S1 Ep626: The Open University
Awarded its Charter in 1969; and Harold Wilson would claim it as one of the finest moments of his legacy. Here, was a university open to all, and which could take real advantage of distance learning, a concept derided by some back then, but now commonplace. That learning was enabled by broadcasts on TV and radio which began in 1971. Maths teachers in nylon shirts and large specs would give bla...
51s Jan 02, 2013
51s
S1 Ep625: Brunel FM - Launch
2m Jan 01, 2013
2m
S1 Ep624: Real Radio North West Launch
3m Jan 01, 2013
3m
S1 Ep623: Radio Clyde launch - 1973
If you're going to launch Scotland's first commercial radio station, Hogmanay is a pretty good day to do it. Applications for the first five commercial stations had closed in December 1972, with the Glasgow franchise subsequently awarded to Radio Clyde Ltd in March 1973. Ian Chapman, from publishers William Collins, was set to be Chairman; and the station was backed by the Scottish Citizen, STV...
3m Jan 01, 2013
3m
S1 Ep622: Peter Donaldson - Final Radio 4 broadcast
What a voice. It was the one you need in times of crisis, yet one with a capacity for humour too. Peter started with BFBS Forces broadcasting in the '60s, drawing on his acting experience, joining BBC Radio 2 in 1970. Few recordings appear to exist of Peter on those great shows like 'Nightride' on Radio 2, but if you have any, do please upload (button top right). He moved to Radio 4 three yea...
1m Jan 01, 2013
1m
S1 Ep621: Capital Network - Launch medley
The Capital network launched on 3rd January 2011, bringing together the eponymous London station with a clutch of heritage 'Hit Music' and Galaxy stations across the UK, reaching 7.1m listeners. Whilst the previous brand-names are regarded with great affection by many, including me, the logic for the strategic move was clear. Assembling stations in targeted brand clusters where they could figh...
5m Dec 31, 2012
5m
S1 Ep620: Radio Scotland (pirate) - Launch
Another one of the 1960s offshore pirate stations, exploiting a legal loophole, by broadcasting from a ship outside territorial waters. This one is fondly-remembered. Based on a ship called the Comet, it came on-air on New Year's Eve 1965. Stuart Henry, my idol Steve Merike, and, famously, Richard Park , broadcast on the station which was the brainchild of Tommy Shields (pictured), who'd been ...
2m Dec 30, 2012
2m
S1 Ep619: Severn Sound launch - 1980
Enjoy the early moments of Severn Sound, 'holding a mirror' to Gloucestershire on 23 October 1980. Great Alfasound jingles too; and always nice to hear a new ILR launch marked in the IRN bulletin. The early days were, sadly to be beset by tragedy, with the suicide of the station's first MD, Graham Moon; and in 1983, the death of two engineers on an outside broadcast.
5m Dec 29, 2012
5m
S1 Ep618: Alice Arnold's farewell from Radio 4 - 2012
Enjoy the last words, on Radio 4 at least, from announcer Alice Arnold. Alice joined the station in 1994. Like so many of the gifted announcers, they give very little of themselves on-air in the prescribed content, but such is the brilliance of delivery, one feels one knows them. And, there is the beautiful gulp of emotion in the final words. Goodbye, Alice.
48s Dec 29, 2012
48s
S1 Ep617: Steve Allen - News IRN 1981
Some presenters are one-offs. There is little doubt that Steve Allen is a fully signed-up member of that clan. A truly gifted performer who can simply ad-lib engagingly with beautiful bitchiness. He needs neither guests nor callers to showcase his wit. There is no-one quite like Steve Allen; and I relished working with him at LBC. Sometimes he pushed the boundaries; yet we only ever had a sing...
23s Dec 28, 2012
23s
S1 Ep616: Tower FM - Launch
3m Dec 27, 2012
3m
S1 Ep615: Telly Disc ad - Alan Freeman
In radio, they are called PI. 'Per item' ads. Those lengthy ads which get increasingly persuasive, not least because the more product sold, the more cash the station earns. Here's a lovely example from the 80s. A rock 'n' roll compilation LP under the 'TellyDisc' brand. It's not available in the shops. The VO is the legendary Alan Freeman. Many FMCG products were advertised in this way, now i...
2m Dec 27, 2012
2m
S1 Ep614: Daryl Denham on Hallam
2m Dec 27, 2012
2m
S1 Ep613: Jon Snow - Balcombe Street Siege - LBC/IRN
The Balcombe Street Siege lasted from 6th December 1975 to 12th December. It ended with the surrender of four IRA and two hostages being released. These were before the days of rolling TV news channels, and before even BBC 5 live on radio, so the only 'rolling news channel' we had was a young LBC. Despite its own troubles as a struggling new business, it was certainly learning early lessons on...
