| Alan Hardwick | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 August 1949 Staveley, Derbyshire, England |
| Occupation | Journalist Television presenter Voice actor Television producer |
| Spouse(s) | Julie Hardwick |
| Children | Georgina, Emma, Clare |
Alan Hardwick (born 20 August 1949, Staveley) is an English television presenter based in Lincolnshire.
Contents |
He is the son of a Derbyshire coal miner, living on Chesterfield Road in Staveley. He attended Netherthorpe Grammar School in the town.
In his early years, Alan Hardwick was a junior reporter with Derbyshire Times from 1965, although while he was writing to dozens of newspapers to try to break in to journalism, he worked in the men's clothing department at the now-disappeared Swallows department store in Chesterfield. Unbeknown to the young Hardwick, the news editor of the Derbyshire Times had his suits made in the store and another assistant, Vincent Cleary, arranged an interview for Alan at the newspaper. One of the first stories he covered was the death of his old school Latin master, Horace Oakley, the man who had first advised him to pursue journalism as a career. He left Derbyshire to become a sub-editor with Wiltshire Gazette and Herald in Swindon in 1969 then moved onto being a news editor for the now defunct Lincolnshire Chronicle which also at one time employed Elton John's lyricist Bernie Taupin as a journalist. From Lincoln he became district editor for Faversham News, Kent. After a short spell in the South East, he went on to being a sub-editor and sports editor for Scarborough Evening News.
From August 20, 1973 - 2002 he was a senior journalist, presenter, producer, and director with Yorkshire Television. He had first encountered YTV when covering a story at Butlins in Filey. The staff TV presenter, who was travelling by helicopter, was unable to land due to fog, so Alan stepped in. From 2002 - 2003 he presented his own daily news/current affairs programme, on Radio Lincolnshire. From 2003–present he has been a self-employed voice-over artist and PR consultant. Alan recently set up his own website, East Coast Television - his idea is to create a web based television service specialising in general interest programmes.[1]
Alan Hardwick married Julie in 1978. They have two daughters, Emma and Georgina. Alan has an older daughter, Clare, from a previous marriage.