Peter Wilson is a retired broadcasting regulation consultant. He has been involved in framing government acts of parliament and setting up radio stations.  He has even done a bit of broadcasting himself. He used this inside knowledge to critically review the history of broadcasting highlighting actions that affected East Yorkshire and gave a glimpse into the future of radio.

Peter explained that the first UK licence was given to the newly established BBC Limited in 1922.  The broadcasts did not include commercials, unlike in the USA, but instead was funded by a licence which you had to buy when you bought a radio receiver.  The first local radio in our area was BBC Hull, station 6KH, set up in 1924.

By the 1960’s the station available in Bridlington from the BBC were the Home Service, Light Programme, and the Third Programme. Popular music was only played for 2 hours a week.  Peter said it wasn’t surprising then that many Bridlingtonians tuned in to Radio Luxembourg instead.

This was also the era of pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline and the locally based Radio 270. Peter described how revised legislation caused these to close down, with the Radio 270’s ex trawler coming into Bridlington harbour. Then in 1972 the Sound Broadcasting Act introduced us to independent local radio.

Peter reviewed the fast changing face of radio broadcasting.  DJ’s such as Pete Murray, now 97 years old, can work from home.  DAB stations (started in 1996) are switching to DAB+. Yorkshire Coast Radio could return in 2024 now that small scale DAB is allowed.

An interesting fact that Peter gave us was that Radio Caroline eventually got a land based local radio licence and now broadcasts in Essex although you can hear it via the internet. Peter went on line so we could hear “Bridlington Gold”, the most local of 50,000 stations available over the internet from around the world.

Bro Robert Amos thanked the speaker for his enthusiastic fact filled presentation.