Orcadian Stories: The Televisor premiere

Orcadian Stories premieres with Kim Foden and The Televisor

Filmed and edited by Martin Laird, researched by Fiona Grahame, and produced by Orkney News Ltd, Orcadian Stories is a series of short filmed interviews of people who have played a part in creating a cultural legacy for Orkney. The films focus on individuals telling their stories, and include original theme music composed by Orkney musician Eamonn Keyes (based upon the sound of a spinning radio televisor).

The first of these short films premiere’s on The Orkney News YouTube channel at 7pm on Thursday the 17th of November, 2022. The Televisor features Kim Foden telling the story of how her father Jack and brother Jimmy Twatt first brought television to Orkney by utilising a home made radio televisor to intercept test broadcasts transmitted from John Logie Baird’s studio in London. Both the boys went on to use their knowledge in later life, including during wartime.

The rest of the Orcadian Stories films will be released periodically over the coming weeks. They feature subjects as diverse as The St. Magnus Festival, the Stronsay Limpet, the Orkney Men’s Shed, and more.

“It was a pleasure to be able to interview people who have contributed so much to Orkney’s community. These are untold stories from islanders who work quietly behind the scenes of many of our local organisations and groups. For many of those interviewed it was also a personal journey, which they were able to reflect upon during the filming.”

Fiona Grahame, researcher

Orcadian Stories has been supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.