BBC and SLBC pay tribute to broadcaster Vernon Corea

Added : ( Sun Oct 03 2004 )

Asia Radio News (NEW DELHI) The BBC and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation led tributes to one of South Asia's outstanding broadcasters Vernon Corea - his second death anniversary fell on 23rd September.

Veteran broadcaster Vernon Corea died in New Malden in Surrey in the United Kingdom on the 23rd of September 2002, aged 75. Corea was appointed the first ever Ethnic Minorities Adviser to the BBC in 1978. He also presented the popular 'London Sounds Eastern,' program on BBC Radio London 206 in the late 1970s.

Former Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Greg Dyke said: 'He was a pioneering influence in the BBC and helped to lay the foundation for the work we are continuing to do to make sure our staff and our programmes are truly representative of our nation's diverse population.

We remember with gratitude and pride his launching of London Sounds Eastern on BBC Radio London, and his generosity in mentoring and training people from ethnic minority backgrounds for the BBC.

Vernon will be greatly missed for his warmth, his integrity and his commitment.'

Recently the Hindu Newspaper placed Vernon Corea among the greatest broadcasters of the world alongside Ameen Sayani of 'Binaca Geet Mala' fame. Corea was one of the most popular Ceylonese Announcers in India in the 1950s and 1960s. Indians stayed up to listen to his 'golden voice.'

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) broadcast tribute programs on his death anniversary. A website to the Corporation of London even had news of Corea

The Daily News in Colombo noted: 'Corea joined Radio Ceylon in 1956 and left the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation as Director News in 1975. He was the first Sri Lankan ever to be appointed to senior management at the BBC as Ethnic Minorities adviser.

Corea's contribution to broadcasting in the UK through his popular London Sounds Eastern on BBC Radio London is immense.

Corea was invited to present the first ever Asian radio program in English on BBC Local Radio - in 1977 - this was a first for the British Broadcasting Corporation,'said the Daily News.

Radio listeners on the Indian sub-continent are now calling on the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation to name a studio after Vernon Corea.

'Vernon Corea was one of Ceylon's popular radio announcers it would be a tremendous gesture,' said Raj Desai of Bombay. 'Announcers like Vernon Corea were part of the golden age of Radio Ceylon,' he added.

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