An Intrepid Birdman show from the Thameside Radio 90.2 archives.

One hour with Bob Edwards from the 1978. Confusingly the competition has the Radio Invicta theme tune in it.

Many dedications - just a few here: Tony Harrison , Andrew Dolginski, Derek Astell, Montana Red, Roadrunners Trucking in Harrow, Sarah Costell.

Maybe the estimate of 20,000 listeners for Thameside Radio 90.2 really was too low. 

There is a problem in the the first part of this recording with short wave interference - it does disappear after the first hour.

Dave opens the show: The Thameside Radio 90.2 4th birthday on 13th December gets a lot of plugs. Bob phones out to Richard Baldwyn who was at the last birthday and is coming to the next one. Mark was off sick so Jim did the band interview with 4TFZ. Bob also phones out to a listener called Wolfie (who is 13).

The Intrepid Birdman Show is its usual high standard. Wild, whacky, thought provoking and he is still playing the Portsmouth Symphonia. Oh and there arethe Duracell adverts. Denise (secretary of the The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society) now has badges and has a fact sheet available. Dave reads out a letter with a rumour that Sarah is Bob Edward's sister, Tony is his brother and Dave is his dad - what can I say?

I wonder if I should split these podcasts between Bob and Dave? What do you think?   

Thameside Radio 90.2 dedications for Richard Baldwyn, Tony Fletcher, Mazzy sends in a 3 part poem that the team read out, Wealdstone College of Technology, 9th Wembley Venture Scouts, Les Keely, Alan Dolby.

Back to the 80's. One of the evenings where Thameside Radio 90.2 changed transmition sites throughout the show so reception quality varies. Still it kept the DTI away! Also some of the Bob Edwards show is missing from the recording.

Sarah was at a halloween party till 6 am the previous night! When did she do her homework? She out a poem written by a listener called "It's a Typical Day". There is also a big plug for Rudi who have a single called "When I was Dead". Mark is in Ealing Broadway giving away tickets for Acellerator in concert at Ronnie Scotts. Bob is trying to give away a kitten! Everyone is looking forward to the Thameside Radio boat trip.

A hung over Intrepid Birdman has some amazing new jingles and a funky new version of the Thameside Radio theme at the start of his show. (Do you know who recorded them - I never did find out. Please email or comment.)  He also plays the Sir Henry & His Butlers - Rolo sensation which is weird.

More new Thameside 90.2 listeners: Richard Baldwyn of Feltham, Stephen Garstang, Surbiton High School, Tiffin School, Jamming Fanzine (who are writing an article on Thameside), Tony Fletcher, Rough Trade Records, Dave Cutcliffe

More from 1978 with Bob Edwards and Tony Lloyd. This follows the 4 hour spectacular extended birthday broadcast  http://media.libsyn.com/media/fmthen/Thameside_781199a.mp3. Thameside Birthday Cake being offered as  a prize. They have a phone out competition. Bob plays a bootleg of Brown Sugar with Eric Clapton on guitar.  

We all now get our choice of music streamed on the Internet, using Spotify or over DAB this was broadcast just 4 years after the first ever  independent FM radio station was launched in the UK. We all still thought that listening to a non-BBC station was pretty exciting - and then along came Thameside Radio 90.2

Actually it was only 8 years after the launch of any radio station in London (BBC Radio London - thanks Wikipedia). So the idea and the technology were still very new.


More Thameside Radio listeners: Terry Williams; Ron Calston; Arian Leaper for the John Lyon school; Martin Crew of Se22 from Exeter University; Andy Feely; The Barry Banson Appreciation Society;  J D Deam; Dave Williamson of Hendon ; Tim Radford of Uxbridge who found out about Thameside Radio 90.2 when he saw a car sticker;  Patrick Kingholm of Winchmore Hill; Bob Tree; Malcolm McIntyre;

Back to April 1978. Thameside Radio 90.2 is only 6 months old and a very young sounding Bob presents a one hour show. Tony Lloyd reads the news. Last week was an extended broadcast with Tony doing the second hour. Debbie is taking calls. (What happened to Debbie the Phone Girl?) Dave from the BBC is in the studio as well as a photographer and listener Simon Wallace.


