Wick Radio GKR in the 1960's

Wick Radio in the 1960's was the coast radio station protecting shipping in northern United Kingdom waters and also the primary communications link for the UK's deepsea trawler fleet.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• maritime radio
• coast
• wick
• wick radio gkr
• marine ship to shore
• gkr

[kingcw]

This is the first time I have, after 30 years at sea as an R/O, heard a professional radioman use the expression "over and out" (At 3 min 10 secs )

[radiocaledonia]

All I can say is, although the characters are real - remember it is a film !

[weetam1979]

blast from the past, like it

[jsuth02]

I have just watched this video and saw and heard my father. He is the radio operator at the beginning of the video with red hair and glasses lighting a cigarette! John MacAskill was his name. He passed away in 1981 so it's been a while. His voice is not how I remember it though.  What a treat, thank you to whoever posted this video.

[howden123456]

then came june 2000 :(

[uslines]

Wonderful video. Pleased that film exists of these and other Brit coastal stations. Wish there was one of WCC out on Cape Cod USA..

[tvdxrools]

hi is the full programe availiable on dvd ... cheers david

[cuadrantez]

Ondas radiales

[frankklaassen]

Dear Charlie,

Thank you very much for the extra links from Wick radio.

[givvup]

If you want a couple of other angles on Wick Radio, follow the links, givvup then poet-on-a-hill then Fated. Theres a scene written there that takes place inside Wick Radio. All the characters and conversations are for real. Then, for another angle, follow the link to The Travellers Tales. There, under the heading, Sailing with Hunters, you will see real life Wick Radio as viewed by fishermen.

[frankklaassen]

When I was a little boy I use to listen to the sounds of coastal radio stations. After that I still listened to those stations when I was sailing as an ships engineer

I am 49 years old now and just recently I realized that the coastal radio years are gone.

I can still remembers the phrase "this is Wick Radio", the sound of morse and passing the manned lightships. For some nostalgic reason I became interested in the history of coastal radio. Thanks for your contribution.

[givvup]

The cast, in order of appearance; John MacAskill, cigarette and glasses; Charlie Mearns, on the Morse key; Sandy Mowat the officer in charge, moustache and suit; Ernie Sargent, sorry about the spelling; Neil Leitch, hes the big boy doing the MAYDAY RELAY; Jimmy Kay, the overseer, receiving messages; Haydn Arnold in the yellow jumper; a glimpse of Dick Gregg, then me Charlie Gregory

[givvup]

I have a special interest in this video cos Im in it. Im the guy who reads the gale warning and speaks French in a Breton dialect. I worked in GKR from 1958 to 1974, just a dogwatch in the scheme of things. I dont know who posted this  but thanks for doing it. Wick Radio is a part of maritime history and worth remembering Charlie Gregory