46s Dec 26, 2012
46s
S1 Ep612: An early demo
Years ago, audition tapes were exactly that. A battered cassette in a lumpy jiffy bag. Some loveable submissions had the titles of previous recordings scribbled out on the cassette label. One of my favourites came from the would-be jock who evidently sat behind the settee in his front room listening to our station, turning down the link where our presenter came on so he could fill the gap with ...
25s Dec 21, 2012
25s
S1 Ep611: Merry Christmas from Radio 1
Like the name of the Doctor Who you loved best, the Blue Peter presenter you recall most fondly; or the Chart Show presenter you rated most highly, the jingles you love most are probably closely linked with your age. This jingle smells to me of the days of PP9 batteries, black and white TVs, lino on the floor, Ed Stewart, flares and a new Scalextric set. From all of us at Radiomoments – a ver...
7s Dec 20, 2012
7s
S1 Ep610: NHR - Nottingham Hospitals Radio
My first radio home was NHR - as a shy 16 year old playing Flanagan & Allen on my debut programme in 1977. A few years later, in 1982, enjoy this Saturday afternoon programme. This station was pretty together! Listen to these junctions and handovers! Not sure how we managed it all. The full, indulgent story and confessions at http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/hello-patients-everyw...
6m Dec 15, 2012
6m
S1 Ep609: Robin Day - Medley
Robin Day is perhaps best-remembered for his TV appearances, presiding over a panel with authority and a huge bowtie. But radio too was also a home for his breathless, distinctive voice. 'The Grand Inquisitor' hosted the early national phone-in 'It's Your Line'; and presented 'The World at One' from 1979 to 1987. Moving from the polite 'anything more to tell us, Minister?' generation of interv...
3m Dec 14, 2012
3m
S1 Ep608: Radio 2 continuity ID - 1977
It's just a few seconds, but it tells of when Radio 2 was as warm and cosy as a knitting pattern. Clipped from 1977, when Derek Chinnery lived in the Radio 2 Controller's office, hear the Duty Announcer deliver a station identification over the bed to the 'Music Just for You' JAM jingle. The frequencies too tell a story: Radio 2's most significant wavelength then was 1500m Long Wave (became R...
15s Dec 14, 2012
15s
S1 Ep607: Robin Lustig's final BBC Radio 4 World Tonight - 2012
There is something great about late night radio on any format. An intimacy with the listener. That's not the only reason Robin Lustig will be so fondly remembered after 23 years. After a spell in press, Robin joined the BBC in 1989, hosting a breadth of programmes on Radio 4 and the World Service. On 13 December 2012, he presented his last edition of Radio 4's late night news review 'The World ...
11m Dec 13, 2012
11m
S1 Ep606: "You've been listening to a recording"
BBC National Programme 1942
18s Dec 10, 2012
18s
S1 Ep605: Tom Browne - Radio 1 Top 20 1978
Rather like Doctor Whos, or Blue Peter presenters, you can tell someone’s age by the identity of the Top 40 presenter at whom they go misty eyed. If you’re in your 40s into 50s, it’s probably Tom Browne. What a voice; not surprising being the trained actor he was. In 1972, he took over from Alan Freeman as presenter of the Radio 1 chart show which he hosted in various guises until 1978. As an...
6m Dec 08, 2012
6m
S1 Ep604: Sir Ian Trethowan
Ian Trethowan was 46 when he moved from being significant on-air talent to a BBC management post. As MD of BBC Network Radio from 1970 to 1976, he was at the helm when Kenny Everett was sacked following, rather than because of, the remark about the wife of the transport minister only passing her driving test because she had 'slipped the examiner a fiver'. Following a spell as TV Head, Trethow...
1m Dec 08, 2012
1m
S1 Ep603: 5SX, Swansea - Launch reflections
5SX came on air on 12th December 1924 from Oxford Buildings on Union Street in Swansea; the last in the first tranche of BBC local relay stations. Alderman John Lewis, who was the Town's Mayor, declared the station open. Here, Wilfrid Goatman, reflects. New studios were installed at Alexandra Road by 1937, then described as 'the best in Europe outside London'.
49s Dec 08, 2012
49s
S1 Ep602: Marjorie Anderson
Her voice was, at its best, quite simply, impeccable. Those clipped RP tones, pan-fried with a dash of mischief. It’s not surprising that she received thousands of letters. Marjorie Anderson was one of a group of women thrust onto on-air duties on the BBC General Forces programme in the hope that their comforting tones would cheer the troops. She went on to host Forces Favourites and its succes...
