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96.7 Ashbourne Radio launches on huge wave of public support
After weeks of trial broadcasts, 96.7 Ashbourne Radio finally went to air at 10am on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 2008.
As the newest - and smallest - commercial radio station in England, 96.7 Ashbourne Radio has been at the centre of much nation - wide media speculation for many weeks.
So it was a tremendous boost to all involved when the launch event brought together community leaders, leading local politicians, business leaders, media representatives and a chart - topping superstar musician to help to celebrate the station's launch.
At just after ten o'clock, following off - air speeches by company Chairman Clive Beattie, West Derbyshire MP Patrick McLoughlin and an on air launch statement by Managing Director Steve Jenner, Senior Presenter John Haynes cued up ‘Flowers in the Rain’ by The Move. This was the first ever record played on 'legal' pop radio in the UK over 40 years ago and so it seemed fitting; and also because sitting just across from him was the prime 'Mover' himself, Roy Wood.
Roy lives locally and Steve invited him to join the station at launch as our first guest. To our delight, he accepted; everyone who attended was very excited to see him here and he had ‘a few’ autographs to sign and photo requests before the morning was out!
John chatted with him about the past, the present and the future before playing one of Roy’s number one hits, ‘See My Baby Jive’, before High Peak Radio Ltd Chairman Clive Beattie popped the cork on the bubbly and the staff started to relax a little and enjoy the company of our many guests.
Once the excitement of the launch of the station had died down, we started to concentrate on the business of running the station and making it sound as good as possible. This was made easy by the excellent studio design and installation devised by our Technical Director, Roger Price, who appears on air on Sunday afternoons. There were a few gremlins in the system – there always are - but as the first couple of weeks have gone by, these have become fewer and further between.
Within days the phone started to ring and the e mails and post started to arrive from you, our listeners. There were some constructive criticisms which are always welcomed and some of these have already been acted on; but the overwhelmingly - and at times we were overwhelmed! – positive and kind comments seemed to suggest we'd more or less judged it right.
Play a wider choice and range of music than other stations we could mention.
Assume your listener isn't going to stay in a sort of musical 'pigeon hole'.
Feature regular national and international news; but focus on local news and information.
Involve the community; be approachable and accessible. But always set and maintain high production values, regardless of the cost.
Offer advertising and sponsorship opportunities to local companies which are straightforward and cost - effective. And never knowingly sell a product if we don't believe in it.
Our first Dales Discussion interview was with newly – installed Mayor, Cllr. Phil Chell. Our first ‘What a Performance’ interview feature was with a band of year 9 and ten students at QEGS.
Our first Dales Diary slots broadcast information about the 'Springboard' events in Ashbourne and our first Ashbourne Action appeals featured the Cancer Research Shop in Ashbourne.
This, we feel, gives a flavour of what the station is all about.
So, from our purpose - built studios at St Monica’s on Windmill Lane in Ashbourne, for the next eight years, we will try our best to produce good quality truly local radio that people in Ashbourne, the Derbyshire Dales and the Staffordshire Borders use, enjoy and regard as their own.
And hopefully, are proud of, as yet another sign of the growing strength and developing importance of the town within Derbyshire and the rest of the Midlands.
(For more on the launch, see the Ashbourne News and Telegraph website for short filmed interview with Steve Jenner on launch day).
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