Thanks for the kind comments [I was not even officially 'on duty' that evening when Peter 'pinched the videocam' from me! I took his place on the WT [Morse] position whilst he played with this S.O.T.A. [massive] video camera!]
Regarding your questions and comments on the present state of GPK.. I agree that it is VERY SAD to see the old site in such a 'run down' state! The mast is still transmitting Navtex but the TXs are now in the old engine building! Cheers .. GM4BES/Graham
A great video! Unfortunately it was all a little before my time in radio however I did manage a radio club visit a short time before the station closed down. I was in Port Patrick recently and its sad to see the the station in its current dilapidated state. Is the remaining mast still used remotely for anything? Not being a regular visitor it will be a sad day to arrive and find the station and mast completely gone. This must surely be inevitable ....73s ..
Graham, I remember the very professional yet personal manner that the AM operators always used.
Also the fine CW skills on 500 kcs. As a young sailor in the UK I worked many costal stations including Portpatrick on a few occasions. My closest station was Niton Radio and I visited the station in the late 60’s at the old location.
Those were fun days gents. The beauty of it all was its simplicity. It all worked really well. A great glimpse into a world that is gone forever.
Brings back many memories of the short time I worked at GPK as a young lad.
You and Bob and George were good mentors for me starting out.
I went to sea for a couple years then went onto the rigs for 14 years as RO.
I then went expat for what is now Transocean and have worked in Africa for the last 15 years doing IT/Comms support. I was based in Perth but also lived in South Africa. Love to get back in touch with you again. email jpaterson69@msn.com
At the time didn't think of myself in 20 odd years with GTZM and GPK as being part of an 'endangered species,shortly to become extinct'. Key bashing and all that come with it....do it all over again. QRA Jan Gray with a QTH? to any ex R/O's still 'floating about'.
used to listen for hours on end to the huge signals from these coast stations when the ham band were getting boring,massive signals from portpatrick,wick and stonehaven etc,great footage,rgs de brian gm7jds k
were any of the staff in this footage radio hams i wonder,there voices bring back memories of listening to portpatrick radio,often thought if these guys were hams or not....sharks on the key any way.
Hi Morse27!
Thanks for the kind comments [I was not even officially 'on duty' that evening when Peter 'pinched the videocam' from me! I took his place on the WT [Morse] position whilst he played with this S.O.T.A. [massive] video camera!]
Regarding your questions and comments on the present state of GPK.. I agree that it is VERY SAD to see the old site in such a 'run down' state! The mast is still transmitting Navtex but the TXs are now in the old engine building! Cheers .. GM4BES/Graham
gm4bes 1 day ago
A great video! Unfortunately it was all a little before my time in radio however I did manage a radio club visit a short time before the station closed down. I was in Port Patrick recently and its sad to see the the station in its current dilapidated state. Is the remaining mast still used remotely for anything? Not being a regular visitor it will be a sad day to arrive and find the station and mast completely gone. This must surely be inevitable ....73s ..
morse27 1 day ago
To see it then and to see GPK now...I found
It very moving being all boarded up, comms. rusting
In skips, flaking paint coming off the Walls.
From such a vibrant and happy CRS to one of deafenning quiet and sad neglect. How
Many of us left? I can think of four (GM,BH,IM and myself JG)
marconisparks@msn.com
AR K
marconisparks 1 year ago
Graham, I remember the very professional yet personal manner that the AM operators always used.
Also the fine CW skills on 500 kcs. As a young sailor in the UK I worked many costal stations including Portpatrick on a few occasions. My closest station was Niton Radio and I visited the station in the late 60’s at the old location.
Those were fun days gents. The beauty of it all was its simplicity. It all worked really well. A great glimpse into a world that is gone forever.
73s Robert.
N7LYS 1 year ago
Hi Graham,
Brings back many memories of the short time I worked at GPK as a young lad.
You and Bob and George were good mentors for me starting out.
I went to sea for a couple years then went onto the rigs for 14 years as RO.
I then went expat for what is now Transocean and have worked in Africa for the last 15 years doing IT/Comms support. I was based in Perth but also lived in South Africa. Love to get back in touch with you again. email jpaterson69@msn.com
Best Regards to you
John
jpaterson69 1 year ago
At the time didn't think of myself in 20 odd years with GTZM and GPK as being part of an 'endangered species,shortly to become extinct'. Key bashing and all that come with it....do it all over again. QRA Jan Gray with a QTH? to any ex R/O's still 'floating about'.
marconisparks 2 years ago
LOL makes you want to become a radio ham!! :-) Just starting the foundation soon :-)
vicmeuk 2 years ago
Marine radio lost something personal when the coast stations closed, I miss them still!
Nice to hear you are still about.
Regards David 'Jasmin of Conwy'
davejasmin 2 years ago
Aye Graham.I think that pub was called "The Hawes". Cannot remember if we managed to take the Reverend Cecil along with us or not. Good fun.
73 de Rab
maizieleatherhead 3 years ago
used to listen for hours on end to the huge signals from these coast stations when the ham band were getting boring,massive signals from portpatrick,wick and stonehaven etc,great footage,rgs de brian gm7jds k
battlestarone 3 years ago
Thanks for the kind comments Brian!
I thought that I would add just a little bit of 'History' on the old COAST STATION DAYS!
73... Graham [GM4BES]
gm4bes 3 years ago
were any of the staff in this footage radio hams i wonder,there voices bring back memories of listening to portpatrick radio,often thought if these guys were hams or not....sharks on the key any way.
regards brian gm7jds
battlestarone 2 years ago
And pre- DOC too, those were the days
slartibartfast1951 3 years ago
Yes indeed! I just happened to have some footage of GPK circa 1984 and as you mentioned [PRE DOC!!]
73.... Graham [GM4BES]
gm4bes 3 years ago
Very nostalgic, Graham.. nice to hear those magical words "minimum call" again and to see some original W/T working.
73
Rab T
kingcw 3 years ago
Thanks RAB!!
Brings back memories eh! [Like the time we both went AWOL in South Queensferry!} ... All I remembered was..."Last orders please!!"...
73 Graham [GM4BES]
gm4bes 3 years ago