By Elliott West
They’re standing and they’re applauding that dramatic, really dramatic, performance by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. Ravel’s Bolero being applauded on and on, roars around the building, and the judges now just waiting for a moment to give the marks”.
Part of Alan Weeks’ commentary for the Torvill and Dean’s Bolero performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Introduction
Alan Weeks had a close association with snooker, being asked to present Pot Black, taking over from Keith Macklin after the first series with Macklin moving to Yorkshire Television in 1969. Filmed originally at the BBC Studios in Gosta Green, Birmingham and later the new Pebble Mill Studios, Weeks became the face you first saw as the opening titles of the programme stopped running to the musical accompaniment of Winifred Atwell’s rendition of the ‘Black and White Rag’, composed by George Botsford.
A man who had a smooth and almost velvety voice, Weeks would always be immaculately dressed, donning a dinner jacket and bow tie for the show, sitting behind a desk before the match and interviewing the players after it had finished. This bespectacled man fitted the show like a glow and was its presenter until 1984.
Personal Life
Born in Bristol, 1923, Alan Weeks moved with his family to Brighton when he was five due to his father, Captain F.C. Weeks becoming piermaster there. Alan went on to attend Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School.
In 1947, Alan married an ice skater, Barbara Jane Huckle and went on to have two sons and a daughter. Tragically, his daughter Beverley died at the age of 43 in 1992 and he lost his son Nigel in 1983 after he committed suicide by hanging himself.
Serving for his country in the Second World War in the British Merchant Navy, he was demobbed in 1946 as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserve.
Sporting Career
With a long and established career working for the BBC, Alan did mainly coverage for winter sports such as ice skating and ice hockey. He also presented swimming, snooker and gymnastics. Weeks was a big speedway fan and were the frontman for the World Speedway finals, broadcast at Wembley Stadium from 1955-1969 and in 1983 for the BBC.
Alan also presented at every Winter Olympics from 1964 until his retirement. Dubbed ‘The Gold Medal Commentator’, Weeks witnessed many of the sporting greats such as Olga Korbut, Mark Spitz, John Curry, Torvill and Dean and David Wilkie strike gold in their events.
Pairing up with one of the most loved Commentators, Barry Davies, the duo provided the commentary for ice-skating for many years, including the Torvill and Dean, come back at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. A broadcast that attracted a viewing audience of 23.9 million viewers on the BBC.
Alan was also an occasional presenter on Match of the Day and provided commentary for football for 20 years. These included five World Cup final tournaments and Newcastle United’s last trophy win, the second leg of the 1969 Fairs Cup Final against Ujpest Dozja and occasionally worked for Grandstand.
Alan was a tireless worker in the field of sports administration from 1976 to 1983 and was director (and subsequently governor) of the Sports Aid Foundation, which helped many sportsmen and women in their early years. Alan was also a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame and of the Council of the British Ice Hockey Association. He was also president of the Brighton Tigers Ice Hockey Association.
A face that is well recognised for the programme Pot Black, Weeks was honoured by British Ice Hockey in 1989, naming a trophy after him, the Alan Weeks Trophy for Best British Defenceman. Weeks carried on commentary work until 1996 when his last broadcast was for the World Figure Skating Championship and he sadly passed away from cancer in the June of that year, aged 72.
