My former colleague and friend Michael Barton, who has died aged 94, was the first – and only – controller of BBC Local Radio. Starting at the helm of BBC Radio Sheffield in 1967, he helped to build a network of stations across England.
Radio Sheffield was the second of eight stations to open in the BBC’s early local radio experiment, shortly after Radio Leicester. There was no programming template for the station. It was up to Michael to decide how to reflect the community and involve local people in participating in and making the programmes, and he did this through encouraging them to pursue their enthusiasms, be it for fishing or brass bands, on the radio. In those early years Michael also introduced phone-ins, live magazine shows and ethnic-minority programming, such as Hindi-Urdu and Bengali language programmes to help immigrant communities navigate life in Sheffield.
Due to the success of these first eight stations, a further 12 were authorised. In 1974 Michael moved to London to become the controller of BBC Local Radio. His vision was one of extending hours and improving standards, and countering the “Toytown Radio” jibes of a sector of opinion. Throughout his 13-year tenure there were always threats of cuts, amalgamation with Radio 2 and even closure from forces within and outside the BBC, all of which Michael successfully countered. Aiming to cover most of England, he gained approval for a further 20 stations. All his managers (of which I was one) were given considerable autonomy and encouraged to develop talent that would go on to enrich all branches of BBC radio and television.
Born in Cottingham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Michael was the son of Marjorie and Harold Barton, an insurance inspector, and was educated at Hymers college in Hull. After a spell as a copywriter and national service in the army in Germany, in 1953 he was recruited to the BBC’s North Region where, as a studio manager, producer and broadcaster, he learned his trade in radio and television. He also indulged his love for music and acting, taking leading roles in Brecht and Chekhov at the Manchester University stage society.
As well as launching Radio Sheffield in 1967, Michael married Jill Nelson, a teacher whom he had met through amateur dramatics.
In 1986, it was proposed that BBC Local Radio should be decentralised, and control dispersed to regional centres, which Michael strongly opposed. He argued that it would prove to be costly and that local radio’s interests would become subservient to regional television. He understood that to be near the levers of power and resources in London was vital. He lost the argument and his job, but his enthusiasm for local radio never flagged.
Michael remained on the staff of the BBC until 1991. In retirement, he enjoyed travelling and playing tennis. He was a great theatre and opera-goer, a member of a play-reading group and an accomplished pianist who enjoyed singing in choirs.
Jill died in 2022. Michael is survived by his sons, Daniel and Chris, and two grandsons, George and Cory.
