This is taken from The Guardian:

Mark Decker

by Stephen Decker
Friday October 28, 2005

My brother, Mark Decker, who has died from cancer aged 53, spent most of his life with the BBC in Birmingham, working within studios with a responsibility for sound presentation.

His journey into the world of studios was not straightforward. He had attended Westcliff high school for boys, being the first student to take and pass A-level woodwork. This allowed him ample time to work on various stage productions for the school, the most ambitious being the construction of a set for The Royal Hunt of the Sun.

Mark was always a practical rather than an academic type and realised that the usual path from grammar school to university was not for him. Instead he took the offer of a post as a technical assistant on transmitters for the BBC, which saw him touring the UK maintaining the BBC's aerial masts. This was certainly not fulfilling, but he believed that a chance would come to make a transition to the studios. Eventually, in 1974, he gained a six-month secondment to sound work at the studios in Birmingham, where his talent was recognised and the temporary position was made permanent.

He was involved in both television and radio sound production, but Mark's love was radio, and particularly radio drama. He often used location recordings and innovative techniques to set the scene for radio drama productions. Apart from a long association with the Archers, he was also involved on many hundreds of radio plays, including Lark Rise to Candleford, Five Children and It, and That Hideous Strength. Perhaps the high point was his technical presentation for Albion Tower, a production recognised by Sony and CRE awards.

Within the studio he was known as Uncle Mark and described by his colleagues as a "rock"; someone who brought out the best in people. Always happier to be the quiet authority in the background, he remained a passionate defender of public service broadcasting throughout his life.

Sometimes he went on what he called "jollies", travelling at home and abroad. He spoke at conferences on radio sound production, in particular ambisonic surround sound, in the United Kingdom and the United States; he never forgot a journey to Moscow to advise Russian radio, which was embarking on an Archers-type serial. He was particularly moved by the hospitality of the Russian people.

Many of his BBC colleagues were at his funeral. It would have pleased him that the unique institution of the BBC still retained its sense of family and a respect for the skills of the sound designer, his preferred job description.

He is survived by his wife Sue, whom he met at the BBC.