{"id":4373,"date":"2012-09-06T06:31:13","date_gmt":"2012-09-06T10:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=4373"},"modified":"2012-09-06T06:31:13","modified_gmt":"2012-09-06T10:31:13","slug":"radio-4-and-now-an-urgent-sos-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/radio-4-and-now-an-urgent-sos-message\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio 4: And now an urgent SOS message…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>This is a fascinating Radio 4 documentary<\/a> about a BBC service that typically had a target audience of one individual. \u00a0Before the proliferation of telecommunications in the 1990’s, the BBC’s SOS message service acted as a communications link of last resort for people who needed to be urgently connected with loved ones.<\/p>\n

This radio documentary reminded me of the fact that, even in our information age, radio can interact with a large audience of listeners who are doing everything from working to driving in a uniquely efficient manor.<\/p>\n

I listened to this documentary yesterday, but it will be available on the BBC website for 5 more days (as of time of posting)<\/a>. Thanks to Andy Sennitt for bringing this documentary to my attention.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

(Source: BBC<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Radio 4 used to broadcast SOS messages – “could Mr and Mrs Snodgrass, believed to be travelling in the Cotswolds please ring this hospital where their auntie is dangerously ill”.<\/p>\n

Eddie Mair wants to know more about them. He hears from listeners whose lives were dramatically changed through the SOS service. These short messages were transmitted regularly on The Home Service, and later Radio 4, for much of the 20th century. They appealed for relatives of dying people, often on holiday and thus, before mobile phones and internet cafes, uncontactable, to return home before it was too late.<\/p>\n

Eddie invited readers of his Radio Times column to send in their recollections of the SOS Message Service, and little did the PM Presenter expect such a rich response of vivid memories, first person experiences and in one case, unexpected consequences as a result of the broadcast.<\/p>\n

Some of these remarkable testimonies are told, in understated, haunting and even cheery ways in this narrative tribute to radio, and a nation, – “as it was”. Best summed up by the tale of a six year old girl in the North East who while staying with a relation in 1958, was hospitalised with a very serious illness. She survived and tells Eddie her story. In the days of very few domestic telephones, the BBC’s SOS message brought her parents to her bedside from London courtesy of an observant member of the public who heard the message and recognised the car number plate that had been announced.<\/p>\n

The SOS Service, was the vision of John Reith, the first General Manager, and later Director General of the BBC. But its heart was the listener, as Eddie reveals.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is a fascinating Radio 4 documentary about a BBC service that typically had a target audience of one individual. \u00a0Before the proliferation of telecommunications in the 1990’s, the BBC’s SOS message service acted as a communications link of last resort for people who needed to be urgently connected with loved ones. This radio documentary […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56],"tags":[104,1347,1349,1348,852,1346,102,85],"class_list":["post-4373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","tag-bbc","tag-bbc-radio-4","tag-bbc-sos-messages","tag-bbc-sos-service","tag-radio-4","tag-sos-messages","tag-why-radio","tag-why-we-listen"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-18x","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55677,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/bbc-world-service-documentary-world-wide-waves-23-the-sounds-of-community-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":4373,"position":0},"title":"BBC World Service Documentary: \u201cWorld Wide Waves ’23: The sounds of community radio\u201d","author":"Thomas","date":"February 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In celebration of the upcoming World Radio Day 2023, our friend David Goren has produced another amazing World Wide Waves episode with Maria Margaronis presenting. You can listen live, but the audio will also be linked to The Documentary website once it has aired: World Wide Waves '23: The sounds\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/BBC-World-Service-World-Wide-Waves.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/BBC-World-Service-World-Wide-Waves.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/BBC-World-Service-World-Wide-Waves.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10154,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/bbc-world-service-documentary-hang-on-ill-just-speak-to-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":4373,"position":1},"title":"BBC World Service Documentary: “Hang On, I’ll Just Speak to the World”","author":"Thomas","date":"July 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Mike Barraclough\u00a0who shares this documentary about the BBC World Service from 1982: \"Hang On, I'll Just Speak to the World.\" I've embedded video players and linked to each of the four parts on YouTube: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BBC-WorldService","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/BBC-WorldService.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18852,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/from-the-bbc-archives-the-first-21-years-of-the-world-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":4373,"position":2},"title":"From the BBC Archives: The first 21 years of the World Service","author":"Thomas","date":"May 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Andrea Borgnino, who shares a link to the excellent archived radio documentary,\u00a0The first 21 years of the World Service, via the\u00a0BBC World Service's\u00a0online audio archives. The recording\/broadcast dates from\u00a0December, 18 1953.\u00a0Here's the description of the recording: The first 21 years of the World Service: how\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BBC-AT-WAR","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/BBC-AT-WAR.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/BBC-AT-WAR.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/BBC-AT-WAR.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59963,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/06\/video-afternoon-plus-documentary-on-the-bbc-world-service-1982\/","url_meta":{"origin":4373,"position":3},"title":"Video: ‘Afternoon Plus’ documentary on the BBC World Service (1982)","author":"Thomas","date":"June 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary (W4EEY), who shares a link the following archived documentary on the BBC World Service from 1982: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JPqqXHMwqKQ Click here to view on YouTube.","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Hallicrafters-Dial-Green-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Hallicrafters-Dial-Green-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Hallicrafters-Dial-Green-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Hallicrafters-Dial-Green-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Hallicrafters-Dial-Green-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40597,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/bbc-world-service-documentary-about-radio-berlin-international-service-to-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":4373,"position":4},"title":"BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Kris and Ed who both note a fascinating BBC World Service documentary. Ed writes: Hey Thomas, SWLing Post readers will surely enjoy this brilliant BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa. \"Comrade Africa\" offers a 53-minute fascinating blast from the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36919,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/radio-doc-new-york-citys-pirates-of-the-air\/","url_meta":{"origin":4373,"position":5},"title":"Radio Doc: New York City\u2019s pirates of the air","author":"Thomas","date":"April 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post friend, David Goren (the same fellow behind Shortwaveology and the Brooklyn Pirate Radio Sound Map) has just produced and presented a BBC World Service documentary about the pirate radio scene in NYC. Spoiler alert: it's amazing--! Below, I've included the description and audio links\u00a0from the BBC World Service:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NYC-Piate-Radio-BBC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NYC-Piate-Radio-BBC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NYC-Piate-Radio-BBC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4373\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}