Loads of mentions and dedications. Many of them say that it's the the first time they have tuned in to Thameside Radio 90.2: Here are some that had surnames or additional information so might pop up if they're Googled - there a many more mentions on the recording:  Downtown of Romford, Roger Scott from Epsom for his wife Linda and children Tristan and Lucinda, Steve Tarling fron Surrey University, Neal Oldfield of Appleton, Paul searle of Upminster for the 1st Boys Brigade, Steve Pagnall of Greenford, Alan Cooper of Edgware, Bernard O'Brien of Hainault, Kevin Keele, Tony and Kim Chiffey and Stephen Cruikshank. 

A 3 hour recording. The station is still changing transmitter every hour. This show includes Bob Edwards, Dave Birdman and Sarah from Kew.

Bob plays a whole side of "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd and tells us that his car has sprung a leak so he got a wet posterior when going to a party with Sarah (but "not in that way").

Sarah is back with her dedications show at 8pm.

Many many new sketches from Dave Birdman throughout Bob and Dave's shows - one comparing Thameside 90.2 to other radio stations like you compare washing powders.   Dave also plays the wonderful Portsmouth Symphonia and tells us about The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society pub crawl - which he didn't make it to!

The music this week is pretty eclectic - it includes Joy Division, Kraftwerk, Saxon, Pink Floyd, Tom Lehrer and the Sex Pistols.

Thameside Radio listeners mentioned include Renata, John Simmons for everyone on the CND rally yesterday, The gang of five, Thick as Thieves, November Criminals, Andy Cooper, John Shakespeare, Ian Hobbs, The operators at Castle House Exchange including Mrs Herne and Pam Roxborough from Michael Champion.

The Thameside Radio crew changed transmitter locations 43 minutes in to the show so that there wasn't enough time for the DTI to track the broadcast transmitter down. This was the first time they had done this.   Bob tells us about the upcoming 4th birthday party on a boat on the Thames on the 13th December. (It was amazing) Also the Broadway Blues Band are going to play a Thameside Radio benefit gig soon.  The first part of a full 3 hour show. Do you have the later part recorded somewhere? Full 3 hour podcasts will resume shortly!

 The aftermath of the party in Shepherds Bush Where Nick Turner (ex Hawkwind) was interviewed and flanned.

Dave has a brilliant  version of the Beach Boys "God Only Knows" about Thameside listeners. Mark interviews the Broadway Blues Band.

Next fast food is a revisit to  Quickies County Kitchen in Chiswick which was the most popular of the lot. This show stopped short again - although this time it the station wasn't really raided -  they simply knew that it took about 2 hours for the DTI to locate the transmitter so if they stopped after an hour they wouldn't lose any more equipment

Thameside Radio 90.2 mentions for Jeanette from Kingston at Tiffin School, The Fair Lady Anita of Ealing, The Ambassador for the Tottenham and Haringey CBers

The charts and new releases are back, as is Auntie Sarah.

Bob plugs the Thameside Supper Party at the Shepherd's Bush Village Hall  (photo) near the BBC  next Friday which will have a "tramps" theme. Dave says it will be messy and mentions custard pies. (As I recall it it was very messy)

The Fast Food came from Harrow on the Hill where Alex and Dave took the listeners to a Wimpy Bar where the food proved to be pretty unpopular due to the soggy chips and dry burgers (and the strange taste). The survey ended up with a laughing competition.

Bob plugs a gig by Dumpy's Rusty Nuts in Carshalton

Bob forgot to pick up the mail so Sarah only has phone dedications to read out. All her songs come from 1971.

Mark interviews Wreckless Eric.

