100 years ago today saw the very first public radio broadcast in Scotland, coming from right here in Glasgow. So here’s the Arlington Baths’ own contribution to Scottish broadcasting history!
The Marconi Company and Daimler Motor Co. joined forces to send out the first public radio broadcast in Scotland on 24th January 1923.
A temporary station—The Glasgow Station 2BP—was erected at the Daimler garage in Hughenden Road, in Hyndland, to promote mobile receiving sets in Daimler cars at the Scottish Motor Show, which was taking place at Kelvin Hall over the following 11 days.
It was to be another month before the BBC began broadcasting to Scotland from station 5SC in Glasgow on 6th March.
“Live from the Arlington Baths Club…”
Just twelve years later, wireless broadcasting came to – and from – the Arlington Baths. The BBC scheduled the first ever live commentary of a water polo match on Friday 13th September, 1935.
The special occasion was a water polo match between the teams from the Arlington Baths and Dennistoun Baths with a live commentary. It was trailed in the Radio Times as part of a series of unusual events that were making broadcasting history.
During the present summer the Scottish microphone has made broadcast history, not only by going to unusual outside events, but to inside ones in various parts of the country.
Tonight listeners will hear a running commentary on the Glasgow Private Baths League Polo Match. The teams are the Arlington Water Polo Club and Dennistoun Baths Water Polo Club.
This is the first time that such a commentary has been relayed in the Scottish programme.”
The commentary was provided by W. Boreland Dalrymple, a 32-year old member of the Club’s water polo team. He appears (back row, right) in an earlier team photograph from 1924 which you can see displayed in the Club.
William Boreland Dalrymple and his brother, Hew Alexander Dalrymple (sitting on the table to the left of the trophy), were prominent members of the the Club’s swimming and water polo teams along with John S Thomson (sitting on the table to the right of the trophy) who swam for Great Britain at the 1924 Olympiad.
Their father, James Dalrymple, was Chairman of the Baths from 1927 to 1930. He was an accountant and then became Manager of the Glasgow Corporation Tramways.
Look out for more about the Dalrymples, trams and the Arlington Bath Club connections in future posts!
In the meantime, enjoy programme of events celebrating 100 years of Scottish broadcasting from the National Library of Scotland.
Arlington Baths Club History Group 