Another veteran has quit the organisation. 74-year-old BBC presenter Laurie Margolis is leaving the organisation after 50 years in the business. The broadcasting veteran has worked on both TV and radio during his incredible career.
Margolis broke the news of Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands back in 1982. His retirement was announced by BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday (August 21) on the PM programme. Host Evan Davis told listeners: "Now one of our BBC colleagues is retiring this week.
He's been at the corporation for 50 years, believe it or not. Laurie Margolis is his name and here on PM, we wanted to mark his departure as he gave this programme one of its biggest scoops back in 1982." BBC stars have since paid tribute to the beloved presenter and his "remarkable career" on social media.
BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay took to X with a clip of one of Laurie's radio segments. He wrote "Laurie Margolis aka G3UML. Leaving the BBC after 50 years.
Everyone who’s worked in News knows and respects him. Lovely chap. Remarkable career.
And what a story this is...
" Other BBC staff also paid tribute to Laurie. The BBC's West of England Correspondent Dan Johnson said: "An absolute legend of BBC News, one of the steadiest hands on the newsdesk and a total gentleman. "I got to know the name Laurie Margolis as soon as I started in local radio and he’s been an enormous pleasure to work with.
We'll miss Laurie's unrivalled experience and ingenuity." Money and Work Reporter Peter Ruddick commented: "I have only been at the BBC for eight years but there are names when you hear them, or see them, that make you feel instantly relaxed about the person's journalism. Laurie Margolis is one of them.
" Europe Correspondent Nick Beake added: "A fine story told by a fine man & journalist. @lauriemargolis you’ll be hugely missed!" Laurie began his career at Radio Sheffield before he joined BBC Radio 4. In 1982, he broke the biggest story of his career when he obtained information about the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands using amateur radio.
He used a short-wave transceiver connected to an aerial on the roof of the Langham Hotel in London to make radio contact with Bob McLeod, who lived in the settlement of Goose Green on East Falkland..
