My husband, Robert Rowland, who has died aged 80, was a committed public service broadcaster, a former editor of Panorama, a pioneer of distance learning as head of Open University broadcasting and senior controller of the BBC in charge of equal opportunities.
He was born in Forest Hill, south London, to Tom and Joan (nee Veal), who were both opera singers. Robert and his elder brother, Christopher, were educated at Chesterfield grammar school and both won scholarships to Oxford University.
During his time studying history at Keble College, Robert became chairman of the Labour party club and was then elected president of the Oxford Union, where he was in touch with many of the political movers of the time – George Brown, Enoch Powell and George Woodcock of the TUC – who were speakers in the debates he arranged.
We met in 1959 at a party in Oxford, where I was doing a typing course. The following year Robert graduated, and was one of six applicants, from 2,500, selected for the coveted general traineeship with the BBC. He became a producer on Panorama in 1962, and returned in 1973 as editor, creating memorable programmes such as one on Martin Luther King, and the Return to Belsen with Richard Dimbleby, made shortly before the broadcaster’s death in 1965, among many others.
In the years between, he became editor of the Money Programme and helped to launch Nationwide, the popular magazine programme with Michael Barratt. Another door opened for him in 1975 when he was offered the chance to launch the Open University’s broadcast material – some 60 hours’ output on TV and radio a week.
His last BBC appointment was from 1984 as controller of management development and appointments. He retired in 1988, then became an executive producer at Barratt’s corporate video and media training company before working as an executive producer with Corporate Television Networks (1991-2000).
In later years he demonstrated his commitment to public service by working with the board of visitors at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution, of which he soon became chairman.
He was a gifted pianist, his lifelong love of music sustaining him during ill-health in recent years, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His generosity and gentleness of spirit were widely appreciated.
Robert is survived by me, his wife of 52 years, two sons, Daniel and Alexander, and four grandchildren, Millie, Ezra, Imra and Orla.
