BFN (BFBS)

BFBS, Andrew Pastouna (sp?) was one of the presenters and came from my neck of the woods. His family had a very large chippy in the fairground at New Brighton in the 50's and 60's.

I remember in the mid seventies they had a programme called radio roulette and you could phone in and play. Tried to get through once to get a request for my brother who got married at Wildenrath. I didn't, which was lucky as I was a bit drunk at the time.

My claim to fame is that during my 3rd tour of Bosnai in 1996 i used to be on "Calling the Balkans" from Split in Croatia and Sipovo in Bosnia on a Friday night.

This was an ideal way of being able to contact families back in Germany.

The main hosts of the show were James Watt and Glen Mansell. Glen still works for BFBS.

On my return from Bosnia i was asked by James Watt to visit the studio in Herford and co-hosted his morning show.

Even got recognised in the NAAFI in Sennelager during my R&R leave by my voice. The cashier looked at me and said "Your Nobby off the radio arnt you?" I then got introduced to the majority of the NAAFI staff.

I

In connection with another thread, and some personal messages, does anyone have any knowledge of two of the first controllers/moderators of BFN?

Their names are:-

Major John McMillan
Major Fred Bassett

I have both the names on good authority, and would like to know if there is knowledge of units and/or locations they may have been in. With them being in control of a radio station, my own thoughts are that they could have been Royal Signals personnel.

Paul.

I remember in 1954-57, Bill Crozier doing the 18 hundred club. Great request show.

You are right for many the 1800 Club marked the start of the evening's midweek entertainment
though the DJs varied

In the 60s switch on was 15 minutes earlier to catch the end of Kinder Klub and Bill Mitchell's Tales from the Big Wood (OK whose going to admit to being a fan) The audience it was rumoured included both CinC BAOR and CinC RAF(G)

bfn in the 50s . chris howland was very popular, as a singer and d j, ginger

As well as BFN in Aden we had AFBA (Aden Forces Broadcasting Association). This was run from RAF Khormaksar and all staf were volunteers (including me on sports) except the "manager" who was the RAF Rep.
We had a far better record library than BFN and reported far more local stuff than they did.
A number of our staff/djs went on to fame on the UK illegal radios, some are still active in broadcasting.
For a number of years after the late 60s there was an AFBA membership club with annual meetings in the Chevrons Club at Devon Square in Central London. That seemed to fizzle away to nothing but if any readers of this can remember AFBA and/or know of any former members, please post your info. here.

Ref the Aden Forces Broadcasting Association.I was up country in 1966 Christmas to be precise and I can remember that BFBS had a request programme and if you pledged a donation they would play any record you wanted.The most requested record I can remember from listening to the radio was believe it or not was, "THE GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME" by Tom Jones.If I heard it once I heard it hundreds of times right into the small hours of the morning.I never did get to hear how much money they collected from those who pledged.Oh and by the way they never played my request which was Andy Stewart singing "A Scottish Soldier".

Malaboman
Delighted to know that AFBA survived the arrival of BFBS, There was a lot of support for the enthusiasts of Khormaksar when I was on the "barren rock" in 62/63 when the professionals arrived but concern they could not survive longterm. Pete Sherwood, a REME Sergeant at the time, was a leading light in my time , believe he went into local radio in the Dorset area after he left the Army.

Jock

I think it was a longstanding BFN/BFBS tradition worldwide that a Charity Request programme along the lines you describe was organised on Christmas Day with the proceed going to "Wireless for the Blind".

JPW,You are correct "Wireless for the Blind" was the charity in question now that you have mentioned it.Was this the forerunner of the BBC's "Children in Need" I wonder?

29 Jul  -  BFBS now based in Sennelager (beside NAAFI Max on Sande strasse) mentioned today that the service has been broadcasting for 71 years - to the day. !

Happy Birthday BFBS

Have fond memories of the BFN Hamburg era and of course Two Way Family Favourites on a Sunday Lunchtime.

