Broadcast marks historic radio site's 100th year

Messages have been sent across the globe to mark the 100th anniversary of a radio site where the world's first transatlantic phone call was made.

The New Year's Day broadcasts were made by Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society (RATS ) from the former Rugby Radio Station.

The site first opened in 1926 inside what is now a Grade II- listed building, just east of the Warwickshire town.

A total of 57 radio transmitters covered an area of 1,600 acres but the site closed in 2002 and it now forms part of Houlton Secondary School.

The voice and morse code broadcasts reached America, Canada, Brazil and all of Europe, said Steve Jones from the society, but failed to reach other parts of the world due to atmospheric conditions.

"But we certainly spread our wings, it was absolutely fantastic to be transmitting from Rugby Radio Station again," he said.

The society had erected an antenna at the school site, allowing the broadcasts to take place.

"When the radio station first opened it had an initial message that it sent out and we compiled a message which was part of what was first transmitted on the first day 100 years ago," said Mr Jones.

"After the broadcast we then took calls from radio amateurs from all over the place back into us," he added.

The original message alerted the world to the fact that "British official wireless news messages" would be transmitted from 1 January 1926 "by the new high power wireless telegraph station recently erected at Hilmorton near Rugby".

"As hitherto the messages will be broadcast on a wavelength of eighteen thousand, seven hundred and forty metres in the English language in morse alphabet and addressed to all stations."

Rugby Radio Station became the UK's base for radio telephony and made the first transatlantic voice transition in January 1927 which was sent to Houlton, in Maine, in the United States.

It also sent the time signal, maritime and submarine communications and played key roles in World War Two.

It could broadcast a message so powerful that it would be picked up by almost every ship at sea.

After closing, part of the building that was used to house the transmitter was saved and developed into the school.

Other events to mark the anniversary include an exhibition at the town's art gallery and museum later in the year.

"It's exciting times for the amateur radio community and the local Warwickshire community at large," added Mr Jones.

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