57s Dec 06, 2012
57s
S1 Ep601: Eddie Blackwell - Essex Radio
25s Dec 06, 2012
25s
S1 Ep600: Radio London test transmissions - 1964
The story of the 60s offshore ‘pirate’ station Radio London is well-documented elsewhere. Suffice to say ‘Big L’ is broadly recognised as the most professional of the offshore radio stations, both on and off-air.  In the most challenging of circumstances, its management on-board and in London sought to establish a decent business. Unlike the pioneering team at Caroline who seemed almost to reli...
1m Dec 06, 2012
1m
S1 Ep599: Dave Dennis/ Neil Spence - Radio London, June 66
A true character. ‘That’s a lovely one, there’. Neil Spence, as the ‘Double D’ Dave Dennis, was a powerful voice and influence on the pirate Radio London from launch. His sonorous tones powered in on the station’s early afternoon programme, with the emphasis on skilled delivery rather than content. By 1969, back on land, he became the first Programme Director at the United Biscuits Network, a ...
1m Dec 06, 2012
1m
S1 Ep598: Peter Levy - Pennine namecheck
This is not a jingles site. There are some excellent ones of those such as jinglemad. But I could not resist this. Back in the day, we all had namecheck jingles. Actually, I had a whole 10 ½” spool full. Straight out the news, we rammed our name jingle in the cart machine, and hit the button hard. Then the station ident. Then the song. It was a mechanic, instinstive movement which burnt off hu...
8s Dec 03, 2012
8s
S1 Ep597: Down Your Way
Some sounds evoke the taste of a forgotten day, not least for a generation united by their choice from so few media outlets. Thus it was for those who remember the familiar galloping theme tune to ‘Down Your Way’. Down Your Way began on the BBC Home Service in 1946, running subsequently on Radio 4 until to 1992. The programme paid jolly visits to towns across the country, chatting informally t...
40s Dec 03, 2012
40s
S1 Ep596: Naughtie - Culture Sec fail - & reflection
Broadcasters should have no views on who should be a Minister, but a few may concede that Jeremy Hunt’s spell as Culture Secretary was tough-going. For some reason his name and role are easily Spoonerised with, as the Radio Times might say, hilarious consequences. Here, in December 2010, James Naughtie wrestles with things as he teases to the news; and you can hear too his calm reflections on ...
2m Dec 02, 2012
2m
S1 Ep595: James Whale on Talk Radio with me/Radio Authority
At one dull conference, James Whale was in full performance flow on stage, deriding British radio; and its regulator, then the Radio Authority (before OFCOM) for which I worked. At one stage he pointed, with hostility, at the audience. 'Is anyone from the Radio Authority in the audience?', he growled. In the absence of my colleagues, I could not deny my presence, tempting though it was. 'And yo...
12m Dec 02, 2012
12m
S1 Ep594: BBC Radio News moves to Broadcasting House
As BBC Radio News moved from TV Centre to Broadcasting House in 2012, the Radio 4 'Broadcasting House' programme reflected poignantly on what Studio S1 had witnessed since the programmes moved in back in 1998.
12m Dec 02, 2012
12m
S1 Ep593: Radio 2 becomes Radio 4 in 1978
1978 saw stations packing their trunks and moving homes up and down the band, both commercial and BBC. My good friends at Trent quietly moved 1kHz from 998 to 999 AM – as the separation between channels became a neat 9 kHz - but other changes were more substantial. On 23th November 1978. Radio 2 waved farewell to Long Wave, making way for Radio 4. 693 and 909 kHz became Radio 2; and Radio 1 mo...
2m Dec 02, 2012
2m
S1 Ep592: The Chemists' Rota
In the days before the World-wide web, radio was just about first with everything. Before television; certainly before press; and marginally after the town-crier. Even if significant detail were required, radio was still called upon, despite the medium not necessarily being the most suitable. Hence, the chemists' rota. After all, in the days also when so few shops of any kind were open after 5...
35s Nov 30, 2012
35s
S1 Ep591: Annan Report - 1977
The Annan Committee on the future of broadcasting was established in 1974. It was charged with addressing the familiar topics of: the BBC's role; the future of local radio; and broadcast funding. In February 1977, it published its recommendations, including the continuation of the licence fee; a fourth, independent television channel (which was to come on-air as Channel 4); the establishment o...
3m Nov 30, 2012
3m
S1 Ep590: Hirsty & Wes - Hit 40 meets BBC Top 40
Chart presenters are often rivals. After all, the original commercial Network Chart with Kid Jensen was established to be just that: to take on the might of the BBC countdown. So, it's not often that two competitors get together. But it happened in the early 2000s, when Wes Butters (then BBC Top 40 presenter), and the great Simon 'Hirsty' Hirst (Hit 40 presenter) performed alongside each other...
