OTD 1959: Pat Astley looks at the price of parking

On this Day: March 19th, 1959.

ATV Midland Montage goes on the road…

Presenter, and continuity announcer, Pat Astley interviews motorists in Birmingham about the cost of parking in the city.

The report features shots of cars parked on streets in the city centre as well as in a municipal car park. Pat Astley conducts vox pops with several motorists about the money involved in parking a vehicle in the city centre.

Pat joined ATV in January 1958, having beaten 823 applicants for the post. As well as Midland Montage he also co-hosted Rainbow Rooms with co-host Noele Gordon and was a regular on Children’s programme Tingha and Tucker. Astley joined ATV in the Midlands having previously worked as a writer, director and performer in local theatre dramatics. His son, Gordon Astley, was later a presenter of ATV’s Tiswas.