Radio Moments - Clips

His clear tones epitomised a calm era of Radio 2. Armed with some TV experience and a spell with the pirate Radio Caroline, Colin Berry joined the BBC’s new 'Light Programme' in the seventies. He was to host all of its major dayparts, from time to time, and was said to be the station’s longest continuous-serving news reader until his final bulletin in 2012. Famously too, for 25 years, we heard him deliver the UK’s voting in the Eurovision song contest. In his own words, this is the Colin Berry story. (Music by Larry Bryant www.larrybryant.com)

Adam Dowling introduces a tribute to Dave Cash, as produced originally for Dave's 50th anniversary in radio in 2014. As aired (telescoped) on the BBC in the South in October 2016.

After more then fifty years in radio, from the pirates to the present day, Dave Cash died on 21st October 2016. His final programme was just days before, on October 16th, across the BBC in the South on this Country programme. Catch him here enjoying himself, joining in with familiar Country favourites, and even having a quick word with a fellow pirate Roger Day.

Aired on 2nd Oct 2016

After seventy years on radio, Desmond Carrington, 90, announces his imminent farewell.

15th Sept 2016

For a generation, his was the daring voice of an initially cautious Capital Radio, as the host of ‘Your Mother Wouldn’t Like it’. In this edition of Conversations, enjoy an hour with Nicky Horne. Nicky speaks of his early days in the discos and on biscuit factory radio at UBN, before opening up about his break at Capital where he was to work alongside those he’d admired in their pirate beginnings. Hear too of his encounters with some of the World’s most famous musicians’; and his days at Virgin and the BBC. In his own words, this is the Nicky Horne story.

Trusting Jon Holmes to end his Xfm breakfast days and host a farewell programme to prepare the ground for a new radio station probably took a bit of a management gulp. But it made compelling listening. You never quite knew how far he was going to go - and even when he was uttering sincere valedictory words, you had that niggling feeling something else was about to happen. Great radio. Great performer. Few presenters have ever managed to span the formats with the agility and intelligence of Jon. Aired 11t September 2015.

Presenters form a close bond with their listeners, particularly on talk and breakfast formats. When they wave farewell, whether at their choice or the station’s, it’s good to be able to say goodbye. Listen here to the announcement of the departure of Chelsea Norris from the Key 103 breakfast programme in Manchester after 11 years, followed by the last two hours of the final show two days later. The listeners say it best: ‘It’s like losing my little girl’.

Performed by Sarah Vaughan, this great jingle was part of a star-studded campaign by the RAB in the United States in 1965. They were trumpeting commercial radio powerfully whilst we were still almost a decade away from it even beginning.

Another AM/FM split, a little later than the rest, Swansea Sound divided on 30th September 1995, exactly 21 years after it had originally gone on air. Unlike most, the legacy brand remained on AM and the new 'brand' 'Sound Wave' (Now The Wave) debuted on FM. It was proud moment for Shaun Tilley.

A truly delightful piece of rarely heard Thatcher, in conversation here with a tolerant and surprised Peter Allen, then LBC's Political Editor. He seeks to gain a definition of Thatcherism. It's introduced by Douglas Cameron.

Like so many of the 70s and 80s, I had numerous namecheck jingles, singing my name in lush harmonies. Jingle singers must have cursed when presented in their sessions with a list of dull English names to sing over the end of the same track. Mind you, there was nothing quite like listening through to a new package for the first time to see how they’d pronounced your name. Some people in Nottingham sing mine to me even now. Ah well. Here are a few - as an illustration of a time and place in radio history. A time possibly kicked off in England with the pirates and Tony Blackburn’s ‘The Tony Blackburn Show’ which he has carried with him almost to this day. Enjoy the work of Alfasound, JAM, CPMG and the list goes on. I’ve mislaid my original £7.50 Sonovox from East Anglian Productions. Mind you. I’ve changed my name since then. At the end, hear the first ever official jingle I had at Trent (admittedly sung by different singers from the main package, as I had joined Trent too late), and a Summer jock ID, kindly voiced my Len Groat, which made a shy 19 year old feel special as he had the same idents as those he’d grown up listening to. Watch out soon for a ‘days of the week’ accapella compilation. Actually, let’s not bother with that.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, with clips and memories, for the week ending July 15th 2016,. This weekly series is also featured at the end of the week's Radio Today podcast.

