Death of Bernard Palmer, Bushman

Tim Woodward, now retired from Bush House News Information, has let us know of the sad death at Charing Cross Hospital on January 6th, of his long term civil partner, Bushman Bernard Palmer. Bernard worked for the BBC from 1954 up to his retirement in 1987.

Sadly, we have no specific information on the funeral. Bernard left his body to medical science and the London Anatomy Office has arranged for the body to be sent to King’s College, London. There will be a private cremation arranged by the College.

Tim Woodward writes

… He was TPM, once again following George Steadman to the Transcription Service in 1974/5 until his retirement in 1987. Bernard had a very interesting career, interviewing amongst others Margaret Thatcher when she was Education Secretary in Edward Heath’s government in the early 70’s. He started his career as a Studio Manager at 200 Oxford Street before moving to Bush. At Bush he was also an SM before he was recruited by George Steadman then Head of Topical Tapes.

Alastair Lack writes

I knew him slightly when I first joined the WS in 1971.  My second post was in Topical Talks, where he was already a producer.  I remember him as civilised and fun, with a great knowledge of English literature and music and a ready wit.  He was very professional, but never too obsessive about the BBC – a man with wide interests. He was very helpful to me – a newcomer to the world of radio broadcasting – and gave me good and sound advice.  He then moved to Transcriptions, where I lost contact with him.  Later I enjoyed meeting him at the occasional Bushmen dinner, though I don’t think cricket played a part in his life!

Graham Mytton writes

I didn’t know Bernard well in recent years, athough I did see him a few times recently at reunions and other ex BBC events. When I joined the BBC in 1964, Bernard was a producer at Bush.  I was then an SM. He also was an active amateur musician and had a choir in North Kensington/Notting Hill which he led and conducted. I joined it. He was an excellent choir master. We sang at a carol service at a Notting Hill Anglican church, St Johns I think. It was, I am fairly sure, Christmas 1964. The soloist for the opening “Once in Royal David’s City” was Hilary Benn, then a treble in the choir and a first year 11 year old school boy at the nearby Holland Park Comprehensive. Please pass on my good wishes and condolences to Tim. Bernard was an excellent producer and encourager of newcomers in the BBC. Always friendly, helpful and interested.

Helen Carasso writes

I was one of a series of attaches to Transcription (in Kensington House) from among Bush SMs. For most of us, it was our “apprenticeship” in radio production and Bernard was clearly strongly committed to enabling this opportunity. He was always on hand as wise counsel if the attachee encountered any challenges (sometimes dispensing his advice and guidance in the Club, of course!).

Denis Moriarty writes

I was particularly sad to hear of Bernard Palmer’s death. I would have met Bernard about 1959, both of us reluctant Studio Managers, in Bush House; he was already on the way to progress in production- first I believe in English Talks/G O S cum World Service before settling at Ken House (where by then I had gravitated to PA later Producer TV Music and Arts), and he found  a real niche in BBC Transcription under Malcolm Frost where he was able to exploit his talent and considerable experience and good taste in music, and became there a much respected producer.

It was indeed  a shared love of music that intrerested us; we both had, I think, a background of church music and he in effect gathered together – perhaps founded – the Cunningham Singers, taking its name from the old North Kensington CUNningham telephone exchange. He conducted us – a motley of some quite experienced choral singers about 20 in number – that had a programme of performance in London churches, at weddings, at Christmas, and at Livery dinners. I remember a performance under his direction of Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, and some madrigals for  a posh City dinner where we sang Thule the Periode of Cosmographie – a rare piece. He was a modest- but a good and enabling conductor; one or two of his friends- budding young composers and musicians- wrote pieces for first performance with this choir.

His BBC Sabbatical late 1970/80s he used to good effect to go to see the Wagner Ring at Bayreuth; thereafter, he told me, there could only be Life before and after Bayreuth. I rarely saw him, much to my regret in recent years- to my sorrow. for we were not distant neighbours and he died in our local Charing Cross hospital. There were Christmas cards until a few years ago and I am sorry I made not as much effort as I should. R I P; I valued our friendship and will write to Tim Woodward.

Andy Popperwell writes

I worked for Bernard in the late Seventies when he was Transcription Programmes Manager at Kensington House, just as Helen Carasso did.  He was urbane, sophisticated, encouraging and warm, and his gentle guidance gave me much of any small skill I might have in radio production.  Bernard also worked with the late Bryan Matcham (also a Bushman), Margaret Howard and John Touhey to create recordings entitled Thomas Hardy and Love and Thomas Hardy and Music.  It was always good to see him at Bushmen dinners.