There has been much coverage over the last week in the popular press about the BBC's decision to close a number of its services in the future. This apparently will include, but not be limited to BBC 3, the youth channel, BBC Alba for Scotland, and most controversially BBC Radio 4 Extra. I have been in contact with a number of friends who are still active in the radio industry, and they all share my opinion on the proposed closure of BBC Radio 4 Extra. If you are unfamiliar with the radio station, it broadcasts archive programmes featuring classic radio comedy, drama, poetry and all other manner of spoken word content. Of all the national radio stations broadcasting on DAB+, it is by far the cheapest to run, as the BBC owns nearly all of the content, and apart from a continuity announcer, there is no live programming whatsoever. Basically it can pretty much all be run from a single computer. What is also instructive is that if one looks at the comments on the BBC News website covering the story about the potential cancellations, almost nobody makes any kind of criticism of the closure of BBC 3, or BBC Alba. Nearly all of the adverse criticism is directed towards the potential closure of BBC Radio 4 Extra, which is extremely popular. Although the BBC say that programmes from the station will be available on the BBC Sounds app and on BBC iPlayer, many long distance drivers rely on programmes broadcast on the DAB radio service, as do many older people, some of whom do not have access to a smart TV or a computer. As specialist comedy website Chortle wrote:- "At most, the move will save £4 million a year – just .067 per cent of the BBC’s almost £6 billion-a-year budget. That same percentage of the £180 a year licence fee works out at around 12 pence. That provides a linear, broadcast station which showcases the best BBC audio output over the decades. It is home to classic comedies such as The Goon Show, Tony Hancock and Beyond Our Ken as well as more contemporary stand-up specials, sitcoms and panel shows. The channel is expected to close in March. Its content will remain available on BBC Sounds, but as many listeners pointed out, to access that you need to know what to search for, rather than being presented with curated programming". The industry insiders I have consulted all share the same opinion that the BBC is actually putting up the cancellation of BBC Radio 4 Extra as a Trojan horse; some years ago they did something very similar with the threat to close BBC Radio 6 Music, which they later withdrew after much negative publicity. In essence, I feel they will use the same playbook again. They can then sneak through large numbers of changes and closures, whilst touting the fact that they have saved BBC Radio 4 Extra after public feedback. In essence, just a PR exercise to make them look good. This may be a cynical opinion, but it is a very common one among people who are in a good position to know about such things, and the internal politics of public broadcasting.
The following article was supplied by regular reader and amateur transport historian Dana. It describes the history of the tram, and its' place in local events over the years. Dana writes:- "The first electric Tramway in the UK was launched in Blackpool in 1892. In London horse drawn trams ran from 1860 to 1870 when they were gradually replaced by steam tramcars which ran until 1901 when the first electric trams were introduced. By 1903 there were over 300 electric tramcars in London, in the 3rd year of running London County Council Tramways sold 3.3 million tickets, such was their success. By 1914 London’s Tramways were the largest in Europe and they continued to run surviving both world wars until the early 1950’s. They were gradually replaced by Trolleybuses and diesel buses.Trams went on to become the main mode of transport around towns and cities across the UK, they were cheap and reliable and ideal for workers getting to and from work. After the war many tramways began to have problems due to lack of investment. By the 1930’s many operators began to close including The Rochester & Gillingham Tramway which closed in 1930, London was to survive for 20 more years and when Trolleybuses were introduced both used the overhead power cables for a while as one replaced the other. The final tram in London was in 1952 and the final Glasgow Tram was in 1962. While in Blackpool they still run some of the original tramcars along with modern ones. Locally Routes 72 ran from Woolwich Beresford Square to the Embankment via Eltham (see photo), the 96 route ran from Woolwich to Dartford via Plumstead and Welling via Bexleyheath, Crayford. While the 98-route served Erith running from Woolwich to Abbey Wood, Erith & Bexleyheath Market Place. Up until recently the tram tracks were still visible in Woolwich Beresford Square. Luckily a group on enthusiasts saw an opportunity to try and save at least one tram from most operators and they found an old disused chalk quarry in the Peak District and began storing decommissioned trams there between the mid 1950’s to mid-1960’s. The photographs are of a London Tram saved by them that ran on the 72 route through Erith, the very quarry where they were stored is today Crich Tramway Museum where they can boast a rescued tram from many of our cities, many now restored and running for visitors. Other tram museums where you can ride them are Beamish Living Museum, Black Country Living Museum, East Anglian Transport Museum, Heaton Park Tramway, Wirral Tramway & Seaton Tramway. Today some cities in the UK have reintroduced tramways, With Croydon operating them nearest to London".
Last week marked the release on DVD of a very popular historic TV comedy series, which was first shown on BBC 1 back in September 1986; this year marking its 40th anniversary. Brush Strokes was set around a South London painting and decorating firm called Bainbridge's, where the lives - and more importantly, the loves - of the staff and their friends and family were at the heart of the story. Written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, who had previous successes with sitcoms including The Good Life and Ever Decreasing Circles, Brush Strokes ran for 40 episodes across 5 series from 1986 to 1991, becoming a huge hit with viewers across the country. The central character in the comedy series was called Jacko, a painter and decorator, played by actor Karl Howman. For many years Howman and his family lived in a house in The View, a turning off Woolwich Road in Upper Belvedere. At that time the show was being broadcast, I saw Howman on numerous occasions parking his red Ferrari 328 GTS outside of Mr Man's fish and chip shop in Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere, when he went to purchase a fish supper for himself and his family. Howman had been a pupil at Picardy School (now called Trinity School), where apparently he only escaped being expelled on one occasion due to his excellent football skills. I understand at one time he had a trial with Charlton Athletic, but did not get a contract with the club. The premise of Brush Strokes was simple - It contrasted conventional lifestyles with that of being a more free spirit, not wholly unlike that presented in The Good Life. Jacko, Howman's central character, was the archetypal Jack-the-Lad who simply wanted to enjoy life without responsibilities, but friends, family and work colleagues just wouldn't leave him alone. At the height of its popularity, Brush Strokes was attracting around 16 million viewers each week; figures unheard of now. Whilst undeniably charming, some of the attitudes towards women, marriage and relationships certainly date the show to the late 80's, which is a shame because the writing and performances are no less excellent than 40 years ago, and the central themes of friends, family and love are timeless.
The photo above shows a weapon that was produced in the Victorian era. It is the reason why older residents of the Western end of Erith around Pembroke Road and Alford Road know the area as the "Pom Pom". The rather impressive looking Victorian naval gun is a Maxim QF-1 37mm light cannon built in 1890 in Erith. It was popularly known as the "Pom Pom" gun, due to the noise it made when firing; The Maxim factory in Fraser Road, Erith (what is now the BATT Cables factory and warehouse) was where the guns were made in the 1890's, back then there was a test range to the rear of the factory where the guns were test fired before being shipped to their customers. The noise of the guns being test fired gave rise to the informal name, which is still in use today, some 130 years after the last Maxim 37mm QF-1 naval guns were test fired on the site - astonishing for a tiny piece of local social and engineering history.
