Richard (and many others) Dimbleby - 14826

British broadcaster.

After attending Mill Hill School he began his career with the family newspaper, the Richmond and Twickenham Times in 1931. He later worked for the Bournemouth Echo and Advertisers Weekly.

In 1936 Dimbleby joined the BBC as a news reporter. In 1939 he accompanied the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France. After Dunkirk Dimbleby reported from the frontline in Egypt and Greece. He also flew 20 missions with RAF Bomber Command.

In 1945 Dimbleby was the first reporter to enter Belsen Concentration Camp.

After the war he became the main commentator on state occasions. This included the funerals of George VI and Winston Churchill. He was also managing director of the family newspaper business (1954-65) and presenter of BBC's Panorama (1955-63). Richard Dimbleby died of cancer in London on 22nd December 1965.

Dimbleby's signature is quite scarce - though-the-mail requests to the BBC were typically rewarded with a facsimile-signed photograph.

This is an extraordinary item - a 6.5" x 4.25" piece cut from a visitors' book. On one side, in addition to Richard Dimbleby's autograph in ink, is that of Esme Percy, Nigel Stock, Diane Hart and Gordon Harker. On the other side are the signatures of Gladys Henson, Roland Culver, Dora Bryan, Ian Carmichael, Michael Denison, Wilfrid Lawson and Cedric Hardwicke. Condition is very good.