BBC Radio Manchester is 40 years old today
From a converted corridor, above a hat shop in the original, modern city, Alan Sykes pressed a button. From a transmitter high on the Pennines, a five note melody beamed out across the North - and a radio station was born.
Sandra Chalmers read the first news bulletin - Hijacked planes in Jordan, a £284k pools winner, a bomb scare in Stockport and ominously future plans for local radio. Sandy came back 40 years to the day to read the 10am bulletin - Koran Burning, M6 closure, Spending Cuts in Cheshire and the premiere of Manchester City film Blue Moon Rising.
She reflected on those early years from Piccadilly Gardens, and how real people were invited onto the airwaves for the first time. Later in the day, some of those oldest serving listeners took centre-stage in the Andy Crane phone-in.
"We were ... opening that microphone so much wider than it had ever been opened before. When we started those early phone-ins, we didn't realise that what we were actually doing was recording a unique taste of social history. Thirteen of the happiest years of my life."
Sandra Chalmers read the first news bulletin - Hijacked planes in Jordan, a £284k pools winner, a bomb scare in Stockport and ominously future plans for local radio. Sandy came back 40 years to the day to read the 10am bulletin - Koran Burning, M6 closure, Spending Cuts in Cheshire and the premiere of Manchester City film Blue Moon Rising.
She reflected on those early years from Piccadilly Gardens, and how real people were invited onto the airwaves for the first time. Later in the day, some of those oldest serving listeners took centre-stage in the Andy Crane phone-in.
"We were ... opening that microphone so much wider than it had ever been opened before. When we started those early phone-ins, we didn't realise that what we were actually doing was recording a unique taste of social history. Thirteen of the happiest years of my life."
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Pioneers of 1970 Radio Manchester Diana Stenson, Martin Henfield and Sandra Chalmers join some of the Class of 2010
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Diana Stenson as she appeared in press coverage of the launch
Threaded through the day and across the weekend is a unique project from the BBC Introducing in Manchester team. They've commissioned 40 of Manchester's current bands and artists to cover a Manchester-connected song from each year of Radio Manchester. The resulting '40 by 40' will be featured in a special edition of BBC Introducing in Manchester on Sunday night.
We've been blown away by the creativity and passion shown by the bands that have taken part. Who would have predicted a vaudeville cabaret version of Take That's Relight My Fire (Louis Barabbus and the Bedlam Six), or a bluegrass Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now? (Richard Barry and Becca Williams). My personal favourite has to be the iconic Manchester song Love Will Tear Us Apart, lovingly adapted from the Joy Division original by rising stars MAY68.
The whole 40th project has been a labour of love from so many people inside and outside the station, past and present. I hope you enjoy it on the air.
The Northern Dance Orchestra vocalist in 1970 wasn't far off our mission in 2010. Even if styles have changed a little since then.
"We have interesting programmes, designed for every age. There'll be music from the hit parade, the cinema and stage. Lots of news and opinions, topical and witty, all from Piccadilly Gardens in the heart of the city."
We may have moved to Oxford Road in 1975 (a charming building which the Pevsner Architectural Guide damns with faint praise - 'unremarkable') but that description stays remarkably accurate as we prepare to join our colleagues at Media City in Salford next year.
Frank Gillard wanted BBC Local Radio to be The People's Radio. So let's leave the last words to one of the listeners who phoned us this morning. June is in Radcliffe. "Thank you very much - Radio Manchester has helped me to live my life through everything. You've touched the lives of so many people - through it all you've all been brilliant"
So have you June. Here's to the next 40.
John Ryan is Managing Editor of Radio Manchester
- John's first post - BBC Radio Manchester is about to be 40
- John's second post - BBC Radio Manchester the first two hours of broadcast
- press release - Radio Manchester celebrates 40 years
