Copyright resides with Pete Simpkin, no reproduction without permission.
This audio slideshow of 1970s and ’80s photographs, was produced by Pete Simpkin, and used when he gave talks about the work of Radio Birmingham ‘Heart of the Nation’. It dates from the time when Pete presented the Breakfast programme, and illustrates the daily routine of the Station, which was based at BBC Pebble Mill.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
This photo is of Maggy Whitehouse, who was a BBC Radio WM breakfast presenter back in 1983. She presented the Breakfast show for a year and then a lunchtime interview show for two years.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
This Radio Times article from 1981 promoted the relaunch of Radio Birmingham as Radio WM, and 206. The station enjoyed much improved reception due to two new transmitters.
The article interviews Viv Ellis and Stuart Roper of the 206 Team, who were on air for four hours a day, Monday to Friday.
Thanks to Viv Ellis for making the article available.
Photos by Philip Morgan, no reproduction without permission. Philip took these photos in November 2004, when Pebble Mill was emptied before the auction to sell off the majority of the building’s contents. You can see the auction lot numbers on some items in the photos.
The photos feature Radio Studio 2, as well as 1/4 inch tape machines, recording rooms etc.
Studio 2 was mainly used for recording music sessions for Radio 2 – ‘BBC Big Band’, sessions for Paul Jones’ blues programme, for ‘Country Club’ which became ‘Bob Harris Country’ and many others. It was also used to record “as live” programmes with an invited audience e.g. a Cajun series. Pam Relton remembers ‘Voice of the People’ being recorded in there,with Jenny de Yong producing.
Thanks to Philip Morgan for making the photos available, and to Sue Welch for providing information about Studio 2.
Thanks to Tim Manning for making this article by Nick Higham (now BBC News correspondent) available.
The article is taken from ‘Radio Month’ in November 1981, and talks about the relaunching of Radio Birmingham as Radio WM. The station’s frequency was changed to improve reception sound quality, especially in Birmingham, and the schedule was revamped and streamlined.
Tim Manning was responsible for the publicity and promotion of the station, as well as presenting on Saturday mornings.
