Tributes are being paid to long-serving radio engineer Bruce Davidson who has died at the age of 60.
Bruce has spent the last ten years working at Bauer Media as Broadcast and Technology Director looking after all the national and radio stations and their broadcast technology teams.
He most recently oversaw the move from Golden Square to The Lantern and was relocating.
Before that, he worked for Global and Chrysalis for 15 years as Group Technical Director then Technology Director leading a team of 80 technology professionals covering the areas of Broadcast Technology, IT & Infrastructure and Business Systems.
He started his radio career in 1987 at Metro Radio Group as Chief Engineer and went on to run SunCity for just over a year.
Bruce recently left Bauer and was taking on consultancy/project work, moving back to his native north east.
A Bauer Media spokesperson told RadioToday: “All at Bauer Media Audio UK are saddened to hear of the passing of Bruce Davidson, a much loved colleague, who led our technology team through a period of growth, consolidation and of course Covid.
“Although retired recently from Bauer, we remember him with fondness and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.”
Giles Squire, who worked with Bruce at Metro, wrote: “I am shocked and saddened by the news that Bruce Davidson died this afternoon. I wrote to Bruce in June of this year telling him all about our party to celebrate Metro Radio almost making it to 50 years. He wrote straight back with these words “It will be great to meet up with old friends. I turned 60 in January and going to move back to the north east. Been a hard slog moving Bauer in London, but now done.”
“It was the last message I received and he wasn’t able to attend our event in September. Andrew Hughes let me know last month that he was in hospital and not at all well. Bruce was an extremely talented engineer who was also great fun and very popular wherever he worked. I send my condolences to family and friends. (In this photo he is in the middle and to the right).
Phil Riley wrote: “Just heard the terrible news that my old friend Bruce Davidson had died. As well as being a brilliant Chief Engineer for me at Chrysalis he also soldered at the very top at both Global and Bauer. Best CE I ever had and such a shame to go at such a young age. Great guy.”
Nick Pitts added: “Since 2018, we worked together at Bauer where we oversaw the transfer of the facility to One Golden Sqaure and recently he led the build of the new state of the art facility in Euston. He ‘retired’ only a few months ago which makes this all the sadder.
“He was one of the good guys, and the technology people who worked under him over the years are all streets ahead of those who didn’t, all leaders in their field today having benefitted from his wisdom and human approach to engineering.
“He was one of those technology bods who was always approachable, would love a challenge and always think of the creative solution for the ears of the listener, and not just the easy answer.
“Bruce – King Of The Wires – RIP you good, good human being.”
Brian Lister posted on RadioToday North East: “Anyone involved in the history of local radio in the North East will be shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Bruce Davidson this week after a short illness.
“I first came across Bruce as a talented young engineer at Metro Radio, then with Minster – where he very rapidly and rightly moved into station management with Sun FM. Always friendly and smiling he was one of those too rare engineers who also understood people.
“Since leaving the region he had worked for all the major commercial radio companies masterminding many high-profile radio station builds, special projects and OBs. At Bauer he oversaw the transfer of their national stations to One Golden Square and recently he led the build of their new state of the art facility in Euston.
“A few years ago he gave me a tour of his Bauer operation and I noticed that everyone we passed in a corridor had cheery word or smile for him. Bruce retired from Bauer in July and was preparing to move back here to the north-east.”
“We’ve lost one of the industry greats.”
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