An Unusual Man

Now come two important dates in that eventful year of 1922
November 14th, the official start of the company's broadcasting
Service from Station 2LO
December 14th, the appointment
Of the company's general manager, John Charles Walsham Reith

Here was someone markedly and patently not of the common run
Someone one couldn't have invented
An original

Was it not he who gave it its shape as a public service institution
Who secured its political independence
Who fought for and maintained its total freedom
From the commercial pressures that stalk broadcasters
In many other countries?
Of course it was
His fame is safe for the history books

Only a very unusual man could have built up from the beginning so unusual and vast an enterprise
High courage
Wide vision
The power of rapid decisions
A broad span of knowledge and sympathy
Great energy and drive
Political prudence
A sound judgment of character
An exact administrative memory
And that measure of technical and engineering knowledge
Which was necessary to command the respect of a great engineering staff
All these qualities were desirable, and all were found in Sir John Reith