Snagge, John Derrick Mordaunt
Date Born/Est
08 May 1904
Date Died/Ceased
26 Mar 1996
Biographical Display
John Snagge OBE, Boat race radio commentator and broadcaster
John Snagge was a distinguished BBC wireless commentator who became best known for his commentaries of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. He took over the radio commentary of the race in 1931 to 1980. Son of Sir Thomas Mordaunt Snagge, a county court judge, he was educated at Winchester and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he rowed in the college boat, he began his life with the BBC as assistant director of the relay station at Stoke-on-Trent in 1924, doing everything from making the tea to singing duets, live, with the engineer. In 1928 he became an announcer at Savoy Hill HQ, equipped with an authoratative voice which mellowed over the years into 'polished mahogany'. He became known as the voice of the Boat Race, but was also the commentator and/or announcer for many great occasions and memorable bulletins. During the 1939-1945 war Snagge was the BBC's presentation director, embracing continuity and newsreading, and his was the voice which announced the invasion of north Africa, the D-Day landings, the Arhem raid and VE-day. He was the main commentator at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
John Snagge was a distinguished BBC wireless commentator who became best known for his commentaries of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. He took over the radio commentary of the race in 1931 to 1980. Son of Sir Thomas Mordaunt Snagge, a county court judge, he was educated at Winchester and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he rowed in the college boat, he began his life with the BBC as assistant director of the relay station at Stoke-on-Trent in 1924, doing everything from making the tea to singing duets, live, with the engineer. In 1928 he became an announcer at Savoy Hill HQ, equipped with an authoratative voice which mellowed over the years into 'polished mahogany'. He became known as the voice of the Boat Race, but was also the commentator and/or announcer for many great occasions and memorable bulletins. During the 1939-1945 war Snagge was the BBC's presentation director, embracing continuity and newsreading, and his was the voice which announced the invasion of north Africa, the D-Day landings, the Arhem raid and VE-day. He was the main commentator at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Place Of Birth
Chelsea/London/England