1m Nov 30, 2012
1m
S1 Ep589: GEM AM 5th anniversary CD
Enjoy a burst of great oldies radio. Hear the commemorative CD to mark five years of GEM AM in the East Midlands. Witness the presenters doing a timely turn on what had been the first 24 hour AM 'split' station, bringing together the AM frequencies belonging to Trent (Nottingham), Trent 945 (Derby); and Leicester Sound. Also hear Jimmy Savile's, sadly all too accurate, words.
34m Nov 30, 2012
34m
S1 Ep588: Kenny - BBC Radio Nottingham jingle
33s Nov 25, 2012
33s
S1 Ep587: Ron Onions - Capital & LBC news founder
Ron Onions is credited with significant early work in commercial radio news. He began his career in press, before joining the BBC which took him to New York. Back in Blighty, he set up the large Capital newsroom in 1973, before moving off to ‘troubled’ LBC in 1974. It was there where he is credited for establishing a more energetic, maybe ‘tabloid’ news style with an operational agility which ...
1m Nov 25, 2012
1m
S1 Ep586: Network Chart - The Kid & The Doctor
It was probably one of the most gifted scheduling decisions to programme a music chart at teatime on Sundays. Not a peak audience period naturally, but one where audience availability was high. The BBC owned the daypart traditionally, and commercial radio lost out hugely when programming against the might of the Corporation’s established offering. Eventually, commercial radio’s trade body (the...
4m Nov 24, 2012
4m
S1 Ep585: Tony Blackburn on BBC Radio London
BBC Local Radio has enjoyed a number of differing approaches in London. Here, in its sex and soul phase, enjoy Tony Blackburn. In slapstick non-politically correct mode, he's on-air in the 1980s on BBC Radio London, with the smile turned up to daring record levels.
56s Nov 24, 2012
56s
S1 Ep584: Capital Radio - First Anniversary Disc
Much is written of the dark, early days of Capital Radio in London in 1973. In a glum industrial climate, a tough regulatory environment and fuelled by limited revenues from a puzzled client base, the station tried to find its niche. As is well-documented, its music policy shifted; and staff joined and moved on. A typical case of a station finding its feet, amplified by the challenges of being ...
12m Nov 24, 2012
12m
S1 Ep583: Kenny Everett - Driving Test
So many of the greats are sacked now and again. Having been sidelined for making remarks about the lucrative religious programming on the pirate Radio London, Kenny pushed out the boat a little on joining the BBC too. He'd been fairly outspoken on the needle-time restrictions, contrary to the terms of his contract, so tolerance from BBC Radio's Managing Director, Ian Trethowan, was at a low wh...
39s Nov 22, 2012
39s
S1 Ep582: BBC Radio Merseyside, launch - 1967
Just sometimes a launch can be a touch over-ambitious. This was November 1967. Radio Merseyside was to be the third in the network of BBC Local Radio stations, so expectations were high. The goal in the launch programme was a set of OBs from all points possible: the highest and lowest. Sadly, they didn't quite all appear on-air at the right time. The Postmaster-General then proceeded to re-mix ...
9m Nov 17, 2012
9m
S1 Ep581: Radio 4 - News lamp fallover
Susan Rae kicks off a Radio 4 news summary as an Angle-poise lamp falls over; as she valiantly explains at the end.
21s Nov 15, 2012
21s
S1 Ep580: Eddie Mair on BBC 90th
39s Nov 14, 2012
39s
S1 Ep579: 90 years of the BBC
In 1922, a group of determined radio companies gathered to become the British Broadcasting Company, and adopted the earlier experimental stations. Enjoy here a cruise at indecent speed through the eras. From the stentorian beginnings of London's 2LO, through comments from those involved in its close successors in Birmingham and Manchester. Enjoy the King's first broadcast speech in 1924; early...
6m Nov 11, 2012
6m
S1 Ep578: Eddie Mair - Corpse
56s Oct 31, 2012
56s
S1 Ep577: The end of the UK Theme - Spiegl/Damazer
The UK Theme was created in 1978 at the behest of the new Radio 4 Controller. Fritz Spiegl, an Austrian-born composer, was commissioned to produce an arrangement of traditional British melodies when Radio 4 became a full UK service on Longwave. He had also been the composer of the sign-on theme it replaced 'A Skipping Tune'. The first version of the piece was recorded in 78 by the BBC Norther...
5m Oct 25, 2012
5m