Bob Humphrys
Encyclopedia
George Robert Humphrys was a Welsh
broadcaster, chiefly known as a sports presenter on BBC Wales
.
, a poor working class district of central Cardiff
, and was the younger brother of journalist and television presenter John Humphrys
. Humphrys was one of five children born to Winifred Mary (Matthews), a hairdresser
, and Edward George Humphrys, a self employed French polish
er. Encouraged to do his homework, he passed the eleven plus exam and became a pupil at Cardiff High School
, then a grammar school.
After university, he became a newspaper journalist, working on various publications until he joined the Cardiff based Western Mail. He then joined BBC Radio Wales
in 1978, and then joined BBC Wales
television's team as an investigative reporter most often beside his brother on Week In Week Out, where his reports included an early investigation of the AIDS
epidemic developing in the UK. From the early 1990s Humphrys began reporting on sport, a passion of his. Humphrys and his then colleague, former Welsh Rugby Union
legend J.J. Williams
, presented the first BBC pre-match club house show from Cardiff Rugby Club before a Welsh Rugby international - Humphrys added Taffs Well RFC for atmosphere, who got a bit too drunk through the program. In 2004 he was given a lifetime achievement award by BBC Wales at the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year awards.
After suffering from pains in his shoulders in late 2007, he undertook an X-Ray
examination under instruction from his doctor in May 2008, which revealed he was suffering from lung cancer
, despite having never smoked. Humphrys confirmed his retirement in June 2008, before undertaking an interview with the Mail on Sunday
in which he discussed his medical diagnosis. Before he died he completed his autobiography
'Not a Proper Journalist'.
Humphrys was married with three children (two daughters, one son), and lived in Cardiff. BBC Wales Today
made Humphrys' death their lead story on the 19 August 2008, with his former colleague and broadcast trainee Jamie Owen
leading the section, with a personal tribute by colleague Vincent Kane
.
In 2009, local ice hockey
side, the Cardiff Devils
held a Nostalgia Night against the Hull Stingrays
honoring Bob Humphrys' work with BBC Sport and the coverage of the Devils in the early 1990s.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
broadcaster, chiefly known as a sports presenter on BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
.
Biography
Humphrys was born in SplottSplott
Splott is a district in the south of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, just east of the city centre. It was built up in the late 19th century on the land of two farms of the same name: Upper Splott and Lower Splott Farms. Splott is characterised by its once vast steelworks and rows of tightly...
, a poor working class district of central Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and was the younger brother of journalist and television presenter John Humphrys
John Humphrys
Desmond John Humphrys , is a Welsh-born British author, journalist and presenter of radio and television, who has won many national broadcasting awards...
. Humphrys was one of five children born to Winifred Mary (Matthews), a hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
, and Edward George Humphrys, a self employed French polish
French polish
French polishing is a wood finishing technique that results in a very high gloss surface, with a deep colour and chatoyancy. French polishing consists of applying many thin coats of shellac dissolved in alcohol using a rubbing pad lubricated with oil...
er. Encouraged to do his homework, he passed the eleven plus exam and became a pupil at Cardiff High School
Cardiff High School
Cardiff High School is a comprehensive school in the Cyncoed area of Cardiff, Wales. Cardiff High School is two miles from the city centre, serving a neighbourhood of privately-owned houses. According to the 2007 ESTYN Report, "Cardiff High School is a very good school with many outstanding...
, then a grammar school.
After university, he became a newspaper journalist, working on various publications until he joined the Cardiff based Western Mail. He then joined BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
in 1978, and then joined BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
television's team as an investigative reporter most often beside his brother on Week In Week Out, where his reports included an early investigation of the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
epidemic developing in the UK. From the early 1990s Humphrys began reporting on sport, a passion of his. Humphrys and his then colleague, former Welsh Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
legend J.J. Williams
J.J. Williams
John James Williams , known universally as J.J. Williams, is a former Welsh rugby union player who gained thirty caps for Wales as a winger....
, presented the first BBC pre-match club house show from Cardiff Rugby Club before a Welsh Rugby international - Humphrys added Taffs Well RFC for atmosphere, who got a bit too drunk through the program. In 2004 he was given a lifetime achievement award by BBC Wales at the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year awards.
After suffering from pains in his shoulders in late 2007, he undertook an X-Ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
examination under instruction from his doctor in May 2008, which revealed he was suffering from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, despite having never smoked. Humphrys confirmed his retirement in June 2008, before undertaking an interview with the Mail on Sunday
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
in which he discussed his medical diagnosis. Before he died he completed his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
'Not a Proper Journalist'.
Humphrys was married with three children (two daughters, one son), and lived in Cardiff. BBC Wales Today
BBC Wales Today
Wales Today is the BBC's national news programme for Wales, broadcast on BBC One Wales from the headquarters of BBC Wales in Llandaff, Cardiff....
made Humphrys' death their lead story on the 19 August 2008, with his former colleague and broadcast trainee Jamie Owen
Jamie Owen
Jamie Owen is a Welsh radio and television presenter best known for presenting Wales Today.-Background:Owen was born in Withybush Hospital Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. His father was a Pembroke Dock Solicitor, James Meyrick Owen and his mother was a health visitor and midwife. Jamie also had two...
leading the section, with a personal tribute by colleague Vincent Kane
Vincent Kane
Vincent Kane, OBE, is a Welsh broadcaster and writer, and the Chairman of the Wales Quality Centre, the International Festival of Musical Theatre and the Cardiff Initiative....
.
In 2009, local ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
side, the Cardiff Devils
Cardiff Devils
The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena...
held a Nostalgia Night against the Hull Stingrays
Hull Stingrays
Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992...
honoring Bob Humphrys' work with BBC Sport and the coverage of the Devils in the early 1990s.