Geographic Collection – Western Europe

Radio Luxembourg, the station that changed our world

In collaboration with various partners and using digital media, the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History announced its newest research project on Radio Luxembourg.

Waves of Liberty / Adéu Liberty

YouTube video featuring Radio Liberty and the former transmitter site at Platja de Pals, Spain.

Two Lochs Radio

Britain’s smallest commercial radio station and community broadcaster for the Gairloch and Loch Ewe areas of Wester Ross, Scotland, on 106 and 106.6 FM.

Radio Six at Sixty

On 6th June 1963, a group of schoolchildren gathered in the attic of a house on the Ardrossan seafront in Ayrshire to launch their very own radio station. Cobbled together with tins, clockwork gramophones, and lots of wire, the opening day’s programmes were line fed to a radio receiver two floors down. But it was a start and, against the odds, the station survived in a variety of forms and today can be heard 24/7 on the internet.

Recent Radio Developments in Europe and Africa

Recent radio news in four different countries, two in Europe and two in Africa, indicate a positive direction for mediumwave and shortwave broadcasting, rather than a negative.

The Saga of Radio Antwerpen

During the 1920s and 1930s, a multitude of small radio broadcasting stations (some formal though most were informal), took to the air throughout Belgium, rather like what was happening in many other countries throughout the world.  The stations in Belgium were installed in private homes, business locations, church buildings, and even out in the fields; wherever was convenient. 

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.

Radio Nova Opens ‘The Vinyl Vault’

Like any computer, a playout system can need rebooting at an awkward time. When that happened for Dublin’s Radio Nova, however, it launched an on-air vinyl resurgence.

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.