Robert Neville "Bob" Francis OAM (11 March 1939 – 12 November 2016) was an Egyptian-born Australian radio presenter and talk back host in Adelaide.
[1] In the early 1960s Francis was employed by radio 5AD as a disk jockey and on weekends as MC at several rock 'n' roll dance venues.
In early 1964, when "Beatlemania" had swept much of the world, the promoters Aztec Services found themselves unexpectedly with a "hot property" on their hands, having long before booked "The Beatles" in a package with several other up-and-coming English bands.
As a result of their efforts, a petition with 80,000 signatures was presented to the promoter, Ken Brodziak, who organised a two-day stopover in Adelaide for the band, with added concerts arranged for the Centennial Hall, Wayville showgrounds.
[2] The Bay Road was crowded with onlookers as the cavalcade passed, and masses of fans were congregated on King William Street when Francis and the "Fab Four"[a] appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall.
Older listeners remember his long-standing on-air partnership with Andy Thorpe in the late sixties to mid-seventies on radio 5AD.
A variety of radio, television, media, and music celebrities expressed their appreciation towards his career through taped segments being aired during his last week of broadcast.
The way he spoke and treated the elderly listener made headlines, and was even featured on Media Watch two weeks later.
[14] In October 2005, Francis was involved in a legal issue after making inflammatory comments about a senior magistrate, Gary Gumpl.
live on-air while commenting on a case involving Robert John Walker who had been charged with one count of possessing child pornography.
Francis described Gumpl's decision to hear a bail application as "irresponsible" and made comments such as "Am I here as a normal bloody human being, or do judges live in another world?"
[15] Despite the apology, Francis had to appear in court over the comments and pleaded guilty to one count of bringing a judicial officer into contempt or lowering his authority.
[1] On 7 June 2012, Francis was suspended for a month by 5AA following comments made about asylum seekers four days earlier.