Robert Charles Lyle

Robert Lyle became a reporter on the Daily Express in 1909, and afterwards worked on a number of London papers, including the Observer and the Pall Mall Gazette. After the outbreak of war in 1914 he joined the Royal Army Service Corps, and from 1916 to 1918 was attached to the headquarters staff of the 3rd Cavalry Division, being awarded the MC and bar. In 1919 Captain Lyle returned to journalism as Sporting Editor of the Times, and in 1921 he also became the paper’s Racing Correspondent. Lyle was also employed by the BBC, commentating on major horse races including the Derby, Grand National, and St. Leger. British Movietone News used Lyle in a similar capacity, his first assignment being ‘THE GRAND NATIONAL’ in No.304 in April 1935. Lyle was featured strongly in this item, being shown commentating and being credited as ‘Captain R.C. Lyle, B.B.C. Commentator and ‘Times’ Racing Correspondent.' As with Ward Price [qv], Tom Webster [qv], Eric Dunstan [qv], and Malcolm Campbell [qv], Lyle’s appointment was part of the attempt to give the British Movietone News what its producer, Gerald Sanger [qv], called ‘star value.' He was also engaged for ‘THE DERBY’ in British Movietone News No.313A in June 1935, but does not seem to have been used again after this. On the outbreak of war in 1939 Lyle became a war correspondent for the Times.

Sources

W.A. Pullan ‘Unseen stars of the news reel,' Picturegoer, 19/10/1935, p.24: Who’s Who 1897-1996 CD-ROM.