BBC London Celebrates 100 years: Mediumwave station 2LO
On Thursday May 11, 1922, the second radio broadcasting station in England was inaugurated by the Marconi company in London under the official callsign 2LO. Wednesday May 11, 2022 forms the exact one hundredth anniversary of that historic radio event that set a pattern for radio broadcasting in many other countries around the world.
The Early Marconi Years at Chelmsford
Back in the early days of wireless and radio, station callsigns were applied in several different ways; there was no clear, no regular pattern. Official internationally recognized callsigns were in use to identify a specific transmitter, or a specific transmitter frequency, or a particular programming service, or a particular transmitter usage, such as amateur, experimental, communication or broadcasting.
Islands of Curiosity
With its white-sand beaches and tropical foliage, the Scilly Isles have some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery (writes Monica Lillis). Originally launched as Radio Scilly in 2007, Islands FM is a non-profit community radio station informing and entertaining the five-island archipelago’s 2,500 inhabitants.
Radio Comes to Coventry
Media and performing arts students at Coventry University got an up-close look at how one of the biggest radio programs in Britain is produced when “Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James” came to campus for the 2022 Big Weekend Festival.
The World’s First Radio Weddings – Part 2
Two more early Radio Weddings from the 1920s, broadcast over KDKA, Pittsburgh, USA, and 2MT in the UK.
Radio Station 2MT Centenary
Radio historians in England inform us that the very first radio broadcasting station established anywhere in the British Isles was located at Writtle in England, and the auspicious date for their inaugural broadcast was Tuesday February 14, 1922.
Sea Change: Coast FM West Cornwall
The sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Mount’s Bay in Cornwall are one of the UK’s most cherished natural spots (writes Annabel Martin). The historic port of Penzance is the county’s westernmost town. Here, we speak with Dave Pascoe, station manager of Coast FM, about the community radio station, the Beach Boys and a shoplifting seagull.
BBC World Service Turns 90
90 years on, BBC World Service evolves with time. It began in 1932 as the “BBC Empire Service” – making radio broadcasts via globe-girdling shortwave to the far-flung territories ruled under the British Crown.
Britain’s Secret Falklands Propaganda War
Almost exactly 40 years ago – on April 2, 1982 – one of the most celebrated moments in radio history took place. The station was small and its listeners were mostly sheep farmers and fishermen. That morning, tuning in, they heard their station being invaded by a gang of Spanish speaking men.
Offshore Radio Against The Beatles Phenomenon
In the early 1960s, an event would occur that would change the sound of British radio forever – the growth of ‘pirate’ radio stations from overseas.
Caithness FM, Thurso, Scotland
At the tip of Scotland’s rugged northeastern coastline is the historic county of Caithness, famed for its ancient burial sites and beautiful scenery (writes Annabel Martin). It is also home to Caithness FM, the northernmost radio station on mainland Britain. Here, we speak with Jackie Johnson, co-director and secretary, about the station’s beginnings, its most requested track and falling asleep at the mixing desk.
Remember Atlantic 252? The story of the station that was the sound of the 90s
For a while no car ride was complete without hearing it. Atlantic 252 – on longwave – was a 90s Manchester radio stalwart, even though it was based in Ireland.
The Radio Scene in the Isles of Scilly
Some thirty miles out west from Land’s End at the tip of the Cornish peninsular lie the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of 140 islands, 5 of of which are inhabited. These Atlantic islands operate under their own separate local authority as part of the county of Cornwall, their main industry is tourism, and their main export is cut flowers (in particular daffodils) for the London market.
The Early Wireless Scene on Three Islands off the Coast of Wales
An investigation of the early wireless scene on three separate islands, all tourist related islands, that are located off the northwest coast of the country of Wales in islandic Europe. These three islands are identified as Holy, South Stack, and Anglesey, and we begin with the Marconi wireless scene at Holyhead on Holy Island back in the year 1901.
Transatlantic Tests Mark 99th Anniversary
12/09/2020 On December 11, 1921, radio history was made when the signal from amateur station 1BCG in Greenwich, Connecticut, was heard in Ardrossan, Scotland, marking…
UK Newspaper The Times Launches News Radio Station
AFP – Agence France Presse June 29, 2020 The British newspaper group that owns The Times and the Sunday Times on Monday launched a news…
Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company – The most democratic station in the country?
21 April 2016By Antonia Quirke As the presenter reads news items coming in from Shetland to Japan and Ecuador, I realise there’s no heirarchy. It’s 8am on…
A Very Brief History of Guernsey’s Radio Stations
By Richard Harding June 15, 2017 In 2015 the Bailiwick’s newest radio station took to the air although you may not know it unless you live…
Auntie: The Inside Story of the BBC
A four part documentary to commemorate 75 years of broadcasting history showing the BBC, Auntie as it is affectionately known, from its humble beginnings in…
Rugby Radio Station – Booklet from 1964
The Pawsey family recently wrote to us: My aunt is clearing her home. Her husband, David Pawsey, worked for STC in Sydney during WW2, and…