S1 Ep676: David Lloyd - last Trent link!
Farewell is a lonely sound, sang Jimmy Ruffin. Waving farewell to your first ever station, and one in your home town, and one which saw you grow up from boy to man is pretty emotional. This is embarrassing to listen to. Ah well. For more memories from the Trent days, check out http://davidlloyd-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/trent
55s Mar 07, 2013
55s
S1 Ep675: BBC 6 Music - Launch
Hailed as ‘the first new BBC music service for 32 years, BBC 6 Music launched in March 2002. Devised as ‘Network Y’, unlike all other BBC music services, it is only broadcast digitally. Famously, this was the station which was destined to die. The BBC had mooted closure in March 2010, so that it could save some of its £11m running costs, but the decision was later reversed after a huge outcry...
1m Mar 07, 2013
1m
S1 Ep674: BBC General Forces Programme
The BBC General Forces Programme was a relatively short-lived BBC radio entertainment station, from February 1944 to December 1946. Its predecessor, the Forces Programme, had largely been sufficiently jolly for our boys, but come 1944, the service also had to appeal to the GIs who were a little more accustomed to livelier radio fare. So, it was time for a re-brand. The General Forces Programm...
38s Feb 25, 2013
38s
S1 Ep673: Jazz FM (explicit) - Fail
At Jazz FM, a fader open when it might more wisely have been closed. (EXPLICIT) In the words of the OFCOM adjudication: “during the broadcast of the pre-recorded programme, Funky Sensation’ , a member of the Jazz FM Presentation team opened a personal email on the studio computer and accessed a weblink containing pornographic content; but by mistake left the sound fader linked to this computer...
29s Feb 17, 2013
29s
S1 Ep672: Fox FM (Oxford) Launch: September 15th 1989
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep671: KFM 104.9 (Stockport) Launch: February 17th 1990
2m Feb 16, 2013
2m
S1 Ep670: Horizon Radio (Milton Keynes) - Launch: October 15th 1989
2m Feb 16, 2013
2m
S1 Ep669: Key 103 (Manchester) - Launch: September 3rd 1988
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep668: BBC 3 Counties Radio Launch: April 5th 1993
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep667: Pirate FM (Cornwall) Launch: April 3rd 1992
2m Feb 16, 2013
2m
S1 Ep666: Mix 96 (Aylesbury) Launch: April 15th 1994
I forgot I ‘launched’ this! In a sense, at least. My old friend, the talented Keri Jones asked me to voice some typically poetic words for the launch. I think they were recorded in a quiet night in a Lincs FM studio. I never heard it ‘in situ’ until I loaded this Boo. Cheers for the compression, Keri. Hides a multitude of my sins. Mix 96 came on air in 1994 fr...
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep665: The Breeze (Yeovil & South Somerset) - Launch: June 25th 2012
54s Feb 16, 2013
54s
S1 Ep664: The Breeze (Frome & West Wiltshire) Launch: October 2011
35s Feb 16, 2013
35s
S1 Ep663: Jack FM (Swindon) - Launch: May 28th 2012
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep662: Jack FM (South Coast) Launch: July 4th 2011
1m Feb 16, 2013
1m
S1 Ep661: 3FM (Isle of Man) Launch: October 17th 2004
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep660: Wave 105 (South Coast) - Launch: June 14th 1998
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep659: FM 107.6 The NRG (Bournemouth): Launch on June 26th 1999
3m Feb 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep658: Q103 - Launch
3m Feb 12, 2013
3m
S1 Ep657: World Radio Day - UK tribute
A hastily-assembled breathless one-minute dash through the rich life of UK radio. As a little something to commemorate World Radio Day. From the words of Marconi, through the early stations. Then the creation of the BBC UK networks, the pirate stations, the local stations and the creation of commercial radio. Marconi - the ‘inventor of radio’.1923 2MT with Peter Eckersley – Early engineer and...
1m Feb 11, 2013
1m
S1 Ep656: Eveready Hour
Eveready batteries. Those blue objects used to excite me as a kid as they powered my treasured 3” reel mini tape recorder. I’d peer over the counter of my greasy local cycle shop, and plead with Mr Caulton to sell me PP9s at a knockdown price. The brand also lent its name to what is seen as the first commercially sponsored variety show in broadcasting history. WEAK was its home from February 1...
