Days Gone By: What do you remember about the early days of Radio Orwell and BBC Radio Suffolk

Radio Suffolk Goes On The Air 1990 (Image: Archant)

Local radio came to Suffolk in October 1975, when Radio Orwell started broadcasting from studios in Electric House, Ipswich.

Until 1964, when pirate station Radio Caroline came on the air, off Felixstowe, the only commercial radio to be heard was Radio Luxembourg, operating in the evenings. Radio Orwell was among the first in the regions.

In this week’s Days Gone By I have taken a look back at photographs of the first team of presenters with Radio Orwell and some of the events they were involved in.

BBC Radio Suffolk managing editor Ivan Howlett, standing outside the stations studios in St Matthews Street, Ipswich (Image: Archant)

The BBC came on the air locally with Radio Suffolk in April 1990, from purpose-built studios in St Matthew’s Street, Ipswich and I have found photographs of some of their early presenters.

Here we see then managing editor Ivan Howlett, standing outside the station’s studios in St Matthew’s Street, Ipswich.

BBC Radio Suffolk still operates from the same premises, more than 25 years later.

The Radio Orwell line-up when it first opened. They are (from the left standing) Harry Rowell, Katie Glass, Greg Bance and Keith Rogers. Seated at the console is Andy Archer. (Image: Archant)

Radio Orwell came on the air much earlier, back in October 1975.

At that time the line-up included those in the picture above.

They are (from the left standing) Harry Rowell, Katie Glass, Greg Bance and Keith Rogers. Seated at the console is Andy Archer.

Radio Orwell newsreaders Pete Barraclough (left) and Tim Ewart (Image: Archant)

Other members of the Radio Orwell team included its newsreaders.

This picture shows Pete Barraclough (left) and Tim Ewart.

The technology used back then has been far outstripped by the most recent digital advances in broadcasting.

Andy Archer presents an outside broadcast for Radio Orwell from the Ipswich Co-op Store in Carr Street in August 1976 (Image: Archant)

Outside broadcasts are often a feature of an radio station.

Here Andy Archer is presenting from the Ipswich Co-op Store in Carr Street in August 1976.

Radio Orwell later became SGR FM before that became part of the Heart network.

The annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race outside the Radio Orwell studios in Tower Ramparts, Ipswich in 1990 (Image: Archant)

Another stable of Radio Orwell was the events they organised.

This picture shows the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race from outside its studios in Tower Ramparts, Ipswich in 1990.

The start marshall was Stephen Foster (right) who is now the Drive Time presenter on BBC Radio Suffolk.

Celebrations at Radio Orwell after its first year on air. From left are Andy Archer, Keith Rogers, Greg Bance, Sir Ian Jacob, company chairman, Katie Glass and Harry Rowell. (Image: Archant)

In this picture you can see part of the celebrations at Radio Orwell after its first year on air.

From left are Andy Archer, Keith Rogers, Greg Bance, Sir Ian Jacob, company chairman, Katie Glass and Harry Rowell.

It would broadcast under this name for another 14 years.

The studios of BBC Radio Suffolk as they were in April 1990 (Image: Archant)

The same year Radio Orwell became SGR, BBC Radio Suffolk started broadcasting.

Here you see the studios as they were in April that year (1990).

These days, there are a lot more computer screens.

BBC Radio Suffolks newsroom the year it opened with journalists Kevin Burch (left foreground) and John Cranston (right) (Image: Archant)

This shot shows BBC Radio Suffolk’s newsroom the year it opened.

Journalists Kevin Burch (left foreground) and John Cranston (right) can both be seen.

Mr Burch still works for the BBC as a TV reporter for Look East.

Presenter John Eley (Image: Archant)

Our final picture is of presenter John Eley on air from the BBC Radio Suffolk studios in April 1990.

What memories do you have of the early days of local radio in Suffolk?

Write to David Kindred, Days Gone By, Ipswich Star/EADT, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS or email info@kindred- spirit.co.uk