Portsmouth Area Talking News charity loses one of its sons

He unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, February 15. He had been suffering from dementia but remained at home until the middle of January 2026. John then moved into a care home, settling in well. His quick wit continued to the last. John Wilkinson will be greatly missed.

John was the first PATN news editor, and like his associates at the time had no idea whether this pioneer service would last a year - let alone more than 50 years! Initially, there were only 9 or 10 Talking Newspapers in the country, mostly in Wales. Following extensive preparations over many months, the service began operating in May 1974 when Portsmouth Hospital Broadcasting collaborated with Portsmouth Association for the Blind and Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind to form (the separate) Portsmouth Area Talking News (often abbreviated to PATN), and registering the organisation as a charity.

John had been a volunteer presenter and DJ for Portsmouth Hospital Broadcasting, his day job being that of a journalist and Chief Sub-Editor for the Portsmouth NEWS. John became the first editor of PATN. Every two weeks he and his team of researchers painstakingly collected and prepared many items of local news – deemed unlikely to be of interest to the main local radio station at the time, BBC Radio Solent - and recorded them. The master tape was recorded at Portsmouth Hospitals Broadcasting studios, initially situated at St Mary’s Hospital and later at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham.

An advanced high-speed copier was used to transfer the recording onto compact cassettes - with two hundred cassettes an hour being recorded. The copier had been purchased with the generous help of local charities after approaches had been made to them by John and his colleagues.

Additionally, volunteers were recruited to support production and distribution. Visually impaired listeners could hear these cassettes via talking book playback devices, which many had already. Cassette tape wallets (large when compared with modern day USB wallets) were then taken to the Royal Mail Slindon Street sorting office, situated close to Portsmouth Guildhall and Portsmouth Railway Station. Unsurprisingly, there were large sacks regularly returned.

John Wilkinson, together with PATN colleagues, continued the evolution of PATN following the establishment of a purpose-built studio in the grounds of Portsmouth Association for the Blind, Stubbington Avenue, Portsmouth. The studio was opened by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor John Fisher on 11th May 1983. The architects were Adams, Poole, Douglas in association with John Murgatroyd. John became PATN Chairman.

With John Wilkinson’s considerable dedication and leadership, PATN succeeded in becoming an early front-runner in local news broadcasting for the visually impaired. Upon stepping back from frontline duties, John was given the singular honour of becoming Life President of Portsmouth Area Talking News, a position he held until his passing on Sunday 15 February 2026.

John is shown with three of his successors: Rosemary Stevens, June Munday and Janet Crabtree, together with Dame Penny Mordaunt. John Wilkinson's legacy continues with Christopher Golding and his dedicated team. Sincerest condolences are sent to John’s widow, Jenny, and John’s family.