The Centenary CSES Curry Evening

Members and guests are invited to join us on Monday 23 May 2022 at Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine to celebrate 100 years since radio broadcasting first began in Writtle.

Did you know that the world's first radio station started in Writtle in 1922? Called 2MT ("Two Emma Toc"), this humble – and somewhat experimental – enterprise operating from a small hut ultimately became the BBC as we know it today.

Exactly 100 years ago, Marconi Company engineers sat in the snug of the old Cock and Bell Inn – now the site of the Pakwaan – and planned the first ever scheduled radio broadcasts in the form of concerts to be aired by 2MT. The success of this station, under Captain Peter Eckersley, led directly to the start of the BBC.

We invite you to join us for a special one-off evening to celebrate this significant milestone. Like those Marconi engineers 100 years ago, this is an opportunity to eat, drink, and maybe even change the world...

5pm – History Walk of significant Writtle sites with historians Alan Pamphilon and Tim Wander (meet in the restaurant car park)

7pm – Dinner followed by speech and presentation of commemorative plaque

Click here to see the menu – 1920s dress encouraged!

The restaurant is all ours for the evening with an excellent set menu with all the trimmings to choose from. The after-dinner speaker will be Writtle 2MT and Marconi historian Tim Wander, and a plaque will be presented to the restaurant owners.

Read more about the story of 2MT and the Cock and Bell here.

Spaces are limited and must be pre-booked by Monday 16 May.

TO BOOK:

1. Click "Book Now" from the event page on the CSES website. £10 deposit required with booking.
2. Select your menu choices by going to https://forms.office.com/r/YFgdKy3APv and completing the form.

We look forward to seeing you there.

This is part of a series of events celebrating the 2MT / BBC centenary, an incredibly important part of our industrial heritage. Other events include:

• A talk by Tim Wander on Tuesday 17 May
• A programme of family events on the weekend of 21/22 May