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Witness History: Una Marson and the BBC Caribbean Service

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Una Marson and the BBC Caribbean Service

19/12/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Una Marson and the BBC Caribbean Service

The BBC's first black producer, Una Marson, and the beginnings of the Caribbean Service

Broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald reflects on the BBC's first black producer, Una Marson, and her legacy in the development of the BBC Caribbean Service.

To mark the 90th anniversary of the BBC World Service, we trace the development of the Caribbean Service.

Its beginnings go back to the early 1940s when the BBC’s first black producer, Una Marson was employed. 

She created Caribbean Voices, which gave future Nobel laureates such as Derek Walcott their first international platform.

In 1969, one of the UK’s best known newsreaders, Sir Trevor McDonald, left Trinidad to join the BBC Caribbean Service as a producer.

He reflects on its legacy. Produced and presented by Josephine McDermott.

Archive recording of West Indies Calling from 1943, is used courtesy of the Imperial War Museum. Una Marson's poem Black Burden is used courtesy of Peepal Tree Press and the BBC Caribbean Service archive material was provided by the Alma Jordan Library, The University of the West Indies.

(Photo: Sir Trevor McDonald and Una Marson. Credit: BBC)

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