Alan Frederick Weeks (8 September 1923 – 11 June 1996) was an English television sports reporter and commentator for the BBC from 1951 to 1996.
He was assigned to work as the publicity manager of the Brighton Sports Stadium after he was demobbed from the Royal Naval Reserve in 1946.
Three years later, Weeks was discovered by BBC Television outside broadcast producer Peter Dimmock and joined the corporation as a regular sports commentator in 1951.
He was transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve as a midshipman in 1941,[1][6] serving his country through the Second World War on the Renown, Rother and Helmsdale.
[6] Weeks went through Arctic convoys in Russia and two runs in Malta and warned his crew of an imminent attack through the public address system,[3] before eventually being demobilised in April 1946 as a lieutenant.
[11] He commented on the memorable gold medal wins of sports stars such as Olga Korbut, Mark Spitz, John Curry, Torvill and Dean and David Wilkie.
[1] Weeks began working on the Match of the Day football highlights programme as its Midlands-based correspondent in August 1969.
[1][18] Weeks was the president of the English National League from 1981 to 1982,[3] and was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
[19] He made his last broadcast in March 1996, commentating at the 1996 World Figure Skating Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, after which he announced his retirement.
[21] Weeks died of cancer at his home in Hove, East Sussex early on 11 June 1996 at the age of 72.