A Few Facts About Me as a Speaker
This is not some elderly old bore rambling on about the BBC. These are highly entertaining and interesting productions illustrated with still and moving images and lots of nostalgic audio clips which the cruise passengers, who are generally of an age to remember, can relate to and enjoy.
I started my career running a radio station in Aden while serving there as a national serviceman in the RAF at the time of the Suez canal crisis.
I joined the BBC as a studio manager, before becoming a producer for the light programme. In 1967 the Marine Offences bill led to the close down of the pirate radio stations and the BBC decided to set up Radio 1 to provide a legal alternative. I was at the forefront of this process, recruiting most of the DJ talent and devising the jingles, subsequently producing the first ever show with Tony Blackburn.
I became an executive producer in 1972 and in 1973 conceived and launched the show for which I am best known, the Radio 1 Roadshow. This grew from a small caravan operation on Newquay beach to an 80 foot mobile stage show housed in a series of articulated trucks, supported by a giant outdoor TV display visited by 500,000 people a year.
In 1985 I was appointed Controller of the Radio 1 network, responsible for the entire output including such major projects as the sound for Live Aid.
In 1992 I was the first non-broadcaster to receive the coveted Ferguson award for an Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio from the Radio Academy and in 1993 was elected President of the Television and Radio Industry Club of Great Britain.
I was appointed as a governor of the BRITS school for performing arts and technology in May 1993 and in that same month was presented with a Sony award for outstanding services to the radio industry.
In 2005 I was made a fellow of the Radio Academy, the highest award in the radio industry.
Since then I have published my latest book, “Radio 1 - the Inside Scene” to celebrate Radio 1’s 40th anniversary. The printed version is sold out but on Amazon there is an audio book, where I can be heard reading the whole thing.
BROADCASTING AGAIN 2021
Due to Covid 19 restriction we’ve been locked in since January 2020 so there’s obviously been no cruise lecturing, in the meantime I’ve found something new to do on Sunday evenings.
I started my Radio career presenting the Breakfast Show in Aden, some 64 years ago and now I’m back on the ‘wireless’ as a DJ on Serenade-Radio.com, that’s where I present “Big Band Special.” I’ve always loved big bands and on this new show I can play all those big band sounds that you don’t hear on any other radio stations. It’s rather like the old BBC Light Programme pre 1967, and even has “Sing Something Simple, “Music While You Work”, old dance bands and Cinema Organs. The older people love it because there are no commercials and, as I say, no other radio station caters for their entertainment listening needs
My show, which started in November 2020 is on every Sunday at 6pm. Please give it a try, log onto Serenade-Radio.com and you’ll be able to a listen, and hopefully give me some feedback too.
You might even grow to love Serenade Radio and make it your station of choice! Happy Listening.
This is not some elderly old bore rambling on about the BBC. These are highly entertaining and interesting productions illustrated with still and moving images and lots of nostalgic audio clips which the cruise passengers, who are generally of an age to remember, can relate to and enjoy.
I started my career running a radio station in Aden while serving there as a national serviceman in the RAF at the time of the Suez canal crisis.
I joined the BBC as a studio manager, before becoming a producer for the light programme. In 1967 the Marine Offences bill led to the close down of the pirate radio stations and the BBC decided to set up Radio 1 to provide a legal alternative. I was at the forefront of this process, recruiting most of the DJ talent and devising the jingles, subsequently producing the first ever show with Tony Blackburn.
I became an executive producer in 1972 and in 1973 conceived and launched the show for which I am best known, the Radio 1 Roadshow. This grew from a small caravan operation on Newquay beach to an 80 foot mobile stage show housed in a series of articulated trucks, supported by a giant outdoor TV display visited by 500,000 people a year.
In 1985 I was appointed Controller of the Radio 1 network, responsible for the entire output including such major projects as the sound for Live Aid.
In 1992 I was the first non-broadcaster to receive the coveted Ferguson award for an Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio from the Radio Academy and in 1993 was elected President of the Television and Radio Industry Club of Great Britain.
I was appointed as a governor of the BRITS school for performing arts and technology in May 1993 and in that same month was presented with a Sony award for outstanding services to the radio industry.
In 2005 I was made a fellow of the Radio Academy, the highest award in the radio industry.
Since then I have published my latest book, “Radio 1 - the Inside Scene” to celebrate Radio 1’s 40th anniversary. The printed version is sold out but on Amazon there is an audio book, where I can be heard reading the whole thing.
BROADCASTING AGAIN 2021
Due to Covid 19 restriction we’ve been locked in since January 2020 so there’s obviously been no cruise lecturing, in the meantime I’ve found something new to do on Sunday evenings.
I started my Radio career presenting the Breakfast Show in Aden, some 64 years ago and now I’m back on the ‘wireless’ as a DJ on Serenade-Radio.com, that’s where I present “Big Band Special.” I’ve always loved big bands and on this new show I can play all those big band sounds that you don’t hear on any other radio stations. It’s rather like the old BBC Light Programme pre 1967, and even has “Sing Something Simple, “Music While You Work”, old dance bands and Cinema Organs. The older people love it because there are no commercials and, as I say, no other radio station caters for their entertainment listening needs
My show, which started in November 2020 is on every Sunday at 6pm. Please give it a try, log onto Serenade-Radio.com and you’ll be able to a listen, and hopefully give me some feedback too.
You might even grow to love Serenade Radio and make it your station of choice! Happy Listening.
