Derek Parker

Derek Parker (born 1932) is a British writer and broadcaster.

Related Topics:
1932 - British

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He was born in Looe, Cornwall, and educated at Fowey Grammar School. He worked as reporter with The Cornishman (Penzance) then as drama critic with The Western Morning News (Plymouth). Subsequently he had jobs as writer, announcer and interviewer with TWW (Independent Television, Cardiff), then as freelance writer and broadcaster for BBC radio and television. During the 1960s and 1970s he wrote and introduced innumerable programmes about the arts, including series about the ballet and opera, and features on individual artists. He introduced long-running series both for BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, such as The Poem Itself and The Paperback Programme.

Related Topics:
Looe - Cornwall - Fowey - The Cornishman - Penzance - The Western Morning News - Plymouth - TWW - BBC - The Poem Itself - The Paperback Programme

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He was author with his wife Julia Parker of The Compleat Astrologer (1971), the first popular modern textbook of astrology, which sold over a million copies in fourteen languages. This has been followed by a number of books about astrology, the most recent being Parkers' Astrology (2001), again a popular textbook introducing many modern techniques. In The Question of Astrology (1970) Parker examined modern attitudes to the subject, quoting the views of many authorities both approving and disapproving the subject. During the same year he discussed astrology in a radio programme with Dr Jonathan Miller, Michel Gauquelin and others: this was the first serious programme about the subject which the BBC Governors allowed to be broadcast (previously programmes which did not ridicule the subject had been banned). He and his wife have lectured on astrology in Europe, the Americas and Australia

Related Topics:
Julia Parker - The Compleat Astrologer - Astrology - Parkers' Astrology - The Question of Astrology - Dr Jonathan Miller - Michel Gauquelin

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He has been editor of Poetry Review (1965-1970) and of The Author (1985-2002). Chairman, Society of Authors (1981-2); member of its Grand Council. Member, Grand Council of the Royal Academy of Dance. Member General Committee, Royal Literary Fund (1969-2002), as Registrar (1977-2002). He now lives in Sydney, Australia.

Related Topics:
Poetry Review - The Author - Society of Authors - Royal Academy of Dance - Royal Literary Fund - Sydney, Australia

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