Bob's show overruns so Dave starts late and then his sho stops beacuse the station was raided. Again. After having been left alone for years.

Dedications and mentions include: Anastasia of Twickenham; Ronald of Heston; Zel, Aaron, Matthew, Simon, Anna, Hannah, Isla, Georgia and all the boys and girls at Tiffins school; Ian Hobbs; Hilly, Natty and Christine; who were all listening to Thameside Radio 90.2

Despite the raid last week the gang are back.

Bob announces a Thameside party on Friday 9th October at the Shepherd's Bush Village Hall just down the road from the BBC (it was absolute mayhem). The charts and new releases will be returning  and Sarah will be on as a regular feature.  Mark interviews  "Little Roosters" who were playing the Greyhound in Fulham Palace Road  as well as having jogged round Hyde Park in aid of the Stoke Mandeville Appeal.

There's a demo tape from Thor (Ian Anderson, Rob Barry, Martin Weaver)

The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society are going to have a pub crawl, Dave plays a tape by The Wrong Direction called called Ring Product. He also has some news flashes sent in by listeners and sends up a dog food commercial. Still no-one wants to listen to The Beatles' story. He finishes with a medley from the Portsmouth Symphonia - which is absolutely unspeakably brilliant.

The next fast food survey comes from from Harrow on the Hill.   

New listeners to Thameside Radio  90.2 who get a mention include  Biddy, Mike Jones and Peter Miller, Mark Bramley of Bromley, Malcolm Friar (who missed the Circle Line picnic), group S25 in Chalfont County Secondary School, the CBers in The Pilot in Hanworth, Peter King, Stephen Garstang and Susan Grange

A live show but there are technical problems so for the first 20 minutes there was a mixture of different music plus interference (edited out). As that gets sorted  Dave makes occasional announcements until Bob arrives to start his show.

Bob introduces listenerss ideas for feeding "Tass" the Thameside cat. There's a demo tape from One Track Mind playing "Your Mother Doesn't Love You".

At 8:00 Sarah has a 30 minute show absolutely packed with dedications. She also has Mark interviewing Dolly Mixture who played the Greyhound in Fulham. Lola Payola and The Schoolgirl Song gets played (again).

Alex who plays highlights from the Circle Line Picnic where about 100 listeners took over a whole carriage.

Dave has a civil service memo about not having keys attached to your belt as it's safety risk. Then as if the technical problems at the start weren't enough fifteen minutes into Dave's show begins the broadcast stops. Thameside Radio was raided by the DTI.

More Thameside Radio 90.2 listeners getting mentions: Rob Leighton, Angus Dee, Mick Merry, Dolly Mixture, Ian Hobbs, Jim O'Reily of The Runes, John Hensley, Dave Booth, Adrian of One Track Radio, Andrew McKenzie, Ann Bednall from Southampton University 

Bob Edwards' show comes from a new studio.

The famous Thameside Radio 90.2 Circle Line Picnic is coming up on the 20th: We all met at Sloane Square on the anticlockwise platform at 2:30. Everyone had to  Bring a hat, a plant in a pot and food.

"Just Can't get Enough" from Depeche Mode  is a new release as is "It's my Party" by Dave Stewart. Bob has a competition to make an automatic feeder for the new Thameside kitten.

The fast food survey tries out a kebab shop, but comes from a listeners house: Philippa from Barnes (see photo). Bob went out to buy the kebabs and rumbabas.   

Next week's survey is from Mazzy's neck of the woods: The Copper Kettle in Byfleet

Dave offers a listener who complains about his his show half an hour of airtime!

Mentions include The Black Prince who rescued Bob when he nearly fell off Dave's Bike. The LSU school. Valerie Birtenshaw, Julian de Takats and John Brennan

If you are one of the many thousands who used to listen to Thameside Radio on 90.2 VHF it would be great to hear from you. Just leave a comment or email al @ fmthen.com

Tatty's party part 3 9-10pm

Part 2 is missing - do you have a copy?

