Back in 1973 offshore ‘pirate’ radio stations, satisfying a huge demand for pop music  unfulfilled by the BBC, had  been outlawed for several years; local radio was in its infancy and Radio1, created in response to the popularity of the pirates, dominated music radio in the UK, becoming the most listened-to station on the planet. The time was ripe for a group of students at Bath University to build one of the first university radio stations in the country.

BBC Radio One DJ interviews                         
URB station manager Jonathan White on the URB anniversary in 1974    

Work on University Radio Bath (URB) began in 1972, and the following year the station went on air with a Home Office broadcast license on the Medium Wave Band (312m) and an official opening by Annie Nightingale and Pete Brady of Radio One.  URB celebrated its first anniversary with a live Radio One broadcast, from the Students’ Union Bar, hosted by Alan Freeman, another well known DJ of the time.  

                                                                      .   .      Photographs curtsey of Bath in Time

Back in 1973 a film was shot to try and give a flavour of the excitement and diversity of the music scene in 1973, and its importance to young people in a pre-internet, pre-digital age, while the day to day life of the Station reveals the low priority of material values in a much simpler world.

The film was shot on location at the University, and around and about the City of Bath, giving an insight into student life over 40 years ago, with its de rigueur long hair, bell bottoms and skinny rib jumpers.  Such a sound film, depicting the early 70s, is a rarity.

It is only now, with modern digital equipment, that it has been possible to integrate the film with its synchronised sound. The film is directed by Jonathan White (Elect Eng 1974) and produced by Stephen Ainger (Physics 1974) with contributions from many others.

URB is still going strong

We are grateful to the BBC for allowing the rights to segments of Alan Freeman’s Broadcast,  and to Universal Music, Sony, BMG and PRS for giving permission for the music tracks.

March 2025

student In October 2024 a first edit of the film was shown to the current Station Manager Chris Wahlen, George Cooper Student Media Officer and others

 Jonathan White and Stephen Ainger with station manager and George Cooper after screening of the first edit of the film

 

Stephen Ainger signing the URB studio signature wall 

 

  

   

 

    

 

   

 

                     Screenshots from the Film

   

  

 

   

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

 

 URB Studio.

            

 

URB travelling Disco       

    

    Some Breakfast listeners

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Securing advertising at Wessex record shop

 

Work on the film continues with plans to make DVD copies, stream online and show at a private cinema screening in Bath in due course. Information and updates on progress will continue to be posted on the website.

Any unauthorised reproduction copying, editing, exchanging, transformation, hiring, lending, public performance, placing on the internet, radio or broadcasting of the film in full or in part will be strictly prohibited without the written permission of the director and producer.

 

Find Out more

When DVDs or streaming or cinema tickests are available details will be posted on the web site

click HERE.

 

For images of the Radio 1 DJ's visits to URB in 1973/4

click HERE.

For more information on the film email:

    urbfilm@outlook.com

  

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