Welcome to the History page for Bailrigg FM. We'll be adding a whole range of past material from the archives in the weeks to come. In the meantime, read the history of the station circa 1974 and 1997

The History of URB circa September 1974

Radio York

In 1968, students at York University received Ministry of Posts approval to test transmit programmes on medium wave to its campus. This inspired two Physics students at Lancaster to try a similar project, and negotiations were started with the university administration.

Radio 220

The project was considerably put back when one rather over-eager member of the university started his own 'pirate' radio station, calling it firstly 'Radio 220', and later 'Radio Rag'. The Post Office eventually persuaded this to close down, and the job began of trying to persuade the university administration that the proposed 'Radio Bailrigg' was in no way connected with the 'pirate'.

Preliminary Tests

In 1969, the university gave permission, in principle, for the project to proceed. In the summer, a small loop aerial was installed, and a low power transmitter was built, to test the project's feasibility. Result: Feasible, but many problems.

£1000 Referendum

The next problem was finance. URB applied for the £1000 that the American Colleges give annually to a project that would be useful to the student community at Bailrigg. Many causes competed, and a referendum was held in which URB came 2nd to Playgroup. So next URB applied to the student union (SRC) for funds, but this was rejected as at that time, SRC was in dire financial straits. An approach to the university administration was also rejected. However, URB was provided with offices at this time.

A Second £1000

A second £1000 from the American Colleges turned up, and URB again applied for this, and again came second. Meanwhile, it was found that the Playgroup scheme for which the first £1000 had been awarded would cost nearer £30,000! So that project was abandoned, and through support of SRC, URB was able to secure the £1000, through it was realised that URB would not be able to provide a full service using only this.

Test Transmissions

In January 1971, the aerial system was installed, and studio equipment and a converted transmitter obtained. In March test transmissions commenced, which led to numerous technical problems.

Further equipment was purchased, and after further problems, URB was putting out regular test transmissions until November 1972, when a letter was received from the Government, ordering URB off the air for not having obtained a full license, which has not been possible with that aerial and transmitter system.

Closedown and Adjustments

A new transmitter was specially commissioned, and a new aerial system was installed. In November 1973, URB received a full license from the Government, and returned to the air with full programmes.

New Studios

URB had been broadcasting from a temporary studio, but in January 1974, new twin studios, which has been specially commissioned, were completed. However finance for the equipping of these was not forthcoming from the SRC. Another two £1000 referenda were held, but URB was unsuccessful for both.

However, in June 1974, URB, sensing a very prosperous SRC, again applied for funs to purchase new studio equipment, and was successful in obtaining £1000. Also, for the first time, the university realised the educational potential of URB, with the Media Services Unit offering its resources in preparing a series of complete language courses for listeners, using the facilities of URB.

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This is the history of Radio Bailrigg as told in the 30th anniversary issue (20/02/1997) of SCAN, the official newspaper of Lancaster University Student Union (LUSU).

Radio Times By Ranvir Singh.

It is now 30 years SCAN's first issue, back in 1967, and amongst the many developments that have occured in that time, Radio Bailrigg is one that is continuing to flourish today. Having started off 27 years ago, when the growth of independent radio stations, across the country, was beginning to boom, Lancaster University Students decided that they too could benefit from the experience to be derived from setting up a radio station run by, and for, the students of the University. As SCAN claimed, on 19th October 1970: 'Radio Bailrigg could be the most exciting student project', as it urged members of the University to become active participants.

Well, it obviously worked, as Bailrigg FM 87.7 has a fairly long history to be 'proud of', as Rob Cox, Station Director, recalled. The station was only the second unversity radio set-up to gain a licence to broadcast. It was just beaten by York. (Could this be yet another bone of contention between the two warring cities?)

The biggest change to occur at the station, which has always been centralized in Fylde college, was its move to an FM waveband, from its previous MW on 19th January 1996. The reason for this change was that the MW 'loop induction' system being used, was being broken allowing leakage to occur, causing broadcasting to be virtually impossible to certain buildings. The repair costs being too high meant that when the small chance of getting an FM licence came up in 1994, the station were first to put their bid in. One other reason for the MW band being dropped was that because BBC Radio One had given up their MW frequency for sale, 963MW, the university station's then frequency, became 'swamped', leaving it open to interference, making it 'unfriendly' to the listening audience.

Another milestone for Bailrigg Radio was that it was the first student station to be given its FM RSL (Restricted Service Licence), albeit for a temporary 4 weeks. This resulted in the station being picked up not only on campus but also in Lancaster, Heysham, Morecambe, and even as fas as Preston and Blackpool. The success of this was repeated in 1995.

The station was doing well and at the end of 1995 was given the opportunity to try out a low-powered RSL, as an experiment for use in hospital radio. It is the first student station to get a full-time FM licence; Oxford Brooks are next in line, but they have opted for a community licence, which means that they will need high audience ratings in order to remain financially viable.

When questioned about the potential scope for listeners, Rob Cox said that radio broadcasting, unlike print journalism, is bound by many legal restrictions - one of which is that the station must only broadcast to campus. He feels, however, that the aims of the station are not, primarily, to gain the largest audience; as he said, 'this would be totally unreasonable considering we are in direct competition with other professional radio stations.' But he did say that 'to teach people about radio is what is important.'

The principle of remaining 'unbiased' at all times, is the kind of discipline that Rob Cox welcomes for his team. An element of controversiality might gain the station attention, as it does in the world of newspapers, but for Bailrigg FM would only cause problems with the Radio Authority - something they are pleased never to have done.

And what function does he feel the station plays in the life of the University? Apart from giving DJ's real experience of the world of radio broadcast: 'the station is privileged to be playing some of the newest music that exists. We get stuff that even Radio One, and other independent stations haven't even heard before.' The station prides itself on allowing specialise DJ's to share the essentials of their own music tastes - which is one of the advantages of keeping the station on a smaller scale, to cater to more localized trends.

Bailrigg FM, although 'not well funded' and 'in need of a full-time member of staff', can only build on what they have; and no-one can deny that they have certainly moved on from 'broadcasting on Medium Wave band (300 metres) for several hours per night' - (SCAN, October 1970) - to currently going on air 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, and all 31 weeks of the academic year.

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