Not many people nowadays accomplish half a century in the same job; even fewer in the same area.  But Les Coates has not only been a freelance TV cameraman in the North East of England for over 50 years, but it’s been mainly with the same client - the BBC in Newcastle.

Les actually used his first film camera at the age of 17, but it was after his 18^th birthday that he officially started his first TV job.  Now approaching 70, he’s been given an RTS Special Award by the North East & The Border Centre, presented to him by Centre Vice Chairman Garth Jeffery at a lunch for family and friends at a Yarm hotel.

And the archive video clips showed the changes that Les has seen over those 50 years - the first, an opt-out documentary on the mid-60s rivalry between skinheads and ‘hairies’, included footage taken by Les on the back of a ‘chopper’ motorbike with a wind-up Bolex shooting over the rider’s shoulder.  And you could tell that these were ‘hairies’ because it was before the days of compulsory helmets (and detailed risk assessments in triplicate!)

At the other end of the scale was a typical Look North ‘and finally…’ about a noisy cockerel on a housing estate, shot in full high-definition 16x9.  Other stories in between showed the variety of work a regional news cameraman is called on to do in his daily duties W including being in the thick of the ugly action as miners crossed the picket line at Wearmouth Colliery in 1984. 

When Margaret Thatcher took her famous ‘walk in the wilderness’ on Teesside three years later, Les was there... and again in 1992 when she and John Major came back to view the regeneration of the Thornaby-on-Tees site.

But Les remembered filming another world leader - ex-President Jimmy Carter in a replica of the Oval Office at his home. During the interview someone kept trying to open a creaky door, and "shut up and get out" was sternly mimed by the sound recordist.  The intruder was later identified as the ex-First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, who believed she was supposed to be involved in the interview with her husband.

And the same sound recordist also achieved a milestone by becoming the first person to use the sick bay of HMS Ark Royal when he was struck down by seasickness as Les was filming the ship’s first sea trials. Les, of course, soldiered on.

Officially Les was due to retire last year when he reached his half-century, but somehow (despite hip replacements, one done and one pending, after years of carrying heavy cameras on one shoulder) he hasn’t actually stopped yet. So his two sons, Karl and Jon (who followed him into the family skill) look as though they’ll be competing with their father for North East jobs for some time yet.

Les Coates receives his award from Garth Jeffery

Les Coates celebrates with family and friends

By Graeme Aldous