Hello Out There

From Great North Road

By Kenneth Miller.
July 15th, 2001

Sitting in front of my computer, in my 7th floor apartment overlooking the Ottawa River as it slowly meanders past Ottawa, Canada's capital, I cannot help but marvel at the speed of communications, knowing that when I have completed this, that it will be available to one and all who visit the GNR.

As a young boy growing up in the early 50's, Kasama had no telephones, radio station, television station, daily newspaper, running water or electricity.

Radio signals were received from Lusaka and Ndola, and for those fortunate to have a battery operated radio they could listen to music and the news of the day. Battery operated radios, were large to accommodate the assortment of glass vacumm tubes. Transistors were not yet in use.

Saucepan Radio.

The majority of people had the familiar blue (no other colour available) metal " saucepan " radio. The radio which was about a foot in diameter, resembled a sauce pan on it's side.There was a circular area in the centre with a large number of drilled holes which allowed the crackling sound to reach the assembled audience as they listened to the sounds from far off places.Two black knobs were located below the speaker area, one the on-off switch controlled the volume and the second acted as a tuner. This marvel of technology was connected to a large battery. A lengthy piece of cooper wiring was also attached and this acted as an aerial.

The two broadcasts that I have vivid memories about were the sombre announcement of the death of King George 6th, to be followed several months later in June 1953 with the exciting coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

The weekly CAA flight would bring in newspapers, the Northern News from the Copperbelt was always welcome. Thatcher Hobson Transport would bring the mail, which often included newspapers from as far away as Scotland. There was always great excitement when the mail brought the Beano, Topper and Dandy comics that my Nana Mees would send to me from Edinburgh.

Birthday party, dinner party, sundowner invitations, and any gossip would be sent by notes delivered by the garden boy, who would wait to see if the recipient had a reply to be taken back. There were never as I recall any incidents of the messenger being shot.

Now with a click of the "Submit your message" button, this brief message will hurtle along the internet highway and reach all on the Great North Road... a long way from Kasama to Ottawa.