Pioneer BBC News NI TV Reporter Cecil Taylor Passes Away

 

He embarked on his career with the BBC in 1955, coinciding with the inception of BBC TV news bulletins.

Former colleagues have fondly remembered him, lauding him as a steadfast and esteemed trailblazer in the field of news.

Don Anderson, a long-time collaborator at the BBC, commended Mr. Taylor as a courageous journalist who initiated the BBC’s pursuit of genuine impartial journalism.

Recalling Mr. Taylor’s impact, Anderson noted, “He used to say that when he arrived at the BBC, the news from the Belfast newsroom sounded as if it had been written in Stormont Castle. He did something to change that, which was highly important.”

Upon joining the BBC newsroom in Belfast, Mr. Taylor found himself as the sole reporter, working alongside a news editor and a typist.

His contributions included a daily five-minute radio bulletin in the evenings and a weekly TV report on Fridays.

During his reporting tenure, he played a role in covering the IRA’s border campaign in the 1950s and early 1960s.

By the mid-60s, he ascended to the position of BBC NI news editor, providing him with a front-row seat to the onset of the Troubles.

Mr Anderson, one of his reporters, described him as “solid and consistent.” According to Anderson, Mr Taylor’s expectations were clear – fair and accurate reporting. Deviating from this norm would result in consequences, as Mr Taylor was known to come down hard on those who fell short.

Eventually, Mr Taylor rose to the position of head of BBC NI programmes. In this role, he commissioned numerous dramas, including Graham Reid’s Billy Plays featuring Kenneth Branagh. Mr Anderson attributes Taylor with sowing the seeds that have blossomed into Northern Ireland’s flourishing film industry.

Mr Anderson highlights Taylor’s role in initiating television drama in Northern Ireland, a legacy seen in the current abundance of studios and series. Once the momentum began, there was no halting the progress.

Robin Walsh, former BBC news editor, remembered Mr Taylor as “seriously honest.” Walsh praised Taylor’s straightforward communication style, noting that he expressed his thoughts without pretense. Walsh also reflected on Taylor’s finely tuned editorial mind and lamented the loss of his open-door approach.

Former BBC journalist Brian Walker acknowledged Mr Taylor’s significance, describing him as a valued and respected source of local knowledge and good judgment. Walker emphasized Taylor’s role as the go-to authority, highlighting the respect he commanded in the field.