I have only recently joined the ROA and noticed Larry Bennett’s request for input to his book on GKA. I did try the Portishead Radio website but the firewall on my PC didn’t like it but I gather it is still under construction. I only served as a R/O for 4 years with B.P. Tanker Co. Ltd 1966-1970 but would say that I found GKA was the best radio station in the world. I’ve had a slot of 22 in the working queue and been up and worked in less time than a queue slot of only 3 for a radio station elsewhere in the world. Brilliant operators and very efficient. So sad to read on Wikipedia than the station was flatted to make way for a housing estate ! Rip GKA .
Chas Reading
Got my copy of Larry Bennett’s book in the post yesterday. Looking forward to reading it … (have to finish Hilary Mantel’s ‘The Mirror and the Light’ first which is quite a size.)
Hi Chas,
Apologies for delay in response, haven’t been on the ROA site recently. The GKA website is fully up and running with over 1,000 photographs of the old place, news, history and sound/video files to access. I know some firewalls don’t like the GoDaddy server which is where the site is located, but hopefully this can be resolved.
Thank you for your kind comments about GKA, it was a brilliant place to work.
The book has now been completed and the manuscript is currently with the publishers for typesetting and pagination. The plan is to release the book in July which corresponds with the reunion of GKA staff and other celebrations to do with the 100th anniversary of the UK’s long-range maritime radio service. Full details are on the website (if you can get in!!).
Try http://www.portisheadradio.co.uk or https://portisheadradio.godaddysites.com/home which may bypass the URL alias.
KRs
Larry