My previous experience, before going freelance in 1993, was as a technical operator for about 13 years, with BBC North in Leeds. This work covered a large variety of situations from fast moving news and sport, to music and dance. Aside from ENG work, my duties consisted of operating a range of broadcast equipment both in the studio and on OB's. This included camera operation, sound recording and balancing, VT operation & editing, vision control and lighting, plus some first line maintenance. (I actually joined the BBC as an engineer but soon found I preferred playing with the toys to mending them). On occasions I acted as Technical Manager in overall charge of transmissions or recordings in the studio. I also went on attachment to the national OB Unit at Kendal Avenue in London as a cameraman, and to BBC TV News as a radio links engineer/operator and as an ENG Sound recordist.