Thameside Radio Revisited

 The show started late   the first we hear from the Paul James show is at 7:20 which is where this recording starts.

Mark tells us about the South Side Dynamos who he saw at a gig at the Kings Head in Fulham. They sent a demo tape which was played the following week.

There's a re-recorded version of the Thameside theme about 40 minutes in. Still catchy and memorable - who did record it?

Paul tells us about a Thameside benefit disco at the Shepherd's Bush village Hall next Friday - entrance £1.

Some of the Thameside crew had split off to form Hilltop Radio which started at 6pm and finished at 8pm. This left the Hilltop listeners a chance to retune and catch to the Intrepid Birdman Show!

Technical stuff: Thameside were under pressure. The previous week they had had two transmitters confiscated by the authorities in a major sweep of London pirates which also resulted in Radio Invicta, JFM and Radio Zodiac going off air. In addition Bob and Dave had been caught. This was the first time that any members of the Thameside crew had been caught in almost 4 years of broadcasting. Hence the benefit show in the following week!

The team were late setting off and changed where they were going to set up their equipment from Trellick Tower to the South Acton estate. There were also gale force winds which made putting the aerial up more difficult.

The first and last hour was broadcast from cassette, the middle two from 1/4" reel to reel.

Mentions for SR Frejec of Lettice Street and Dave Booth

The end of the Paul James show. The Intrepid Birdman takes over. Dave plays a demo tape from a band called Kite. Sent in on reel to reel!

He also plays a tape from Radio Centraal - a Dutch pirate - saying "hello" to Thameside. More about them on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Centraal .

Soem technical info:

There is another transmitter change. The beginning of his show came from the blocks by Edgware Road (overlooking Paddington police station), the second part from the blocks in Bentford (as featured in People Just Do Nothing - a BBC TV mockumentary sitcom 2014 - 2018, the film is now in production).

The broadcast ends when there there should be is another tape and transmitter change but instead it goes off air when it should have switched to a Petts Hill.

While Thameside were monitoring the Home Office radio channel there was a battery fault with one of the handheld radios that Thameside were using to relay information. As a result Bob Edwards and Dave Birdman were caught and subsequently taken to court.

 Paul James takes the show. Sarah is back from Devon specially for us.

Dave complains that Paul is talking down his nose rather than using his normal voice. Paul ignore him and carries on using his DJ voice and sticking close to the mic for extra extra warmth and bass.

We hear from BT's "Pope Line" because the Pope is visiting the UK but he doesn't answer. Fortunately after a second go we finally hear to Pope talking to us.

There is a bit of a pause while The engineers change transmitter.

The DTI were hot on the heels of Thameside Radio - by changing transmitter the team made it harder for the DTI team run by Eric Gotts and Brian Holder to locate and confiscate it.

Mentions for Bernard, Jellyfish, Chris, Denise and all intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society members, John Simmonds, Les Keely, Mazzie, John Henry

The last of 15 hours of Thameside Radio's 1982 Easter Bank Holiday 1982 broadcast. After a mammoth broadcast The Intrepid Birdman hands over Bob Edwards. Bob won't tell us where he was. Mark, Ian and Dave are still at the studio so we hear from them too.

The transmitter turns itself off duding quiet patches of songs - an eternal problem with the Thameside transmitter chain! It also says something about Bob's music taste, he liked songs that have quiet patches.

The "bits of a Thameside DJ" prize turns out to be some of Paul's hair!

Paul likes the surname Garfunkel and Bob tells Paul that he could change his name by Interpol. I think he meant "deed poll" though.

Mentions for Mark Lynden; Laurence from Carshalton ; Trev Holmes from Ruislip ; CD breaker "Chelsea Girl" from Pinner ;

Dave Birdman is in a mischevous mood - He is asking listeners for scurrilos rumours about where Bob Edwards is.
Dave tells us about his problem his local AM breaker - CB radio was the wild west in those days...
We hear more from from Mark, Ian the Engineer, Paul James and Paul's mum who has been providing snacks.

Mentions for

Bamber; Mark Linden of Willden Green ; Philanen of Kilburn ; Mike of Tottenham ; John of Wood Green ; Graham in Northolt ;
No Class Fanzine ; Peter the Rad Man in Kingston ; Angie from Kinston ; Pippa from Harrow ;

In this part of the Easter Monday extended show the Intrepid Birdman asks where Bob Edwards has gone, and with whom?

He plays a lot of sketches including a classical spot featuring unfinished symphonies.