During my time in BAOR (1955-57) the only time I listened to BFN was on Sunday's for Two-way Family Favourites.
I often tuned into AFN (American Forces Network) and I well remember a programme which came on about 2300 hours on a Saturday night called 'Night Train to Munich' presented by a Yank who called himself 'The Baron of Bounce'.  It was two hour show devoted to big band swing music and it was GREAT.
All the top American bands were regularly featured and now and then some British bands. There was also a very good German swing band led by Kurt Edelhagen which was very good.

Noch ein bier

Norman.

In his biography "Me and 13 Tanks" PMcD  (the late Peter McDonagh of BFBS Germany) makes mention of
Wireless for the Blind - a charity appeal that occurs annually at Christmas on BFBS Radio.  
The first broadcast appeal was made on (BBC) Christmas Day 1929 by Winston Churchill, from his home in Kent,   (https://blind.org.uk/about/history/)  
for the "British Wireless for the Blind Fund" to Let the Blind hear!

Ginger Jim,
The thing I remember most about Chris Howland was the fact that he made two records which he sang in German. One was a song called 'Fraulein' and the other was called 'Ma, he's making eyes at me'. Not much of a singer but at least he gave me a party piece with 'Fraulein' which I often sung in perfect Deutsch although I only spoke it 'inperfecten'!!

Noch ein bier,

Norman.

Norman wrote:

Ginger Jim,
The thing I remember most about Chris Howland was the fact that he made two records which he sang in German. One was a song called 'Fraulein' and the other was called 'Ma, he's making eyes at me'. Not much of a singer but at least he gave me a party piece with 'Fraulein' which I often sung in perfect Deutsch although I only spoke it 'inperfecten'!!

Noch ein bier,

Norman.

Fill your boots, Norman!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi5FmrFoyQo

Listening to Two Way Family Favourites was a Sunday ritual for many National Servicemen in Germany, especially those with girlfriends back home who were always dreading the possibility of getting a Dear John.

Many thanks Sheldrake.
I was singing along with him like a good 'un.
Happy memories - 'ich liebe dich meine kleines Fraulein.
She was called Sieglinde Muller by the way. I often wonder what became of her when I left BAOR.
I will have

Noch ein bier,

To her memory

Norman.

We left in 1988 and we still chant "BFBS and Tommy Vance". I believe he died a few years back.

Reminiscences Nostalgia 1973 Aster's Greatest Hits (Richard Astbury compilation)

For a completely different project found this compilation (only Morecambe and Wise track remains hard to find!)


https://www.discogs.com/Various-Asters-Greatest-Hits/release/9850966
A1 –St. Cecilia Leap Up And Down 2:38
A2 –Morecambe & Wise Bare Facts 6:45
A3 –Captain Electric Crumpet Voluntary 2:53
A4 –Judge Dread Big Six 2:57
A5 –Mister Murray I Drink To Your Memory 3:08
A6 –June Whitfield, Frankie Howerd Up Je T'Aime 4:28
B1 –Barbara Windsor Grin And Bare It 2:55
B2 –Bill Oddie Family Favourites 4:03
B3 –Monty Python's Flying Circus* Spam Song 3:12
B4 –Jeremy Taylor Dear Auntie Vera 2:50
B5 –Tommy Thomas (6), The Club Sound* Belfast Belfast 5:00
B6 –David Rose & His Orchestra The Stripper

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Asters-Greatest-Hits/release/9850966
(advantage of Youtube compilation is the visual enhancement)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIWU5rUmDAU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nTBNHwar5o
https://www.discogs.com/composition/dec643e9-4beb-4e88-b05c-248364962435-Bare-Facts (not traced)
(a bonus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhPhA-fJQWY?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNI4FJ38oHU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xyxswZ2-ZQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frhef6jFb7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzOsUAPZGn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu86XCKz1I0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8huXkSaL7o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLUsGWdwWtQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq5MLmEx0go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bLX06yR3wY

Big Wood - I know Sheldrake gets quite withdrawn without regular sitreps from Owl and Mr Badger's Boys:

Here a treasure trove !

http://bfbs-radio.blogspot.com/2015/02/and-now-some-more-big-wood-tales-found.html


