Patricia Hughes

January 26, 1923 (age 90)

Foreign the former First Lady of Maryland, see Patricia Donoho Hughes Known for her "meticulous delivery" and, according to former Radio 3 controller Stephen Hearst, "Kensington voice" (which was not intended as a compliment), Hughes broadcast for the Corporation on several of its networks over the decades. After returning to Kuala Lumpur following the completion of her schooling, she was evacuated to Singapore with her mother when the Japanese invaded at Christmas 1941. After a brief period in South Africa, she returned to London. She joined the British Broadcasting Corporation"s secretarial typing pool in 1944 during the later stages of World World War II, Hughes began her broadcasting career on the British Broadcasting Corporation Overseas Service. She then appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation Light Programme, British Broadcasting Corporation Home Service and British Broadcasting Corporation Third Programme. Hughes was one of the first women to read the news on British Broadcasting Corporation radio, four years before Sheila Tracy became the first female news reader on British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4. Under the insistence of Radio 3 controller Ian McIntyre, who objected to her "cut-glass tones", she was forced to retire from the British Broadcasting Corporation staff in 1983, on reaching the then statutory retirement age of 60. A controversial decision at the time, the author and television presenter Bamber Gascoigne described McIntyre as a "barbarian" for his action. In broadcast retirement, Hughes continued to use her vocal skills, recording a number of audiobooks including an autobiography of Margaret Thatcher, and as a reader on the Radio 4 panel game Quote. Unquote from 1994 to 2001 when Hughes chose to retire again. Having lived during her career in Twickenham, Hughes died at a nursing home in Winchester, Hampshire on 8 February 2013, aged 90.

Patricia Hughes

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Background

Born in Malaya, where her father was a senior executive, Hughes was educated at a school in Sussex.

Career

Foreign the former First Lady of Maryland, see Patricia Donoho Hughes

Known for her "meticulous delivery" and, according to former Radio 3 controller Stephen Hearst, "Kensington voice" (which was not intended as a compliment), Hughes broadcast for the Corporation on several of its networks over the decades. After returning to Kuala Lumpur following the completion of her schooling, she was evacuated to Singapore with her mother when the Japanese invaded at Christmas 1941. After a brief period in South Africa, she returned to London.

She joined the British Broadcasting Corporation"s secretarial typing pool in 1944 during the later stages of World World War II, Hughes began her broadcasting career on the British Broadcasting Corporation Overseas Service.

She then appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation Light Programme, British Broadcasting Corporation Home Service and British Broadcasting Corporation Third Programme. Hughes was one of the first women to read the news on British Broadcasting Corporation radio, four years before Sheila Tracy became the first female news reader on British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4.

Under the insistence of Radio 3 controller Ian McIntyre, who objected to her "cut-glass tones", she was forced to retire from the British Broadcasting Corporation staff in 1983, on reaching the then statutory retirement age of 60. A controversial decision at the time, the author and television presenter Bamber Gascoigne described McIntyre as a "barbarian" for his action.

In broadcast retirement, Hughes continued to use her vocal skills, recording a number of audiobooks including an autobiography of Margaret Thatcher, and as a reader on the Radio 4 panel game Quote.

Unquote from 1994 to 2001 when Hughes chose to retire again. Having lived during her career in Twickenham, Hughes died at a nursing home in Winchester, Hampshire on 8 February 2013, aged 90.

Achievements

Hughes was awarded with a special commendation at the inaugural Sony Radio Academy Awards in the same year.

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Patricia Hughes

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Radio Academy Awards