We hear from  the telephone ladies who turn out to be Paul James, Mark and  Ian the Engineer.

There's a Duracell advert too demonstrating how much longer they last on OAPs hearing aids before they get run over crossing the A40. Dave offers one of his lapel badges as a prize.

30 minutes in there's one of the long Thameside Radio 90.2 themes sent in by a (very talented) listener. Who are you? What are you doing now? Do write to al@fmthen.com

People mentioned include The Cran, A Curlyman; John Pico from Pinner; Margarey Murphy of Tennison Road NW6; Steve Scribbler; Mick in Carshalton; Funkmeter aka Ian Wright from Garrard Cross; Ben Nakoneczny from Kew Road who found the bit of Thameside D Jin Hammersmith, he says "get off my sister" to Paul Starkey; Mr & Mrs Rogers in Ealing; Richard from St Albans; Mothball for Alison and Paul; Dave of Eltham;

Dave is in the studio in Harrow. He has an "interview with ELO" on a broken phone box (only Dave could do this... ) and then inevitably credits the next track wrongly. You may have to explain to your kids what a "phone box" is, what those beeps mean when calling from one, and what "Button A" and "Button B" are.

There's a Duracell Battery advert - involving miners losing power in their lanterns in the poorest possible taste of course. There is also a quiz about finding a bit of a Thameside Radio DJ which is hidden by the Hammersmith Odeon in the grounds of St Pauls church. (Sorry, let the answer slip out there).

The engineers have locked Dave in the studio so he can't nip out to the loo!

There's a Birdman advert for "At It" magazine. At the time a magazine about being "At It" was quite outrageous, but soon they were available. Life imitating art again.

Music includes Kraftwerk, Patti Smith, The Who and The Kinks.

More from Sarah who is playing the top 3 from David Bowie, Supertramp and The Human League, she is only presenting for an hour as she  is about to go to the Hammersmith Palais to see The Thompson Twins, The Sound and China Crisis. She she hopes that someone is ready to take over. What a busy life!

We're also promised a Thameside listeners top 15 later on in the day.

Fortunately Sarah is followed by the Intrepid Birdman so it doesn't end here.

Sweatshirts are £6.50 and T Shirts £3.50. I wonder if we should do some more! Not sure we can keep the price at 1982 levels though.

Lots of dedications - some on the phone line, others collected from the picnic on the hill. They include - Mike of Chalfont who says "Hi" to Bernard, Andrew and Brian of Amersham, The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society, Chris, Denise and Alex; The Ealing Headbangers and Eric the Fruitbat; Gerard from Hanwell says Hi to John Jill and Barry of Chingford; Bunny and Alan in Hanwell; Paul Shackleton and Heston; John Carr for his Mum and Dad; Robin for Kurt ; Gerry in Ward 8 in Harrow Hospital for all the nurses; Pete, Dave, PAul and Sean in Grenwich; Dave and Moira in Wimbledon; Dave, Benedict and Beatrice who is a Rubber Duck! (I'm guessing that's a CB thing)

We hear more from Mark who tells Bob to stop whatever he is doing as it's illegal and immoral! Sarah starts playing the top 3 songs from 4 of the artists in the Thameside Radio charts: The first three artists are David Bowie, Supertramp and The Police.

Mark takes over the show from Bob.

His music is less Middle of the Road, the studio is empyying leaving only Hilly and Mark there. He plays "All too Much" by Steve Hillage part of which was used in the Thameside Radio closedown when the station first launched.

There is a live link set up between the studio and the picnic and the Birdman pops in to the studio to have a chat with the Thamesiders on the Hill. Mark then continues chatting to the 30-40 listeners on the hill between records. He also plays a great demo by Vendetta called "Beneath the City.

Mentions for: Mike from Chalfont, Rodney the servered head, Paul McElwane, Roly, Bob, Wilberforce, Karen, Annette, Roj (Who loves thwe Mo-Dettes), Ali the Black Prince of Mount Twyford, Rick the Roach, Rent-a-Rabble

The other Thameside Radio DJs have gone to Harrow Hill for a picnic with the listeners and left Bob Edwards in the studio. This predates cellphones so he doesn't hear anything from them for a bit.

We do hear from the "tea girl" and the "record library girl". Bob tell us can see the hill from the studio in a tall building so tries to get the listeners to communicate by jumping up and down and waving their arms around.

Later on there seems to be someone on top of a tall building relaying the view to Bob.

