Just heard on the news that Alistair Cooke has died.
Sad news - his Letter from America, with all his "quirks", has been one of the highlights of my radio week for 30 years.
Gavin
First started listening to him during the late hostilities with one Adolph Hitler. And it`s only a couple of months ago he flatly refused to retire.
It is a great loss. I remember listening to him when we first got married and the only entertainment apart from the "pictures", pubs and clubs was the "wireless". His laid back style was something which, in those days, was unusual. The use of regional accents by the BBC, which started during the war to stop the Germans transmitting false information, was still relatively new. "Kings English" with all the plum in mouth accents was the usual "norm".
I for one will miss him and I think myself very lucky to have been one of many who have heard his live broadcasts. Now we have lost two great entertainers in one week. Peter Ustinoff and Alistair Cooke. :'( :'( R.I.P.
The tone and measure of his voice, and his wonderful use of phrases made him instantly recognisable. His clarity of thinking and ability to cut through the media dross to the real story of the day was amazing. I always found his broadcasts so thought provoking and incisive. Leaves a great legacy to all journos