Kevin Wood(I)
- Sound Department
Born in Beckenham, Kent in 1962 to parents George and Renee Wood, older
Sister Diane, younger brother Adrian. His first introduction to a TV
studio was at the age of 9 when, as a Choir Boy at St. John's Church,
Eden Park, he, and others from the choir, was taken to a recording of
the BBC's Children's programme "Crackerjack" at the BBC Television
Theatre, Shepherds Bush. From the age of 14, Kevin wanted to work in
Broadcast Sound, initially planning a career in Radio. Post A-Level's,
Kevin studied at Ravensbourne College of Art & Design School of
Television, then based in Bromley. Whilst at Ravensbourne, Kevin had
work experience with Radio Luxembourg at their London Studio base 38,
Hertford Street, London W1 and later with the Sound Department at
London Weekend Television where he experienced Studio TV production on
the recording of an episode of "A Fine Romance" with Judi Dench and
Michael Williams and the Live broadcast of "The Six O'Clock Show" with
Michael Aspel. He also experienced Post Production Sound, sitting in on
the dubbing sessions for an episode of Russ Abbott's Madhouse and an
Agatha Christie whodunit. and Following completion of TEC Higher
Diploma in Communications Engineering for TV and Broadcasting, he
joined Thames Television as a Trainee Sound Technician. Also on the
same course was Trainee Film Editor Michael Winterbottom. Kevin's first
Studio day was on the set of a Children's Dramarama play "Mr. Stabs",
Directed by John Woods and starring David Jason. Following completion
of the Thames training scheme, Kevin became a full member of the
Teddington Studios Sound Department, working as a member of the Sound
Crew, including as a Fisher Boom Operator, for many Thames productions
including "Rumpole of the Bailey", "Fresh Fields", "Rainbow", "The
Sooty Show", "Button Moon", "The Bill", "Des O'Connor Tonight". Kevin,
and other staff from Thames TV, were made redundant following Thames'
loss of it's ITV Franchise. One of the major causes of the shake-up of
the ITV system was because of the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and
her Forign Secretary, Geoffrey Howe's inability to stop the broadcast
of a Thames Televison programme "Death on the Rock", a "This Week"
programme that alleged that a "shoot to kill" policy existed within the
SAS against members of the IRA which resulted in the killing of three
IRA operatives in Gibraltar
(http://documentarystorm.com/death-on-the-rock/). Kevin is proud to
have played his part. Whilst legal moves were made by members of the
Government to block broadcast of the programme, Kevin was sent to
Thames TV's central London studios in Euston on standby to produce a
live replacement programme in the event of the film being pulled.
Shortly after 6pm the standby crew were sent home, the quote from the
editor being "if they pull it now, we'll show a blank screen for half
an hour".