Laurie Macmillan
Encyclopedia
Laurie Macmillan was a BBC Radio 4
newsreader
and continuity announcer born in Aberdeen
on the east coast of Scotland
.
Educated at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
, Monmouthshire
and then at Newcastle University graduating with a degree in Politics
and Philosophy
.
She joined the BBC
in 1968 as a Trainee Studio Manager, became a studio manager in 1973 and an announcer in 1975. Easily recognisable in the BBC Newsroom by her thick dark hair that was so long she would frequently end up sitting on it. Worked on The World at One
, PM, It's Your Line and You and Yours
on BBC Radio 4
, also occasionally working on BBC Radio 3
and BBC Local Radio
, and briefly reading the news on Newsnight
on BBC2.
Wrote and presented a schools radio series on industrial geography, and was for a time an aficionado of Radio 4's Bells on Sunday, becoming an expert on peals of Grandsire Doubles and Stedman Triples.
In the late 1970s she and partner Martine Ronaldson moved to Sticklepath
in Devon
(They later married in 1986). They renovated the cottage and she grew organic vegetables. She maintained a broad range of interests - attending evening classes studying astronomy
looking at what was a sky relatively clear of light pollution
; studying Gaelic
she tried it out while on walking holidays in the Scottish Highlands and Islands
, later returning to Radio 4 on a part time basis.
Noted for her forthright expression of her opinions of other people's usage of spoken English, plain speaking and treating people at all levels of seniority and none with the same straight forthright manner, because of this her views were highly prized.
She found it difficult to talk about herself or her problems, and always was far more interested in others and general gossip.
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer
and despite being breathless from the treatment she returned to Radio 4 although only working on the 6 O'Clock News until March 2001 when the cancer returned. She died on 8 October 2001 in Okehampton
, Devon
from breast cancer.
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
newsreader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
and continuity announcer born in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
on the east coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Educated at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls is an independent school in Monmouth, Wales. The school was established by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892, and continues to enjoy their support. There are four houses - Imbert Terry , Mather Jackson , Bagnall Oakely , and Prosser...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
and then at Newcastle University graduating with a degree in Politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
She joined the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1968 as a Trainee Studio Manager, became a studio manager in 1973 and an announcer in 1975. Easily recognisable in the BBC Newsroom by her thick dark hair that was so long she would frequently end up sitting on it. Worked on The World at One
The World At One
The World at One, or WATO for short, is BBC Radio 4's long-running lunchtime news and current affairs programme, which is broadcast from 1pm to 1:30pm from Monday to Friday. The programme describes itself as "Britain's leading political programme. With a reputation for rigorous and original...
, PM, It's Your Line and You and Yours
You and Yours
You and Yours is a British radio consumer affairs programme, broadcast on BBC Radio 4.-History:It began broadcasting in October 1970, its first presenter was Joan York. In the great rescheduling of April 1998 it was increased from a 25 minute programme to 55 minutes. In the 1980s it briefly ran...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, also occasionally working on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
and BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
, and briefly reading the news on Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
on BBC2.
Wrote and presented a schools radio series on industrial geography, and was for a time an aficionado of Radio 4's Bells on Sunday, becoming an expert on peals of Grandsire Doubles and Stedman Triples.
In the late 1970s she and partner Martine Ronaldson moved to Sticklepath
Sticklepath
Sticklepath is a village on Dartmoor, in the county of Devon, England. Its history is unusual in that, unlike most villages, it did not evolve around a manor. It never had a rectory or a squire...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
(They later married in 1986). They renovated the cottage and she grew organic vegetables. She maintained a broad range of interests - attending evening classes studying astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
looking at what was a sky relatively clear of light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
; studying Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
she tried it out while on walking holidays in the Scottish Highlands and Islands
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied...
, later returning to Radio 4 on a part time basis.
Noted for her forthright expression of her opinions of other people's usage of spoken English, plain speaking and treating people at all levels of seniority and none with the same straight forthright manner, because of this her views were highly prized.
She found it difficult to talk about herself or her problems, and always was far more interested in others and general gossip.
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and despite being breathless from the treatment she returned to Radio 4 although only working on the 6 O'Clock News until March 2001 when the cancer returned. She died on 8 October 2001 in Okehampton
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
from breast cancer.