
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


For 75 years a stately home near Reading has eavesdropped on the world. As BBC Monitoring changes, Caz Graham hears why the organisation is leaving Caversham.
Caz speaks to staff past and present to hear about the vital daily work conducted behind the grand portico, amidst splendid grounds, listening in to and translating radio broadcasts since 1943.
Retired staff recall being on shift when major world events occurred, such as the deaths of Stalin, Franco and Brezhnev. With its roots in short wave technology, Caversham's sensitive radio aerials and satellites could be retuned to listen in to countries around the world. Current manager at BBC Monitoring, Chris Greenway, describes the organisation's work today, for example tracking social media and the broadcasting activities of Islamic State (IS).
Producer: Mark Smalley.
By BBC Radio 44.8
8383 ratings
For 75 years a stately home near Reading has eavesdropped on the world. As BBC Monitoring changes, Caz Graham hears why the organisation is leaving Caversham.
Caz speaks to staff past and present to hear about the vital daily work conducted behind the grand portico, amidst splendid grounds, listening in to and translating radio broadcasts since 1943.
Retired staff recall being on shift when major world events occurred, such as the deaths of Stalin, Franco and Brezhnev. With its roots in short wave technology, Caversham's sensitive radio aerials and satellites could be retuned to listen in to countries around the world. Current manager at BBC Monitoring, Chris Greenway, describes the organisation's work today, for example tracking social media and the broadcasting activities of Islamic State (IS).
Producer: Mark Smalley.

7,583 Listeners

1,057 Listeners

5,463 Listeners

1,801 Listeners

1,747 Listeners

1,042 Listeners

2,085 Listeners

1,976 Listeners

477 Listeners

38 Listeners

66 Listeners

282 Listeners

266 Listeners

252 Listeners

157 Listeners

106 Listeners

253 Listeners

102 Listeners

4,166 Listeners

3,187 Listeners

719 Listeners

235 Listeners

101 Listeners

26 Listeners

486 Listeners