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Renowned Inventor and Pioneer of Radio, Guglielmo Marconi, has many links to White Cliffs Country and on April 25th, International Marconi Day, groups from across the area will came together to commemorate those early days of radio and wireless communication.
Centred on Dover’s historic Maison Dieu the day featured live Short Wave transmissions by Dover Amateur Radio Club who will also have ‘roving sets’ based around Dover Market Square allowing members of the public to, at times, talk on air.
With thanks to the National Trust, The Maison Dieu also linked with South Foreland Lighthouse where both Short Wave and Morse Code demonstrations were used.
The first ever ship to shore radio transmission was made from the East Goodwin Lightship to South Foreland Lighthouse in December 1898 with the world’s first Radio Distress Signal sent from the same Lightship in March 1899 the same month in which the first radio link between France and England was established at Wimereux near Boulogne.
This year we worked with French colleagues to link Dover and Wimereux once more using the call sign TM8DW.
The Maison Dieu holds its own place in the history of radio as, in September 1899, the venue played host to the week long meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science which included a live demonstration of Marconi’s new developments.
This year’s event featured artefacts from the Museum of Spy Radio, while one of the country’s leading distributors of radio communication products ICOM also launched a new product, in addition Dover Tales performed short, lighthearted, sketches based around Marconi and his time in East Kent.
DCRFM was part of the day broadcasting live from the event from 10am speaking to many involved and great feedback. Community Radio out in the community for this great event.
Matt Curtis
