JON MILLERJon Miller, who died on 30 July, 2008, aged 87, was one of a team of boffins who presented the children's educational show 'How' in the 1960s and 70s.In the programme, which tackled practical and theoretical questions in fun and interesting ways, Miller cut the figure of an eccentric scientist with voluminous hair, tweed jackets and a penchant for creating loud explosions."He lived his life for explosions," his fellow presenter Fred Dinenage said. "He was never happier than when he was creating a big bang."He was also a passionate naturalist and wrote several books on the subject of animals. He retired after20 years in broadcasting in the 1980s when 'How' ended its run.John Miller (who later changed the spelling of his first name) was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 14 July, 1921. He was raised in London but the family would holiday on the Sussex coast where young John became interested in marine biology.He studied photography before being called up for service in the RAF during World War II, putting his skills to use on reconnaissance flights. After the war he volunteered helping rebuild war torn countries and he was then hired by the Zoological Society of London to travel the world acquiring rare species of fish for their aquarium during the 1950s.He first appeared on television in the early 1960s with Animal Magic's Johnny Morris, The BBC weren't impressed with his on-screen antics, which included putting a snake on an unsuspecting Johnny's head, and dismissed him, but he was hired by Southern Television's Day by Day news magazine to discuss animals.Southern's deputy programme controller and presenter Jack Hargreaves spotted his potential and invited him to join the team of his new show, 'How', originally conceived as a programme for adults which would provide pub trivia, but quickly rebranded as a kids' show with the remit of shedding light on such issues as the mechanics of toilet rolls and how models of ships were put into bottles.The four presenters - the team was completed by Bunty James and Fred Dineage, the latter of whom would also host the re-launched 'How 2 ' show in the '90s - had a variety of distinct personalities and would challenge each other to solve tasking questions. Whenever there was the opportunity to blow something up in order to demonstrate a scientific principle, Mr Miller was only too happy to step up to the mark.'How' ran from 1966 to 1981 when Southern lost its ITV franchise. After retirement, his enthusiasm for solving life's quirky problems continued with frequent letters to newspaper and magazine question and answer columns. As well as his television work he wrote the books Of Fish and Men (1958), Mountains in the Sea (1972), How To Keep Unusual Pets (1975) and How To Fool Your Brain (1975).He died in Helston, Cornwall, and was survived by his second wife Cecily and five children.
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