Flame Media’s chief executive and founder John Caldon dies at the age of 73

by | Feb 19, 2021 | Uncategorised

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the death of John Caldon, who passed away earlier this week having been diagnosed with Cancer last year.

John was Group MD of Flame Media and founded Wildflame with Paul Islwyn Thomas back in 2015. In March 2020, Wildflame’s CEO acquired the entire share interest in the company, having previously been under the umbrella of John’s Sydney-based Flame Media Group. John was an integral part of originally setting up the company and his support, belief and good will has seen Wildflame become a powerhouse for UK and Regional Factual and Specialist Factual programming. Wildflame will continue to build on the exciting ambitions that were set by Paul and John early on in their journey as a company.

Paul says, “John Caldon was a one-off – an incredibly kind, honourable and charismatic person. He was hugely successful in business and finance throughout his impressive career. Not only was he wonderful company he was generous, positive and an example to us all. Nothing was ever too difficult, he found way a through even the most complex situations and always searched for a solution. John was a very special person and we will miss him very much.”

Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences go to Lyndey, his amazing partner who cared for him throughout, to Patrick his son, Lizzie his daughter and his friends and family.

Further tributes to John Caldon can be found on the C21 Website available here and in BroadcastNow’s article here.

A recital for John will be held on Thursday 25th February. Please see below for further details.

Abbie Bolitho

With a background in current affairs and factual programmes, Abbie has been able to apply her research and organisational skills to a wide variety of projects in both English and Welsh. These include S4C's Nyrsys, Dim Byd i Wisgo and more recently Beasts - a series on the 'top 10' animals for children which is being sold internationally.

Alexia Barrett

Alexia graduated this year with a BA (Hons) in Journalism Communications and Politics from Cardiff University, and is now kickstarting her career in TV Production, working with Wildflame as a Researcher on their Adventure Living History Series, Ultimate Viking. Alexia will be working across our full range of factual output for UK and international broadcasters.

Cai Glover

Since joining Wildflame in the development team, Cai's worked on several productions using his skills as an editor, self-shooter and researcher including S4C's digital series Bwrw 'Mlan, BBC Bitesize History KS2, S4C's Dim i'w Wisgo and most recently as a shooting assistant producer on the second series of S4C's Nyrsys.

Catrin Jones-Shawe

Catrin’s career began in children’s television where she produced content for both S4C and CBBC.

Catrin has a passion for health-based documentaries and in 2019 won a BAFTA Cymru Award for best factual series for Velindre: Hospital of Hope (ITV Wales). Her most recent series, Nyrsys (S4C) is an observational documentary format highlighting the incredible work performed by nurses across Wales.

Celyn Williams

With a passion for history, Celyn has spent her time collecting and telling stories of extraordinary individuals from across Wales.

Her previous work includes a number of high-profile history productions including Time Team, and The Aberfan Wives Club (ITV).

For S4C, Celyn worked on the double Welsh BAFTA winning Adam Price a Streic y Glowyr and more recently, a living history series The 1900 Island (BBC).

Connie Fisher

Connie moved into the world of television after a career as a West End leading lady playing Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Sound of Music.

With a passion for TV and entertainment, Connie leads the development of formats & features projects for Wildflame and works closely with broadcasters creating projects for both high-profile and emerging talent across the full range of factual programming.

Esme Horne

The last 10 years of Esme’s career has been dedicated to understanding the production process and supporting a creative vision from development to transmission. Since joining Wildflame in 2017, Esme has worked across the Wildflame slate: reinforcing the production management team and helping to assure all projects are run smoothly and efficiently.

Gareth Fisher

Gareth has extensive knowledge of the business of production across all genres. He has an outstanding track-record in controlling large production teams and multi-million-pound projects. Gareth has worked with all of the main UK Broadcasters as well as forging strong relationships with International Broadcasters and Co - Production partners.

Leona Cowley

Leona has been with Wildflame since its inception and has a wealth of experience in a senior production management role working on regional and high-profile documentaries being filmed in various exotic and remote locations across the globe. Her extensive experience spans some 25 years working across most programme genres.

Llinos Griffin-Williams

Bafta Cymru Winning Executive Producer, Llinos is Executive Producer, Factual and International Co-productions at Wildflame Productions. She leads on international content development, production and delivery of Factual Programming to Domestic and International Broadcasters and is part of the Wildflame Senior Management Board. Llinos is Vice Chair of RTS Cymru Wales and a member of Welsh Indies Council TAC. 

Manon Alice-Thomas

After graduating with a BA (Hons) from York St. John’s University Business School, Manon gained her first professional experience working in events management. She then completed an internship with Kate Borde at Cardiff based talent agency KBPM, and has recently undertaken a contract as Junior Assistant at the ‘InterTalent Group’, London, supporting the Chairman and Founder, Prof. Jonathan Shalit, OBE.  As a Television Production Coordinator for Wildflame, Manon supports the team across the slate of UK and international productions

Megan Roberts

With a background in Archaeology and Anthropology, Megan's passions lie with telling people's stories both past and present with real empathy and understanding. Having filmed in various locations all over the world, her previous work has included both award winning international productions such as The Wall and more recently delicate observational storytelling in Bois y Rhondda. 
Megan has joined the team on the international Vikings series and will be working across all Wildflame’s specialist factual programming

Mike Davies

Mike has accrued over a dozen years of experience in company and programme finance.  His expertise encompasses day-to-day financial transactions, managing company-wide spending against fiscal targets, preparation of monthly management accounts and forecasting. He is also responsible for day to day scheduling and running of Wildflame’s editing facilities.

Paul Islwyn Thomas

Paul is founder and CEO of Wildflame Productions and is responsible for the creative and business management of the company. With over 35 years’ experience in the industry, Paul has built an enviable reputation as one of the leading factual Executive Producers and TV Executives working in Wales. Throughout a distinguished career Paul has delivered hundreds of hours of programming for both UK and international broadcasters. He is currently Chair of the highly acclaimed ‘It’s My Shout’ Training Scheme which offers exciting pathways into the industry for all championing diversity and social inclusion.

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