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Radio

I never heard Radio Caroline.
However, most of the programmes in this thread are BBC ones and usually of a humorous or musical nature. As far as the humorous ones are concerned the principal thing I remember was that they were for family listening - rather than much of the present day humour which verges on the offensive to many. Yes, there were camp comments and innuendo in many of them but in the days when sexuality was not continually forced upon everyone, including children, risqué comments were not always understood by younger people and often went over their heads.
The musical element was just that. Most radio music was easily followed, generally the words were understood (sometimes sang along with) and usually easy on the ears - even if it was not ones preferred kind of music. The musicians were just that; there were no repetitive sounds principally manufactured by electronics. Compare that with today where you have, in many instances women screaming at you - hardly easy on my ears I must say - maybe younger people can sing along with it, but, I suggest, only in parts. There is some good music these days but, by and large, less evident. The music of WW2 and for a few years after, I am certain, helped keep up people spirits at the time as did the comedy shows and those of an informative nature - Woman's Hour, The Archers etc. There are still some very good programmes on radio - anyone with poor vision will know and appreciate that.
I wonder how many BHF Members scroll down the tv channels below 1 (BBC1) into the 700 series where the radio programmes are?
 
Radiorails said:
I never heard Radio Caroline.
However, most of the programmes in this thread are BBC ones and usually of a humorous or musical nature. As far as the humorous ones are concerned the principal thing I remember was that they were for family listening - rather than much of the present day humour which verges on the offensive to many. Yes, there were camp comments and innuendo in many of them but in the days when sexuality was not continually forced upon everyone, including children, risqué comments were not always understood by younger people and often went over their heads.
The musical element was just that. Most radio music was easily followed, generally the words were understood (sometimes sang along with) and usually easy on the ears - even if it was not ones preferred kind of music. The musicians were just that; there were no repetitive sounds principally manufactured by electronics. Compare that with today where you have, in many instances women screaming at you - hardly easy on my ears I must say - maybe younger people can sing along with it, but, I suggest, only in parts. There is some good music these days but, by and large, less evident. The music of WW2 and for a few years after, I am certain, helped keep up people spirits at the time as did the comedy shows and those of an informative nature - Woman's Hour, The Archers etc. There are still some very good programmes on radio - anyone with poor vision will know and appreciate that.
I wonder how many BHF Members scroll down the tv channels below 1 (BBC1) into the 700 series where the radio programmes are?
Click to expand...
Alan, I must confess i haven`t listened to the radio since Adolf Hitler was a mere lance corporal. Even in my car i never have the radio on, wouldn`t be able to hear it anyway with the wife yakking in my ear ):) As for the screaming female singers i agree with you, & as for rap, it rhymes with crap & some of it incites violence. I do like to watch tv, but not the soaps, they`re all a bunch of miserable sods. There`s enough real misery in the world without having to watch fake misery on tv. I`m just a grumpy old grandad as my grandkids tell me:(
 
Radiorails said:
I never heard Radio Caroline.
However, most of the programmes in this thread are BBC ones and usually of a humorous or musical nature. As far as the humorous ones are concerned the principal thing I remember was that they were for family listening - rather than much of the present day humour which verges on the offensive to many. Yes, there were camp comments and innuendo in many of them but in the days when sexuality was not continually forced upon everyone, including children, risqué comments were not always understood by younger people and often went over their heads.
The musical element was just that. Most radio music was easily followed, generally the words were understood (sometimes sang along with) and usually easy on the ears - even if it was not ones preferred kind of music. The musicians were just that; there were no repetitive sounds principally manufactured by electronics. Compare that with today where you have, in many instances women screaming at you - hardly easy on my ears I must say - maybe younger people can sing along with it, but, I suggest, only in parts. There is some good music these days but, by and large, less evident. The music of WW2 and for a few years after, I am certain, helped keep up people spirits at the time as did the comedy shows and those of an informative nature - Woman's Hour, The Archers etc. There are still some very good programmes on radio - anyone with poor vision will know and appreciate that.
I wonder how many BHF Members scroll down the tv channels below 1 (BBC1) into the 700 series where the radio programmes are?
Click to expand...
Can't get Jazz FM in North Devon on DAB radio, so have to pick it up on the TV, so many radio channels there. I drive to work every morning with Radio 4 Extra on and get the comedy hour, most of the programmes are gentle, funny and well written, Hancock, Doctor at Large, TIFH, Rays a Laugh (these two are lunchtime programmes), The Men from the Ministry and of course The Navy Lark. However in a strange sort of way, the double entendres from I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again and Beyond our Ken and Round the Horne are probably much nearer the limit than some of the obscenity and crudeness that passes for humour nowadays and I love it when the continuity announcer warns us that the programme was made some time ago and may now include matter not considered suitable in this day and age. I got a shock when I scrolled down the TV channels and found myself in the 900 series, they was something different, unfortunately couldn't stay, my wife does not like football as I had said it was a sports channel.

