Roadphone Ltd

One of the successful companies now operating from Bourne has its origins with the electrical and radio business established by Jack Wand at Rippingale in 1948.

The radio communication division became completely independent in 2001 with the formation of Roadphone Ltd run by his son, John, and is now the premier radio communications hire and installations company in the U K and Europe.

With nearly 30 years in the industry, the company currently enjoys an international reputation and is supplying equipment and expertise to some of the world's big events.

The company is now based in Pinfold Lane, Bourne, with its trading sister company, National Radio Bank, and specialising in hand portable and mobile radio, base stations and repeaters and signal distribution to customers in a wide variety of fields including agriculture, banking, construction, security and business, sport, education and events of all kinds.

The year 2012 was a particularly busy one with an assignment in London for the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations supplying more than 2,000 digital hand portable radios and associated equipment to ensure that the River Thames pageant ran safely and efficiently. The company installed temporary aerial masts in strategic points along the river to ensure the best uninterrupted signal as the flotilla of 1,000 craft sailed from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge.

Each radio was put together and programmed for its individual use in the company’s Bourne base before being shipped off to London. A small team then went down in advance to erect the radio masts at selected high points. “It all went extremely well", said Nick Willerton of Roadphone. "The event was probably the largest dispatch of digital radios in Europe to date this year. Everyone involved needed to communicate to make it all work. The Hytera radios we used were a good choice because they are fully waterproof so perfect for the wet weekend events.”

Roadphone was also responsible for supplying radio communications crowd control audio systems and CCTV monitoring systems for some of the largest events in Europe including the UEFA Champions League football final and French Open tennis championships.

The company has also developed a GPS system called Admatics which was in use at the French Open, allowing the organisers to track in real time up to 100 cars, an essential security requirement.

Other events during the year included an airshow at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairfield, Gloucestershire, the Download Festival, the Exeter Olympic Torch Relay, the Motor Home Show at Peterborough showground, Spalding Flower Parade, the T in the Park Festival, and countless other events around the country.

John Wand, managing director said “Our strength lies in our continual ability to deliver a reliable service at competitive prices. Europe’s largest businesses, banks and event organisers trust in our experience, knowledge and dedication to deliver quality.”

WRITTEN OCTOBER 2012

See also Jack Wand MBE