Alex Mair, a 102-year-old resident of a care home in Aberdeen, recently celebrated his birthday with a party where he shared stories about his involvement in launching Grampian TV back in September 1961. Despite his modesty, Alex played a crucial role in setting up the station, which served a vast area from Aberdeen to Stornoway and Dundee to Inverness.
Facing challenges like a limited budget and competition from the BBC, Alex was determined to keep Grampian TV local and reflective of the community’s interests. The station quickly gained popularity with programs like Calum’s Ceilidhs, Try for Ten, Bothy Nichts, and Romper Room. The channel also featured talented presenters like Lesley Blair and covered a wide range of topics from news to entertainment.
As the managing director and chief executive, Alex strived to strike a balance between profitability and providing quality programming. Grampian TV broke new ground in British broadcasting by introducing electronic newsgathering and computer graphics. The station’s success continued to grow, especially with the discovery of North Sea oil, which brought new opportunities for storytelling.
Despite his retirement in 1987, Alex remained proud of Grampian TV’s accomplishments and was disappointed when the station was sold to SMG and later absorbed by STV in 1997. He believed that Grampian had a unique place in the media landscape and was more than just a news station. Even in his old age, Alex’s passion for local storytelling and community connection remained strong.
As Alex left the party to return upstairs, the staff described him as a lovely man, hoping that he still had many more years ahead. Alex’s dedication to Grampian TV and his vision for quality regional programming left a lasting impact on the broadcasting industry. His legacy as a trailblazer and community advocate continues to inspire generations of storytellers and journalists.