More from the  mega broadcast from Harrow.
Paul James finishes 5 1/2 hours of programming with traditional local radio stuff like football news. We discover that QPR are playing on Astroturf - that hurt if you fell over. I do wonder if Thameside could have gone on to become something like Radio Jackie FM which is the local station for south west London.

Paul plays A Flock of Seagulls and Lene Lovich (was she related to Bjork?). He is convinced by his sister that the Birdman jingle calls him "Uncle Ball" rather than "Uncle Paul".

We are  told that  The Thompson Twins are playing the Hammersmith Palais, tickets are between £3 and £4. Carole King is an outrageous £7! Bob is running late so Paul continues past midday. We promised a "big chart show" later on in the day and we will also hear from Mark who is one of the backroom boys. 

Mark is in the studio while we wait for Bob and building up for his show later that day. There is lots more about the picnic.

Bob takes over about 12:30. Bob chats with Dave who tell us that Ian has taken over the engineering from "10-1 Teddy" who was thrown off the roof of Thameside Towers.

Mentions include Annette for Karen, Martin and Lisa for Andy and Lynne, Sam and Peter, from Peter in Harrow. Andrew du Pre for Nervous System and all their fans, Winston Smith and Skinny Melanie and her fiancee from Paul in Clapham. The first 5 members of the Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society at the picnic will win a signed copy of the Birdman we're told.

Being on lockdown has given me the chance to hunt out some more Thameside Radio 90.2 recordings, and I've also got tapes of the projects that the crew moved on to like Clockwork Wireless and Hillltop Radio. 

So if you are looking for a chance to indulge in some nostalgia - then check up every week on fmthen.com - there is quite a lot to come.

 As ever if you have any recording you'd like to share - mp3, cassette, DAT or reel to reel - they're all welcome. Why not tell a friend? 

Al

Paul James continues with the Thameside Radio breakfast show. It’s a lovely morning, the skies are blue and the birds are singing

We hear more about the Free the Airwaves campaign stand at the CB 82 show in Wembley. Dave turns up with some breakfast from the local Wimpy.

Unusually Paul does some weather and traffic reports – just like local radio! We are also promised a live linkup later in the day with Uptown Radio, a listener picnic at the top of Harrow Hill, phantom phone box and other Thameside delights.

Mentions for Steve in the Thameside Radio kitchen and  Big Al for the Paraffin Ladies in a shop in Harrow

It's 8am on Easter Monday. Paul James is pretty much alone in the Thameside Radio studio. Dave Birdman is still in bed at home although Ian the Engineer is going there to pick some things up!

The show starts with The Jam and Start - which you don't hear much any more. Did you know that The Beatles sued them for because the riff and the bass line were lifted from Taxman? Of course Taxman was written by Goerge Harrison, who was himself sued for the similarities between "My Sweet Lord and "He's so Fine". That's the start of my question for RBQ! At least now we have standard rates for tracks that use samples from other artists.

Nine minutes in Paul plays the definitve Thameside Radio "Well Corporal" jingle.

There are a couple of technical problems at the start of the show - hum, hiss, setting levels and all that. Usually those issues were dealt with during the 10 minute warmup but it took a bit longer. They are all fixed in the end: so hang in there.

We are told that there will be a treasure hunt for an easter egg hidden somewhere in London. Also a picnic which we will be told more about later (it ended up at Harrow on the Hill).

Loads more from the 1982 Easter Monday show to come

Mentions for Dave in Croydon and Hilly.

This is the second half of the Thameside Radio 90.2 Easter Sunday broadcast starting at 10pm.

We're reminded that the pubs close at 11pm. Remember those days?.

Bob Edwards makes it into the studio and tells us he has been out with the transmitter guys.

Really Saying Something by Bananarama and The Fun Boy Three is a new release. We get the 12" version.

Later in the show Dave tells us about CB radio which has only been a "thing" for a few months  - Bob gets a CB radio and has a chat with a number of breakers on Channel 31 live on air.

We also hear a bit about CB 82 show in Wembley which also had a pirate radio stand.

There are still technical problems in the broadcast - interference from TV transmitters. And the transmitter is switching itself off during quiet moments in songs. The technical problems seem to get better about 11:30pm (an hour and a half in to the show)

Mentions include: CBers Orange Club, Action Man, Dopey,  Black Jack, Batman, Weazel and Photon

Also: Rupe from Barnes for Trisha and Josh, Dec and Prudence, Miker of Chalfont, Brian of Amersham for Denise, Chris and Sarah of Kew, Les Keely, Dave Booth for Mazzie & Andy, Anthony for Lyomie, Lynne, Kevin Tom and Catherine, CBers, John in Finchley, Elaine in LA, Annette for Karen, Gilllian and Buzz, Tigermoth, Dominic from Strange Pursuasion.

