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Box Church on the Wireless Jan Tapscott (nee Brooks) May 2018 Jan Tapscott wrote to us about a letter from Box vicar Rev George Foster written to her grandmother, Florence Brooks (nee Southard), in September 1933. The letter referred to a broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation from Box Church, packed to the doors, with our own people, some from Ditteridge and a great many non-conformists. The letter suggested that Florence write to BBC Broadcasting House for another broadcast from Box. We had already published articles about Rev Foster, Box's theatrical vicar, and about Isaac Southard, Middlehill man and his daughter, suffragette, Florence Brooks. But what was the connection between them and the BBC broadcast? Right: BBC Broadcasting House by Stephen Craven (courtesy Wikipedia) |
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Radio Times
We sometimes forget that radio broadcasts are very recent and that the centenary of their first use was only celebrated in February 2018. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was formed in 1922 and its importance became apparent in the General Strike of May 1926 when no newspapers were published and radio news coverage filled the gap. Outside broadcasts followed quickly: an England against Wales rugby match in January 1927 and a daily church service in January 1928.
King George V made the first royal broadcast in 1932. The government had been reluctant to accept national broadcasting,
fearful of lack of control, and listeners were required to pay for a licence fee costing 10s a year.
Box's Involvement
Rev Foster's letter makes it clear that a service had been broadcast on the radio in 1933. By that date the BBC had been organised into regional radio and national radio. The Box transmission was broadcast by the BBC Western Region on the Medium Wave with receivers using either a crystal set (cat's whisker) or a valved radio. We know from letters that George Foster received, the Box Service coverage was mostly from Pontypool and Barry Island to King's Lynn, meaning it went out on both the Regional and National Services from the Brookman's Park transmitter in Hertfordshire.[1]
Rev George Foster wrote about the broadcast in the Parish Magazine.[2] He didn't name the authors but the location and the content of the letter makes it clear that it came from Florence Brooks:
It was a real honour to have been asked by the BBC to broadcast our evening Harvest Service. The chief engineer told me that ... the number of listeners is reckoned at about 4 million people. The BBC asked us to give a typical West Country Service and it appears we succeeded in doing so. Here are the extracts from the letters (we have received):
A letter from Upper Stratton, Swindon:
I feel I must write to tell you how much we appreciated the Harvest Service broadcast from Box Church last night. Ever since we heard about it we have looked forward to it very much. We have had wireless since 1928 and never enjoyed anything so much before. Everything was perfect. The dear bells, organ and your address very clearly. We could imagine ourselves in our old seat near the pillar. Again we thank you and sincerely hope that very soon there may be a next time.
Rev George Foster's Reply
The reply that Rev Foster wrote to Florence Brooks gives a further insight into events. It read:
Dear Mrs Brooks, Very many thanks for your very kind letter. Of course we were very excited about the broadcast Service. It was the first one that the majority of us had taken part in. The church was packed to the doors, with our own people, some from Ditteridge and a great many non-conformists. Our choir is very good at the moment and we felt that the service went well ! I am so glad that you enjoyed it and that it carried you back again to the beautiful village and also our Church of Box.
Of course, we would love there to be a "next time" but we can't suggest it ourselves to the authorities. If you would like it, perhaps you would be good enough to drop a postcard to Broadcasting House, London, W1 (opened only the year before) and ask for another service in the future. Again thanking you for your kind letter.
I am, sincerely yours, George Foster
We sometimes forget that radio broadcasts are very recent and that the centenary of their first use was only celebrated in February 2018. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was formed in 1922 and its importance became apparent in the General Strike of May 1926 when no newspapers were published and radio news coverage filled the gap. Outside broadcasts followed quickly: an England against Wales rugby match in January 1927 and a daily church service in January 1928.
King George V made the first royal broadcast in 1932. The government had been reluctant to accept national broadcasting,
fearful of lack of control, and listeners were required to pay for a licence fee costing 10s a year.
Box's Involvement
Rev Foster's letter makes it clear that a service had been broadcast on the radio in 1933. By that date the BBC had been organised into regional radio and national radio. The Box transmission was broadcast by the BBC Western Region on the Medium Wave with receivers using either a crystal set (cat's whisker) or a valved radio. We know from letters that George Foster received, the Box Service coverage was mostly from Pontypool and Barry Island to King's Lynn, meaning it went out on both the Regional and National Services from the Brookman's Park transmitter in Hertfordshire.[1]
Rev George Foster wrote about the broadcast in the Parish Magazine.[2] He didn't name the authors but the location and the content of the letter makes it clear that it came from Florence Brooks:
It was a real honour to have been asked by the BBC to broadcast our evening Harvest Service. The chief engineer told me that ... the number of listeners is reckoned at about 4 million people. The BBC asked us to give a typical West Country Service and it appears we succeeded in doing so. Here are the extracts from the letters (we have received):
A letter from Upper Stratton, Swindon:
I feel I must write to tell you how much we appreciated the Harvest Service broadcast from Box Church last night. Ever since we heard about it we have looked forward to it very much. We have had wireless since 1928 and never enjoyed anything so much before. Everything was perfect. The dear bells, organ and your address very clearly. We could imagine ourselves in our old seat near the pillar. Again we thank you and sincerely hope that very soon there may be a next time.
Rev George Foster's Reply
The reply that Rev Foster wrote to Florence Brooks gives a further insight into events. It read:
Dear Mrs Brooks, Very many thanks for your very kind letter. Of course we were very excited about the broadcast Service. It was the first one that the majority of us had taken part in. The church was packed to the doors, with our own people, some from Ditteridge and a great many non-conformists. Our choir is very good at the moment and we felt that the service went well ! I am so glad that you enjoyed it and that it carried you back again to the beautiful village and also our Church of Box.
Of course, we would love there to be a "next time" but we can't suggest it ourselves to the authorities. If you would like it, perhaps you would be good enough to drop a postcard to Broadcasting House, London, W1 (opened only the year before) and ask for another service in the future. Again thanking you for your kind letter.
I am, sincerely yours, George Foster
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A great insight into Box in the 1930s. Thank you, Jan.
References
[1] http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/ukradio.html
[2] Parish Magazine, November 1933
[1] http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/ukradio.html
[2] Parish Magazine, November 1933