Patrick Hannan
If there'd been blogs about 40 years ago Patrick Hannan's would have been an ought-to-read. Even better, it would have been a must-read.
BBC Wales' "Political and Industrial Correspondent" as he was known back then - before proving over thirteen years that there really was enough politics to keep a correspondent fully occupied - had a great lightness of touch to go with his depth of knowledge. It was a good combination. It made his searching questions and scrutiny acceptable to the politicians and union leaders who faced it and made politics palatable, inviting even for the audience he wanted to reach.
I've just been back through the archives. It's fantastic stuff. The graphics are dreadful, the passion and the commitment brilliant. While Wales was going through four decades of huge political upheaval - miners striking, Neil Kinnock taking on his own party at ferocious conferences, the "crushing defeat" of the referendum result catching broadcasters unawares, Pat Hannan was always there, getting straight to the point, interpreting, making sense of it all.
And that was the point for him. He wanted "the constitutional question" and everything that went with it to mean something to people. He wanted implications to be spelled out so that people would come up with answers for themselves - the best kind after all.
On Radio 4's Round Britain Quiz he and Peter Stead - and I've just caught sight of a young Mr Stead tearing a strip off Neil Kinnock - were given a licence to show off. Patrick couldn't help himself sometimes. Just the slightest prod and he'd reel off the train of thought that had led the Wales team to obscure solutions and to victory five times in ten years. An answer to which 'twins' was the key was his proudest from the last series. "Do you know what Betsan, I don't know where it came from but ..." They invariably got there.
Patrick died on Saturday. I - we - will miss him.
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~11~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Sorry to see him go, and younger than me as well.
I found his pleasant presentation to be rather gentle in tone and manner.
But life goes on,.... so who's to fill his boots?
Complain about this comment
When Betsan writes .....
"And that was the point for him. He wanted "the constitutional question" and everything that went with it to mean something to people. He wanted implications to be spelled out so that people would come up with answers for themselves - the best kind after all."
She describes the democrat.
Post or reactive moderation in memory of Patrick Hannan, please!.
Complain about this comment
What a lovely post Betsan. Patrick was responsible (or to blame!) for getting me to talk about more than the health service. After interviewing me for a great programme he did on the 50th anniversary of the NHS I found myself talking about politics and so much more on a number of his programmes. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of politics and a great ability to place contemporary events into their historic context. He also asked me some of the hardest and most difficult questions which made me think far beyond the usual radio soundbite. He did also have a light hearted side and when I was a guest on his Something Else programme we often seemed to end up talking about fashion and in particular the rise and fall of 'metrosexual man' .. something which seemed to quite bemuse him. I was on Something Else with him just a couple of weeks ago and as we discussed which stories from the Sunday newspapers we had picked he said he knew exactly which was on the top of my list - "mantyhose" (or men in tights!). He was right of course ...
I will miss him.
Siobhan McClelland
Complain about this comment
Nicely said Betsan, well done. A delightful and talented, but modest man who will be missed. Jonathan
Complain about this comment
He was never boring to listen to, did his research and got answers out of the most devious of politicians.
He oozed quality and will leave a big gap in Welsh journalism.
Complain about this comment
I agree, a consumate professional, a nice man by all accounts. Big shoes to fill. For people like me he was there throughout my political development and could always be relied on to give well resarched questions to politicians who wished he wasn't so well rearched!
Complain about this comment
I used to watch 'Nationwide' from a very young age [primary school] so used to watch Patrick Hannan on Wales Today. I have him and the rest of the team from those days [including Noreen Bray in Wales and Sue Lawley and Michael Barratt nationally] for having a passing interest in current affairs.
Above all he made you realised that current affairs could be interesting, could be fun, but above all holding the people in power to account was important if the blighters were not to be allowed to get away with stuff..
Complain about this comment
Nicely written blog Betsan.
Like many others, I will miss his views and comments.
My thoughts are with his family at this painful and sad time.
Complain about this comment
His books were a pleasure to read. Fresh, timely views from the coalface of Welsh politics, and built to last. He will be missed.
Complain about this comment
Sorry to hear of his death. We both joined cowbridge Grammar School as boarders in 1952, and sat next to each other in the fifth year. Was envious of the fact that as a roman catholic he was allowed to skip RI lessons!
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS