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| Richard Astbury in Action:) |
Pop around Europe (04 Apr 1985) (Richard Astbury)
Pop around Europe (21 Apr 1985) (Richard Astbury)
Pop around Europe (last edition) Eurovision 1985 (Richard Astbury)
On 22 March 2014 I had the pleasure to meet the BFBS Radio Legend and host of "Pop around Europe" - Richard Astbury for an interview. You can find the entire page and video interview here.
Hey there! I was delighted to find this and particularly that the episodes you have on here are ones I would have heard in my time in West Germany. I was a refugee kid from Poland who could already speak English but not German, and I loved listening to BFBS. Loved Richard Astbury's show for its wit, his personality, the music, and of course the clips of various European languages. Awesome! Glad one of the episodes you have is the one with a Polish song in it!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for a cassette recording of an episode from that time period too. If I find it somewhere in my "archive" (basement) I'll try to digitize it and send it to you.
Hello Pollena, Thank you for your very kind words which are greatly appreciated after all these years. Best Wishes, Richard Astbury.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi from Berlin!
ReplyDeleteI accidently found your website and I was so unbelievably happy to here these old recordings from Pop around Europe.
Actually I hapened to hear these shows live back then in the 80s and I still remember these special editions you have here. I lived in East Berlin and Pop around Europe was kind of a gate to the world for me, along with AFN, BBC and some shows on west-german radio stations.
And you know what: I have the last ever edition of Pop around Europe on a cassette tape. It's stored somewhere and I propbably wouldn't find it very easy, but I know it's there. So even better to listen to it here. It was such a great show and it's final edition brought some tears in my eyes back then, when I was 14 in 1985.
Wonderful journey back into time. You won't find such radio shows anymore today. Too sad...
Enjoy yourself and thanks for putting this site together and keeping the memories alive.
Kai
Pop Around Europe on BFBS hosted by Richard Astbury was among my most formative experiences of the 1980s. It deeply instilled in me a sense of Citizen of Europe (including the UK), a Love of the Other, of Travel, Languages and Cultures.
ReplyDeleteThe world today needs more than ever this love and respect of Otherness
A TRIBUTE - BFBS-MALTA (1958 -1979) Part 1
ReplyDelete“A VOICE WE WILL NEVER FORGET”- A heartfelt tribute to a legendary radio station and the golden age of broadcasting in Malta
Pls refer to : https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7758692251002222163/8219036036750597723
There are certain sounds that never really leave us. They remain etched in our memories, taking us back to a time, a place, and a chapter of our lives that we will cherish forever. For many of us who grew up in Malta during the 1970s, one such sound was the unmistakable voice of BFBS-Malta — the British Forces Broadcasting Service, transmitting on 93.7, 90.7 and 88.3 MHz on VHF.
And then, just before midnight, came that very sad moment when the familiar voices fell silent. I remember it well. I was still a student at the time, and BFBS-Malta had been so much more than a radio station. It was a faithful companion to students, a window to the outside world, a source of entertainment and information, and, for many of us, an unexpected classroom where we improved our English while enjoying some of the finest radio broadcasting imaginable.
BFBS-Malta was truly in a class of its own.
The music was superb, the presenters were memorable, and the programmes had a character and quality that made the station special. There was something for everyone: current affairs, sports coverage, English football updates, interviews with interesting personalities, aviation news, and the ever-reliable BBC hourly News updates. For those fascinated by aviation, hearing squadron leaders from visiting squadrons at RAF Luqa being interviewed on BFBS-Malta was an experience in itself. The station brought the world closer to our homes.
And, of course, there were the voices! Richard Caperon, John Crabtree, Alan Clough with his wonderfully creative promotional spots, Colin Beasley, Dave Raven, Peter McDonagh, Dave Lee Travis, and the legendary Tommy Vance, whose Top Twenty Show was a favourite with so many listeners. There were other names in this illustrious team such as Michael Aspel, Kay Donnelly, Peter Attrill, Alan Grace and Ted King amongst others who were part of BFBS-Malta since 1959. One must also thank the technical team such as Paul Zammit, Hector Frendo, Tony Farrugia, Terry Magri, Les Austin, Judy Edmonds, Isabel Darmenia; volunteers Eileen Curmi, Diane Clark and Linda Miller. We also fondly remember ‘Sunday Sounds’ at around mid-day; One cannot forget the weekday afternoon programmes from BFBS-UK, which added another dimension to our listening pleasure. Another amazing program was Pop Around Europe with Richard Astbury; They Sold a Million with Paul Gambaccini; We also listened regularly to Solid Gold Singles with Don Durbridge and much more of course.
BFBS - MALTA -Part 3 (Continued)
ReplyDeleteBy Gino Galea
"And then came that final night"…
As midnight approached, came the realisation that this wonderful chapter was coming to an end must have been heartbreaking for countless listeners. For those of us who had grown up with the station, its silence was not merely the end of a broadcast. It was the closing of a door on a very special part of our lives.
On the final night of 31 March 1979, just minutes before midnight, the final chapter of BFBS-Malta was drawing to a poignant close. First came a heartfelt farewell and message of thanks from the Commander of British Forces Malta, O.N.A. Cecil, followed by the final, unforgettable words of Station Commander Richard Astbury. Words that would remain etched in the hearts of countless listeners… “Thank you all for the flowers, tears, good wishes, drinks and letters”. . and then, the final words of farewell : “Goodbye, Goodnight and God Bless you... Goodnight.”
And just like that, as midnight approached, a much-loved voice fell silent, bringing to an end an extraordinary chapter in Malta's broadcasting history. For those of us listening that night, it was more than a sign-off. It was an emotional goodbye to a trusted companion, a familiar voice in our homes, and a radio station that had become part of our lives. Yet, in a way, BFBS-Malta never truly disappeared. It lives on in the memories of those who listened to it as students, in the stories shared by former fans, in the recollections of its presenters, and in the music that instantly transports us back to those unforgettable years. It lives on whenever someone mentions Tommy Vance, remembers a favourite programme, recalls a familiar jingle, or speaks of those magical evenings spent listening to the radio. The presenters may have moved on, the studios at St Francis Ravelin in Floriana may have fallen silent, and the broadcasting era may have changed beyond recognition, but the affection remains.
To all those wonderful broadcasters, producers, technical staff, and everyone who helped make BFBS-Malta such an exceptional station, we offer our heartfelt thanks. You gave us entertainment, information, knowledge, companionship, and memories that have stood the test of time. Some of those wonderful people are no longer with us, but they have not been forgotten. Their voices, their talent, and their contribution to our lives remain part of our collective memories. May they rest in peace, and may those still with us enjoy our lasting gratitude and affection.
God bless them all, wherever life may have taken them.
BFBS-Malta was more than a radio station. It was a friend, a teacher, a companion, and a cherished part of Malta's broadcasting history. It may have signed off all those years ago, but in the hearts of its listeners, it will always remain on the air. With gratitude, affection, and everlasting memories of a truly golden era of radio.
BFBS-MALTA — a voice that may have faded from the airwaves, but will never fade from our memories
https://youtu.be/t7dmovgK_Is?si=rO1V4zNSfRftpF65
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7dmovgK_Is
By Gino Galea
www.ginogalea.com