LARRY BENNETT
MARITIME RADIO AND LOCAL HISTORY AUTHOR
DUE TO BE PUBLISHED IN MARCH 2026
THE BRIDGWATER BEAM WIRELESS STATION
BRIDGWATER'S OWN LONG-RANGE WIRELESS RECEIVING STATION
The Bridgwater Beam Wireless Receiving Station, actually located at Huntworth, between North Petherton and Bridgwater, formed part of the 'Imperial Wireless Chain' of stations, linking Great Britain to various Dominions worldwide.
The station itself received telegraphic and telephony signals from transmitters in Canada and South Africa, using vast directional 'beam' or 'curtain' aerials to ensure optimum reception.
The station was paired with a transmitting station at Bodmin, in Cornwall, and was visited by Marconi himself in November 1930.
The station was short-lived, with improved technical developments and political interference causing it to be operational for only 14 years, between 1926 and 1940.
However, in what would have been its centenary year, its story deserves to be told.
This 72-page booklet features extracts from the author's book 'The Marconi Beam Wireless Stations of Somerset', condensed into one A5 publication.
Price will be £5 and can be ordered from the online shop.
NOW AVAILABLE!
A GIRL FROM REDFIELD
The memories of Ivy Morgan, the grandmother of the author.
Ivy Morgan was born in 1906 and was brought up in the Redfield area of Bristol. Her parents ran the 'Rising Sun' public house in Church Road, which became the headquarters of the famous Morgan Family football team, the subject of another publication by the author.
During her life, she always enjoyed telling her grandchildren of her life growing up in the early part of the 20th century, with stories of family, friends, neighbours and experiences.
When she passed away in 1992, we found numerous notepads and exercise books full of her written memories about her school days and the trials and tribulations of her formative years, along with the hardship and family tragedies she experienced. These have been reproduced faithfully and form the basis of this booklet.
Illustrated with many family documents and photographs, this 60-page booklet gives a fascinating glimpse into life in the area at the time, and is compulsive reading for locals and those interested in social history.
The price is £5 (plus £2 P&P).
ORDERING INFORMATION:
1. PAYPAL. Send payment (friends and family) to info@larrybennett.co.uk and be sure to include your delivery address and if you require the booklet to be signed.
2. CREDIT/DEBIT CARD and BACS TRANSFER. Visit 'ONLINE SHOP'.
3. EBAY. Copies can be ordered via eBay, but costs will be slightly higher due to their charges. Search for 'A Girl from Redfield'.
4. IN PERSON. At any of the specified talks listed below.
BULK PURCHASES:
P&P of £2.00 applies to one booklet. For 2 booklets, P&P will be £2.50, and for 3 or more booklets, P&P will be £4.00.
Please contact me for overseas rates as these differ greatly dependent on country of destinatioN.
STILL AVAILABLE....
"GROWING UP IN HILLFIELDS"
64-PAGE BOOKLET.
Limited to 300 copies (over 250 sold already), this 64-page booklet recalls the author's formative years in the suburb of Hillfields in north-east Bristol. Using family photographs, he recalls his school years, his friends and neighbours, and the joy of growing up in the area during the 1960s and early 1970s.
School class photographs are also used, as well as memories of the local Cub Scouts, Youth Club, local shops, and a few 'interesting' episodes which have remained long in the memory.
Many historical photographs have been used to supplement the text, along with a selection showing parts of Hillfields as they are today.
Price of the booklet is £5.00 and copies are now available directly from the author.
P&P will be £2.00 to the UK. See ORDERING INFORMATION below.
ORDERING INFORMATION:
1. PAYPAL. Send payment (friends and family) to info@larrybennett.co.uk and be sure to include your delivery address and if you require the booklet to be signed.
2. CREDIT/DEBIT CARD and BACS TRANSFER. Visit 'ONLINE SHOP'.
3. EBAY. Copies can be ordered via eBay, but costs will be slightly higher due to their charges. Search for 'Growing Up in Hillfields'.
4. IN PERSON. At any of the specified talks listed below.
BULK PURCHASES:
P&P of £2.00 applies to one booklet. For 2 booklets, P&P will be £2.50, and for 3 or more booklets, P&P will be £4.00.
Please contact me for overseas rates as these differ greatly dependent on country of destination.
STOCK CLEARANCE SALE
THE FOOTBALLING MORGAN FAMILY OF BRISTOL - A HISTORY OF THE FAMOUS
BARTON HILL FAMILY FROM WHOM I AM DIRECTLY DESCENDED.
RRP £17.99, NOW £10.00 PLUS P&P.
VISIT 'ONLINE SHOP' TO ORDER.
THE MARCONI BEAM WIRELESS STATIONS OF SOMERSET -
RRP £13.99, NOW £10.00 PLUS P&P.
VISIT 'ONLINE SHOP' TO ORDER.
Portishead Radio - The Complete History
PLANNED FOR PUBLICATION LATE 2026
PORTISHEAD RADIO - THE COMPLETE HISTORY.
Planned to be the 'Ultimate' history of the world's largest long-range maritime radio station, this immense work, running to over 1,200 pages, is planned for publication in late 2026.
Containing newly-found photographs, documents and memories from staff and sea-going Radio Officers, the book also contains full details of the Portishead transmitting site, the wartime activities of the station, the Commonwealth Area Scheme with associated BAMS/GBMS transmissions, as well as many recollections of the numerous yacht races which were handled by the station from the 1960s until closure in 2000.
Many legendary yacht skippers have contributed, including Sir Chay Blyth, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Tracy Edwards MBE and singer-songwriter Mike Batt, who wrote a song about the station whilst on board his yacht 'Braemar'.
The book will be in two (possibly three) parts, with the publication price unknown at this time.
Contributions to the manuscript are welcome - please forward any memories of Portishead Radio to me at the email address below and I will credit all that are used.
More details of the project will be published when known.
On Tour.....
I shall be at the following venues where books/booklets will be available to purchase. Contact me for further information.
Friday 27th March 2026: Hillfields Park Community Centre Silver Explorers, Hillfields, Bristol - "Hillfields History" talk.
Wednesday 1st April 2026: Trowbridge & District Amateur Radio Club - "Beam Wireless Stations of Somerset" talk.
Friday 8th May 2026: Shirehampton Amateur Radio Club, Bristol - "Portishead Radio" talk.
Saturday 9th May 2026: Bristol Walk Fest, Hillfields, Bristol - a guided tour around the Hillfields estate between 1300-1400 and 1500-1600. Limited to 30 participants per walk. Registration will be required as well as a suggested donation of £5. More details soon.
Tuesday 19th May 2026 (provisional): Burnham-on-Sea Golf Club - "Portishead Radio" talk.
Thursday 26th November 2026: Burnham Moose Lodge, Berrow Village Hall - "Portishead Radio" talk.
Friday 8th January 2027: Congresbury Community Library - "Portishead Radio" talk.
Other dates/venues will be published when confirmed.
