Points West presenters

Chris was brought up near Axminster on the Somerset-Devon border. He was educated at Sherborne School and the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth where he joined the navy in 1969 as a seaman officer.

Among the skills he acquired during his time in the Navy were ocean navigation, aircraft control and Russian interpreting.

He also completed a course in resistance to interrogation. Something, he says, that has become useful since becoming a TV interviewer!

It was while he was still in the navy, instructing on a management training course near Chippenham in 1981, that he finally decided to change careers and go into broadcast journalism.

"I wrote to local radio stations throughout the country," says Chris, "while I was working with Bristol Hospital Radio to learn the technical side of the business.

Tea boy

I finally found a sympathetic editor at BBC Radio Bristol who said I could make the tea and learn the ropes.

It was quite an experience as a 30-year-old former navy man starting from scratch. I learnt fast!"

In 1982 after a year in the Radio Bristol newsroom Chris turned to television and became a freelance reporter while also doing some basic newsreading.
He became one of the team presenting BBC Points West in 1983.

Among his major assignments has been reporting for Points West in the build up to the Iraq war, when some of his reports made national news.

He has also carried out in depth interviews with all the main British political leaders in recent years, been action man reporter flying in balloons, parachuting water skiing etc. and compiled a DVD of Points West's coverage of Concorde's final flight in 2003.

Chris says he still loves doing the job and particularly enjoys the variety of work.

For example, he was invited to parachute with the veterans of the Arnhem Operation in Holland, many of whom are now into their 80s.

He then made a moving programme about his experiences, for the regional documentary series Close Up West, which won much critical acclaim.

"Almost nowhere else in television can you get out on the road to do daily film reports and also get the excitement of presenting a live news programme every night.

Special relationship

Regional presenters can also develop a very special relationship with their local audience which isn't possible elsewhere," says Chris.

Winning his RTS award for Regional TV Personality of the Year was a highlight for Chris, who says: "I was delighted and honoured to get this particular award.

I have always admired and tried to emulate presenters who don't force their personality on the audience and therefore get in the way of reporting the news, so this recognition of my work is very flattering.

But it really is true that a presenter is only as good as the people behind the scenes and we've got a fantastic team at BBC Points West."

Chris lives in Bristol with his wife.

He used to play hockey and cricket, and played the drums in a school pop group in his misspent youth!

Chris says he does not find much time for hobbies away from his job - but he has always enjoyed walking, mountain biking and anything on the water. He particularly loves pottering around in small sailing boats.