The picturesque little St Swithun’s church in Pymble was packed.

Its ancient pews groaning under the weight of mourners – family, friends and radio people – crowded together to farewell the man affectionately known as Uncle Reg. He passed away last week aged 86. 

Among the laughter and the tears, as children and grandchildren remembered a life well lived, current Grace Gibson chief, Bruce Ferrier, gave a eulogy that centred around Reg James’ career with the iconic radio program production house. 
 

REG JAMES ‘RADIO EULOGY’

 
To so many people in the radio industry, he was simply known as ‘Uncle Reg’: a fond term of endearment because of his warm, friendly nature. A man who loved what he did, and what he did was sell radio serials. And he did it very well. No wonder that Grace Gibson thought of him almost more like a favoured nephew rather than just another employee.

This love of radio serials started early on: sitting around the family radiogram as a child listening in, allowing his mind to paint pictures of “the goodies and the baddies”, having his favourite radio actors and actresses: so you can imagine how Reg must’ve thought he’d landed in seventh heaven when he cracked the job of office boy at the newly founded Grace Gibson Productions in 1946.

It was run out of just two offices: Miss Gibson in one, and everyone else – secretary, typist, the 16 inch transcriptions, and Reg all crammed into the other!

Reg often laughingly recalled how Grace told him he got the job because the was the tallest of the boys who applied, and thus she figured he’d be able to carry more transcription discs to and from the post office and railway station than anyone else!

But he was in his element, meeting the stars in person, and getting to know them. He’d listen in to the transcriptions as he packed up the discs, so he knew the storylines of them all….which made it easier for him to sell them to station managers later on when he moved into sales. Sometimes he’d be asked his opinion of which serials were the best, and he’d always reply that ‘they’re all good’. And by and large, he was right: Gibson’s had a reputation for putting out quality shows.

As he moved into sales, he became the face of the company to radio station managers and program directors. Whilst most certainly he never wore a frock, to my mind – and that of a couple of generations of us in the industry – Reg James WAS Grace Gibson!

When Grace decided to sell the company in 1978, she wanted to ensure it went into safe hands, and she put Reg in charge of negotiations. He tracked down Nick Erby and 2CC in Canberra and they bought out Grace Gibson. It was a good partnership, with Reg becoming Gibson’s General Manager. And it made for another great association between ‘gung-ho’ Nick and Reg.

Of course, 2CC in turn was taken over by the Albert family’s Australian Radio Network, who in turn sold the company to me back in 1991. Reg was a wonderful friend, and true supporter of us at Grace Gibson Productions.

He remained our Archives Consultant right to the end, and his memory was quite incredible. He was particularly thrilled when we decided a couple of years ago to release so many of our serials to the general public: he loved seeing the shows being given a fresh lease of life, and he was delighted in being part of the process as we did so. And his input was priceless!

Reg developed an amazing rapport with so many in the radio industry, and he absolutely loved popping into radio stations whenever he was on the road to catch up with the managers and staff, and of course, to flog another Grace Gibson serial. He was a master at it, and the people in the industry absolutely loved him for it.

The best way of showing this, is to share with you some of the comments that we received on our Facebook page when we announced his passing last week:

‪Ian Grieve‪ Reg was a mentor to me and was instrumental in assisting us to produce the Encyclopaedia of Australian Radio Shows database. His knowledge was tremendous and he was generous with his time. Dawn and I enjoyed visiting Reg and Neryl over the years for a cuppa and a chat. I will miss him greatly.

‪Jamie Kelly‪ RIP Reg – a radio legend who is solely responsible for GG still being here for over 70 years – he lived and breathed radio and loved to share his passion – a lovely humble man.
Michael Lobenstein, CEO of the National Film & Sound Archive What a loss, and what a life in the service of the Australian radio industry.

‪Brendan Atchison‪ I dealt with Reg on many occasions at many stations and he was great to “talk radio” with. Glad I had the opportunity to repay Reg’s hospitality when he and his wife called into my business in Bairnsdale some years ago on their way back to Sydney.

‪Ian Wright‪ Reg was professional, passionate and a true person of the people – industry, advertisers, listeners, & Grace Gibson Radio Productions alike. In heaven Amazing Grace is now joined by Amazing Reg, what a reunion!
 
 ‪Geoff Brown‪ Many dealings with Reg over many many years. Wonderful wonderful man.
 
‪Nadia Boyce‪ I spent 10 awesome years working with this gentleman … ‪Love you Reginald James and will miss you

‪Cherie Romaro‪ VALE Reginald a gentleman

‪Col Harman‪ A true gentleman and all round nice bloke. RIP Reg

‪Garry Bowles‪ He was a wonderful man and a joy to deal with, and it was always a pleasure to spend time with him. Reg was one of a kind. Australian radio has lost a great man today and a piece of radio history is now gone forever.

I know Neryl and the family were very touched to read these and other comments on Facebook, and yet these are just the TIP OF THE ICEBERG of the wonderfully warm feelings that have been pouring out from the radio industry in tribute to your husband, your Dad, your grand-dad…and our great friend…some-one so loved, and so warmly regarded by all who knew him!
Farewell, Reg…and THANK YOU!

Bruce Ferrier