Hereward launch - Northamptonshire

Episode 5,   Jun 24, 2011, 12:14 PM

I heard this station launch originally - through the crackles. Hereward Radio from Peterborough, launching with the Bellamy Brothers: ‘Let your Love Flow’. Cheery ditty too. It began broadcasting from its home in a former pub, on 10th July 1980; and was the third station in the second tranche of ILR, after Cardiff and Coventry.

Ralph Bernard, who was to play such a pivotal role within GWR as the commercial radio industry grew, was installed as news editor, having moved from Hallam. Another of the station’s alumni is Radio Two’s Controller, Bob Shennan, who began his career as a journalist.

John Warwick played a role in the station’s launch too, before he left for Mercia. Cecilia Garnett was another colourful character associated with the station; a Hereward MD, Cecilia went on to become Secretary of AIRC, the Association of Independent Radio Contractors; and Hereward’s Stewart Francis became the Association’s chairman.

Audio here is of the subsequent Hereward extension to Northamptonshire in October 1984. Anyone got the audio of the original Peterborough launch?

The station changed brand to Heart Cambridgeshire on 2 July 2010 #herewardradio