The iconic Big Ben will celebrate 100 years of live bongs on radio, with the BBC broadcasting the chimes to mark New Year's Eve. The tradition began in 1923 when BBC engineer AG Dryland recorded the strikes of Big Ben and the quarter bells from a rooftop opposite the Houses of Parliament. This milestone has garnered global attention, as the bongs have been broadcast live across the world, reaching many for the first time outside of central London. The celebration of this historic event has also sparked nostalgia, with the Shipping Forecast, first broadcast on New Year's Day 1924, also marking its 100th birthday. The Shipping Forecast, a key part of British maritime culture, has been commemorated with a tailor-made podcast and fond memories from individuals, including a meteorologist whose training included a day with the forecaster preparing the forecast.
100 years on! This Day: 1924. The first 'weather Shipping' forecast broadcast from the Air Ministry, London. broadcast twice daily at 0900 and 2000 GMT, from the powerful Air Ministry station in London, on a wavelength of 4,100m #radiomoments
Happy 100th birthday to the Shipping Forecast! First broadcast on New Year's Day 1924 My initial @metoffice training included a day with the forecaster preparing the Shipping Forecast. It felt quite special to hear him rehearse aloud carefully-worded drafts to get it just right https://t.co/JM9goUGYiB
Happy 100th birthday to the shipping forecast, first broadcast on this day in 1924. And, bless my soul, here’s a podcast tailor-made for the occasion. https://t.co/kuiS8xXrZC
Bong! Today marks 100 years of broadcasting Big Ben on the radio. It was the first time many people outside of central London had heard the chimes. 🔊 List to the story of broadcasting Big Ben ⤵️ https://t.co/5uzytl7dJn
🔔 Listening out for Big Ben’s bongs at midnight 🎉🥂 https://t.co/J5LX035xMO
On New Year’s Eve 1923 the bongs from Big Ben were first broadcast to the nation to ring in the New Year. BBC engineer AG Dryland climbed onto a roof opposite the Houses of Parliament with a microphone to record the strikes of Big Ben and the quarter bells. https://t.co/R9ZrEviZsr
It’s 100 years of Big Ben’s bongs being broadcast by the @BBC to celebrate #NewYearsEve🔔 🎆 But how did it all begin? https://t.co/fefTBf0qEe
London's Big Ben will mark the 100th anniversary of its "bongs" to ring in the New Year being broadcast live across the world. ➡️ https://t.co/ofG8ZlWZfQ https://t.co/n17Wo9M8c9
Big Ben: New Year's Eve marks 100 years of live bongs on radio https://t.co/xqKsFAD6vF