Thameside Radio Revisited

The Thameside Radio 90.2 listeners and crew went on a trip to Brighton. Bob left early to get back to London and start the show. Cherry writes in to say that she has fallen for one of the listeners at the last fast food who is tall, dark wore Doc Martens and a donkey jacket! The next fast food is at the Kentucky Fried in Baker Street. Dave finally makes it back and plays recordings of the day's events during his show. There are screams, giggles, barbecues and a severed head. Dave leaves behind a coach full of listeners at the Packhorse and Talbot in Chiswick. New listeners include Tim Gordon, Gander, Andrew Beck, Anrdew Barclay, Hayes School.

More birthday celebrations with Tony Lloyd and The Intrepid BirdmanThe Birdman hasd made a show around the making of the birthday cake.Tony Lloyd calls more listeners, shares recordings of Bob Edwards fluffing his lines when reading the music news and plays impeccable music ranging from Pink Floyd to Ian Dury. Whatever happened to the Tony Lloyd fan club (TLFC - see picture)? Mentions on the phone for John of Dulwich, Dave / Barry Banson from Alleyns School, GM Roberts of Woolwich, Rory of Hayes, Malcolm Mcintryre from Sidcup, Miller and Mariosa from Earls Court.Technical note: The FM reception wasn't perfect, the cassettes are showing their age and the azimuth isn't quite right, but it's really great to hear the show again.

An early live extended broadcast. Bob Edwards plays music from 1978 and phones listeners who wrote in over the last 12 months live on air.Bob tells us about a guest appearance from the Intrepid Birdman (who later became a regular presenter and a key part of Thameside). Loads of jingles mostly created by the Birdman many of which seem to have disappeared since. Music news from Tony Lloyd. Loads of people mentioning their mum and dad. There is discussion about whether Thameside should extend hours - this 4 hour extravaganza was quite a contrast to the usual 1 hour shows. The team are drinking Light Ale (can you still buy that?)At the end of Bob's show there is a 30 minute retrospective on the first year - Thameside had put out 52 shows uninterrupted and were basking in the glory.Thameside Radio 90.2 listeners mentioned in the phone calls include Dave Williamson from Hendon, Robert of Chelsea, Debbie Wooley, Simon Michelsberg from Barnet, Martin Smith of Pinner, Jim Stockwell, Graham King from Orpington and Richard Sugarman from Stanmore.

Bob Edwards is in a laid back mood. Moody Blues, 10CC, Paul McCartney, Led Zep, Stevie Wonder. Loads of dedications. A listener gives advice about fixing the big end on a BSA motorbike. Steve Scribbler offers to organise a squash tournament - Bob is sure that he can thrash anyone. During the show there is a "meet the listeners" do with some of the Thameside staff at Hammersmith station.The Thameside Radio 90.2 Good Bite Guide comes from from Pizza Hut in Ealing (£3 for a 13 inch pizza). In 1981 takeaway pizza is a bit of a novelty! More messages from the the Curly Man's answering machine. Dave Birdman plays a wide variety of stuff including "Sir Henry at Rawlinsons End" but he can't find "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" as it's in the old studio.Both Bob and Dave plug the Thameside Radio mystery trip (to Brighton) leaving from Turnham Green next week. Bob says he might drive down but needs to get back in time to start the show. Oh the joys of live radio. Great messages from Midnight Cinderella, Richard Bradford and Andrew Bird. Al

Back to regular broadcasts. Bob introduces a big "meet the listeners" evening. Thameside Radio staff go out all over London (Ealing Broadway, Liverpool Street, Wimbledon, Harrow on the Hill, Barnes, Uxbridge, Chiswick, Elephant and Castle, Richmond, Earls Court, Notting Hill Gate and the dolls house shop on the corner of Rossmore Road) giving out stickers, collecting dedications and selling tickets for the Brighton trip. The Thameside listener charts have Kim Wilde, Motorhead, Depeche Mode, Killing Joke and Kate Bush.The fast food survey comes from Burger King in Leicester Square followed by an evening watching the fireworks in Hyde Park.The Curlyman has a phone-in section. Dave reads out a letter from a listener saying that she has started The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society. At the end of his show he switches the transmitter back on with a scream it has timed out. After the transmitter finally goes off you can hear the clipped voices and melodic gentle tunes of Radio 2 in the background and quite understand why so many people listened to Thameside Radio once Radio 1 went off air. Loads of letters and holiday postcards after the extended broadcast. NamesNmaes include John Simmonds, Francis Green, Buzby, Andy Feely of Dulwich, Latymer Upper School, Steve Scribbler, John Henry, Jordan Lee, The Green Belt Festival, Kathy Ann from Henrietta Barnett School, Jonathan Lovell, Ian Hobbs, Paul Gander, Hayes School, Elspeth & Jose, Andrew Back, Paul Gander and Dave Cunningham.

It's 14 hours after the extended broadcast started and the crew are sounding tired. Dave calls in from home on Alex's show, Bob has the final shift and is excited because the pubs are open until midnight. Haven't times changed?

Namechecks for Stephen King for Krishna, and BBC Shift 1 video tape who were dealing with the royal wedding (Nice to know that the BBC were listening to Thameside Radio while working). They wanted something to do with walking or mountaineering.

Next week it's back to normality - another finely crafted 3 hour Thameside Radio show which was broadcast on a Sunday evening at 7pm. Al.

More from Dale "The Supersmurf" (see photo) who is a great 80s disco DJ. Dave sets up a a listener hunt for Alex who is "inconspicuous somewhere on Shepherds Bush Green". Toby from Notting Hill finds him wearing a white coat and hat! Name checks for Rupert from Barnes, John Brennan, Andrew Simpson

3:30 to 6:30pm. "Captain Cosmos" (Garry) who is station announcer at Paddington station phones in from work for a chat with Bob and makes a live announcement about Thameside Radio to the whole station. Andrew calls from St Ursula Road in Southall where they are having a street party while listening to Thameside. He asks for "Win a Night Out With a Well Known Paranoiac" which is still one of my favourite songs. Ever. (Yes I do have a copy and, before you ask, the answer is "yes you can" - just leave a comment or drop me an email).

The surprise after the fast food survey was a listeners trip to Hyde Park to see the fireworks. There's a clip in Alex's show. Name checks include: Ian Hobbs, Andrew Beck, Anne Sergeant, Max Hamster and Paul Gander.

The Intrepid Birdman show. Phone lines open. It's a lovely warm sunny afternoon.

Dave is wearing sunglasses to keep the evening vibe - which sounds like a scene out of "The Boat That Rocked". It works though as he plays some very offbeat records.

There is the usual great 80's stuff which might get you looking at your singles collection again as some of it can't be found for download anywhere.

Loads of name checks. Far too many to list but those with surnames include Ian Buzwell of Etham, Paul Cambridge, Mazzy of Byfleet, John Simmonds, Margaret Owen, Andy Cooper, John Brennan, Dave Booth, John Briory, Alan Dolby, Alan Aldwych, Jordan Lee and Kojak of Acton.

What were you doing that day?

Do leave a comment or mail al(at)fmthen.co.uk

Al

The wedding of Charles and Di. It's a Wednesday Bank Holiday. Bob starts the show at 10am and phones Dave on air to wake him up. There's a black and white TV in the corner of the studio so we get the occasional comment on the royal procession. Dave's "superbike" broke down so it took him quite a while to get to the Thameside studio in Acton. This podcast takes us up to 12:30 when Dave finally arrives.