The end of this live OB ends with the Tony Lloyd show from the party and then the Interpid Birdman.


More dedications for Stephen Cox, Ann and Richard and their daughter Hilary,  Burlington Danes School, The Lower Echelons Cricket sixteen from Mr Straker.  Horace Gabb 

An early Thameside Radio OB from Easter 1980. Bob presents a show from a party full of kids from Latymer Upper School (boys) and Godolphin and Latymer School (girls). It's very noisy party packed with people taking A-Levels who are probably all responsible adults now!

Helen from Twickenham is very nice to Bob Edwards.

Names include George Wood, Bob and Rupe, Jane Susan Sarah and Cathy, The Hoary Scab, Bishop's in Rayners Lane, George Johnson, Mouse, Inge, St Paul's School, Andrew Simpson, Rosemary Kelly Shaun Kelly (Sean?), Andrew from Reynolds School, Renata, Sue Everett, Harrow Weald 6th Form College, Ian and and John from the 1979 - 1980 6th form  from the Salesian School in Chertsey, Julian Cole, Roy Masters, Niall Stoddart from St Clement Danes.

This is after Thameside Radio had a bank holiday broadcast (on the 1st Sept) where Sarah's show proved to be was popular.
 
The week's new releases include Prince Charming, Homo Sapien, and the weird but pointless Schoolgirl Song by Lola Payola (which I don't have a copy of). Bob plays a demo tape of "Cry the Night Away" by Strange Persuasion sent by Dominic Glynn.

The Thameside Radio Good Bite Guide comes from Saigon Sal's Chinese take-away near Highbury and Islington Station. Alex interviews someone who is worried they might have been eating monkey brains and wants to inspect the kitchen!

Mazzy calls the Curly Man from a call box and we hear the pips as her money runs out. Remember the pips?

Dave gives us his interpretation of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony as only The Intrepid Birdman can.

Lots of holiday postcards -  new names include John Henry, Biddy,  Dave Booth, Starr's Dad, John Simmonds, The Brentham Club, Martin Farley, Graham Lee of Mill Hill, PC of Hammersmith, Alan Dolby. 

Al

One hour from a Thameside Radio Bank Holiday special - This is an unusual show as Sarah is DJing. She's just  back from a trip around Europe. There's a phantom phone box - where they call out to a phone box somewhere in London  and the first listener to answer gets on air. This time they're  in Hammersmith Broadway and Ealing Broadway.

The next Good Food Guide is from Highbury and Islington.

It's the show after the Brighton trip. Bob mentions CB radio and tells us that Thameside doesn't approve of illegal broadcasting he also says that  that Sarah will be coming back soon from her summer holidays.

Dave doesn't like Gary Numan's new single called "She's Got Claws". He's not wild about Time from Alan Parsons as a single either. But we all liked "Under Your Thumb" by Godley and Creme.

Summer is ending so they're plugging Thameside Radio sweatshirts at £6.50. I might still have one somewhere!

The Good Bite Guide comes from the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Baker Street as well as the Intrepid Birdman's barbecue on Brighton beach.

Andrew Du Pre tells us how he couldn't get served at the Chiltern Pub outside Baker Street even though he had proof that he was over 18. Still he managed to air his grievance on the radio.

The Curly Man has a mention in the Standard.

I particularly like this week's The Intrepid Birdman show. It's just packed with great songs, sketches and chat that work together and leave me with a smile. Amongst the other wonderful strangeness Dave has a song all about knees, another by Eamon Andrews and fits in his unforgettable shortened version of Girl by The Beatles. There's an extra jingle at the end of the broadcast too.

Mentions include Ian Buzwell, Carol and Deborah, Shaky and Jizz, Nigel of Death City, Andrew Du Pre, Kojak, Mark of Kingston, Gary Hunt, Graham Reed, Martin Friar, The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society and Rupert Bailey. 

This record shop in Chiswick High Road used to sell Thameside Radio 90.2 badges, t-shirts and sweatshirts. It also supplied Thameside with new releases on a sale or return basis in return for a mention on air.

Like most record shops it is long gone. 

The Thameside Radio 90.2 listeners and crew went on a trip to Brighton. Bob left early to get back to London and start the show.

Cherry writes in to say that she has fallen for one of the listeners at the last fast food who is tall, dark wore Doc Martens and a donkey jacket! The next fast food is at the Kentucky Fried in Baker Street.

Dave finally makes it back and  plays recordings of the day's events during his show. There are screams, giggles, barbecues and a severed head. Dave leaves behind a coach full of listeners at the Packhorse and Talbot in Chiswick.

New listeners include Tim Gordon, Gander, Andrew Beck, Anrdew Barclay, Hayes School.

More birthday celebrations with Tony Lloyd and The Intrepid Birdman
The Birdman hasd made a show around the making of the birthday cake.

Tony Lloyd calls more listeners, shares recordings of Bob Edwards fluffing his lines when reading the music news and plays impeccable music ranging from Pink Floyd to Ian Dury. Whatever happened to the Tony Lloyd fan club (TLFC - see picture)?

Mentions on the phone for John of Dulwich, Dave / Barry Banson from Alleyns School, GM Roberts of Woolwich,  Rory of Hayes, Malcolm Mcintryre from Sidcup, Miller and Mariosa from Earls Court.

Technical note:  The FM reception wasn't perfect, the cassettes are showing their age and the azimuth isn't quite right, but it's really great to hear the show again.

An early live extended broadcast.

Bob Edwards plays music from 1978 and phones listeners who wrote in over the last 12 months live on air.

Bob tells us about a guest appearance from the Intrepid Birdman (who later became a regular presenter and a key part of Thameside). Loads of jingles mostly created by the Birdman many of which seem to have disappeared since. Music news from Tony Lloyd. Loads of people mentioning their mum and dad. There is discussion about whether Thameside should extend hours - this 4 hour extravaganza was quite a contrast to the usual 1 hour shows.

The team are drinking Light Ale (can you still buy that?)

At the end of Bob's show there is a 30 minute retrospective on the first year - Thameside had put out 52 shows uninterrupted and were basking in the glory.

Thameside Radio 90.2 listeners mentioned in the phone calls include Dave Williamson from Hendon, Robert of Chelsea, Debbie Wooley, Simon Michelsberg from Barnet,  Martin Smith of Pinner, Jim Stockwell, Graham King from Orpington and Richard Sugarman from Stanmore.

I've just received loads of great new recordings. So coming soon is  some much earlier stuff including the whole first Thameside Radio 90.2 birthday broadcast, one of the earliest live OBs and also a show from the lovely Sarah (be still my beating heart)!

Many thanks to everyone who has sent in recordings or tapes so far, special mention to Dave (not the Birdman) for the 120 cassettes and Stephen Cruickshank who is still unearthing some amazing material. Please please do keep them coming.

I'm happy to do the converting to  mp3 so if you don't mind lending your tapes for a couple of days you'll get them back with a high quality digital copy with tape heads aligned etc.

Al

Bob Edwards is in a laid back mood. Moody Blues, 10CC, Paul McCartney, Led Zep, Stevie Wonder. Loads of dedications. A listener gives advice about fixing the big end on a BSA motorbike. Steve Scribbler offers to organise a squash tournament - Bob is sure that he can thrash anyone. During the show there is a "meet the listeners" do with some of the Thameside staff at Hammersmith station.

The Thameside Radio 90.2 Good Bite Guide comes from from Pizza Hut in Ealing (£3 for a 13 inch pizza). In 1981 takeaway pizza is a bit of a novelty!

More messages from the the Curly Man's answering machine.  

