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| BBC Radio 3 announcer Patricia Hughes dies, aged 90 | BBC Radio 3 announcer Patricia Hughes dies, aged 90 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former BBC radio announcer Patricia Hughes - one of the most distinctive BBC voices over several decades - has died at the age of 90. | Former BBC radio announcer Patricia Hughes - one of the most distinctive BBC voices over several decades - has died at the age of 90. |
| Famed for her elegant tones, Hughes started at the BBC as a secretary in 1944, before appearing on what was then the "overseas service". | Famed for her elegant tones, Hughes started at the BBC as a secretary in 1944, before appearing on what was then the "overseas service". |
| She later appeared on the Light Programme, the Home Service and the Third Programme, now known as Radio 3. | She later appeared on the Light Programme, the Home Service and the Third Programme, now known as Radio 3. |
| In 1969, following a career break, she returned to Radio 3 until 1983. | In 1969, following a career break, she returned to Radio 3 until 1983. |
| For many years, she was the only female announcer on the service. As well as introducing chamber music concerts, her duties also included reading news stories. | |
| 'Utterly idiosyncratic' | 'Utterly idiosyncratic' |
| She died on Friday at a nursing home in Winchester, Hampshire. | She died on Friday at a nursing home in Winchester, Hampshire. |
| Her daughter, Emma Weston, said she had loved the BBC and her job. | Her daughter, Emma Weston, said she had loved the BBC and her job. |
| Michael Berkeley, presenter of Private Passions on Radio 3, said she had been an "utterly idiosyncratic voice of Radio 3 for many years". | Michael Berkeley, presenter of Private Passions on Radio 3, said she had been an "utterly idiosyncratic voice of Radio 3 for many years". |
| In Simon Elmes' book, Hello Again: Nine Decades of Radio Voices, Hughes described how she used to spend nights in the radio announcers' dormitory - which has since been converted into the Langham Hotel - and recalled one particularly memorable broadcast. | In Simon Elmes' book, Hello Again: Nine Decades of Radio Voices, Hughes described how she used to spend nights in the radio announcers' dormitory - which has since been converted into the Langham Hotel - and recalled one particularly memorable broadcast. |
| She told the author: "By the mercy of God I'd remembered to take a diaphanous negligee to put over my nighties, which I didn't normally do. | She told the author: "By the mercy of God I'd remembered to take a diaphanous negligee to put over my nighties, which I didn't normally do. |
| "I rushed down the stairs, tore across Portland Place into Broadcasting House and luckily with about three or four minutes to spare, got into the studio, very breathless. I read the news at nine. Then, at 10, I realised with appalling clarity that I was still in my nightdress, hair in all directions looking like nothing on earth." | "I rushed down the stairs, tore across Portland Place into Broadcasting House and luckily with about three or four minutes to spare, got into the studio, very breathless. I read the news at nine. Then, at 10, I realised with appalling clarity that I was still in my nightdress, hair in all directions looking like nothing on earth." |