| Radio Sovereign broadcast to London 7 days per week on an announced 200m (initially on 1503kHz, then 1494kHz) between May 1983 and January 2nd 1984. It was probably the first pure oldies station in the UK to operate 7 days per week, predating the current 'gold' stations by decades. |
and below, the Radio Sovereign antenna system used from October 1983 (click image for full size in order to see the wires).
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A QSL letter received by Ken in 1983 when the station had moved to 1494kHz.
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Radio Sovereign Audio Library
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| 1983_05_21_sat_sovereign_1503am_1300-1430_johnkenning-kb.mp3 New Mar 2024 | An early recording of Radio Sovereign from Saturday 21st May 1983 and featuring John Kenning in the afternoon. The recording was from 1503kHz and the levels are a bit up and down and muffled due to problems with the old tape. |
83MB 90mins |
| 1983_07_03_sun_sovereign_1503am_1548-1845_stevecolman_jimlawrence-gh471.mp3 New Mar 2024 | Three hours of Sunday afternoon programming from Steve Colman and Jim Lawrence on 3rd July 1983. Recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz. |
164MB 188mins |
| 1983_07_03_sun_sovereign_1503am_midnight_signoff_muffled_audio-gh471.mp3 New Aug 2022 | A rather wobbly and muffled midnight sign off from Crispian St John, who actually announces 1503kHz and gives the lineup for Monday. 'Overture From Tommy' from The Assembled Multitude is used as the closedown theme. Recorded in Ickenham. |
5.3MB 6mins |
| 1983_07_04_mon_sovereign_1503am_0723-0919_crispianstjohn-gh471.mp3 New Aug 2022 | After a late sign on at 0723, almost two hours from Crispian St John on Monday 4th July 1983 - the audio was blank until this time. Recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz, announced as 200m. | 106MB |
| 1983_07_04_mon_sovereign_1503am_1223-1323_robrandall-gh471.mp3 New Aug 2022 | Rob Randall at lunchtime for an hour on the same day as above. The station seemed to be suffering from some modulation issues. Recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz, announced as 200m. | 55MB |
| 1983_07_04_mon_sovereign_1503am_1518-1619_johnkenning-gh471.mp3 New Aug 2022 | An hour of John Kenning on Monday 4th July 1983. There was some local electrical interference during this recording. Recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz, announced as 200m. | 55MB |
| 1983_08_06_sat_sovereign_1503am_0834-1032_johnkenning-gh466.mp3 New Aug 2022 | Saturday breakfast 6th August 1983, followed at 9am by John Kenning. Recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz, announced as 200m. | 85MB |
| 1983_08_06_sat_sovereign_1503am_1206-1345_nickpiercey-gh466.mp3 New Aug 2022 | From the same day as above, Nick Piercey at just after mid-day. Recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz, announced as 200m. | 96MB |
| 1983_08_06_sat_sovereign_1503am_1528-1715_crispianstjohn-gh466.mp3 New Aug 2022 | Another almost two hours from Saturday 6th August 1983, this time with Crispian St John in the late afternoon. Again recorded in Ickenham from 1503kHz announced as 200m. | 102MB |
| 1983_08_27_sat_sovereign_1494am_1507-1605_kevinturner_berniesimmons-gh460.mp3 New Sep 2022 | Kevin Turner in the afternoon of Bank Holiday Saturday 27th August 1983. Kevin programmed until 4pm when Bernie Simmons took over. | 52MB |
| 1983_08_27_sat_sovereign_1494am_1645-1733_berniesimmons-gh460.mp3 New Sep 2022 | More of Bernie Simmons later in the above show on Bank Holiday Saturday. There is some crackling towards the end. | 44MB |
| 1983_08_29_mon_sovereign_1494am_0954-1115_crispianstjohn_robrandall-gh480.mp3 New Sep 2022 | The morning of Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 1983, with Crispian St John followed at 1030am by Rob Randall. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz. | 73MB |
| 1983_08_30_tue_sovereign_1494am_0708-0853_crispianstjohn-gh480.mp3 New Sep 2022 | A Tuesday breakfast show from Crispian St John on 30th August 1983. Recorded in Ickenham after the station had moved to 1494kHz, but still announcing as 200m. | 97MB |
| 1983_12_31_sat_sovereign_1494am_0902-0948_ronbrown-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | A short aircheck at the beginning and then Ron Brown on Saturday morning from just after 9am on 31st December 1983. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz. |
43MB 47mins |
| 1983_12_31_sat_sovereign_1494am_0950-1035_ronbrown_crispianstjohn-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | A continuation of Ron Brown on Saturday 31st December 1983 followed at 10:30am by Crispian St John with his first link. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz. There is a top of the hour promo requesting listeners help for the station to continue and to write to their MP. |
43MB 47mins |
| 1983_12_31_sat_sovereign_1494am_1323-1410_kevinturner-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | Kevin Turner on the afternoon of 31st December 1983. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz. |
43MB 47mins |
| 1983_12_31_sat_sovereign_1494am_1435-1520_kevinturner-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | More of Kevin Turner from Saturday afternoon 31st December 1983. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz. |
43MB 47mins |
| 1983_12_31_sat_sovereign_1494am_1623-1647_paulanthony-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | A short clip of Paul Anthony from Saturday afternoon 31st December 1983. News is read at 4:30pm. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz. |
22MB 24mins |
| 1984_01_02_mon_sovereign_1494am_0120-0200_joyjameson-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | In the early hours of the station's final day, Monday 2nd January 1984, here is Joy Jameson up until 2am. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz with a bit of night time wobbling. |
36MB 39mins |
| 1984_01_02_mon_sovereign_1494am_0224-0307_joyjameson_mikebarrington-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | The last part of Joy Jameson up until 3am, then Mike Barrington with his first link. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz with a bit of night time wobbling. |
37MB 41mins |
| 1984_01_02_mon_sovereign_1494am_1034-1115_robrandall-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | The final Rob Randall morning show on Monday 2nd January 1984, between 10:34am and 11:15am. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz with a bit of local electrical interference. |
38MB 42mins |
| 1984_01_02_mon_sovereign_1494am_1126-1151_robrandall-ght7.mp3 New Oct 2024 | Another short partially airchecked clip from Rob Randall's final show. This has the news headlines at 11:30am. Recorded in Ickenham from 1494kHz with a bit of local electrical interference. |
12MB 13mins |
| 1984_01_02_mon_sovereign_1494am_1415-1445_kevinturner-kb.mp3 New Mar 2024 | Part of the final hour with we think Kevin Turner between 2:15pm and 2:45pm. Recording is a bit muffled and made from 1494kHz. |
29MB 32mins |
| 1984_01_02_mon_sovereign_1494am_1450-1505_closedown_kevinturner-kb.mp3 New Mar 2024 | The final 15 minutes of Radio Sovereign up to 3pm on Monday 2nd January 1984, again we think with Kevin Turner. Recording is a bit muffled and made from 1494kHz. |
17MB 19mins |
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There
are also several other excellent sites around with memorabilia and
memories of Radio Sovereign, including the following: