Even More About Ian

These days I spend most of my time sat staring at a screen and banging away at my keyboard or using voice recognition to get my words out. In actual fact I think in my lifetime one of the greatest inventions and developments has been the Internet. For me personally the Internet is the single crucial link to the outside world.

The fact that I can type out these words and they can be almost instantly seen anywhere in the world to me is something of a technological miracle -- and I love it!

Some people are totally obsessed with Internet communication with the use of Twitter for example where one appears to publish every single intimate movement -- for me that's a step too far! Then there is all these "social" websites like Facebook for example where you can add in friends and people you kind of or might know and expose a little more of one's personality. I have a Facebook account but I use it with caution and certainly do not take it seriously, well not too seriously! Then of course there are other websites where you can find friends, people that possibly have something in common with yourself. I actually use the Internet to do nearly all my shopping, searching for bargains for things that you wouldn't normally see in the shop, for banking and all sorts of other things in my daily little life.

With more and more data being uploaded and more archive available I have found the Internet a vital tool when it comes to historic research. For me this is the Internet at its best - the ability to find things lost over years. Whether it's a census archive or a newspaper cutting it seems more and more is now available online and easily accessible.

But we have certainly come a long way from the days of other forms of publishing and even the good old hand written letter writing. Mind you I still think there's nothing better than actually receiving a letter (unless it's a bill of course!) hand written by a friend or colleague. But I think those days are now something of the past. Communication by e-mail is really the recognised regular communication process whether we like it or not. Through e-mail we can be reasonably polite, straight to the point and sometimes darn right rude!

(image: The Railway Stationmaster's House (middle cream coloured building) at Princetown where we lived between 1957-1962. The Princetown railway had closed in 1956 so we moved in as GWR personnel moved out! The mast is the BBC North Hessary Tor television and radio transmitter where my father worked. We moved to nearby Tavistock just before the infamous winter of 1962/63)

Todays Life

I have an enormous energy for life and this perpetual vigour to get things done. My target is to constantly move in a positive and forward direction. I am a slave to perfection and my own ideals although I'm resigned to the fact I shall never reach the light at the end of my personal tunnel, but I'll give it a bloody good try!

I am a passionate historian and I adore historic research. I thrill to the race to find the accurate solution to the unanswered. This gives me an adrenalin rush like no other sometimes - to be the originator of a truth that has been buried by time is quite thrilling.

I've been involved in several fascinating projects, most famously my extensive and in-depth investigation into the world famous story of The Man They Could Not Hang (details here). My work was published by Sutton in hardback in 2005 after co-authoring a major work on the life of John Lee. I'm currently writing a screenplay which I hope will eventually transfer into development and maybe beyond.

Apart from my love of history I take an interest in emerging technologies, news and current affairs and UK politics.

My broadcasting livelihood evolved from my family connections with the BBC although they were engineers I took the presentation and production route mainly through radio until my poor health forced me to temporarily pause my career. Even as young boy I was always fascinated with the media and I used to love visiting studios and transmitters with my father. So you could say that broadcasting is part of my blood (more here).

(image: A seriously scary picture taken in the DevonAir presenters office in about 1982 when I was an enthusiastic 28. I later became Head of Presentation and stayed with the station until 1987  - image: © John Pierce)

I support and follow human rights, social equality, freedom of speech and personal privacy. I think we live, sometimes, in a 'nanny state' and other times in a society that doesn't love or care. I passionately defend the vision of a united Europe and I am fascinated by cultures in society. I also embrace the Plain English Campaign and detest gobbledygook, Americanised English and senseless red tape.

I am quite a "news anorak", although that's not actually a fair description because I am quite a choosy news follower. I have little time for badly written or poorly constructed editorial. I am not a "hack" and I have never worked in print journalism, however that doesn't mean I don't like a good traditional newspaper story that's well researched and solid. Needless to say I am never far away away from broadcast news or featured stories online. My regular source for news is Today, PM and From Our Own Correspondent; Radio Four, Channel Four News; Channel Four, BBC News and The Guardian. I guess my listening consists mainly of serious news and current affairs early in the morning and the classical side as the day progresses - so I move from Radio Four to Radio Three as my day moves onwards by the end of my day I am usually searching around or listening to my own library. "Ian Waugh uses Spotify to listen to his music".

Several of today's issues worry me - the fast moving and catastrophic consequences of global warming, the human cost of extremism in society and the daily perpetual threat of global and localised terrorism. On our very doorstep the overall image of our country I feel is being dented by the growing level of what is now grouped into a single category as anti-social behaviour. Social values in British society have taken a serious detrimental shift and whilst some in the Westminster village are defensive of this slide there are many, myself included, who feel we are entering a black hole from which we may never return.

I do not smoke, never taken a non-prescribed drug and for the past decade rarely consume much alcohol. I hardly take regular exercise due to serious arthritic restrictions on my legs. I am immobile through arthritis. I am partially paralysed through stroke. I continue to enjoy a highly active and vivacious life! If you find mobility issues difficult to cope with, please click away now!

I appreciate and enjoy a wide and adventurous range of food, preferably fresh and organic - my favourite being the Chinese Dim Sum range and fresh seafood. I have a thing about Maltese cooking (see here). I am not a vegetarian although I don't eat so much meat these days.

I enjoy well made escapist movies and love a good, outrageous well written comedy. I have always supported British film whilst getting pleasure from viewing European and Chinese productions.
"Ian Waugh uses findanyfilm.com and supports British Film and the UK Film Council"

I have travelled extensively throughout Europe and Africa. I visited and worked in Southern Africa and fell in love with Zimbabwe - current events and the political situation there have broken my heart in so many ways and I look forward to the day when happiness and a genuine smile can return to the ordinary folk in that battered country. I was a broadcast adviser to the national broadcasting service in Zimbabwe (ZBC) and, with the help and devotion of the employees, we managed to turn Radio Three into a popular and commercial success. Today all the work and dreams we created have evaporated. If you are reading this in Zimbabwe - I want you to know that, despite the years that have passed and all the dreadful things that are going on, I still remember and think of you every day.

I adore Europe and thrill to the cultural diversity. I enjoy being European.

Who is Ian Waugh?

Despite my apparent staid approach to life I am in possession of an extremely devilish sense of humour although I am particularly unwilling to suffer fools gladly. I am an extremely patient person. My tolerance evaporates with bad timekeeping - I cannot stand feeble punctuality especially from people who have little understanding of the old adage "Punctuality is the courtesy of Kings!".

My direct, uncompromising methodology has become a personal hallmark. My prized possession is my personal privacy which I defend and treasure above all else. I am a perfectionist. I try to create a good impression in most aspects of my life. Thanks to life's experiences I am proud to say, "what you see is what you get" which is the basis of the few scribblings on this web site".