Peter Hill (BaA 48-56) – Close to Power: A Westminster Life

Peter Hill is a former BBC Political Correspondent, known for his reports from the Press Gallery and Lobby, and as presenter of Yesterday in Parliament. He has recently published a new book Close to Power: A Westminster Life.

A front-row seat to British political history from the BBC’s Westminster frontiers.

This is not just a journalist’s story. It’s a vivid portrait of Westminster itself: the people, the politics, and the press that hold it to account.

More details and purchase options can be found here.

Peter is also the author of ‘My Russian Odyssey’ (Available on Amazon).

Book Review

Peter Agulnik (BaA 48-55) has kindly put together an informative book review:

‘Peter Hill and I met for the first time seventy-seven years ago when we were both sitting the entrance exam to Housey. We found ourselves both attached to Barnes A, and the start of a friendship that has lasted till today.

His recently published book “Close to Power A Westminster Life” charts his professional life, spent largely as a parliamentary correspondent for the BBC. This followed national service in the Navy, which enabled him to learn Russian, and then taking up an open exhibition to Cambridge at Trinity Hall. It was there that he wrote articles for Varsity, becoming its editor and facilitating his pathway into journalism and joining the BBC.

The book is largely composed of vignettes describing encounters with notable figures, particularly parliamentarians, of the day. These included prime ministers from Harold Macmillan to Margaret Thatcher and John Major. We get informative glimpses of the well-liked Harold Wilson, to the less appreciated Edward Heath. Along the way we get his views of other notables in the media and in public life, which triggered my own reminiscences and associations to those times.

After training, Peter was to remain at the BBC, partly as employed, and later as a freelance for about thirty years. He broadcasted on radio, where he was happiest, but also as a television presenter, such as fronting the weekly programme “Westminster”. Broadcasting from parliament was in its infancy, and he takes us through the teething problems of establishing it as an essential format for information and discussion. As a historian, the importance for posterity is a primary focus. For Peter, one avenue has been the writing of obituaries of foremost politicians well before their demise, to be readily available as well-informed broadcasting and written material. Similarly, he facilitated the production an award-winning CD of great parliamentary speeches. 

The book provides easy to read, and entertaining insights into the work of the parliamentary lobby correspondent, – an essential ingredient in informing the public about the workings of the democratic process.

Published by Amazon, it is thoroughly recommended’

Peter Agulnik (BaA 48-55)