Unique digital tapestry tells story of Rugby Radio Station as part of site’s 100th anniversary celebrations
A unique digital tapestry made up of thousands of individual pictures of Rugby Radio Station has been unveiled as part of celebrations to mark the site’s 100th anniversary.
The tapestry, which combines the array of pictures sourced from the local community and archives into one main mosaic-style image, has gone on display at Rugby Museum and Art Gallery today (January 12) and will be displayed for years to come.
The initiative, completed by local artist Allan Levy and backed by Urban&Civic is part of a year of celebrations to mark 100 years of Rugby Radio Station.
The radio station was decommissioned in 2002 but would have been 100 years old in 2026.
Its historical significance lives on thanks to an array of reminders put in place by Urban&Civic, including naming the place after the first transatlantic broadcast made in 1927 to Houlton, Maine, USA, the transformation of the former Grade II-listed Rugby Radio Station building into Houlton School campus and other road and building names.
The digital tapestry, which is the result of contributions from people who live, work, learn or have a connection with Houlton, will also go on show at Houlton School and St Gabriel’s C of E
School.
Artist Allan Levy said: “It’s been a real privilege to see the many pictures received from people who have some kind of connection with Houlton, and learning about some of the stories relating to some of them, in order to create this unique memory of such an iconic site.
“There’s the odd mystery too - including a lady who features in the tapestry that we’re keen to identify and find out more about. So if anyone knows anything about her, we’d love to hear
from you.”
The launch of the tapestry comes just days after celebrations kicked off with a transmitting event on January 1 which saw Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society (RATS) send messages using an amateur radio transceiver set up inside Houlton School in what was the former radio station’s broadcast room, and then receive replies from people across the world.
The schools that are now on the site in Houlton are also carrying out a number of special projects to mark the centenary, and a heritage book by local historian Malcolm Hancock telling the story of Rugby Radio Station is being updated to add the latest chapter of the unique location.
Sonia Nakra-Norman, Communications, Communities and Partnerships Manager at Urban&Civic, said: “The Houlton Tapestry project is the first of many projects that Urban&Civic has invested in to mark the 100 year anniversary of Rugby Radio Station.
“The story of Rugby Radio Station really is fascinating and it’s been a real privilege to work with Allan on the project, and other members of the community like local historian Malcolm Hancock - with whom we created a website on the subject RadioStation Rugby : Connecting you to now - as well as organisations like Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society (RATS), local schools and the wider community to mark this historically significant occasion.”
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