Andrew Stuart Hibberd MBE (born 5 September 1893 and died 1 November 1983) was a British radio personality for 40 years. He is best known for his announcements of the death of King George V in 1936, and of Adolf Hitler in 1945.
Hibberd volunteered at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, becoming an Army officer. He served with the Dorset Regiment at Gallipoli and then in India, reaching the rank of Captain.
Hibberd married Alice Mary Chichester in July 1923, and joined the BBC the following year, winning an MBE for his broadcasting in 1935. He was the chief announcer on BBC Radio until his retirement from the post in 1951, but continued to present BBC radio programmes until 1964.
Hibberd had a unique, immediately recognisable, voice. It could be described like someone whispering aloud. His voice was ideal for grave and solemn occasions and he is best remembered for his announcement of King George V's impending death on 20 January 1936 with the words: "The King's life is moving peacefully towards its close".
From 1949, Hibberd presented The Silver Lining, a Thursday afternoon programme aimed at disabled and housebound people.
Hibberd also appeared as himself in a couple of films; as the News Reader in 1937’s Storm in a Teacup and as The Newsreader (pictured) in 1949’s Stop Press Girl.
Hibberd volunteered at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, becoming an Army officer. He served with the Dorset Regiment at Gallipoli and then in India, reaching the rank of Captain.
Hibberd married Alice Mary Chichester in July 1923, and joined the BBC the following year, winning an MBE for his broadcasting in 1935. He was the chief announcer on BBC Radio until his retirement from the post in 1951, but continued to present BBC radio programmes until 1964.
Hibberd had a unique, immediately recognisable, voice. It could be described like someone whispering aloud. His voice was ideal for grave and solemn occasions and he is best remembered for his announcement of King George V's impending death on 20 January 1936 with the words: "The King's life is moving peacefully towards its close".
From 1949, Hibberd presented The Silver Lining, a Thursday afternoon programme aimed at disabled and housebound people.
Hibberd also appeared as himself in a couple of films; as the News Reader in 1937’s Storm in a Teacup and as The Newsreader (pictured) in 1949’s Stop Press Girl.
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