Dave Birdman plays a wide variety of stuff including "Sir Henry at Rawlinsons End" but he can't find "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" as it's in the old studio.

Both Bob and Dave plug the Thameside Radio mystery trip (to Brighton) leaving from Turnham Green next week. Bob says he might drive down but needs to get back in time to start the show. Oh the joys of live radio.

Great messages from  Midnight Cinderella, Richard Bradford and Andrew Bird.  

Al

Decades before it became famous as being the cafe where the losing teams in The Apprentice were sent to ponder their fates the Bridge Cafe was a favourite haunt of the Thameside team.

Thanks to Mark for the very kind offer of more recordings. The Thameside Radio 90.2 archive is building up nicely.

Back to regular broadcasts. Bob introduces a big "meet the listeners" evening. Thameside Radio staff go out all over London (Ealing Broadway, Liverpool Street, Wimbledon, Harrow on the Hill, Barnes, Uxbridge, Chiswick, Elephant and Castle, Richmond, Earls Court, Notting Hill Gate and the dolls house shop on the corner of Rossmore Road) giving out stickers, collecting dedications and selling tickets for the Brighton trip.

The Thameside listener charts have Kim Wilde, Motorhead, Depeche Mode, Killing Joke and Kate Bush.

The fast food survey comes from Burger King in Leicester Square followed by an evening watching the fireworks in Hyde Park.

The Curlyman has a phone-in section.

Dave reads out a letter from a listener saying that she has started
The Intrepid Birdman Appreciation Society. At the end of his show he switches the transmitter back on with a scream it has timed out. After the  transmitter finally goes off you can hear the clipped voices and melodic gentle tunes of Radio 2 in the background and quite understand why so many people listened to Thameside Radio once Radio 1 went off air.

Loads of letters and holiday postcards after the extended broadcast. NamesNmaes include John Simmonds, Francis Green, Buzby, Andy Feely of Dulwich, Latymer Upper School, Steve Scribbler, John Henry, Jordan Lee, The Green Belt Festival, Kathy Ann from Henrietta Barnett School,  Jonathan Lovell, Ian Hobbs, Paul Gander, Hayes School, Elspeth & Jose, Andrew Back, Paul Gander and Dave Cunningham.  

Thanks for the emails - I had completely forgotten about cleaning tape heads. The next show will sound even crisper and brighter.

Al

 It's 14 hours after the extended broadcast started and the crew are sounding tired. Dave calls in from home on Alex's show, Bob has the final shift and is excited because the pubs are open until midnight. Haven't times changed?

 

Namechecks for Stephen King for Krishna, and BBC Shift 1 video tape who were dealing with the royal wedding (Nice to know that the BBC were listening to Thameside Radio while working). They wanted something to do with walking or mountaineering.  

 

Next week it's back to normality - another finely crafted 3 hour Thameside Radio show which was broadcast on a Sunday evening at 7pm. Al.

More from Dale "The Supersmurf" (see photo) who is a great 80s disco DJ. Dave sets up a a listener hunt for Alex who is "inconspicuous somewhere on  Shepherds Bush Green". Toby from Notting Hill finds him wearing a white coat and hat! Name checks for Rupert from Barnes, John Brennan, Andrew Simpson

3:30 to 6:30pm. "Captain Cosmos" (Garry) who is station announcer at Paddington station phones in from work for a chat with Bob and makes a live announcement about Thameside Radio to the whole station. Andrew calls from St Ursula Road in Southall where they are having a street party while listening to Thameside. He asks for "Win a Night Out With a Well Known Paranoiac" which is still one of my favourite songs. Ever. (Yes I do have a copy and, before you ask, the answer is "yes you can" - just leave a comment or drop me an email).

The surprise after the fast food survey was a listeners trip to Hyde Park to see the fireworks. There's a clip in Alex's show. Name checks include: Ian Hobbs, Andrew Beck, Anne Sergeant, Max Hamster and Paul Gander.

