Gavin Weightman
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Gavin Weightman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 March 1945 Gosforth, Northumberland, England |
| Died | 18 December 2022 (aged 77) Whitechapel, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist and documentary filmmaker |
| Children | 3 |
Gavin Weightman (4 March 1945 – 18 December 2022) was a British journalist and documentary filmmaker who specialised in the social history of London and Britain from the 18th century.[1]
His books included The Making of Modern London, co-authored in 1983 with Steve Humphries (re-issued in 2007 by Ebury Press); The Frozen Water Trade (2003), Signor Marconi's Magic Box (2003), and The Industrial Revolutionaries (2007).[2] Weightman's journalism included many articles for New Society magazine in the 1970s.
Gavin Weightman was born on 4 March 1945 in Gosforth, Northumberland, England, to Doreen (née Wade), a teacher and translator, and John Weightman, a broadcaster. The family lived in West Hampstead, but spent the summers in Northumberland. He attended Haberdashers' Boys' School with a scholarship, but left there aged 17 to start a career as a journalist.[3]
In 1967, he started a degree in sociology at Bedford College, London.[3]
Career
After leaving school, Weightman worked on the Brighton and Evening Angus and the Richmond and Twickenham Times.[3]
In 1974, he began work for New Society magazine. From 1978 to 1982, he worked as a reporter and presenter for The London Programme.[3]
For London Weekend Television, he produced and directed The Making of Modern London (1815–1914), The River Thames, Bright Lights Big City, Brave New Wilderness, and City Safari, among other series.[4]
Personal life
Weightman's first marriage to Myra Wilkins ended in divorce. Together they had two children.[3]
In 2009, Weightman married Clare Beaton, a children's author and illustrator, after a long-term relationship. They had one son.[3]
Weightman lived in north London and latterly concentrated on writing social history books.[5] He died at the Royal London Hospital on 18 December 2022, at the age of 77.[6]
