Bridgwater Town Council is proud to be working with partners in Canada and Cornwall to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the world’s first international shortwave transatlantic radio communications link, a pioneering achievement with its roots firmly in Bridgwater.
For several months, Bridgwater has been in contact with the Canadian towns of Drummondville and Yamachiche in Quebec, alongside the Cornish town of Bodmin, to plan a series of events marking this historic milestone. The original transmission, made in 1926, was received at the Bridgwater Marconi station at Huntworth, before being relayed to Poldhu in Cornwall, completing a communications breakthrough that changed the world.
An online press conference will take place on Tuesday 21 April, revealing plans for the main anniversary events scheduled for 25 October 2026.
- Time: 3.00pm (UK) / 10.00am (Canada)
- Public access (UK): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86900289009
Canadian participants will be gathered at the former Marconi station in Drummondville, now home to the Quebec Civil Emergency Response Service, highlighting the living legacy of global communications infrastructure.
Much more than a local commemoration, the anniversary will celebrate the profound global impact of early radio technology on modern life. From mobile telephony to satellite communications, 5G and future 6G networks, today’s interconnected world owes much to the experimental breakthroughs made 100 years ago.
The original signal transmitted in 1926 was received at the Bridgwater station site, now an open field near the Bridgwater motorway service area, and relayed onward to Cornwall. The commemorative event will include a re‑enactment of the original transmission, using artefacts and equipment from the 1920s.
The foundations of this achievement were laid locally, with Guglielmo Marconi first carrying out ship‑to‑shore and land‑to‑land transmissions from Brean Down, before establishing the Marconi Beam Wireless Station at Huntworth.
Radio amateurs from both sides of the Atlantic will take part in the anniversary activities, underlining the continued relevance of radio communication today.
Local author and former radio operator Larry Bennett, whose book The Marconi Beam Wireless Stations of Somerset explores this history, has also been involved in supporting awareness of the anniversary.
Representing Bridgwater Town Council, Deputy Mayor Cllr Leigh Redman and Town Council Leader Cllr Brian Smedley will contribute to the commemorations.
Cllr Brian Smedley said,
“The first transmission was more than just a technical feat; it was the true tipping point towards the era of modern telecommunications. Without this breakthrough, mobile phones, satellite communications, 5G and even future 6G technologies would not exist in the way we know them today. It’s another global first for Bridgwater.”
