It is with sadness that we pay tribute to yet another great spirit of Springbok Radio, Peter Merrill, who passed away on 18 June 2013. Peter's was the voice that closed broadcast on the very first day of Springbok Radio on 1 May 1950. He was involved in numerous programmes, either as actor, director or presenter, and will be fondly remembered by many. Some of the programmes that carried the Peter Merrill stamp in one way or the other was
Dance Time, the programme that closed the first day's broadcast on Springbok Radio,
as presenter, the
Sarie '74 awards which he presented with Elwyn Morris,
Pick-A-Box as producer, and he also acted in the very first children's serial on Springbok Radio, namely
Jungle Boy. Peter also joined Esmé Euvrard as presenter of the very popular
Springbok Rendezvous, and co-presented
The Castle Lager Sportz Quiz.
In 1952 Peter started the first production house, Herrick Merrill Production Studios, with Dean Herrick, and they were involved in the production of the first locally produced soap operas, dramas etc. The first women's serial
Linda's First Love was produced by them from scripts received from Canada. From their studios the popular programme
No Place to Hide also originated, a serial which, according to Peter in an interview with Bea Reed in 1985, "changed the entire supper habits of South Africa."
From the SABC he headed on to Namibia, heading the English Service of the SWABC.
Our condolences to Linda, Peter's wife, and his children, grandchildren, family and friends. My the memories he created bring you peace.
Retha Buys, Archivist:
Springbok Radio,
SABC Radio Archives
