Who was the Chiltern Radio operative who had a slot reporting the gossip at the time while having Ike Turner's (and his Kings of Rhthym) New Breed Part 1 instrumental track playing in the background? The year would have been around 1990-1. Great memories, and judging by the video, it looks like Chiltern Radio was one big happy family.
Great to see this Phil, thank for posting. one stand out moment from back in the day was a young kid calling in and asking. "How do you stop Phil Fothergill from drowning.......... take your foot off his head" Always stuck with me all these years. Miss Chris Seymour's Rolling Quiz, was a great format.
One summer many years ago, I toured the station while visiting the area as a child. A seemingly random little radio station, in a tiny country, in the middle of nowhere, ended up one of the biggest influences in my life, sending me into a lifelong music career. Thank you Swansea Sound. Shame Bauer apparently killed you.
Thanks for the upload. This is really interesting stuff. I'm researching the Megatron flying saucer restaurant that used to be at Alconbury, Cambs. Some people have said that it had adverts broadcast on Chiltern, Mid Anglia, and Hereward in the early 1990s. Does anyone know where we might find recordings from that time, either in public archives or private collections? It might also have been mentioned on the news or by DJs, not least because people reported it as a genuine UFO when it opened in 1990. It would be great to see what we can find.
This man was a whole lot more than just 2 songs, such a talented songwriter as well as a performer. Lots of artists can sing, but only a small amount can really sing, Johnny Wakelin is one of them. My favourite song is Lay Down and Rock Me and also Ruby which was the B side to Grand Theft, Ruby always makes me cry.
Great to have this! I listened to Chiltern Radio in the 80's. Not only are the new stations crap, FM is a fast dying format now, I haven't listened to FM Radio in probably 12 years. I love music, so I stream it free on various Android apps. No commercials, no people talking. It's great!
Herts, Beds and Bucks really had one of the best ILR stations in the country, when you look back. Thank you Phil for putting this together. I wonder if the shareholders in 1995 now regret their decision to allow the GWR takeover. They killed so many great radio stations. Scandalous.
As a radio geek I really enjoyed this video. Swansea Sound was a great station. I'm not from South Wales but used to listen in the 1970's when on holiday in North Devon. It put out a good signal on 257 metres across the Bristol Channel. Then in the 1980's I was married to a lady from Neath so had many enjoyable visits to the area. It's a great shame that now, in 2021, UK commercial radio is dominated in ownership by Bauer & Global, stripping away all of that glorious heritage by creating national brands with little local programming. Swansea Sound did really well to keep its identity on AM from 1974 right up to 2020. RIP x
Wonderful memories of that building... even the brown sound proofing design! There was a buzz about that building I don't think I ever found again in my entire career!
Was in the newsroom from 1984-86 ...fabulous start to my broadcasting career. If I'd known about the 40th bash I'f have been glad to make teh trip back to Swansea and memory lane.
I was offered a job by yourself at Chiltern in, ooh gosh, I think somewhere between 85-87 probably. Unfortunately your enforced (and unfair) departure from the station meant I was never able to take up the appointment - a great disappointment at the time. Although I had a pretty successful career subsequently (now retired), I have always regretted not being able to take it up. Colin Mason, who I had dealings with often in subsequent years, was not a nice person in any sense. My best wishes to yourself. Simon
Dave Bowen and some of the old guys get together for lunch Alan...if you fancy meeting up we'll all make a date...it'll be fantastic to catch up for a beer!
At 12 minutes and 05 seconds into the video who is the lady with glasses? She reminds me of my former headmistress Mrs Hall who ran Chiltern Road Lower School when I was just 5 years old. Is it her?
I remember being dragged into the studios most weekends when my dad worked for Chiltern. Loved running loose around the halls & even got to meet Julian Lennon. Great days
great watching that - brought back good memories , I was born in Houghton Regis and grew up in Dunstable and it was so exciting tuning into Chiltern radio's first broadcasting day on AM Radio up until then we only had Radio 1 in the area and it was not local or give you any of the local news or events, but Chiltern radio changed all that. Very exciting. A week before Chiltern went to air I would listen to the pre-launch trailer over and over again. 2 songs I remember were Joan Armatrading 'im Lucky' and Simon and Garfunkle 'The Boxer' and Phil Fothergill and Paul McKenna and peter wagstaff(?) and bill you asking listeners to join them and listen in - great times and great to see this video up on here.
Northants 96 - The Hot FM. I was a massive fan. Fantastic presenters, beautiful jingles and great music. I love the travel news bed. I so miss The Chiltern Network.
Thanks for the video, brought back very old memories of the studios in Chiltern Road, when was on Louie Martin's show. Always remember the sound proofing in the studios, splicing tape and eveyone always frantically pressing the combination locks to get through the doors, also the outside broadcast in MK shopping centre. Thanks for the video.
Really miss Andy Gelder and Nick Lawrence on the breakfast show from back in the 90's. Also back in the 80's, there was Scott Shannons Rocking America, brilliant time to be a teenager! I'm surprised no one has done a tribute internet radio station!
I went to the Chiltern Road Studio open day way back then, I might even star in this video.. although I couldn't see myself - from what I can recall it was great day though
Back in 1983 I remember that on our way back from School we would call into Chiltern Radio if we heard an artist was in. I met Paul Young and some Kajagoogoo members but having left school in Summer 1983 I recall a year or so later a friend of the family knew Phil Fothergill and I was subsequently invited to have a look around the station one day. Great memories for me too as the radio station building was originally my junior school. I love or should I say now appreciate the jingle!
So that's what Sim Harris looked like! Thank you so much for uploading this. I used to listen to Chiltern Radio from 1982 more or less, non stop till it was taken over by GWR. I was addicted. I miss it as local radio has never been the same. Bill Youngs Monday moan line and Philly and Billy on Saturday morning, Pete Wagstaff, Steve Fountain to name a few.
He couldn't make it but...He was at the party with the original Swansea Sound 257 Team including Adrian Jay...Dave Bowen...Terry Mann...Doreen Jenkins etc..I put together in Swansea!
Such cool memories! Used to listen to chiltern radio in the early - mid 80s. Remember at night they used to play the disco mixes of hits, remember those? I didn't know that these were simply the 12" versions of the hits rocking the charts back in the day. Chiltern was the only radio station that played the extended versions of tunes such as Kajagoogoo too shy, and songs by Imagination.
after the pirates we enjoyed ILR local radio across the UK many stations of which I visited as I had a real passion for radio , Chiltern Radio were Brill broadcasting from a school in Chiltern Road Dunstable I liked the djs and the soul shows and the radio jingle was great well put together thank you Phil Fothergill Martin Collins Louie Martin and all the others for the great days of entertainment
Yes thank you Phil for what you did at Chiltern, I was so sad when Chiltern was taken over. I was was never a fan of Radio 1 or Radio BORE as you once put it in one of your sketches :-)
i loved chiltern radio,still remember the soul shows hosted by martin collins and louie martin,the rolling quiz with chris seymour and neil francis,paul o reilly sunday night at 7pm after kid jensons network chart,happy days and great radio,sadly long gone,nice to hear martin collins on magic now and paul phear who hosted the breakfast show on chiltern radio,now on smooth radio.
