We're back in our moment-by-moment timeline of British broadcasting's early days, and it's just after the BBC's first birthday...

16 November 1923: Sheffield 6FL becomes the BBC's first relay station, rebroadcasting programmes from Manchester.

But will there be original local content too? What of Sheffield's pre-BBC radio station? And is it coincidence that '6FL' could link to 'Fred Lloyd' - the man who made Sheffield broadcasting possible? Was it not he who marched into BBC Chief Engineer Peter Eckersley's office and said: "Have you heard the wireless in Sheffield? It's like an insurrection in hell!"

...Discover the truths, the maybes, the pioneering moments and the hidden history of this long-ignored station, from our Newspaper Detective Andrew Barker, who I'm convinced knows more than anyone on the planet about the Sheffield relay station 6FL, and what came before it.

Plus exclusive rare audio from Harry Lloyd in 1968, talking about how he and his dad began it all. We're so grateful to today's BBC Radio Sheffield and Sheffield City Archives for permission to share this clip, with an insight into not only how Sheffield broadcasting began in 1923, but the first days of local radio when that interview was broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield, just months into its existence as the second local radio station of the modern era.

Thanks to Fred Lloyd, the Sheffield station achieved far more than the history books might let on - bringing the first educational broadcast to schools before the BBC, and the first broadcasting bishop.

A few key dates of Fred Lloyd and the Sheffield station's story, thanks to Andrew Barker...

20 Oct 1922: Fred Lloyd becomes President of the Sheffield and District Wireless Society, unusually giving his inaugural speech by radio from his home, to a packed hall of 800 members - facing an empty stage with just a loudspeaker.

31 Dec 1922: The Bishop of Sheffield, the local MP and a local newspaper editor broadcast from Fred Lloyd's home. That's the first bishop on air!

21 March 1923: Britain's first broadcast to schools, three of them in Sheffield, thanks to Fred Lloyd.

12 April 1923: BBC Chief Engineer Peter Eckersley visits Sheffield, and tests are carried out. Will the BBC take it over? (Yes.) The relay idea is born days later.

9 July 1923: Test transmissions begin at the university, again thanks to Fred Lloyd.

14 August 1923: The first attempt at relaying another station.

17 August 1923: Fred Lloyd says he hopes local programming continues, despite the relaying of other stations. Will it?

1 Sept 1923: Local newspapers run the Sheffield station for an evening.

13 Sept 1923: Fred Lloyd gives the experimental station's farewe... oh that would be spoiling it. You'll have to listen.

16 Nov 1923: Sheffield 6FL opens, under the BBC banner.

...So that's where we are in our timeline. Coming up on the podcast: November 1923 continues with transatlantic broadcasting, relays from France, early drama, an upcoming election, and BBC's first Muslim broadcaster. Stay subscribed and see the shownotes below for our social mediums and the like...

SHOWNOTES:

Thanks to BBC Radio Sheffield and Sheffield City Archives for permission to use the old clips. They were stars to deal with, and bring me hope that old audio needn't stay on shelves behind closed doors. Thanks, folks!
Thanks Andrew Barker for finding the info and sharing it. See his 'On this day 100 years ago in broadcasting history' posts on our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/bbcentury
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Next time, Episode 126: International broadcasting in November-December 1923.

More on this broadcasting history project at paulkerensa.com/oldradio

#125 The BBC's First Relay Station: Sheffield 6FL and Fred Lloyd

The British Broadcasting Century with Paul Kerensa

#125 The BBC's First Relay Station: Sheffield 6FL and Fred Lloyd