During his BBC Radio 2 show this morning, Vernon Kay announced that his colleague, Ian Deeley has died at the age of 45.
Ian had previously worked for the BBC in news, production and after various other positions became an Outside Broadcast Manager last year.
He began at BBC Radio Gloucestershire in 2006 as a Broadcast Assistant. In 2012, he was a part of the team that moved BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra from their old home at Yalding House to studios at New Broadcasting House.
Paying tribute to Ian, Vernon said that they were devastated to hear that Ian had died unexpectedly.
“At his heart, Ian was a broadcaster, so whether he was driving the desk, engineering an outside broadcast, producing or presenting, Ian just loved radio with every fibre of his being,” he said.
He added: “Ian loved working with us here at Radio 2 and I know one of his career highlights was working with our friend, Steve Wright, he was thrilled to be able to be a part of the big show and as ‘one of the top operatives’ as Steve called him. Steve always said, ‘Ian, keep it cranked’ and he did.”
As part of the outside broadcast team, Vernon said that Ian had worked “on all manner of big radio stuff” which included pop festivals, BBC Proms and numerous royal events.
He recalled: “The one that stands out for us and our little team is the one where Ian personally made sure that our show from the beaches of Normandy a few years ago went seamlessly – and it did.
“Ian was our lead engineer on our D-Day 80th celebrations and he was so dedicated that he went on a reconnaissance trip over to France in his own time, just to make sure everything was up to his incredible high standard.”
Vernon concluded: “He was an exuberant, larger than life character who was always enthusiastic and brought a smile to everyone’s faces.”
He said that he and his colleagues will miss his “quick wit” and then offered condolences to his mum Di, his brother Neal and his partner Lucy.
