Galton and Simpson go High Definition

Tim Marshall, CEO at JANET with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson

15/9/09: Legendary comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson (Hancock’s Half Hour, Steptoe & Son) used the power of JANET’s videoconferencing service to speak to an old friend in Perth, Australia on 10 September.

The pair, aged respectively 79 and 80, used a videoconferencing system in London to chat for an hour with their colleague, Australian actor Bill Kerr in conjunction with AARNet, Australia's Academic and Research Network. Mr Kerr’s long string of credits includes a regular spot on Hancock’s Half Hour in the 1950s. This ‘reunion’ will feature as part of a television documentary being filmed about him.

The three were quickly at ease with the outstanding High Definition pictures and quality sound which made the distance between them disappear.Even the TV crews at both sites were impressed with the quality and ease of connection, facilitated by JVCS, that is available every day to all JANET users of this service.

Meeting this way saved all concerned the physical and environmental cost of a long and arduous journey, which could actually have detracted from the enjoyment of the whole experience, and they all left saying what a great service JANET provides.

We all look forward to seeing the documentary, and footage recorded with the new recording feature of the Booking Service, with some familiar orange logos in the background.