Radio Free Scotland

Between 1956-1965 and March 2007-present Radio Free Scotland (RFS)* broadcast through the sound channel of BBC television after "God Save the Queen" finished in the evening, and, later on, on 262 meters medium wave on the radio.

The first broadcast interrupted a BBC newscast when viewers in Perth were told to stay tuned following sign off. This "pirate" radio transmission opened with the provocative statement: "This is Radio Free Scotland proclaiming to the nation that the fight for independence is on in earnest". This roving station was heard for almost a month in Glasgow, Ayrshire and Perth. The Scottish National Party announced official backing for Radio Free Scotland because of the government ban on broadcasts by the Scottish and Welsh nationalists on the BBC.

The BBC later paid for the right to re-broadcast some RFS material and the SNP and Plaid Cymru gained the right, as other parties already had, to time on mainstream broadcasters.

Leading figures in Radio Free Scotland included "Controller General", Gordon Wilson, who later became an MP (1974-1987) and was Chairman (Convener) of the SNP from 1979 to 1990. Douglas Henderson, also later an MP, was "Director of Programmes" between 1963-1965. Scotland's oldest woman when she died, Annie Knight, hosted the station in her living room during 1962.

*Broadcasts legally on the internet and licensed by the mcps/prs alliance

Revival

Radio Free Scotland was restarted in March 2007 by Scottish Patriots on the Internet. The new website launched on the 24th of October 2007 to coincide with the SNP conference at Aviemore.

They broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday at 9pm.

This incarnation of Radio Free Scotland is currently staffed by:

Pax - host and server support

Friseal - webmaster and site support

Darkside - publicity

External links

* [http://www.radiofreescotland.webhop.org RFS Official site]