Biographies

Reporter, BBC South Today

Allen Sinclair is one of the Thames Valley-based regional reporters filming and editing news stories for BBC South Today.

He's also one of the main presenters of South Today's early, late and weekend news bulletins.

Born and raised in Reading, Allen became a reporter, in part, because he was so determined to prove his school careers teacher wrong.

"When I told her, aged 14, that I wanted to be a journalist, she smiled, said I didn't stand a chance, and should pursue a career in plumbing instead!" he says. "With hindsight, maybe I should have listened to her – I'd have probably been richer anyway!"

Allen started off in newspapers, working at the Reading Chronicle and the Evening Post, before moving into radio when he joined BBC Radio Berkshire.

After a short spell working in television in the West Country, he came back home to Reading to join BBC South Today in 1997.

These days Allen's working time is divided between presenting the news from the studios in Southampton and being out and about in Berkshire reporting the big stories of the day.

"It's a great place and I've covered so many of the big events – good and bad – that have happened here over the past decade.

"Working on live news in the studio can be tense at times but, while I'm often in front of camera, there's a great bunch of people who the viewers never get to see, making our programmes look good. TV is a real team effort, and I'm privileged to be part of a great team!"

As a BBC journalist Allen has travelled widely reporting a regional perspective on global events. He went to Reading's sister town in the USA in the aftermath of the September 11th terror attacks, and to the Maldives with an aid shipment from the South following the tsunami.

He has also been to refugee camps in Afghanistan during the early stages of the conflict, and to Beijing for the Paralympic Games.

"I've met inspirational people with incredible stories everywhere I have gone," he says. "In Africa I was filming a group of doctors on a voluntary mission and when the reason we were all there was explained to the gathered crowd, the mention of the BBC prompted a round of applause for yours truly! I know the highly-skilled surgeons were amused more than miffed!"

When he's not working, Allen stays fit by running and swimming. His interests include studying sign language to improve his ability to communicate with several deaf friends. He also loves films, books, photography history and spending time with his children.