Centenary celebration at Bar Italia, Frith Street, Soho, site of the ‘world’s first demonstration of television’

THE grandson of an inventor who gave the first public demonstration of television in Soho spoke about his legacy at a centenary celebration.

Iain Logie Baird was guest of honour at the event in memory of John Logie Baird at Bar Italia in Frith Street on Monday.

The building is fondly known as the “birthplace of TV”, where the first television images were unveiled on January 26 1926.

An upstairs room has been named after John Logie Baird (1888-1946) in his honour.

Iain Logie Baird said: “Thank you all for coming out today, I want to thank Martin [Wilkie] for all his work on this event. I want to also mention that my father Malcolm would love to be here but, at 90, unfortunately couldn’t make the trip.

“My father went to study chemical engineering and moved to Canada where he met my mother and brought me up. But I have lived here since 2007 and work as a television historian so the importance of the building isn’t lost on me.

Inventor John Logie Baird

“I got the chance to see the rooms where my grandfather lived and the history was significant for me. I truly believe that my grandfather solved the problem of TV not just for the UK but for the whole world.

“Everyone thinks that the television dates back to the 1950s but there was really 20 to 30 years of history before that and I want to draw attention to that. I want to thank Bar Italia and all their support… I have been back a few times over the years and it is always great to see how they have honoured my grandfather’s legacy. I want to thank them on behalf of my whole family and the five grandchildren.”

TV stars including actress Su Pollard and comedian Rory Bremner attended the event, and a World Origin Site plaque was unveiled in the room above the main restaurant.

Bar Italia is itself part of the rich social history of Soho and owner Antony Polledri told people at the event, “we would be nowhere without TV”, and thanked everyone for being there.

He added that the Soho restaurant is “the best office in the world” and spoke of how he liked to stand outside just “to watch the diverse characters walking past”.

Iain Logie Baird

He said: “I want to encourage all sorts of people to come into the restaurant. It is a home for people from all walks of life… without the characters of Soho, we have nothing.”

Iain Logie Baird unveiled the plaque, and said that his “grandfather solved the television problem not just for the UK but the world”.

A historic film of John Logie Baird’s son Malcolm talking about the event was also played.

The 90 year old emphasised that “the television industry now is fragmented” and that “human nature will play an important role in the fragmented second century of television”.

He ended by suggesting that “we can all look forward to interesting times”.

World Origin Site founder Martin Wilkie said: “Soho has been a crucible for the arts for over 100 years and continues to be” and thanked the Soho community. “If it wasn’t for them the street would be something like a shopping centre”.

He said the now Baird room was “for the present members of the media scene” and “for meetings of the future while remembering the importance of Baird’s past”.