Veteran British broadcaster and former BBC Radio 4 newsreader Peter Donaldson has died aged 70 following a battle with cancer.
Donaldson became Radio 4's chief announcer in 1983 where he was the voice of the station until his retirement in 2012.
The station's controller Gwyneth Williams said of the "magnificent" broadcaster: "His voice came to stand for Radio 4 and to stand for the high quality of our content.
"When you heard those deep tones on air you could expect the best – you believed what he said – and you felt, somehow, safe. He was enormously kind to me when I was a young producer and we would often share a chat over the headlines late at night in Broadcasting House. We will miss him."
Jamie Angus, the editor of the BBC's Today programme, tweeted in tribute: "He was quite simply the voice of Radio 4 for a generation."
Peter Donaldson has died. He was quite simply the voice of Radio 4 for a generation. #r4today pic.twitter.com/Yx9hbQzTXe
— Jamie Angus (@grvlx001) November 3, 2015
Since the news of his death was announced, tributes for the late broadcaster have been flooding in on Twitter.
Peter Donaldson's brilliance was the voice-of-God sonorousness which you applied to every script you wrote him.
— Callum May (@callummay) November 3, 2015
Peter Donaldson, @BBCRadio4 's Chief Announcer from 1983 to 2012, died last night. So sad. Lovely man. Amazing voice.
— Paul Lewis (@paullewismoney) November 3, 2015
Peter Donaldson, the voice of Radio 4 for years has died. Nobody interrupted @bbctms for shipping forecast so mischievously. Loved cricket.
— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) November 3, 2015
So sad to hear of the death of Peter Donaldson, his mellifluous tones made the news more palatable, he will be missed #rippeterdonaldson
— Ros Coffey (@RosMadeMe) November 3, 2015
So, so sad about Peter Donaldson. Wonderful, generous, kind, charming PD. Great friend & best boss ever. THE Voice of Radio 4. Such a loss.
— Corrie Corfield (@corrie_corfield) November 3, 2015
Peter Donaldson employed me, nurtured me and was best boss we ever had..a very sad day for the old Radio 4 family..we loved him. RIP PD
— Alice Arnold (@alicearnold1) November 3, 2015
