John Timpson

John Harry Robert Timpson, (2 July 1928 – 19 November 2005) was a British journalist, best known as a radio presenter.

Early life The son of John Hubert Victor Timpson and his wife Caroline Willson, Timpson was born at Ridgeholme, 53 The Ridgeway, Kenton, Middlesex, and was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, a boys' independent school in Northwood, Middlesex.

Career On leaving school he went straight into employment at the Wembley News as a sixteen-year-old cub reporter. and they moved to Norfolk, where he worked for the Eastern Daily Press until 1959, when he started to work for BBC News as a reporter. In 1962, he was appointed as deputy court correspondent,

From 1964, Timpson presented Newsroom on BBC 2, which on 1 July 1967 became the first British television news programme to make the switch to colour. He later presented the BBC's late evening Tonight programme. Initially appointed to steady a programme affected by the erratic Jack de Manio, he later presented it in tandem with Robert Robinson and Brian Redhead, among others, forming a popular partnership with the latter. Timpson became known as the more humorous of the two men, with jocular asides like "Insulation – Britain lags behind" or "Crash course for learner drivers".

From 1984 to 1987, Timpson also presented the popular weekly radio show Any Questions?.

Honours In 1986, Timpson was awarded a Sony Gold Award for outstanding services to radio, and the following year he was awarded an OBE for his services to broadcasting.

Personal life Timpson married Muriel Patricia Whale in 1951, and they had two sons.

He died in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 19 November 2005 and was buried at his parish church, St Peter's, Weasenham. He was survived by his wife and older son, Jeremy. His second son, Nick, had died five weeks before him. A memorial service was held at Norwich Cathedral on 22 February 2006, when family, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate his long and productive life and career. The speakers included the Director of BBC Radio and Music, Jenny Abramsky.