About Alvar Lidell
Tord Alvar Quan Lidell (11 September 1908 – 7 January 1981) was an English radio announcer and newsreader for the BBC and compere. He joined BBC Birmingham as chief announcer in 1932 before moving to London the following year. Lidell was made deputy chief announcer of the BBC in 1937 and announced important events such as Edward VIII's abdication and Britain's declaration of war with Germany in 1939. During the Second World War his distinctive voice became synonymous with the reading of the news. Lidell left the BBC for one year for service in the Royal Air Force and became chief announcer of the BBC Third Programme in 1946. He began reading news bulletins regularly on the BBC Home Service and the Light Programme from 1951 to his retirement in 1969. Lidell was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1964. == Early life == Lidell was born on 11 September 1908 in Wimbledon Park, Surrey, the third child and younger son of Swedish parents. His father, John Adrian Lidell, was a timber importer who came to Britain in the 1890s. His mother was Gertrud Lidell (née Lundström).
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