Radio Moments - Clips

Although a Christmas Message was nothing new by 1932, the broadcasting of it certainly was. Reith was keen on transmission, just as he'd been eager for the proceedings of the House of Commons to be broadcast. He'd written personally to the King in 1923 to ask about "delivering a message to his people on a significant holiday such as Christmas, New Year or Easter".

King George V and the Palace were a touch reluctant, but their worries were eased by a conveniently timed trip to the BBC; and they gave him a wireless set to play with. The PM, Ramsay MacDonald also lent his weight to the case.

On Christmas Day in 1932, the Empire heard the festive address for the first time, as King George V spoke from a box room under the stairs at Sandringham. BT lines, or Post Office as it was back then, linked Sandringham to the Control Room at Broadcasting House. The Message could then be beamed to the UK via the Home Service, and to the Empire from the famous Daventry transmitters. Given far-off lands were being covered by Short Wave, the broadcast was transmitted at 3.05m p.m when propagation could be optimised.

Rudyard Kipling wrote the opening words "I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all.".

It was said the broadcast attracted an audience of 20m. Whilst Rajar diaries were not around, it;'s probably a safe bet that most folk did indeed make the effort to hear those first crackly words from their King.

After 22 years as Monarch, King George V had begun a tradition which lasts to this day.

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 20th December 2013, without the sensible Academy interviews and discussion.

This audio is now also heard at the end of the excellent weekly @radiotoday podcast http://audioboo.fm/channel/radiotoday

It's easy to say that commercial radio names are not as well-known as BBC names. Maybe that's because breakfast is where most reputations are grown, and commercial radio breakfast shows are largely local. In some markets, though, the commercial breakfast talent truly is part of the fabric of life.

Rob Chandler began on what was Radio Broadland. The station became Heart in 2009. Rob worked on the 'station' for more than 30 years, 27 of which on the breakfast show. That's a long time. Rob had also been on Radio Orwell in his younger days, later known as SGR, which also morphed into the very same Heart.

Rob was joined by Chrissie Jackson in April 1999, and their tenure easily burst through that ten year barrier, with fourteen years gazing at each other over the desk.

Some last shows get angry. Others fail to mention the end. And some, like this in December 2013, are simply a lovely celebration of the years together and a fond farewell to listening friends. Great too that they were allowed to say their genuine farewells, and the valedictory audio was splashed across the website. Fitting, particularly, to hear references to those who grew from child to adult whilst the same familiar voices booming out the radio.

Farewell Rob - and Chrissie.

On 16th December 2013, the radio and related industries gathered to #GoDigital. In a keynote address, Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, outlined the Government's latest intentions. That same day, Ed spoke to ‘You & Yours’ on BBC Radio 4; and Quentin Howard challenged Winifred Robinson. Paul Keenan from Bauer also outlined his views.

James Cridland comemnts too on this coverage: http://www.mediauk.com/article/34470/over-half-of-you-and-yours-listeners-use-dab

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 13th December 2013, without the sensible Academy interviews and discussion.

This audio is now also heard at the end of the excellent weekly @radiotoday podcast http://audioboo.fm/channel/radiotoday

The Radio Academy Hall of Fame is peppered with the best of names. A rich tapestry of talent from across the generations. Those people whose very words make UK Radio what it is.

Each year, new names are added to the roster; and 2013 was no exception, thanks to Arqiva’s sponsorship. At the Savoy in London, fittingly just feet away from a slice of early radio history, five new names were added this year, after a festive lunch.

Although, sadly, the wonderful Charlotte Green could not attend, it was great to witness four other names seize their place in this league. Radios 4’s Libby Purves stepped up to accept the honour; as did the booming voice of Absolute’s Russ Williams. Nick Ferrari was honoured, fittingly in LBC’s 40th year (and fittingly, ‘cos he is simply brilliant); and Metro’s Alan Robson entertained - and got emotional - when rightly recognised for his compelling late night radio. Margaret Howard, who governed Radio 4’s Pick of The Week for so many years, inter alia, was brought back from her studies to recall her long contribution, not without some humour.

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 6th December 2013, without the sensible Academy interviews and discussion.

This audio is now also heard at the end of the excellent weekly @radiotoday podcast http://audioboo.fm/channel/radiotoday

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 29th November 2013, without the sensible Academy interviews and discussion.

This audio is now also heard at the end of the excellent weekly @radiotoday podcast http://audioboo.fm/channel/radiotoday

Like so many great broadcasters, Richard Bacon's life has not quite been a bed of roses. And his audience like him all the more for it. Equipped with intelligence, charm, wit, annoyingly good looks and a radio gift, Richard Bacon has emerged from BBC Local Radio, through a TV diversion, to become one of the UK radio's freshest and most versatile talents. Now on 5Live, he shows where conversational contemporary talk radio is heading.

Here, he talks openly in 2013 about his life, in a relaxed fashion, with his old friend and colleague, John Holmes, at BBC Radio Nottingham where it all began for this Mansfield lad.

John was a one-off. Steeped in the skills of radio, and a producer of the old school who would take every err and umm out of an interview, even if the clock had long since clicked round beyond midnight, he was always keen to pass on his knowledge. A generation of 80s radio interns, many of whom now occupy senior positions across the industry, can look back and thank John for a grounding which served them so very well.

John spent much time with BBC Local Radio in the East Midlands, before being tempted to commercial radio in 1980. An unlikely home for a character like John, but in the days of full service commercial local radio, his experience on the Revox was put to good use. He hosted the Classical music show, and painstakingly assembled a weekly Arts Programme called ‘Alternatives’. The late night magazine programme came under John’s production remit too, and he monitored that output with an ear rarely found in the frenetic commercial world. Whilst speech was a forte, John loved his music, and introduced an array of the most eclectic tracks on his ‘Here Be Dragons'/'Sunday Evening Programme', with a child-like enthusiasm and gift, which made every one feel genuinely worth a listen.

In more recent times, John returned to BBC Local Radio, often to be heard on the station’s sports coverage, including, of course, good mention of his first love, cricket. Just maybe his second was the railway.

Throughout his career, John put his incredible intellectual capacity to good use on radio, and showed proud, grumpy intolerance of those who sacrificed quality. Or those 'widdlepots', as John would have said, who thought television was a good idea.

A gentleman, and a perfectionist, John died in November 2013.