Doctor Who Cuttings Archive

National Museum of Broadcasting

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1980-05 Wireless World.jpg

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As a BBC Engineer at Washford, I was interested to read about the demise of the Brookmans Park transmitters. The Washford, Somerset, regional transmitter was in fact taken out of service at the end of October, after 46 years of service. Both on grounds of electrical efficiency and maintenance effort, it had to go, but its destruction breaks another link, with the early days of broadcasting.

For the present, however, the transmitter itself remains intact. Since the prime movers and rotating machinery have gone, it can never be used again, but it would provide a unique centrepiece for any museum. The main transmitter hall and office block will shortly become surplus to the BBC's requirements — what an ideal opportunity to provide a showcase for the Corporation's achievements! The IBA already have a broadcasting gallery in London (displaying BBC history!): once a central museum can be established at Washford, it would be relatively easy to mount smaller exhibitions at major BBC centres in London and elsewhere. Public interest abounds, as various "open days" over the years will verify.

The BBC are not museum curators, so it would be necessary to set up some form of trust, financially independent, but liaising closely with all departments of the Corporation to provide an interesting and financially viable museum. Historic items abound, hidden, within the BBC. Here is the opportunity to allow everyone to see them. During last summer, the Corporation were advertising two "Doctor Who" exhibitions on non-BBC sites. Surely this was not necessary.

Housed in an historic and impressive building, in a major holiday area, the possibility of free advertising on television, such an enterprise cannot fail. This is a golden, opportunity, probably the final opportunity, to create a national museum of broadcasting.

J. E. Butterworth

Blue Anchor

Somerset

Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org

  • APA 6th ed.: (May 1980). National Museum of Broadcasting. Wireless World p. 54.
  • MLA 7th ed.: "National Museum of Broadcasting." Wireless World [add city] May 1980, 54. Print.
  • Chicago 15th ed.: "National Museum of Broadcasting." Wireless World, edition, sec., May 1980
  • Turabian: "National Museum of Broadcasting." Wireless World, May 1980, section, 54 edition.
  • Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=National Museum of Broadcasting | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/National_Museum_of_Broadcasting | work=Wireless World | pages=54 | date=May 1980 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 April 2024 }}</ref>
  • Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=National Museum of Broadcasting | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/National_Museum_of_Broadcasting | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 April 2024}}</ref>


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