Commissioners Picture Gallery

June 8th 2004 was the 40th anniversary of the first proper speaking broadcast of Manx Radio. The radio station started life in a specially made caravan located in a field at the top end of what is now the Ballachurry Estate. The caravan arrived on the island on the evening of 3rd June and was taken to Onchan the next day. A mast 100 feet high was erected and test broadcasts commenced. On 8th June, as an experiment, the station was linked on to the public address system around the TT Course. The commentary from the four points around the course was then transmitted over the VHF frequency.

The station reverted to test broadcasts and then on 29th June, station manager and sole announcer, John Grierson, commenced regular broadcasting on a daily basis from 10am to 12 noon and then from 2pm to 4pm. A civic reception was held to mark the 40th anniversary on Friday 25th June 2004.

Some of the guests from Manx Radio on their way into the reception.

Left to right: Geraldine Jamieson, Mark Grace (director), Terry Cringle, Mike Percival, Roy Colebourn, Harold Colebourn, Ewan Leeming, Charles Webster, Ian Cannell, Sue Richardson, David Callister, George Ferguson, Roger Watterson and Bernie Quayle.

Return to Commissioners Picture Gallery Index