Background
Jack "Peter" Hardiman Scott was born on April 2, 1920, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.
(Pre-eminent poetry scholar M. L. Rosenthal described Kenn...)
Pre-eminent poetry scholar M. L. Rosenthal described Kenneth Fearing as the chief poet of the American Depression. This publication is the first complete volume of Fearing's poetry.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Poems-Phoenix-Living-Poet/dp/0943373255/?tag=2022091-20
1960
https://www.amazon.com/Shall-Vote-Peter-Hardiman-Scott/dp/0370107993/?tag=2022091-20
1976
broadcaster journalist author poet
Jack "Peter" Hardiman Scott was born on April 2, 1920, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.
From 1939 Jack Hardiman Scott worked for various provincial newspapers and Associated Press, making his first freelance broadcast in 1948. In 1950, he joined the BBC as assistant news editor in Birmingham. He then became a general reporter in London with Radio Newsreel, during which time he reported the Anglo-French landings at Suez. In 1960, when parliament was covered by just three BBC men, Peter failed to apply for a post as a parliamentary correspondent. He told Sir Hugh Greene, then director-general, that the true need was for a political correspondent to cover the news behind the scenes and in the lobbies - the job to which he was eventually appointed. Peter held the post for 15 years, until Wilson's return to power.
In 1963 he tipped Sir Alec Douglas-Home to be leader. He broke the story that Anthony Crosland wanted to build an airport at Stansted. He predicted that Dick Crossman would put up charges on teeth and spectacles. He revealed (thanks to Crossman) that Wilson made Lord Hill chairman of the BBC to force Hugh Greene's resignation. Greene stayed.
Jack had to face complaints from MPs to the Speaker, on more than one occasion, that since he had broadcast on the 8 am news what a minister was about to announce, the minister should not make his intended statement. Once he had hardly finished a news broadcast from the tiny BBC studio than the light on the telephone flashed - it was Harold Wilson in 10 Downing Street, dressing him down for what he had just broadcast.
In retirement, Peter - a modest man - got on with other things; he never kept diaries, wrote memoirs, or even bothered to recall his triumphs. In his last five years at the BBC, he was an aide to directors-general, and played a major part in lobbying for, and enabling, the broadcasting of parliament.
Peter Hardiman Scott was the best political correspondent, and political editor, the BBC has had. During his life, he produced several books of poetry, mainly pastoral reflections on nature and the changing seasons. He was president of the Suffolk Poetry Society, and also produced a book on the love poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
In 1989 he was named to the Order of the British Empire for his work in broadcast journalism.
(Pre-eminent poetry scholar M. L. Rosenthal described Kenn...)
1960Scott was friends with everybody, and on intimate terms, particularly over lunch, with the great political figures of his time, which spanned the governments of Macmillan, Home, Wilson and Heath.
He had an engaging habit of rushing into the office at the last moment from the lobby, and when asked what the story was, would reply, "I don't know - until my typewriter tells me!" He was scrupulously fair; even so there were often complaints. Press colleagues resented him scooping stories the night before theirs were published. It changed the face of BBC journalism.
Scott was twice married; he had two sons by his first wife and is survived by his second wife, Sue.
