Sir James Redmond, Director of Engineering at BBC Television from 1968 to 1978, passed away in London on October 17 at the age of 80. He was born in Muiravonside, Stirlingshire, on November 8, 1918.
A true pioneer of public service television, Jim Redmond began his career as an apprentice vision mixer at the prewar Alexandra Palace and steadily rose through the ranks, playing a vital role in the launch of BBC2 and laying the groundwork for the Ceefax teletext service.
The first night of BBC2’s transmission in 1964, however, was marred by an unfortunate power outage that left central London in the dark. But Redmond and his team faced many challenges in launching the new channel. BBC1 was still using the outdated 405-line system, while BBC2 required the new 625-line system, and with color television on the horizon, the technical demands were even greater. Redmond met these challenges with calm precision, sticking to a meticulous timetable.
When BBC2 finally went on air, a day later than planned, it marked the occasion with a landmark show, The Forsyte Saga, and soon carved out a distinctive place in television history.
Born the son of a railway worker, Redmond grew up in a picturesque village with a small general store run by his mother. His interest in wireless telegraphy led him to attend the Caledonian Wireless College in Edinburgh, where he earned a first-class certificate in radio telegraphy. At 17, he joined the Merchant Navy, working first for the Marconi Company and later aboard large liners, such as the SS Montclare and the SS Montcalm of the Canadian Pacific Line.
After returning to land in 1937, Redmond joined the Post Office’s engineering department. A telegram from the BBC soon offered him a job, which paid him £3 a week—a significant sum at the time. He started in Edinburgh before joining BBC’s fledgling television service at Alexandra Palace in London. During the war years, when television ceased broadcasting, he worked as a radio officer for the Blue Funnel Line in the Far East.
Redmond’s only on-screen appearance came during the war, when the British Government made a film tribute to the Merchant Navy’s efforts. In Western Approaches (1944), he played the role of a radio officer.
After the war, Redmond returned to the BBC at a pivotal time in its development, contributing to key events like the first cross-Channel television link (the beginning of Eurovision), the BBC’s coverage of the 1951 Festival of Britain, and the 1953 Coronation, which became the largest outside broadcast of its time.
In the 1960s, as the BBC moved into its new Television Centre at White City, Redmond played a crucial role in anticipating the corporation’s needs and helping modernize its operations. Following the successful launch of BBC2, Redmond ascended to several senior roles, culminating in his appointment as Director of Engineering in 1968. It was in this position that he championed the adoption of digital technology, helping to develop the Ceefax service, which integrated text alongside the television picture.
Redmond’s legacy as a visionary in broadcasting and engineering has left a lasting imprint on the BBC and the world of public service television.