London’s New Year’s Day Parade is one of the capital’s most anticipated annual events. For over 30 years NSR has been involved in the event. Back in 1987 when the New Year’s Day Parade was first staged, dubbed the Lord Mayor of Westminster’s Big Parade, it took place on North Carriage Way Drive in Hyde Park, consisting of just 20 or so floats. It was a relatively small event and only took one man from NSR to set-up and run the four 100volt line horn speaker set up with one or two radio mics.
Today it’s a different story with a 21 strong NSR team, consisting of technicians and support staff, the crew is responsible for the sound and communication systems for the 3.2km route starting from outside the Ritz on Piccadilly and finishing in Parliament Square. This year saw the NSR team supplying a PA system for BBC Breakfast’s live broadcast at 6am in addition to 10 sites along teh route that all required power and a full PA system, all of which were manned with a two man team throughout the parade. In addition to this NSR was required to provide the power distribution for commentary units, toilets and hospitality areas at the finish. NsR also supplied an extra trailer to provide a dressing room/production facility for Darcy Oake, the Britain’s Got Talent magician, who headlined this year’s parade.
It wasn’t just about the static communications though as the organisers, security, coach drivers and other mobile event staff needed radio communications that required a total of 80 radios on the day. Everyone at NSR is hugely proud of their involvement in London’s New Year’s Day Parad and look forward to another amazing 30 years of yuletide celebrations in London.
