Red Rose was an inspirational station which knew its audience and made its mark on Lancashire and the surrounding area. It is clear from reading the recollections of some of the presenters that it made an indelible mark on a lot of people. It was a great training ground for a number of people who are still around to this day. Simon Ross is an accomplished presenter on Radio City 2 whose breakfast show is a masterclass in good radio, who spent time on Red Rose in the early 1990s- one of the best radio voices around, though I notice from a Capital FM clip from 1999 that he had to modify the accent for the London audience. Beswick was a genius who helped shape my worldview with his insight and empathy- yes really. Mark Mathews is also on Radio City 2 currently and his was the voice that introduced Rock FM when the frequency split in June 1990- the clip of this still sounds good twenty seven years later!
In those days local radio was great, I worked at Red Rose from 1982 until 1994. We knew our audience, Lancashire was our patch plus Radio Lancashire had a different style so we all got along well. Many stations network much of their output these days so if a major RTC occurs in your area there's no slot to talk about it.
Thanks for the reply Rod- I always thought Radio Lancashire sounded staid and sleepy although I am sure it had a loyal audience. I honestly think Red Rose before the split and Rock FM from June 1990 put out some programmes that were as good as anything you'd hear on Radio 1, where for all its faults, there were some accomplished presenters. For my money the best the station had to offer were Dave Lincoln, Danny Pietroni ( later success on various London stations, including Heart which challenged Capital for ratings in the late 1990s), Robin Ross for less chart oriented music in the evenings, Paul Fairbairn, the incomparable Beswick for lessons in life, and Simon Tate, who must have been a devotee of Alan Freeman's presentation style, such was the similarity in his voice. Gary King also did a Saturday night stint for a while in 1985 which I thought was very good- he later went on to Radio 1 for a while as well as Capital.
Does anyone know when Red Rose Radio (or Red Rose Rock FM) had that event which was held at the Three Sisters Race Circuit near Wigan?. I think it was sometime in 1989 or very early 1990 (no later than mid Feb 90). A few well know TV personalities where there for the (I'm assuming) launch or re-launch of the station, including Corrie's Bill Roache, Michael LeVel, Martin Platt, an Emmerdale actor, and presenter John Craven. I know it wasn't during the summer months, likely either Feb, March or April, or Oct, Nov or Dec. If anyone knows the date of this I would love to know. I think Red Rose also did a show at Haigh Country Park on the August Bank Holiday in 1991.
According to John Myers’ book, Rock FM was given its name as the station was initially going to be based in Blackpool. However the agreement for the studio premises subsequently fell through and the station remained based in Preston. Sad to see that the only local output left on Rock FM soon will be a 3hr drivetime show broadcasting 5 days a week, with all other output networked from Manchester.
Red Rose Radio did have a brief flirtation with a short lived Blackpool based studio above a shop on Waterloo Road, but it didn't last very long and closed as quickly as it opened.
The 1990 Broadcasting Act marked the end of Independent Local Radio and Independent Television and was the worst piece of legislation to come from a "we know best" Tory Government.
Very little local radio left these days and with permission to even network breakfast shows puts the last nail in the coffin. I spent 30 years in the industry and loved it.
John " you are listening to BBC Radio Lancashire.. Coming up on BBC Radio Lancashire.. Lots to enjoy here on BBC Radio Lancashire..this afternoon on BBC Radio Lancashire.. Lots to enjoy here on..".. ETC ETC..Gilmore...
Red Rose was an inspirational station which knew its audience and made its mark on Lancashire and the surrounding area. It is clear from reading the recollections of some of the presenters that it made an indelible mark on a lot of people. It was a great training ground for a number of people who are still around to this day. Simon Ross is an accomplished presenter on Radio City 2 whose breakfast show is a masterclass in good radio, who spent time on Red Rose in the early 1990s- one of the best radio voices around, though I notice from a Capital FM clip from 1999 that he had to modify the accent for the London audience. Beswick was a genius who helped shape my worldview with his insight and empathy- yes really. Mark Mathews is also on Radio City 2 currently and his was the voice that introduced Rock FM when the frequency split in June 1990- the clip of this still sounds good twenty seven years later!
In those days local radio was great, I worked at Red Rose from 1982 until 1994. We knew our audience, Lancashire was our patch plus Radio Lancashire had a different style so we all got along well. Many stations network much of their output these days so if a major RTC occurs in your area there's no slot to talk about it.
Thanks for the reply Rod- I always thought Radio Lancashire sounded staid and sleepy although I am sure it had a loyal audience. I honestly think Red Rose before the split and Rock FM from June 1990 put out some programmes that were as good as anything you'd hear on Radio 1, where for all its faults, there were some accomplished presenters.
For my money the best the station had to offer were Dave Lincoln, Danny Pietroni ( later success on various London stations, including Heart which challenged Capital for ratings in the late 1990s), Robin Ross for less chart oriented music in the evenings, Paul Fairbairn, the incomparable Beswick for lessons in life, and Simon Tate, who must have been a devotee of Alan Freeman's presentation style, such was the similarity in his voice. Gary King also did a Saturday night stint for a while in 1985 which I thought was very good- he later went on to Radio 1 for a while as well as Capital.
It's interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes at Red Rose at that time 29 years ago.
Jeff Graham R.I.P.
Does anyone know when Red Rose Radio (or Red Rose Rock FM) had that event which was held at the Three Sisters Race Circuit near Wigan?. I think it was sometime in 1989 or very early 1990 (no later than mid Feb 90). A few well know TV personalities where there for the (I'm assuming) launch or re-launch of the station, including Corrie's Bill Roache, Michael LeVel, Martin Platt, an Emmerdale actor, and presenter John Craven. I know it wasn't during the summer months, likely either Feb, March or April, or Oct, Nov or Dec. If anyone knows the date of this I would love to know.
I think Red Rose also did a show at Haigh Country Park on the August Bank Holiday in 1991.
Fantastic! Took me back to my broadcasting days !
Those were happy days.
According to John Myers’ book, Rock FM was given its name as the station was initially going to be based in Blackpool. However the agreement for the studio premises subsequently fell through and the station remained based in Preston.
Sad to see that the only local output left on Rock FM soon will be a 3hr drivetime show broadcasting 5 days a week, with all other output networked from Manchester.
'Good morning Leemings baits', was the name of his second book.
Now they've closed that studio and everything is from Manchester now where Key 103 used to be broadcasted.
Red Rose Radio did have a brief flirtation with a short lived Blackpool based studio above a shop on Waterloo Road, but it didn't last very long and closed as quickly as it opened.
The 1990 Broadcasting Act marked the end of Independent Local Radio and Independent Television and was the worst piece of legislation to come from a "we know best" Tory Government.
Very little local radio left these days and with permission to even network breakfast shows puts the last nail in the coffin. I spent 30 years in the industry and loved it.
I take it Mike and Martin Henfield are brothers
Twin brothers in fact.
John " you are listening to BBC Radio Lancashire.. Coming up on BBC Radio Lancashire.. Lots to enjoy here on BBC Radio Lancashire..this afternoon on BBC Radio Lancashire.. Lots to enjoy here on..".. ETC ETC..Gilmore...