Eric Wallace (reporter)
Encyclopedia
Eric Wallace was a reporter and presenter for Border Television
and an independent film director in Cumbria
, England
. He was born in Carlisle and spent his whole life there. For twenty years, he was the main anchor of Lookaround
, until his retirement in 1998.
biscuit factory in Carlisle (where had worked for ten years) to take a three-year course in Film & Television and education at Durham University
. On graduating, he joined Border Television
on 9 September 1968 as a news reporter - he would remain at Border for the next 30 years. After his retirement, Wallace returned to make a number of guest appearances as a Lookaround presenter and reporter, until illness prevented him from doing so in 2002.
After leaving Border, Wallace freelanced at BBC Radio Cumbria
, presenting a Saturday morning show.
, London.
. He was 65 and had been married for 40 years with two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
That night's edition of Lookaround broke the news of Wallace's death and featured an extensive tribute. Following the tribute, anchorwoman and close friend Fiona Armstrong
wept openly on air.
Border Television
Border Television is the ITV franchise holder for the Border region, spanning the England/Scotland border and covering Dumfries & Galloway region, a small part of the south-west area of Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, parts of north and west Northumberland and the majority of Cumbria...
and an independent film director in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was born in Carlisle and spent his whole life there. For twenty years, he was the main anchor of Lookaround
Lookaround
Lookaround is a regional television news and current affairs programme, also including local sports news and local features of interest, produced by ITV Tyne Tees & Border at its studios in Gateshead, and serving the "Border" part of the region...
, until his retirement in 1998.
Broadcasting career
At the age of 27, Wallace left his first job at McVitie'sMcVitie's
McVitie's is a snack food brand owned by United Biscuits. The name derives from the original Scottish biscuit maker, McVitie & Price, Ltd., established in 1830 on Rose Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. The firm moved to various sites in the city before completing the St...
biscuit factory in Carlisle (where had worked for ten years) to take a three-year course in Film & Television and education at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
. On graduating, he joined Border Television
Border Television
Border Television is the ITV franchise holder for the Border region, spanning the England/Scotland border and covering Dumfries & Galloway region, a small part of the south-west area of Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, parts of north and west Northumberland and the majority of Cumbria...
on 9 September 1968 as a news reporter - he would remain at Border for the next 30 years. After his retirement, Wallace returned to make a number of guest appearances as a Lookaround presenter and reporter, until illness prevented him from doing so in 2002.
After leaving Border, Wallace freelanced at BBC Radio Cumbria
BBC Radio Cumbria
BBC Radio Cumbria is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Cumbria and broadcasts from studios in Carlisle.- History :The county of Cumbria, from which the station takes its current name, was not created until 1974...
, presenting a Saturday morning show.
Independent film career
Whilst working for Border TV, Wallace - an ardent movie enthusiast - directed, produced and funded several independent films including Strange Company (1972), I Can Lick Any Girl in the House (1976) and Stimmung (1987). Wallace himself was the subject of a 1986 short film, The One and Only, produced by Michael Cumming, a film student at the Royal College of ArtRoyal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
, London.
Death
Eric Wallace died at Carlisle's Eden Valley Hospice on 28 April 2004 from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was 65 and had been married for 40 years with two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
That night's edition of Lookaround broke the news of Wallace's death and featured an extensive tribute. Following the tribute, anchorwoman and close friend Fiona Armstrong
Fiona Armstrong
Fiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor of MacGregor is a freelance Scottish television journalist.-Early life and career:Armstrong was born in Preston, Lancashire. As a child she lived for ten years in Nigeria, where her father was in the colonial service. She became Lady MacGregor of MacGregor when she...
wept openly on air.