New face on TV1 is from Chch

Press, 2 August 1977, Page 15

New face on TV1 is from Chch

Bob Parke;, a recent addition to TVl’s team of continuity announcers, was once a zoology stu'dent at Canterbury University. He was born in Christchurch and went to Heathcote Valley School and Cashmere High School.

After a year he realised that zoology was not for him, and he enrolled at the Pharmacy School in Heretaunga. But after nine months of pills and potions he decided that enough was enough, and, to his parent’s disappointment, 'he left the school to take a job in a factory.

After a succession of jobs — shop assistant, waiter, wine steward — he became a radio announcer for the N.Z.B.C. in 1973. He spent three years in radio, announcing in Christchurch and Nelson, before joining TV. as a presentation officer in Christchurch. Three months ago, he answered TVl’s advertisement for a new continuity announcer, and in spite of his never having been on screen before, landed the job.

He admits that he was very nervous to begin with, and that his main pre-occupation still is to relax on camera. However, he pays tributes to his colleagues, John Hayden and Roger Gascoigne, as well as the newsreader, Dougal Stevenson, for their help and encouragement.

Continuity announcing, fronting programmes such as “Week-ends With One” and “Top of The Morning,” and recording trailers and radio commercials give his job variety.