Leicester Rediffusion Service Limited

A big thank-you to those who have participated and sent in pictures.

Please contact me with any memories and pictures of Leicester Rediffusion that you may have.

email me:

LEICESTER REDIFFUSION SERVICE LTD

Updated: June 2009

Leicester LE1 2EQ Tel: 0533 21657

Remembering Rediffusion Leicester By :

Leicester Rediffusion HQ, Malabar Road

Belvior Street Shop c 1969

Western Park Aerial Site ( 1968 )

Staff Party 1

Staff Party 2

Staff Party 3

Staff Party 4

10K Subscriber Prize TV

Belvoir St Waring and Gillows Fire.

In 1968 Leicester Rediffusion reached a milestone of 10,000 Subscribers. The pictures below are staff members enjoying the celebration. Were you there ! Do you recognise anyone !

Just click on the thumbnail for a full screen image

Above Pictures Courtesy M H Chilton

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For more than 25 years the name Rediffusion dominated the Radio and Television market in the city of Leicester with it's cable system delivering interference-free viewing to over 11,000 homes in the city.

Rediffusion came to Leicester in 1961 operating out of a small premises in Clinton Street. The wiring of the City's Council Estates for the 'Piped' service began and the subsctiption take - up was rapid. In 1964 the business relocated to much larger premises in Dysart Street ( later renamed Malabar Road ) and strong growth in Television rental subscribers was maintained through the 1970's.
All new City Council housing developments were were wired with the Rediffusion HF system or alternatively a VHF MATV Coaxial System.

The well respected service came to an untimely end in the mid 1980's when BET, the group parent company disposed of their Rediffusion cable and TV rental businesses.
The Wired Vision (Cable) operation subsequently moved to smaller premised at Freemen’s Common under the "guise' of Rediffusion Cablevision and continued to service the system until about 1990 under the ownership of the Maxwell Group. After the demise of the debt-ridden Maxwell empire in the mid '90s the system was abandoned.

Rediffusion offered a similar service in many UK towns and overseas locations Though little evidence of the system remains today, the name Rediffusion will live on in peoples memories for many years to come.

Typical Cable Linking Homes

With thank's to David Sneath.

237 Uppingham Road Leicester. LE5 4DG Tel. 0533 767066

Leicester Rediffusion Shops:

17 / 19 Belvior Street Leicester. LE1 6SL Tel. 0533 56825

95 Narborough Road Leicester. LE3 0PA Tel. 0533 20579

Rediffusion Leicester Outing, 1965

Red Echo CJF 346B on Dysart Way C1967

Rigging the Tower with UHF Yagis. Bill Jackson watches on C1969

Western Park Mast. Riggers: Malwyn Clarke, Roger Hine C1968

Just click on the thumbnail for a full screen image

John Brigstock's Memoirs of Leicester Rediffusion 1965 - 1973. A detailed account of John's personal experiences and a great read. ( Thank's John !! )

Mike Densham's Mementos 1965 - 1987. See some of the old literature Mike uncovered.

Rediffusion Booklet C.1945 Early days of wired sound.

'Red Delta' In the Rediffusion Yard C1966 before the St. Matthew Redevelopment.

Rediffusion Leicester Workshop C 1966. MK7 TV's on the bench. Anyone recognise the Bench Engineer ??

Above Pictures Courtesy John Brigstock

Rediffusion Leicester yard. Bill Jackson washing his car. 1966

Thank's to Rohit and Shash for getting in touch, Great to hear from you guys! We are arranging a "meet up" sometime soon. Interested in coming along ? email me: gerald@clode.com