Binyon, Basil 1885 - 1977

Major Basil Binyon was an electrical engineer and director of the British Broadcasting Company, the predecessor to the current BBC. He was born on 23rd April 1885 and attended Cambridge University until graduating in 1907 with a degree in natural sciences. He would then go on to a post graduate course in electrical engineering before gaining practical experience at the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company. From here he would move to work with Marconi on the transatlantic telegraph, on the Poldhu to Newfoundland link, and would also be involved in the Anglo-French Wireless Company.

At the beginning of the First World War he would join the Royal Naval Air Service and was posted to Cranwell where he worked as the officer in charge of the wireless experimental department and cooperated with the Royal Flying Corps to develop the first airborne radio equipment. Initially this would only work with Morse Code, but it would be later improved to allow for voice to be transmitted. He would be awarded an OBE for this work. In 1916 he was promoted to squadron commander and in 1918 he was appointed a major in the newly formed Royal Airforce.

Following the end of the war Binyon would establish the Radio Communication Company Ltd. This developed worldwide long ware communications and produced equipment for merchant and naval shipping. This new company would later produce domestic radio equipment under the Polar brand. As a result of this work Basil Binyon would be appointed a director of the newly formed British Broadcasting Company and would remain in this position until 1926 when it became the British Broadcasting Corporation, the current BBC.

During the 1920s the Radio Communication Company merger with Marconi and Basil Binyon joined the board of the later company, where he stayed until 1935. Between 1936 and 1938 he would serve as a director of the Buenos Aires Water Company.

During the Second World War he would serve with the Royal Observer Corps and devised a predictor for use where RADAR was not available. Following the war he would continue to work in a small workshop producing equipment for taking time-lapse photos and a model steam engine.

On 4th April 1977 Major Basil Binyon died at Farnborough Hospital.