Bob
 
We had gran over for Sunday lunch too. I liked that. She never stopped talking. Dad got a tape recorder with 2 spools and taped her. OOOh - wear! She said, I don't talk like that do I?
 
Smudger said:
Alan, I must confess i haven`t listened to the radio since Adolf Hitler was a mere lance corporal. Even in my car i never have the radio on, wouldn`t be able to hear it anyway with the wife yakking in my ear ):) As for the screaming female singers i agree with you, & as for rap, it rhymes with crap & some of it incites violence. I do like to watch tv, but not the soaps, they`re all a bunch of miserable sods. There`s enough real misery in the world without having to watch fake misery on tv. I`m just a grumpy old grandad as my grandkids tell me:(
Click to expand...
I remember having a car with no radio. We had one with one once with stiff black push buttons and you had to hold it while you pushed as it almost pulled the dashboard off and the reception was useless. Whistle whistle. No new fangled speakers. "Turn it up dad"' No it puts me off" snaps mum. (I agree about the soaps). We had a big heavy red radio in the house you could kill someone with it. Dad took that in the car. On his lap; He wore jeans. Mum drove. And on Sundays off we went picnicing in the summer months. Sandwiches in an old biscuit tin.
 
I remember, as a nipper, hearing "Much Binding in the Marsh" being sung by Richard Murdoch and somebody else. I think it was a comedy programme.
My best radio experience was in 1964, when I was posted from Germany to Colchester. My new regiment was in a camp which had large WW2 wooden buildings and was well within range of all the Pirate radio stations. In those days everybody seemed to own a little "tranny" and during a visit to the Gun Stores, for example, you'd hear Radio Caroline, the Signal Stores would perhaps be listening to Invicta or Radio London and so on. There seemed to be music everywhere. Great times.
 
Maypolebaz, the other bloke was Kenneth Horne. He seems to pop up everywhere on the radio. It was set in an RAF station and recorded all the problems they had with supplies after the war. I remember the tune but I can't remember the programme.
 
Nico said:
I remember having a car with no radio. We had one with one once with stiff black push buttons and you had to hold it while you pushed as it almost pulled the dashboard off and the reception was useless. Whistle whistle. No new fangled speakers. "Turn it up dad"' No it puts me off" snaps mum. (I agree about the soaps). We had a big heavy red radio in the house you could kill someone with it. Dad took that in the car. On his lap; He wore jeans. Mum drove. And on Sundays off we went picnicing in the summer months. Sandwiches in an old biscuit tin.
Click to expand...

We also took a radio with us in the car, an A40. We had a rather nice picnic set which included a spirit stove and a kettle with a bamboo handle, and I can still remember the smell. Tomato sandwiches used to feature!
The picnic set was left in a garage and the case rotted. Dad was a bit upset as he'd had it for years.
 
Lady Penelope said:
Maypolebaz, the other bloke was Kenneth Horne. He seems to pop up everywhere on the radio. It was set in an RAF station and recorded all the problems they had with supplies after the war. I remember the tune but I can't remember the programme.
Click to expand...
Thanks ! I had a feeling the title was something to do with the location.
Kenneth Horne, how could I forget ?
 
Maypolebaz, I think the word 'bind' is still used sometimes, as in 'a bit of a bind' when something isn't going according to plan.

Alan, I can't see the link - could you post it again please?
 
Lady Penelope said:
Maypolebaz, I think the word 'bind' is still used sometimes, as in 'a bit of a bind' when something isn't going according to plan.

Alan, I can't see the link - could you post it again please?
Click to expand...
Apologies, I omitted to post it. anyway it is my post (#192) now.
 
Alan

Re your earlier post on Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, I wonder if you remember the presenter
Eddie Startz, and the tea ceremony. Somewhere I still have a letter from him and a QSL card.
Strange thing is, it seems like last week, rather than 60 odd years ago.

Kind regards
Dave
 
I most certainly do Dave. Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, wherever you are!
I first came cross Eddie, The Happy Station and RNW in 1955. He knew my area of Devon having visited it. I did have their programme schedules and cards but I guess after all this time they have gone. I do have many QSL's from all over the place. Interestingly I only have one letter that I recall and that was from Li Po Teh at Peking (Beijing). I used it in 1985 as proof I had lived at my home in 1965! :D
One thing I cannot remember about The Happy Station was whether Het Wilhelmus (the Dutch national anthem - incidentally accepted as the oldest anthem in the world - was played? Or am I confusing it with the Dutch local transmissions from Hilversum.

