Radio group broadcasts milestone

An open day on Saturday included decades of recording equipment

A group of Scottish radio enthusiasts is celebrating 60 years of continuous production of programmes for broadcast across the world.

Glasgow-based GRF Christian Radio's first programme went out on a missionary radio station in Ecuador in 1948 for Scots in South America.

The group has been holding an open day showcasing decades of technology along with their latest broadcasts.

In 60 years, GRF has supplied more than 150 radio stations worldwide.

The team can mix Radio 5 journalism with the Goon Show and still be faithful Andrew Barr GRF chairman

Since it began in 1948 as Gospel Radio Fellowship, GRF has focused on being a programme producer, making shows which are broadcast by other people.

It currently supplies programmes to commercial stations across Britain and Ireland, English-speaking overseas stations, BBC local radio stations, hospital radio, community radio stations and programmes for internet distribution.

Beginning its recordings on metal/shellac discs, it is also believed to be one of the first organisations in Scotland to use a tape recorder.

It may also have been one of the first independent production houses to have its material broadcast on the BBC, when a programme on the work of Shelter went out on BBC Scotland Radio 4 in the 1960s.

In 2000, GRF helped pilot Audiopot, a web-based internet distributor of Christian radio programmes.

The organisation is staffed by a 20-strong voluntary team who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and religious traditions.

Chairman Andrew Barr said: "Spread the Word. It's a phenomenon. Very Glasgow and very Edinburgh and very global.

"The team can mix Radio 5 journalism with the Goon Show and still be faithful.

"In my comparatively short 40 years of making programmes in the BBC and ITV, I've seen careers destroyed as producers tried to marry humour and religion.

"And that's this team's secret - if there is laughter in heaven, it will be down to GRF."

A thanksgiving service will also be held at Findlay Memorial Church at St George's Cross, Glasgow, on Sunday.