Radio Free Scotland
Encyclopedia
Between 1956-1965 Radio Free Scotland (RFS) broadcast through the sound channel of BBC
television
after God Save the Queen
finished in the evening, and, later on, on 262 metres medium wave on the radio
.
The first broadcast interrupted a BBC newscast when viewers in Perth
were told to stay tuned following sign off. This "pirate" radio transmission opened with the provocative statement: "This is Radio Free Scotland proclaiming to the nation that the fight for independence is on in earnest". This roving station was heard for almost a month in Glasgow
, Ayrshire
and Perth. The Scottish National Party
announced official backing for Radio Free Scotland because of the government ban on broadcasts by the Scottish and Welsh nationalists
on the BBC.
The BBC later paid for the right to re-broadcast some RFS material and the SNP
and Plaid Cymru
gained the right, as other parties already had, to time on mainstream broadcasters.
Leading figures in Radio Free Scotland included "Controller General", Gordon Wilson
, who later became an MP
(1974–1987) and was Chairman (Convener) of the SNP from 1979 to 1990. Douglas Henderson
, also later an MP, was "Director of Programmes" between 1963-1965. Scotland's oldest woman when she died, Annie Knight
, hosted the station in her living room during 1962.
Radio Free Scotland was re-launched in 2007 to help support Self Determination for Scotland in the Elections in May 2008. With Pax and Kevin Williamson presenting the shows and Friseal as webmaster. The shows took a hiatus for 18 months until recently and will be back "on air" soon.
In keeping with the original Radio Free Scotland the opening lines from the original broadcasts are still used.
The website is under construction but a holding page can be found at http://www.radiofreescotland.com and if funded via donations from all walks of independent minded Scots.
Gordon Wilson has written a book about the station, Pirates of the Air, the story of Radio Free Scotland.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
after God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
finished in the evening, and, later on, on 262 metres medium wave on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
The first broadcast interrupted a BBC newscast when viewers in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
were told to stay tuned following sign off. This "pirate" radio transmission opened with the provocative statement: "This is Radio Free Scotland proclaiming to the nation that the fight for independence is on in earnest". This roving station was heard for almost a month in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
and Perth. The Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
announced official backing for Radio Free Scotland because of the government ban on broadcasts by the Scottish and Welsh nationalists
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
on the BBC.
The BBC later paid for the right to re-broadcast some RFS material and the SNP
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
and Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
gained the right, as other parties already had, to time on mainstream broadcasters.
Leading figures in Radio Free Scotland included "Controller General", Gordon Wilson
Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)
Gordon Wilson is a former leader of the Scottish National Party and current leading figure in the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in Scotland...
, who later became an MP
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
(1974–1987) and was Chairman (Convener) of the SNP from 1979 to 1990. Douglas Henderson
Douglas Henderson
Douglas Henderson was a Scottish politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party , representing the East Aberdeenshire constituency from February 1974 to March 1979, and held virtually every national office in the SNP, short of party leader...
, also later an MP, was "Director of Programmes" between 1963-1965. Scotland's oldest woman when she died, Annie Knight
Annie Knight
Annie Knight was, at age 111, the United Kingdom's oldest person following the death of fellow 111-year-old Emmeline Brice on 26 July 2006....
, hosted the station in her living room during 1962.
Radio Free Scotland was re-launched in 2007 to help support Self Determination for Scotland in the Elections in May 2008. With Pax and Kevin Williamson presenting the shows and Friseal as webmaster. The shows took a hiatus for 18 months until recently and will be back "on air" soon.
In keeping with the original Radio Free Scotland the opening lines from the original broadcasts are still used.
The website is under construction but a holding page can be found at http://www.radiofreescotland.com and if funded via donations from all walks of independent minded Scots.
Gordon Wilson has written a book about the station, Pirates of the Air, the story of Radio Free Scotland.