It was expected by some that Chris Moyles may not last too long on breakfast. Not because he wasn’t up to the job. He was. But he was seen to push the limits, just as so many greats do; and the BBC was in cautious mood. As it turned out’ he ended up being the longest serving Radio 1 breakfast show host, and such is the pace of media now, not least with younger formats, his record is unlikely to be challenged. Ever. Enjoy here the announcement of his farewell in July 2012. His delivery offers a chink of evidence of how he connected so well, for so long. Afterwards, hear how his succession plans were explained by his Controller to Richard Bacon.

After many years of being revealed on Wednesdays or Sundays, the chart release day moved to Fridays from 10th July 2015.

'A String of Pearls' was heard for 25 years on BBC Radio Wales, hosted by Dewi Griffiths. He announced his retirement in 2014, after sixty years with the BBC. Dewi joined in 1954 as a Probationary Technical Assistant with The Welsh Home Service, working in Cardiff, before being transferred to television in 1956 . Dewi returned at the end of 1962 as BBC Wales formed its very own Sports Department. Over the next 30 years, Dewi directed the cameras at every rugby match played at Cardiff Arms Park. Dewi's happy memories were key to his twilight career at BBC Radio Wales, playing the songs and stars of yesteryear as presenter of 'A String of Pearls' on Sunday mornings.

1947 - and when the country sought coverage of the marriage of HRH Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, they turned to radio. Although the art of commentary was still a young one, it had already been well practised, given radio had learned so quickly how to describe the horror of War. Wynford Vaughan-Thomas describes the scene inside the Westminster Abbey for the BBC Home Service and then crosses to Richard Dimbleby witnessing the processional route back to Buckingham Palace. Finally, as the crowds await the balcony appearance, the legendary Frank Gillard, who was to be BBC Local Radio's founding father, takes over. This is beautiful radio.

Chris Carnegy persuaded his way into Portsmouth’s Radio Victory as a student, little knowing he’d witness the sudden end of its life, as its franchise became the first to be whisked away by the regulator. He later emerged as a leading light in its replacement, Ocean Sound. Having established the successful Spire FM in Salisbury and playing a key role in the Local Radio Company, Chris acquired the reputation as a much-admired individual who knew the secrets of running great local radio businesses with high quality programming at the right cost. In this hour of ‘Conversations’, Chris tells proudly of his successes; honestly of his frustrations; and shares insight into his more recent projects at the BBC and beyond. In his own words, this is the Chris Carnegy story.

After nine years, Sandi Toksvig hosted her final edition of 'The News Quiz' on BBC Radio 4 in June 2015. She'd first appeared as a panellist in 1992 under the stewardship of Barry Took. The News Quiz has been a trademark element of the Radio 4 schedule since 1977.

A flavour of how radio around the British Isles reflected the historic vote on the future of its position within the EU.

Radio Victory in Portsmouth was one of very few UK radio stations ever to have its right to broadcast, effectively, withdrawn by the regulator. In the days of commercial radio’s first regulator, the IBA, franchises to broadcast were awarded; and these were rolled upon satisfactory performance. In later days, fixed terms were awarded, at the end of which a new competitive beauty contest would decide whether the incumbent should live to fight another day. DAB has, in more recent years, interrupted that process. Whilst the law offers no specific advantage to the incumbent when a licence is advertised, regulators have, quite rightly, felt they needed a decent reason to replace a licensee. A very poor regulatory record or on the edge of bankruptcy; or just a case of not quite taking the hint about what they should be doing in the ensuing term. Famously, the original LBC lost its licence in 1993; albeit the brand name was to return, in due course, under its successor. Witness here a telescoped edition of the excellent last programme aired by Radio Victory in Portsmouth on 28th June 1986. This had been a slightly more complex battle as when its franchise ended; a new larger area was being offered by the IBA and three groups put their heads above the parapet. It was told it had lost out to Ocean Sound in 1985 and closed down the following year. Ocean became Heart, and is now part of Heart South Coast. Chris Carnegy (thanks for the audio, Chris) delivered the final words in this impressive valedictory programme beautifully; and he subsequently touched down at the replacement station which launched four months later.

A time and a place. Tony Blackburn makes his debut on the Top 40. The pro shines through, with all the rigidity and preciseness the format demand, with just a sprinkling of his personality. Jam jingles punctuate, alongside the voice of the legendary Bill Mitchell, plus some naked-sounding American girls. The music is typically late seventies, with residual punk, the jazz of Spirogyra and the Crusaders and a seasoning of Boney M, before the chart rundown is immaculately delivered. Audio kindly supplied by the chart archivist, Richard White.

This audio, courtesy Lindsay Reid, show Ian in full flow, hosting News-Scene as he waved farewell to Hallam. This half-hour programme illustrates the depth of news aired on late seventies ILR (commercial radio).