KincardineshireAncestors - Picture Gallery

In this house was born on

July 20th 1889,

JOHN CHARLES WALSHAM REITH,

Statesman, Administrator, Engineer,

1st Baron Reith of Stonehaven

and

1st Director - General of the B.B.C.

Sir John Reith, Lord Reith of Stonehaven (1889-1971), was born in this house at the top of Evan Street where his family was on holiday in 1889. He became an engineer and was Managing Director of the British Broadcasting Company from 1922-1927, then became the first Director General of the newly incorporated British Broadcasting Corporation. He hated the idea of television and would never have one in his house, but allowed it's development. In 1938 he resigned from the B.B.C. and became Chairman of Imperial Airways.