– I am incredibly grateful to have known her, says Sølsnes to news. Bech, or Ellen Åse Bech Langballe, as her real name was, was known as a journalist, editor – and not least presenter of the series “Herskapelig” on news. It is the daughter Alexandra Bech Gjørv who informs about the death to Aftenposten, the newspaper where she started as a substitute journalist in 1959. – Mom’s journalistic work ended in 2006, but she experienced that both Herskapelig programs and her books have been popular right up until day, says the daughter to the newspaper. Toppen Bech together with his good friend Terje Sølsnes. Photo: NTB Most people know her as a presenter at news. There, she has been the presenter of TV programs such as “Unskylð at je sør”, “Den blå timen”, “Frokost-TV” and the documentary series “Herskapelig”. The series was about Norwegian large farms and mansions, and ran from 1997 to 2006 (see video in article). She has also been a presenter in “Nitimen”. Toppen Bech was presenter of the popular program “Herskapelig”. Photo: Solum, Stian Lysberg, Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB scanpix – An outstanding person The former program host and presenter at news, Terje Sølnes, was a good friend of Toppen Bech. He was also her co-presenter in Frokost-TV in news. Sælsnes last saw her a week and a half ago. – She was a unique person, he says to news. Here, Bech receives the King’s Medal of Merit in gold from King Harald. Photo: NTB – “Herskapelig” was a huge success, and a cultural monument that Norway should be very proud and happy to have. She has then documented families, places that would perhaps have disappeared, disappeared for us, if she had not been there. – And it was everything from the large family places to a lighthouse in northern Norway. There was no difference between big and small, nice and simple. Everything was important, he says. – Toppen Bech was an exceptional person. She was unique in many ways and she was a particularly good journalist, says Sølsnes. Schjøll: – She was the one who saw me Finn Schjøll has also worked together with Toppen Bech in news’s Frokost-TV in the 80s. – I am very sorry. She saw me. She has given me a wonderful gift. I would never be me without her, he says frankly. – She was the one who saw me, he explains. – She saw me in the flower shop, and then she got me on TV, so in a way she has given me a wonderful gift, says Schjøll, who describes Bech as a public information officer. Top Bech together with Finn Schjøll. Photo: NTB Received the King’s medal of merit in gold Bech has also written and published several books. Among other things, she has written the books “Magic Kenya” and “Walks in Spain”, “Herskapelige Norge”, “A house full of dreams” and “Grandmother Grandma”. In 2007, she was awarded the King’s Medal of Merit in gold. She received it for her role as a cultural mediator in the service of public information. Akerø refers to Toppen Bech as a pioneer. Photo: Daniel Eriksen / news Another news profile, Dan Børge Akerø, refers to Toppen Bech as a pioneer. – Here it is important to look back on a brilliant, brilliant career in the context of news. – What she did was truly pioneering and different from what many of my colleagues at the time did, he says. – As a journalist, she was interested in creating nice things that others didn’t think of, or relaxed about, says Akerø, and adds: – Of course, it was always nice to be with her at work. She was absolutely brilliant. I never saw her in a bad mood, he concludes. Toppen Bech takes us to reruns of the Herskapelig series. Today Chateau Merveilleux, Hvaler.
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