A LIFE-saving mission has been made possible by a Rugby man’s semi-autobiographical story of Rugby’s radio heritage.
Local historian Malcolm Hancock wrote The History of Rugby Radio Station to mark 90 years since the station at the former masts site sent the first voice transmission across the Atlantic.
Sales of the book, launched in March by developers of the old mast site Urban&Civic, have already raised over £2,000 and counting for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance – enough to fund a flight for the flying doctors.
The memoir recounts former station manager Malcolm’s 38 years of experience working at the site, as well as the groundbreaking first transmission to Houlton, USA in 1927, stories about NASA, Concorde, ‘Messages to Mars’ and the life-saving work of the station during the Second World War and the Cold War.
Malcolm, who was a finalist for Citizen of the Year at this year’s Pride of Rugby Awards, said he was delighted at the book’s success.
He added: “The iconic ‘we are nearly home’ 820ft high masts will now not be forgotten!
“I am also thrilled that all the proceeds of the book are going to another worthy endeavor, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
“I was surprised and honored to be nominated as Rugby Citizen of the Year but, I am sure, that other locals were much more deserving and congratulate Joanne Finney on her win.”
Jo Payne, senior fundraising manager for Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, said: “I am thrilled to see the book has generated so much interest in the history of Rugby Radio Station, such an iconic feature which represents so much to all of us that live – and fly – in the area.
“We are so pleased that the proceeds from the sale of the book have been donated to keeping our team saving lives by road and air across the region and would like to thank everyone involved.”
Johanne Thomas, Communities and Partnerships for Urban&Civic said: “We know from working with the local community over the past couple of years that people were very fond of the radio masts and the station and Malcolm has been instrumental in all that we have done to ensure that the history of the radio station lives on into the future.
“It is his work that helped us name the place, Houlton, after the 1927 broadcast and his content that helped us produce the rugbyradiostation.co.uk website. Publishing his book was our thank you to him and I am thrilled it has been so popular.”
The book, which details the technological advancements that went on within the grade II listed C Station Building, is still available for £5.99 at www.rugbyradiostation.co.uk, in Rugby independent book shop Hunts, Rugby’s Library and Tourist Information Centre, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, and the Visitors Centre and Tuning Fork eatery in Houlton.
The air ambulance service flies two regional helicopters over an area of just under 4,000 square miles. With an average response time of just thirteen minutes, between them the helicopters attend on average six missions a day.
Houlton is in the first phase of development for a 1,200-acre urban extension to the East of Rugby that will eventually comprise 6,200 new homes.
