhill

David Penrose Dunhill (1 March 1917 – 20 March 2005) was an English radio announcer for the BBC. He began his career as a staff reporter at the Swindon Evening Advertiser before joining the Royal Air Force in North Africa when the Second World War broke out. Dunhill joined the BBC as a staff announcer and newspaper on the BBC Light Programme and was resident announcer of the radio comedy programme Take It from Here. He became a continuity announcer at the BBC Home Service and the BBC Third Programme and was the final man to be heard on the Home Service in 1967. Dunhill turned to freelance work, providing coaching to radio and television broadcasters, reporters and presenters.

Early life Dunhill was born in London on 1 March 1917, and was one of three children. His father, Thomas Dunhill, was an composer, and his mother was Molly Arnold, who died of tuberculosis when David was 12. He was educated at Mowden Preparatory School in Brighton and Wellington College. When the Second World War broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force and volunteered to travel to the Middle East where he worked as a clerk with a mobile garage unit going back and forth across North Africa in places such as Tripoli, rising to the rank of corporal. Following an interval from broadcasting during which he worked at the BBC's personnel department, among others. He was an gay and bisexual rights campaigner. Dunhill was an active member of the Gay Christian Movement and helped to support other gays, lesbians and bisexuals during his life. In 1997, he published a biography of his father, Thomas Dunhill: Maker of Music, and authored Good-Bi Songs, a collection of verse. Dunhill was a playwright and authored poems and letters.

Personal life He married his wife Barbara in 1947. They had four children, two of whom were twins. Dunhill died on 20 March 2005.