038 - Mr Owl and the Bishop's ring
039 - Aunt Daisy's Potted Plant
040 - The old windmill
041 - The water cress adventure
042 - The secret of the castle library
043 - Badger's motorbike and sidecar
044 - Mr Ospray's magic
045 - A game of golf
046 - The bells of St. Francis
047 - Rumpus at Big Wood Primary School
048 - Greenfly
050 - The Highwaymen
051 - Bramble Pie
052 - The Ten Tennis Balls
053 - The North Bay Branch Line
054 - Operation Thatch Cover
056 - Mr. Owl and the Fire-Fighting Exercise
057 - The Luxury Cruise
058 - The Silver Jubilee Visit
059 - Owl's bi-plane Hetty-incomplete
060 - The Jam Runners - incomplete
061 - The trip to the sea
062 - The long weekend

and for younger listeners:

http://bfbs-radio.blogspot.com/2014/

Big Wood -  I know Sheldrake gets quite withdrawn without regular sitreps from Owl and Mr Badger's Boys:

Here is a treasure trove - the full list of Big Wood stories: BUT this link!  

http://bfbs-radio.blogspot.com/2015/02/and-now-some-more-big-wood-tales-found.html no longerworks!

Tales from Big Wood: 01 - Big Wood Cricket Match
Tales from Big Wood: 02 - Gold And Cream Teas
Tales from Big Wood: 03 - High Wind In Big Wood
Tales from Big Wood: 04 - Mr. Owl & The Sorry Tale Of Summer Madness
Tales from Big Wood: 05 - Mr. Owl Strikes Oil
Tales from Big Wood: 06 - Mr. Owl & The Spring Flower Show
Tales from Big Wood: 07 - The Big Wood Local Defense Regiment
Tales from Big Wood: 08 - A New Look For The Regiment
Tales from Big Wood: 09 - War In Big Wood
Tales from Big Wood: 10 - Mr. Hedgehog's Secret
Tales from Big Wood: 11 - Mr. Owl And A Strawberry Trifle
Tales from Big Wood: 12 - Trouble On The Industry Front
Tales from Big Wood: 13 - Mr. Owl And The Bees
Tales from Big Wood: 14 - Mr. Owl And The Big Wood Firework Display
Tales from Big Wood: 15 - Mr. Owl And The New Bus
Tales from Big Wood: 16 - Mr. Owl And The New Council Offices
Tales from Big Wood: 17 - Mr. Owl Catches Fire
Tales from Big Wood: 18 - Mr. Owl Does The Cooking
Tales from Big Wood: 19 - Mr. Owl Gets A Surprise
Tales from Big Wood: 20 - Mr. Owl Goes Caravaning
Tales from Big Wood: 21 - Mr. Owl Goes On A Picnic
Tales from Big Wood: 22 - Mr. Owl In The Fog
Tales from Big Wood: 23 - Mr. Owl Paints The House
Tales from Big Wood: 24 - Wild Man Of The Woods
Tales from Big Wood: 25 - Mr. Owl Takes A Bath
Tales from Big Wood: 26 - Mr. Owl Under The Weather
Tales from Big Wood: 27 - On The Night Of The Blizzard
Tales from Big Wood: 28 - Owl And The Fishing Contest
Tales from Big Wood: 29 - Owl Goes Camping
Tales from Big Wood: 30 - The Big Wood Elections
Tales from Big Wood: 31 - A Visitor From Mars
Tales from Big Wood: 32 - The Black Leather Document Case
Tales from Big Wood: 33 - The Egg & Spoon Marathon
Tales from Big Wood: 34 - Thunderstorm In Bog Wood
Tales from Big Wood: 35 - Unveiling The Cathedral Clock
Tales from Big Wood: 36 - Water Rat's Grand Flying To


Girlie Biker on ARRSE alleged " 13 Sep 2008
#2
Oh yes! I still have the tapes Mum recorded for me, especially my birthday edition! we have a source!

[quote="Pborn4"]Big Wood -  I know Sheldrake gets quite withdrawn without regular sitreps from Owl and Mr Badger's Boys:



[left]038 - Mr Owl and the Bishop's ring


I do, I think the Bishops ring was one of Uncle Bills favourites!

".....and no mistake, Mr Badger!"

As I remember BFBS was popular also in East Germany around Berlin. They had in a short distance very good receiving conditions because of the high quality VHF frequency.

Wolfgang