Wick Radio GKR in the 1960's

Wick Radio in the 1960's was the coast radio station protecting shipping in northern United Kingdom waters and also the primary communications link for the UK's deepsea trawler fleet.

[@givvup]

I have a special interest in this video cos Im in it. Im the guy who reads the gale warning and speaks French in a Breton dialect. I worked in GKR from 1958 to 1974, just a dogwatch in the scheme of things. I dont know who posted this but thanks for doing it. Wick Radio is a part of maritime history and worth remembering Charlie Gregory

[@mikeintheuk9412]

Hi I’m Mike Clark and I was posted to Wick in Dec 1978 and left in 1982 to work offshore. I wish I had stayed until it shut around 1990. I was one of two sets of twins working there! The Clark twins and the Fell twins. Tim Clark was my twin who went onto join the coastguard.

[@michaelbird3887]

I began my working life as a Marconi Radio Officer in 1962 and I find this very nostalgic. Maritime radio operating was a relatively short-lived profession, running from roughly 1900-2000 and the 1960's-1970's represented the heyday, I suppose, before the satellites took over.....I still find myself reading the Morse in war movies.....

[@givvup]

The cast, in order of appearance; John MacAskill, cigarette and glasses; Charlie Mearns, on the Morse key; Sandy Mowat the officer in charge, moustache and suit; Ernie Sargent, sorry about the spelling; Neil Leitch, hes the big boy doing the MAYDAY RELAY; Jimmy Kay, the overseer, receiving messages; Haydn Arnold in the yellow jumper; a glimpse of Dick Gregg, then me Charlie Gregory

[@frankklaassen]

When I was a little boy I use to listen to the sounds of coastal radio stations. After that I still listened to those stations when I was sailing as an ships engineer I am 49 years old now and just recently I realized that the coastal radio years are gone. I can still remembers the phrase "this is Wick Radio", the sound of morse and passing the manned lightships. For some nostalgic reason I became interested in the history of coastal radio. Thanks for your contribution.

[@johnmodlin6697]

I was a radiotelephone operator for WFE radio station in Houston in '75, keeping in contact with oil ships around the world for Western Geophysical Oil Company. Quite a fun job. I also took a distress call from Gulf of Mexico and patched in coast guard. Quite exciting for an 18 year olds first job.

[@davidgrahamscott]

My father worked at Wick Radio but he's not in this film. It's completely closed down now so thanks for posting this.

[@mikeintheuk9412]

I used to work with your father…John. I was one of two sets of twins who worked there.

[@jameskay4856]

My dad went on to be in charge of British radio stations. My brother robin became a wireless op before emigrating to Australia. I was a mechanic before retiring

[@spakkajack]

beats an indian call centre

[@KeithRowley418]

I used to use GKR on HF from far outside the North Sea - out in the Atlantic etc - it was sometimes quicker than waiting for a turn at Portishead! Good video - thanks.

[@kingcw]

This is the first time I have, after 30 years at sea as an R/O, heard a professional radioman use the expression "over and out" (At 3 min 10 secs )

[@Tommy1979]

blast from the past, like it

[@jameskay4856]

Jimmy Kay was my dad we lived on 22seaforth ave .jim

[@DixonFamilyHistory]

Hi Jim, Your Dad was my boss at GKR - and even when I left to go to GNE !!

[@battlestarone]

i used to listen to Wick radio and many other in the late 80s and early 90s,big signals,certain i recolonise some of the voices on the vid,remember when wick went remote,think it was to Portishead and the conversation between the radio op there trying to explain to a skipper why he had got through to Portishead via Wick,very funny...sadly there all gone,,,heard Iceland radio not long ago doing R/T work with an aircraft,,huge signal !!!!!!!!

[@frankklaassen]

Dear Charlie, Thank you very much for the extra links from Wick radio.

[@Motoguzzi750]

Wonderful video - particularly for a newcomer to CW who lives in easy sight of the sea.....

[@alanpassmore7301]

I sat the CW test for my ham licence at Wick Radio, in 1965.

[@givvup]

If you want a couple of other angles on Wick Radio, follow the links, givvup then poet-on-a-hill then Fated. Theres a scene written there that takes place inside Wick Radio. All the characters and conversations are for real. Then, for another angle, follow the link to The Travellers Tales. There, under the heading, Sailing with Hunters, you will see real life Wick Radio as viewed by fishermen.

[@marlomontanaro3233]

Man, everyone in this video smokes like a chimney!

[@DixonFamilyHistory]

True Mario, that was life back then!

[@skoko1945]

This is so neat.

[@allanegleston4931]

all gone now :(

[@slartibartfast1951]

Whilst not in common usage I hardly think it fair to say never heard before. I've certainly heard it several times, though never at GKR where I spent 26 years :)

[@mikeintheuk9412]

Hi Tony, it’s Mike Clark here..I used to work with you….the other set of twins! How are you?

[@slartibartfast1951]

@@mikeintheuk9412 how you doing Mike? I expect like me you area retired now 🤔

[@IZ0MTW]

Thanks very very much for this document, I wish I can see many more of these on the net to come back with immaignation to those beautiful years...!

[@G0IMB]

Interesting stuff. Good fast CW from straight keys.

[@uslines]

Wonderful video. Pleased that film exists of these and other Brit coastal stations. Wish there was one of WCC out on Cape Cod USA..

[@Sailorunderzero]

Çok güzel günlerdi dostum. Telsizin hışırtısı, denizin çoşkusu, pipolar vesaire bitti be.

[@MrDANGitall]

Translation from Turkish: It was a beautiful day, my friend. The rustling of the radio, the joy of the sea, the pipes are over and over.

[@randeddy3771]

These jobs had high risk of lung cancer from all the cigs smoked !!!!! KD8EKX

[@richarddowney1972]

From all the various videos I have viewed, I quite agree. An ashtray at every operating position. The job could be stressful, thus the cigarettes.