Unusual Messages Broadcast From B.B.C.

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 3

Unusual Messages Broadcast From 8.8. C.

British listeners were thrilled some time ago when they heard a message of cheer broadcast to tho 30 men and women of a film unit who were stormstayed on the island of Foula in the Shetlands. The message was; “If the marooned party is listening to the broadcast, we take this opportunity of sending them a word of greeting along with the hope that the sea will soon subside. ’' Messages of this character (as distinct from SOS api>eals, police messages, and other communications of a grave character) are not often broadcast. In the early days of the Spanish conflict an appeal was broadcast to British nationals in Spain, urging them to take advantage of tho facilities offered for leaving the country. In a less serious vein was the appeal to tho patrons of a great sporting meeting in tho North of England who had hired cushions and gone home with them. About 4,000 cushions were missing, and in response to the broadcast message about 600 were returned. Another message which caused some amusement was sent by Sir Harry Lauder at the end of one of his programmes. Ho informed his wife of tho time of his departure from London, and of his arrival in Dunoon. As he said, “That will save xne the price of a wire, ye ken."