Hello to Mazzy - once Thameside's most dedicated letter writer - who now writes short stories and a blog.
Al

The Intrepid Birdman show.  Phone lines open. It's a lovely warm sunny afternoon.

Dave is wearing sunglasses to keep the evening vibe - which sounds like a scene out of "The Boat That Rocked". It works though as he plays some very offbeat records.

There is the usual great 80's stuff which might get you looking at your singles collection again as some of it can't be found for download anywhere.   

Loads of name checks. Far too many to list but those with surnames include Ian Buzwell of Etham,  Paul Cambridge, Mazzy of Byfleet, John Simmonds, Margaret Owen, Andy Cooper, John Brennan, Dave Booth, John Briory, Alan Dolby, Alan Aldwych, Jordan Lee and Kojak of Acton.

What were you doing that day?

Do leave a comment or mail al(at)fmthen.co.uk

Al

If you have iTunes then you can get these podcasts by searching for "Thameside Radio" or subscribe from here http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=317777838

The wedding of Charles and Di. It's a Wednesday Bank Holiday. Bob starts the show at 10am and phones Dave on air to wake him up.  There's a black and white TV in the corner of the studio so we get the occasional comment on the royal procession. Dave's "superbike" broke down so it took him quite a while to get to the Thameside studio in Acton. This podcast takes us up to 12:30 when Dave finally arrives.

This Sunday show was the week after a live outside broadcast from Hyde Park and 3 days before the wedding of Charles and Diana. Bob plugs the extended broadcast for teh royal wedding the following Wednesday which starts at 10am. There are also tickets for the Thameside day trip to Brighton on August 16th which cost £5.

Alex had Thameside Radio "fast food surveys" from  Spud-u-Like in Shepherd's Bush and Huckleberry's in Oxford Street. The report also featured the Birdman's "No-one Loves Me (Just 'Cause I Eat Worms).  

The Birdman has a really great beginning to his show.  

Loads of dedications on Bob's show. Some by letter, some on the Curlyman's number. I've tried to pick out ones that might get spotted in a Google search:  

Francesca from Putney for Tony Fletcher from Apocalypse, Francine, Nick, Xani, Carl, Jeff Jim, Nick and Fran. Moira for the Whitton Skipsters. Mothball for Dandelion and Photon Brick. Toby from Notting Hill for Daniel Abdab, Charlie and Cathy. Carrie for Ian Day and the Paranoid Android Fan Club. Mazzy, Margaret Atkinson, Andy Cooper, John Brennan, John Simon, Jordan Lee, Bernard of St John's Wood, John of Thornton Heath, Alan Simpson, Sue Cook, Nichola for Godolphin and Latymer and, Roslin Park Rugby Club. Greg for the BNZ staff.Juliette and June from tele-ads at the Surrey Comet. Chris Webb. Alison who is Mothball's sister. Ricchard Gordon for Cathy and Jonathan. Everyone at the Alexandria and Fireball concert.   There are more, have a listen!   

A TDK D C90 dropped into the cassette recorder, press play, a clunk, a whirr, the dry sound of the tape, the meters on the PC bounce and the I've started transferring the first of the cassettes.  The hiss in the headphones gets slightly louder and we're asked the question we've heard so many times. "Do you ever have difficulty finding a radio station playing music? Oh yeah. Well here's a tip: Tune to Thameside Radio 90.2 Megaherz VHF"

Sounds OK. A bit muffled but it still makes me smile.

So here it is: Vintage 1981 Thameside Radio 90.2 VHF. 120 cassettes worth. Week by week, show by show.  Now available as a podcast for download to your 21st century iPod.

What were you doing on Sunday nights in the early 1980s?

For those of you with kids: You do realise that they are now the same age you were then? Are they listening to pirate radio while doing their homework?

Why did we meet at the BBC? Well a lot of ex Thamesiders went on to work in broadcasting. And some still do.