We're told about a game called Obliterate which BT have released on Prestel. You command a submarine and torpedo Argentinian submarines including one called "Fray Bentos". (You may have to look Prestel up on Wikipedia, it was like the internet but 1980).

The phone lines are open for the Thameside listener charts. This week's chart is - 10:Layla/Derek and the Dominoes; 9:I Ran/Flock of Seagulls; 8:Nowhere Girl/B-Movie; 7:More Than This/Roxy Music 6:Fantastic Day/Haircut 100; 5:Is it a Dream/Classix Nouveaux; 4:Ghosts/Japan 3:The Damned Don't Cry/Visage; 2: Love Cascade/Leisure Process 1:Ever So Lonely/Monsoon.

The broadcast is briefly introduced by Bob Edwards, but Paul James takes over. Paul has just come back from a working holiday in Cornwall, Sarah is also in the studio as is Ian the Engineer. After an hour (and a transmitter change) we get The Intrepid Birdman Show. There was a problem in the first 10 minutes with the batteries running flat in the cassette player. You can hear the the show sounding a bit slow. It then goes back up to speed.

Dave tells us about the CB show at the Wembley conference centre which is relaying the broadcast. There is a pirate radio stand at the show.

The first part of the show was broadcast from the Brentford tower blocks on Green Dragon Lane. This was used in 2014's "People Just Do Nothing" which started on YouTube and moved to BBC3 as the location for the fictional pirate Kurupt FM. Now Kurupt FM are real and playing festivals! Life imitating art imitating life.

We learn that the site changes are done by "10-1 Teddy" and Ian the Engineer who has injured himself.

There are brief moments during quiet patches of the songs where the transmitter switches off - the transmitter were designed to switch off quickly when the audio finished because it was the end of the show or when there was a transmitter change but they could be a bit enthusiastic and switch off briefly during a show! We're told about an experiment in 3D TV. However demand for the special glasses is so high they have had to delay the test to make some more. It will be broadcast on May 4th in a programme called "the Real World". 3D TV, 1982, maybe technology isn't moving on as quickly as we think. You can watch it here.

After an hour with Paul and two with Dave this podcast  finishes at 10pm or so. But keep an eye on your podcast feed or the siteas  there is more to come on Thameside Radio Revisited from the same day and the next. We have Bob Edwards from later on this evening and the  Thameside Radio picnic from Harrow on the Hill the next day (it was Easter Monday).

And finally: Did you know that the voice on the "Thameside Radio Plays Good Music" is one of Dave's children? Recorded in Hyde Park during an OB!

Dedications and letters from Robert, Mike of Chalfont, the Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society, Andrew Pearce from Hindhead, Steve Scribbler, John H, Richard, Annette, Dave and Pete. Hugh Gunning, John of Edgware, Bill Popstar, Tom Grady, Lynne Steele, Wendy and Cathy from Frank Kennedy from Norwood Green who gets a kiss from Sarah.  Paul Marshall (age 13) from Chalfont st. Giles. Chalfont Secondary School

Thameside started this live broadcast at 10:30 with Bob Edwards running through the Thameside Radio 90.2 listener charts for 1981. What a year: Fade to Grey - Visage; That’s Entertainment  - The Jam; Tainted Love – Soft Cell; Joan of Arc / Maid of Orleans – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark; Imagine – John Lennon; Don’yt you Want Me? – The Human League; Ine the Air Tonight – Phil Collins; Vienna – Ultravox;  what an amazing year…

The Intrepid Birdman took over at about 11:15 with and extended interview with Eddie Grunt. The show carried on until about 1am on New Year’s Day.

The show was broadcast live from Shepherd's Bush.

The "Shout Out" exhibition at the ICA in London is about 80s radio pirates. There are photos and an interview  here. Without doubt all those stations were hugely influenced bu Thameside Radio so here's a chance to see your legacy!

I've just received a pre-release copy of London's Pirate Pioneers by Stephen Hebditch. It's 250 pages of well researched information about the London pirate radio scene. There will be things you already knew, and things you didn't! As you would expect from a station that had such a big influence there's a lot about Thameside Radio.

Go buy a copy. You won't regret it. 

You can order it on Amazon here Did I mention there are photos too?