By Chantelle Tindall & David Tindall
When we hit the rush hour traffic heading for The Africa Centre to see Lord Melvyn Bragg, I was thinking about the dreary book signings I had attended and wishing the train was going the other way. However, as soon as we entered, everything felt right. It was intimate enough for a studio audience and engaging enough for Colourful Radio's, and it was broadcast live.
After a brief introduction, it was established that the interview would be conducted on first name terms and this wasn't going to be a standard book signing but rather a candid interview that really got to the heart of what makes the man tick. The Africa Centre Director - Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE introduced the event warmly and handed over to presenter Jacqueline Malcolm who got everyone laughing when she shared with us her initial notion that he was given awards 'just for being a person.' Melvyn is a writer and broadcaster with many award-winning novels and accolades to his name. He is the Editor of the award-winning The South Bank Show (1978-2018), and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time. Now in its 20th year, it is one of the BBC’s most successful discussion programmes ever, attracting a weekly domestic audience exceeding 2 million listeners, plus 3 million monthly downloads of the podcast.
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However, we have History teacher - Mr. James to thank for this national treasure by persuading his parents who were torn at the time to permit him to study past the age of 15. He discussed at length: his roots, and stated he was 'famous from the age of 4' on account of the intimacy of his small-town upbringing. It is notable that he took Lord Bragg of Wigton as his title. Yes, there were 'slums, TB, out-door toilets, war-trauma, and always two jobs to do', but there was also 'togetherness, carnivals, cohesive culture', and importantly the 'town's fictions.' His mother would bring the news to him and he learnt from an early age to interrogate her for more information - essentially becoming a Reporter. The comic-book, the local library, the King James Bible, and excessive hard-work, led to him reading History at Wadham College, Oxford. Those, and the fact he had read the very same Times article on the Albanian conflict as his interviewee. He also attributes the 'fluke' to his BBC career. After joining film societies and writing, he devised a manifesto that noted the culture that came from ordinary people was undervalued. Unlike many who cite the arts as a hierarchical pyramid structure, he instead cites them as a non-hierarchical 'rainbow.' By validating works of popular culture at a time when 'TV was starting to produce better work than the stage, when popular music was more ground-breaking than classical, and, at a time when comedians were more memorable than opera-singers', his timing was perfect.
We live in an income based system that is both mentally and physically challenging and importantly takes us away from the matters we would rather be attending to. He is relieved that his privilege has retained such time in his own life to fully pursue such matters. However, he has spent time 'terrified' after two well documented break-downs. What is more important is the tireless campaigning he did to give recognition through his Presidency at Mind – the Mental Health charity, to others also suffering from mental health issues. He was quick to remind us of the many trade unionists in the Lords’ chambers and only decided upon accepting the title himself when he recognized the important need for art-funding reforms. He recognizes that with privileges come the opportunities to engage in social good. It was no surprise then that he made time for each attendee both during the Q and A session and after.
In the Question and Answer session, when asked about belief, he acknowledged that though life at 79 is more 'four funeral's and a wedding' there is a mystery. The crux of his argument against organized faith is the unchallengeable nature of Bible commentary that means religion becomes 'seized on by power,' - creating many ills. However, he had high praise for the Sermon on the Mount, appraising it to be 'important literature.' Poignantly, despite being at the epicenter of a cultural revolution that has truly democratized the arts, making them accessible to tens of millions who were otherwise locked-out, he instead cites the industrial revolution as being a much more impressive achievement - showing himself to be a true Northerner. It echoes the strong sentiments about ordinary people who many in the upper echelons of society are happy to live in ignorance of, and, reveals why his own popularity is only ever increasing with age.
As the event came to an end, Nnamdi Chukwu gave the Vote of Thanks and with good humour reflected on how the whole thing came together with shouts of 'fake news' from Jacqueline. The book signing was met with great excitement and Melvyn made time which afforded everyone the chance to have a brief chat. Trumpet Newspaper also had its own photo opportunity and with his warm words of 'good luck with your writing' still ringing in our ears, we made our way home.