XTRA-AM Birmingham 1988-1992

My professional radio career started in 1988, where after a number of years working in Hospital Radio I was offered a freelance PA (Programme Assistant) role at the new XTRA-AM in Birmingham.

XTRA-AM was created as a new station using the two AM frequencys formerly used by BRMB and Mercia FM, both at the time still part of the Midlands Radio Group.
My PA activities basically involved "driving" pre-recorded or remote location programmes, firing in commercials, jingles etc as required. As my first "taste" of professional radio I was delighted to be a part of the new station, and looked forward to developing my role there over time.
Eventually I was given the opporunity to break into presentation with some shifts covering the networked overnight programme called "Nightbeat". This was transimitted across most of the Midlands Radio Group, including BRMB, Mercia, Trent, Leciester Sound and XTRA-AM.

BRMB Birmingham 1989-1992

My work on XTRA-AM also brought me to the attention of the FM brand in the same building, and it wasnt long before I was also performing PA duties for recorded programming on BRMB. This also led to a long and enjoyable stint as TO (Technical Operator) for the main Saturday Sports show presented by George Gavin. In addition to studio work I also occasionally travelled around the country to provide telephone reports from away football matches into the sports programme.

However it was really presentation that I wanted to pursue the most, and for a time things looked promising as more and more cover slots were offered, including Evening shows, the top rated Sunday night "Romantica" and even Breakfast slots over the Holiday period. However, when push finally came to shove the Programme Management were unwilling to commit to any full time Presentation contract. So, reluctantly, I began to look elsewhere.

Buzz FM Birmingham 1992-1994

Next began a bizarre chapter in my radio career, at the ill fated Buzz FM.
The station had launched in 1990, but was struggling to make an impact due to financial problems and issues with reception casused by the weak and poorly chosen frequency of 102.4 FM. I was recruited shortly after the station was bought out by maverick radio tycoon Chris Carey. His idea of an interview was to tell me at 9.30am that I would be on air from 10am till 2pm that day! The "interview" was a success and I landed the job presenting the mid-morning show.

After a year or so things were still looking grim financially, and despite the poaching of Graham Torrington and other BRMB presenters, the situation worsened to the point where Carey finally pulled the plug on the station and it went off air. Needless to say that the presentation staff were dumbfounded and fought to keep the station alive.

That was when another radio and production entrepeneur came in. Muff Murfin bought the station from Chris Carey, and within a few days had it broadcasting again from temporary studios in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham - not far from the original studios. Shortly after this, Murfin also bought Radio Harmony in Coventry, and then arranged for Buzz FM to move into one of the studios at the Coventry station. It was around this time that Buzz FM was due to re-apply for its license to broadcast, and Murfin had received assurances from the Radio Authority that in return for rescuing Buzz and getting it back on the air, that the renewal would be granted. However it was declined in favour of Choice FM. Buzz FM ceased to broadcast at midnight on 31 December 1994.

KIX 96 Coventry 1995-1996

In the autumn of 1994, Murfin had bought Radio Harmony in Coventry and was already planning to relaunch it as Kix 96 in the new year following a succesful attempt to get the Radio Authority to change the original 102.6 FM frequency to one with greater reach. When the end of Buzz was announced, many presenters were offered new positions at Kix 96. I was fortunate enough to be offered Afternoon Drive.

Throughout my time at Kix 96 I was able to thrive, developling my presentation style and acquring new skills. In addition to the weekday show I presented a Midlands Chart Show on Saturdays, and became involved with Music Selection and Commercial Traffic too. One of the highlights of my time there were the "Drivetime Guest List" interviews that I did with many recording artists, including Erasure, The Backstreet Boys and Jimmy Somerville.

Towards the end of 1995, following the departure of Graham Torrington, I was pushing to become Programme Controller. This application was declined, and at about the same time I was approached to help launch a new station in South Warwickshire as Breakfast Show host. I accepted.

FM102 The Bear Stratford upon Avon 1996-2002

The Bear launched in May 1996, and became an instant hit with its quaint and slightly old fashioned style. As Breakfast show host I was given my biggest presentation challenge to date. I was also charged with the running of Commercial Traffic for the station. I served as Breakfast host for four years, eventually becoming Head of Music and then Programme Controller for a while.
However, whilst the creative side of the job was rewarding and enjoyable, I soon tired of the office politics and experienced mounting frustration over not being able to exercise the role of Programme Controller fully.

During my time at the Bear I helped to groom a number of new presenter talents who have gone on to greater success elsewhere in the radio industry. 

By 2000, as my frustrations grew, I began to contemplate a change of career altogether. On the sidelines I started my own Computer building business, and following some success as a part time venture I decided to go the whole hog and give up full time radio. I presented my last Breakfast show in December 2000.

I did go on to present a number of weekend shows and provided some holiday cover from time to time over the next two years, but was axed from the schedules in 2002 as part of a cost cutting exercise. Later the station was bought out by the expanding CN Group, who later rebranded it to Touch FM.