 
Hi Alan,

I'm in Scratby on the Norfolk coast, and its blowing a gale today, and raining,
so I have dug out this which I hope will bring happy memories of the 'Happy Station'
and remind us both of how good those times were on shortwave.
The Binnie Hale brought back memories too!

Kind regards
Dave

Scan0002.jpgScan0003.jpg
 
This may bring back memories of waiting for the start of the show. Bells from one of the singing towers of Holland, in this instance, as far as I remember, in the City of Breda (Noord Brabant) which is in the south near the Belgian border.
Lots about the RNW here, did no one else listen to shortwave back in the pre tv days? Radio means you can listen and do other things, tv, is far more restrictive.
 
Last edited:
Alan,

The only station I actually listened to was the Voice of America Jazz Hour. There used to be an annual paperback publication called something like the Short Wave Listeners Handbook, which listed the frequencies and other details of commercial stations all over the world, so my only other interest was DX and trying to locate some of these rarer stations, and collecting the QSL cards, of course! Some of these powerful European stations were a nuisance to me as they tended to operate close to the frequencies of the low-powered stations in places like South America.

The annual publication seems to have ceased and the last similar title I found was last revised in 1997.

Maurice
SWL.jpg
 
Well, this was a BBC West of England Home Service programme which commenced in 1948 and ran until 1964, by which time, I guess the Archers, which started some three years after the Luscombes, in 1951, being on Long Wave, was taking top spot.
I have the feeling that the Luscombes maybe was the catalyst for the Archers. It was popular all over the West. The catchy signature tune (click on the radio) is a folk tune called "Dickon O' Devon.
http://turnipnet.com/whirligig/radio/luscombes.htm
 
Alan,

I guess this was confined to the BBC West of England Home Service as it's certainly a new one on me. I moved to Dorset in 1961, but didn't encounter the BBCWofEHS until the band I was with were approached to do a 15 minute recording for them in October 1965. I'm not familiar with Dickon o' Devon either, though Dennis Constanduros was a familiar name at the BBC.

Maurice
 
Radiorails said:
[MEDI

did no one else listen to shortwave back in the pre tv days?

.
Click to expand...

My experience of short wave goes back to the days before the army adopted VHF radio. We 19 set signallers used to dread the onset of the night and trying to work through the "Chinese music". We did have the odd conversation with the Scottish trawlermen though.
While I'm on, I wittered on happily about the Pirate radio ships, recently. It's just occured to me, could the likes of Caroline be heard in Brum ?
 
The only radio broadcaster that I listen to nowadays is LBC, and that is in the car. LBC used to stand for "London Broadcasting Company" but now it is advertised as "Leading Britain's Conversation" so perhaps it has extended its reception area. The programmes are mainly news and topics delivered by a presenter, followed by phone-in's from listeners with their questions and viewpoints. Theresa May was on LBC a few days ago answering questions from listeners about the draft Brexit agreement. Dave.
 
There is a very wide coverage for LBC and many other radio stations.. DAB, FM, Freeview and Satellite tv, PC and other mobile things. So I guess most of the world coverage except where it might be jammed.
In my view classic FM is by far the best. No stress listening to arguments - often, it appears from the uniformed, just pleasant musical listening. ;)
 
Maria Magenta said:
We also took a radio with us in the car, an A40. We had a rather nice picnic set which included a spirit stove and a kettle with a bamboo handle, and I can still remember the smell. Tomato sandwiches used to feature!
The picnic set was left in a garage and the case rotted. Dad was a bit upset as he'd had it for years.
Click to expand...
Thank you for rekindling that smell I think it was the blue liquid that burned on the camping stove my gandparents had. Grandad took it all apart to get it going and then to pack it up. I had to wait to every piece was dismantled. They had a black Austin with the orange reflector indicators that came out like a railway signal. And the boot pulled downwards and formed a table. There were round holes cut in the boot like an inner frame which were handy for holding a flask steady or a butter dish.
Never seen a bamboo handle on a kettle.! Sorry it was Radio. They didn't have a radio in it but nan used to take hers. They are all the rage now, It was leather lilac/grey a bit of a handbag shape with a large brassy dial off centre with red figures a bit like a barometer.
I shall tell my partner's French cousin about the BHA and this post he drives his wife mad about English radio.
He reels off all the DJ's he knows them better than me. Also the record labels and the film companies. Pathe news etc.
 
The problem with so many radio stations, as far as I am concerned, is that it is full of axe grinders and chattering. That's why I like Classic FM. :grinning:
 
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