Originally published on
1-May-1957:

Originally published on
16-Mar-1976:

Stereo radio comes to Norfolk

Stereo on Radios 2 and 3 will be broadcast from the Tacolneston transmitters from Friday [19th March 1976].

The start of a full stereophonic service on all three VHF channels depends upon the completion of a new pulse code modulation (PCM) link to the station at Tacolneston.

It is hoped that this will be possible within the next two years, but to provide stereo in the meantime, a rebroadcast link has been installed to provide Radio 2 and Radio 3 in stereo to about 1,100,000 people in Norfolk, Suffolk and the eastern part of Cambridgeshire.

Radio 4
Radio 4 stereo programmes will be added to the service when the permanent PCM link has been completed.

With the present extension, BBC stereo radio will be available to approximately 88 per cent of the United Kingdom population.

The start of stereo transmissions does not affect listeners using ordinary monophonic receivers, and to take advantage of the stereophonic information, a receiver having a stereo decoder is required.

Advice about reception of the BBC's stereophonic service may be obtained from the BBC's Engineering Information Department, Broadcasting House, London, W1A 1AA.

Originally published on
Tuesday, July 11th, 1989:

Team At Top Keep Us In The Picture
Radio transmitter beams to 600,000

Stormy weather, hot temperatures and the odd tractor are just some of the problems tackled by operators of Norfolk's largest radio transmitter.

The 505ft structure in a quiet corner of Norfolk at Tacolneston beams television and radio programmes to more than 600,000 viewers and listeners across the county, 24 hours a day.

It is rare for any of these events, even a tractor digging up some of the underground cables, to cut out the signals, according to manager Graham Barrell.

When there are faults, a number of back-up systems come into operation, maintaining BBC and ITV television and BBC radio.

A lightning strike produces a big bang in the building but cannot put the station out of action unless it also cuts off electricity supplies.

During recent industrial action by broadcasting unions, one person has been able to run the transmitter, as it is fully automatic.

It costs almost £½ million a year to run, with a third of that going on the eight-man staff who also maintain 24 smaller transmitters dotted around the county.

"We have been one of the more efficient parts of the BBC in keeping costs down." said Mr Barrell but he added there were constant demands to cut back further.

The main work is keeping the equipment in perfect order. Rigger Chris Edwards and engineer Barry Curson regularly scale the transmitter to check for faults.

The men are trained climbers as well as experts in their field and used to working on one of the highest points in the county.

They are constantly replacing equipment and new parts fitted now will still be sending programmes to homes in 20 years time.

At the moment they are also setting up the technology which will carry Radio One FM from early next year. The station already deals with Radios Two, Three and Four and Radio Norfolk.

The deregulation of television could bring some changes to the operation of the transmitter but not for some years, said Mr Barrell.

It will certainly remain in BBC control until 1996 but become increasingly open to provide a service to private companies. "Eventually we will be fully privatised, that's what's on the cards."

Pictures/Captions (click on image on left to see full article)

Left - Chris Edwards (top) and Barry Curson scale the mast.

Centre - At the transmitter are, left to right: Chris Edwards (handyman-rigger), Barry Curson (transmitter engineer), Garham Barrel (transmitter manager) and Anne Attwood (clerk).

Right - Top, Chris Edwards carries out maintainance work on the mast. Above, Barry Curson checks the FM Radio 2 drive transmitter.