2m Feb 11, 2013
2m
S1 Ep655: Patricia Hughes - Radio 3
Former BBC radio announcer Patricia Hughes began her career at the BBC in 1944. Like so many back then, she got through the door as a secretary. Perish the thought that any woman would announce at a BBC Board interview that they actually wanted to be on-air. The 'Overseas Service' beckoned, followed by the Light Programme, the Home Service and the Third Programme (now Radio 3). As one might ex...
3m Feb 09, 2013
3m
S1 Ep654: Delighted winner
1m Feb 08, 2013
1m
S1 Ep653: Cool FM launch - 1990
2m Feb 06, 2013
2m
S1 Ep652: Jodie Kidd - Swear (Language caution)
There are two real rules in radio. Don’t tip Coke in the faders; and don’t swear when the mic is on. Given that mistakes happen, those two regulations are best observed by keeping any liquid well away from the mixer; and not swearing at all in a studio. One never knows for sure whether the mic is on or off. And there are those occasions when you reasonably think your studio itself is off-line...
1m Feb 05, 2013
1m
S1 Ep651: David Oates tribute
David Oates was part of the BBC for over 25 years, from BBC Local to becoming a key commentator for BBC 5 Live. David died in February 2013. Here, his 5 Live colleagues Mike Ingham, Alan Green and Ian Payne pay their emotional tribute.
4m Feb 03, 2013
4m
S1 Ep650: BBC Radio 2 - Jeremy Hunt news/Niki Cartwell
Jeremy Hunt, when Culture Secretary, fell victim to the obvious Spoonerism on broadcast news on several occasions. Those not in favour of his local TV plan maybe smiled more than most. As Health Secretary, one might expect Jeremy to escape such a fate. But on occasions like this, in January 2013, he doesn't quite.
10s Jan 26, 2013
10s
S1 Ep649: Talk Radio UK launch - 1995
Talk Radio UK was the final one of the three new national commercial radio licences, after the commercial sector was, at long last, awarded some national frequencies. Two were on AM and only one on the precious FM band. The one on FM could play music. But only if it wasn’t pop. So, Talk Radio UK began on the 14th February 1995. For the pedantic, the station really began late the previous night ...
5m Jan 25, 2013
5m
S1 Ep648: Charlotte Green
How can someone deliver such awful news stories so frequently and yet remain so likeable? Charlotte Green somehow pulled it off. In spite of the stories she delivered impeccably day after day in Radio 4's news programmes, there was just that hint of mischief. Without any risk to her authority, she was able to carry off appearances on The News Quiz; and, more accidentally, sometimes famously lo...
2m Jan 18, 2013
2m
S1 Ep647: BBC Radio Devon - Launch
3m Jan 16, 2013
3m
S1 Ep646: BBC Radio Cornwall - Launch
1m Jan 16, 2013
1m
S1 Ep645: Daphne Oxenford
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. Daphne Oxenford was remembered fondly for her 'Listen with Mother' appearances. Huddled round the Rediffusion speaker in the corner of the infant school classroom, sat cross-legged on the parquet flooring, a generation grew up to her tones, alongside Julia Lang, Dorothy Smith and Eileen Browne. The programme was aired just after lunch, where it at...
2m Jan 14, 2013
2m
S1 Ep644: London Test Transmissions - Capital/LBC
Test transmissions. Dull, but exciting too. Not least in the early 70s, when there was little else on FM to listen to, apart from Police messages. They were, as the name implied, just a way of transmitting a little something on the carrier wave so that the engineers could establish if all was well as the transmitters were plugged in. Hear, here, the original 1973 London test transmissions, pa...
57s Jan 13, 2013
57s
S1 Ep643: Angela Bond
Angela Bond will be remembered fondly by so many people whose lives she impacted on. For a generation, she was the voice at the end of the trimphone when one had Selector issues. When this new-fangled computerised music programming tool behaved in odd ways back in the 80s, Angela, and indeed most of her family, would be on-hand to help. It was usually late at night on a Friday, as one tried to...
1m Jan 12, 2013
1m
S1 Ep642: Hirsty's Daily Dose arrives on Galaxy 105 - 2003
This breakfast show lasted more than ten years, and no-one can doubt its place in radio history. On January 13th 2003, Simon Hirst and Danny Oakes from Viking joined the effervescent JoJo to made up a new team to wake up Yorkshire - at Galaxy 105. The arranged marriage worked a treat, even though Hirsty had to leave the JAM Morning Glory jingles back in 'Ull. A natural broadcaster, with true ...
