Print Page
Guild of Television Cameramen Elects Dick Hibberd Honorary President
2/5/2010
TAVISTOCK, DEVON, U.K.: The Guild of Television Cameramen released the following today: “The election
of Dick Hibberd as honorary president. His appointment was approved unanimously
by the GTC’s 20-strong management council under its chairman, Brian Rose.
“Dick Hibberd began his career in 1949 as a trainee film director with an
Edinburgh-based production company before joining Ferranti, and later Decca
Radar, in film production roles. In 1952 he progressed to BBC Lime Grove as a technical
operations cameraman, moving to ATV in 1955 to do multicamera studio and OB
work. In 1962 he joined Alpha TV in Birmingham and in 1964 TWW (later HTV) in
Cardiff, ultimately as head of cameras. He later moved to Thames TV, working as
a technical supervisor, sometimes filling in as a lighting director, then studio
supervisor, and finally production manager.
“’Without Dick Hibberd there would be no Guild,’ said GTC co-vice chairman John
Henshall. ‘It was his idea, his drive and his organizational skill which got it
going. Forming a broadcast-related craft guild in the early ’70s was
revolutionary. The GTC was soon emulated by lighting directors, vision mixers and
audio people. With the Guild’s specifications, suppliers at last had a single
considered and distilled view of what cameramen needed. Without really wanting
anything more than to improve the service they gave, the GTC enabled cameramen
to influence technological and operational developments. All this was due to
Dick Hibberd’s vision and leadership. He also does a great job of presenting
GTC awards each year at the National Film Theatre in London.
“Said Hibberd: ‘At the age of 80, I am still very active in the world of
television albeit unpaid as cameraman, lighting cameraman, director, and
tea-boy on amateur video productions. I am still fascinated by the video medium
and its ever-accelerating development. I feel very honored to have become the
Guild’s first president and will do my utmost to maintain and uphold the
organization’s ideals. Many professional television cameramen feel that the
viewing public should never be aware of their presence. This has had an effect
on their collective psyche and in general they are very poor self-publicists. I
shall do my utmost to raise public awareness of the men and women who make up
the Guild of Television Cameramen, of the profession and of the GTC itself.’”
The guild was formed 38 years ago and has more than 1,000 members around the
world.
Print Page