3 May 1994
Norman McLeod
Correct me if I'm wrong, but at the end of June I hope to be demonstrating the first complete broadcasting chain from microphone to aerial - running off wind and solar power - in the UK.
Programmes from Radio Avalon at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset over the last weekend in June will come from a wind- powered transmitter and for the most part from a wind-powered studio. If there's no wind, hopefully there will be sun. If we get flat calm, overcast weather for a week we may have to pedal. But one way or another, we're going to keep the station afloat without being dependent on a mains connection.
Last year Radio Avalon consolidated a very successful overnight sequence of dance/ambient mixes which will be back again from the wind-powered studio. This is being organised by Troy Tanska of Stroud, currently preparing for the Easy FM/Deep FM RSL that takes to the air from a local college there on May 9.
Steve Admans, working for the BBC's Westminster unit, is organising our news team, and for engineering help we have two very experienced engineers - Martin Spencer of Phoenix Communications and that old rogue Mike Craig bringing their considerable resources on board.
As founder, technical chief and green facilities organiser I get a number of enquiries from people hoping to be able to help in exchange for free passes. Unfortunately, not everyone who wants a pass will get one, particularly when they are unknown to the organisation. It looks like potential contributors may have to buy their own ticket first. There will be a marked shift of emphasis this year away from the concept of a DJ sitting alone in a portacabin behind a crash barrier playing his favourite records and reading messages off a computer screen. Instead, for much of the day an 'open access' policy will prevail, in that anyone who wants to sing, play, read a poem, tell a story or whatever on the air will be encouraged to do so and the technical arrangements will be designed with live performance as a priority.
There will also be a site-wide radio mike able to bring back material from anywhere on the camp. The technical infrastructure should be largely in place by Monday 20 June, with training and practice on Tuesday/Wednesday prior to a full service from dawn on Thursday until the following Tuesday.
More info from me at 67 Preston Road, BRIGHTON BN1 4QE or call 0273 684172 fax 0273 700 526. Can previous enquirers re-confirm their interest if I haven't heard from them lately.
With Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee, discussions about shopping, beggars and buses, it is parish- pump local radio for the middle- aged and older people who used to like Radio Sussex when it wasn't based in far-flung Guildford.
Perish the thought that it should be the ONLY new service licensed - it should be on AM for a start with its high speech content and few listeners able to hear above 6 kHz, but it's an obvious and welcome contender for a permanent licence.
Any readers wishing to comment on what I have said are welcome to call me on 01 273 684 172 or send e-mail to normac@fastnet.co.uk
Copyright NJ McLeod 1995