Bawdsey Radar takes part in the celebration of the BBC 100

On the 18th October saw the one hundredth anniversary of the formation of the BBC. As part of the celebrations the BBC Amateur Radio Group activated a radio station at Daventry where the original Empire Short Wave Transmissions started in 1932. In 1935 these transmissions were used by Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins to prove to the Air Ministry that radio waves could be used to detect aircraft and from this Radar was developed.

A team of scientists was established at Orfordness and in 1936 they moved to Bawdsey Manor where the world’s first operational radar station was built. Today, two of our volunteers established a radio station at Bawdsey in the building constructed in the late 1930s and contact was made with the BBC team at Daventry to commemorate the link between Daventry and Radar. Graham Murchie and John Brand operated the station and a message was passed reminding the people at Daventry of the historic occasion.