Briefly: Bob Longman, BBC's Controller of Engineering and Operations

Bob Longman, who died on 1 December at the age of 83, rose through the ranks at the BBC to become Controller of Engineering and Operations.

The most stressful night of Longmnan's career was the intended launch of BBC2 in 1964, when a power cut meant the new channel had to start the following evening. Later, he was at the heart of the BBC's move to colour, as well as setting up the first transmissions from Parliament, in 1983.

Longman was born in Hull in February 1927, and joined the BBC as a trainee engineer in 1943. He retired in the 1980s to care for his wife, who had multiple sclerosis.