1m Jan 11, 2013
1m
S1 Ep641: Rush Limbaugh
Is there anyone quite like Rush Limbaugh in the UK? Had UK radio been founded differently, maybe there would be. His political commentary is thoroughly right wing. Rush’s talk career began in 1984 at KFBK, moving to New York’s famous 77 WABC in 1984, from where he went national. His show is now hailed as ‘the most-listened-to talk show’ with its 15 million US audience. Witness here ‘the act’...
4m Jan 11, 2013
4m
S1 Ep640: Tommy Vance - Radio 1 Top 40 - 1991
What a voice. TV on the radio. Tommy Vance. Like many, he grasped a radio name from thin air at the outset. The TV name he adopted stemmed from some otherwise unused namechecks. If only we could all name ourselves after our favourite jingle. Who would you be? From KOL in Seattle, to KHJ in LA, to Radio Caroline, Luxembourg and the pirate Radio London. Tommy was part of the huge launch team at...
3m Jan 09, 2013
3m
S1 Ep639: Alan Freeman - Pick of The Pops - 1964
The voice of Alan Freeman is recognisable within seconds; and unlike just about anyone else. Known for hosting Pick of The Pops; and for the way he used his voice as a real instrument. He made an art form of the, erm, hesitation; and naturally mastered catch phrases: ‘Stay Bright’. ‘Not Arf’. ‘Pop Pickers.Music Lovers. An Australian, he moved to Europe in the late fifties, firstly with Radio Lu...
2m Jan 06, 2013
2m
S1 Ep638: DevonAir, launch - 1980
DevonAir launched on the 7th November 1980. It was to lose its licence 14 years later. 
11m Jan 06, 2013
11m
S1 Ep637: Centre Radio - Launch
Here starts the story of the station which was not meant to be Centre was born in September 1981. I recall Trent being poised, back then, to battle with its new East Midlands neighbour, given until then it had been alone. Indeed, listening back to old Trent tapes now, mentions of Leicestershire and Derbyshire had always been surprisingly commonplace. Centre 238 bounced on-air with Timmy (Mall...
6m Jan 06, 2013
6m
S1 Ep636: Red Rose Radio - Launch
17m Jan 05, 2013
17m
S1 Ep635: Mercia Sound, launch - 1980
Mercia Sound was the first English station to arrive in the second burst of commercial radio, just as the Government thought commercial radio was working, but was not awfully sure.  It came on air on May 23rd 1980, with Ian Rufus giving the opening announcement before a Sue Manning jingle. I have a theory that one can tell a great deal about the destiny of a station from the style in which its ...
7m Jan 05, 2013
7m
S1 Ep634: Chiltern Radio launch - 1981
9m Jan 04, 2013
9m
S1 Ep633: Radio Wyvern - Launch
9m Jan 04, 2013
9m
S1 Ep632: Metro Radio - Launch, plus off-air pre-launch
4m Jan 04, 2013
4m
S1 Ep631: Moray Firth Radio - Launch
I love the way the chap in the picture clutches the tape spool like a new born baby. Hear here the launch of the great Moray Firth Radio in Inverness in 1982, one of the early smaller stations. Whilst a small operation, it covered a huge geographic area. The unmistakable and highly-respected Thomas Prag led the station, a former BBC stalwart. Tom became an elder Scottish radio statesman in du...
3m Jan 04, 2013
3m
S1 Ep630: Wiltshire Radio launch - 1982
Wiltshire Radio launched from 'The Limekiln' in Wooton Bassett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooton_Bassett) in October 1982. It became GWR 3 years later as it joined with struggling Radio West. 
3m Jan 04, 2013
3m
S1 Ep629: Hereward Radio (Peterborough) - Launch
5m Jan 04, 2013
5m
S1 Ep628: CBC (Cardiff) - Launch
The fact that the word 'Capital' is used twice in the opening presenter sequence on CBC in Cardiff merits a head-shake of disbelief. Who would have guessed that Capital would be its name 31 years later. I was interviewed for CBC in 1979, sat on a hard bench in a draughty church hall, as its launch premises were assembled nearby. Programme Controller, Dan Damon, pointed to a pile of 5 inch spoo...
4m Jan 04, 2013
4m
S1 Ep627: Daphne Oxenford
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. Daphne Oxenford was remembered fondly for her 'Listen with Mother' appearances. Huddled round the Rediffusion speaker in the corner of the infant school classroom, sat cross-legged on the parquet flooring, a generation grew up to her tones, alongside Julia Lang, Dorothy Smith and Eileen Browne. The programme was aired just after lunch, where it at...
2m Jan 03, 2013
2m