John Brian Thompson (8 June 1928 – 18 May 2017) was a British journalist and radio regulator who was influential in the development of

independent radio Independent radio indicates a radio station that is run in a manner different from usual for the country it broadcasts in. In countries where there exist government-run radio stations that served as the primary or only the variety of licensed broa ...

in the United Kingdom,"John Thompson, pioneering local radio regulator – obituary"
''

The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are popular names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaide, South Australia, publ ...

'', 5 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017."Former IBA Director of Radio John Thompson dies"
'' Radio Today UK'', 24 May 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017. becoming known as "the father of independent radio". He had a career on '' The Daily Express'' and ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...

'', where he was early editor of the colour magazine, before becoming the first director of radio of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA)"John Thompson"
''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'', 1 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017. from 1972 to 1987. He was succeeded by his deputy Peter Baldwin.

Background

Thompson was born in Bangor, County Down, to Lilian (nee Sutton) and John Thompson, and was eight years old when he moved with his family moved to south London. He was educated at St Paul's School, and went on to read history at

Pembroke College, Oxford Pembroke College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, is located at Pembroke Square, Oxford. The college was founded in 1624 by King James I of England, using in part the endowment of merchant Thomas Tesdale, and was named after ...

. He began a career in journalism and in 1957 was sent to New York to write a column for

Lord Beaverbrook William Maxwell Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (25 May 1879 – 9 June 1964), generally known as Lord Beaverbrook, was a Canadian-British newspaper publisher and backstage politician who was an influential figure in British media and politics o ...

's ''

Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet i ...

''. Joining ''

'' in 1962 after his return to London, Thompson became news editor before, from 1966 until 1970, he served as editor of the magazine, being remembered for putting

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

on its front cover and for taking on cookery writer Jane Grigson, then a young unknown. From 1973 to 1987, Thompson was director of radio at the Independent Broadcasting Authority, responsible for creating commercial local radio in the UK.

Personal life

Thompson was married to Sally Waterhouse, a

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producer, and they had three children: Piers, Barnaby and Eliza.

Awards and recognition

He was appointed a

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

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for services to radio. On his retirement from the IBA he was honoured with a Fellowship at the Radio Academy.

References

1928 births 2017 deaths Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford British journalists Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Daily Express people People educated at St Paul's School, London People from Bangor, County Down The Observer people Writers from County Down Mass media people from County Down {{UK-journalist-stub