After the discovery of radio waves in the late 1800's, originally called Hertzian waves, several people worked on the concept of transmitting sound this way. Although it was debatable who was the founder of radio, it was generally regarded as Marconi who started to develop the first commercial radio system in 1894. His company and others started to develop longer range transmissions and radios for military communication and then commercial radio. It wasn't until the 1930's when FM transmission was discovered for better sound quality, around the same time that television broadcasts started transmitting video along with audio. Colour TV came along during the 1950's in the US firstly, then here, and the 1960s saw the launch of the first communications satellites transmitting across the Atlantic. Since then we've seen satellite TV launch and a whole world of streamed internet. Alongside all this media, the mobile phone service was developed ever since early testing in the 1940's, although handheld devices weren't invented until 1973. The official launch of mobile networks in the UK came along in 1985. Since then we have seen digital technology and texting introduced, and only recently the whole concept of 'smartphone' which is more of a handheld multimedia entertainment and communication device that just happens to have a phone included in it.
This cache has been placed in Tapton Park behind the college, with the kind permission of the local council. Originally intended to be at the top of the hill overlooking the town, the tree cover here was a little limited for hiding it so it is situated further on. There is a small car park at the bottom of the hill below the grassy labyrinth add so you can admire the view on the way back. Alternatively there is a closer way in to the park from Paxton Road/Pettyclose Lane about 120 metres from the cache. The location is fairly well hidden, hence the slightly harder difficulty rating, and the terrain in the trees is rather uneven so watch your footing. To help you find it easier: it is about 5 metres from the south-east corner of the old basketball court, but you won't be able to take a direct route from the corner so find a path into the trees (one discreet one into the trees or one easier entrance below the grass banking, then double-back on yourself). There may be many dog walkers around on one side of this narrow tree corridor and bad golfers building sandcastles on the other so be discreet. I would advise daytime searches only due to the uneven path and drops which may be hazardous if dark. Well done to Asksally for being the first to turn on the gps and tune in to this one.
The replacement cache is a small camouflaged pot containing a logbook and pencil inside (not enough space for trackables). Sadly, the themed radio cache was taken. It is nestled away amidst roots and ivy, covered in a few twigs and tied to the roots under some low branches. Remember to make a note of the bonus clue code for the final 8th cache in the MMCC series (and series souvenir!). All 7 standard caches along with the bonus 8th one are now available to find. As usual, the clue code will be in the format of vii = ?
Here are the links to the other caches in the series:
MMCC (i) - 'The Reel Hollywood' at Linacre Reservoir
MMCC (ii) - 'Read All About It' at Poolsbrook Country Park
MMCC (iii) - 'D-elve V-ery D-iscreetly' at Holmebrook Valley Park
MMCC (iv) - U-nder S-ome B-ranches' at Queen's Park
MMCC (v) - 'V-ery H-idden S-tash' at Linacre Reservoir
MMCC (vi) - 'Smile Please' at Poolsbrook Country Park
... And the bonus 8th cache when you've found the first seven:
MMCC (viii) - 'World Wide Webster' at Linacre Reservoir
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