Alvar Lidell - Tribute

His was the voice of War. And eventually of Victory. The BBC’s Birmingham operation was his first port of call, as a chief announcer, although like so many even now, he was transferred to London shortly afterwards. By 1937, he was deputy chief announcer.

On 3rd September 1939, Alvar Lidell’s voice was heard delivering the news of the ultimatum to Germany from 10 Downing Street before later introducing Neville Chamberlain telling that we were at war with Germany.

During the war, famously, the decision was taken to identify newsreaders, a practice which has continued since, maybe puzzlingly without question. That's maybe why, even now, a generation knows his name.

What a voice. Every word relished, and yet, in the most dramatic of times, never embellished.

Alvar died in January 1981.