Category: Radio

Local Radio OB set up

Photo by Rod Fawcett, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo from Radio WM engineer, Rod Fawcett, shows a typical local radio outside broadcast set-up.

Stuart Roper and Gyn Freeman, Radio WM

Photo by Rod Fawcett, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio WM presenter, Stuart Roper, with fellow presenter, Gyn Freeman in the background. This was on a live outside broadcast in Guernsey.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Andrew Thorman: ‘The only OB I remember was Chemsleywood …! We were pelted with rubbish and so a fence was erected around us. I think the presenter was Ken Dudney.’

Heather Dale: ‘Gyn presented very much with Stuart and she replaced Viv Ellis who left in the early 80’s. When Stuart left, Gyn continued on her own for a number of years being produced by either Sue Kelly or Soo Welch (can’t exactly remember who). Gyn herself left in 1988 but continued at PM concentrating on Children in Need in regional television. She now lives in France with her husband Paul and she is an artist.’

Conal O’Donnell: ‘I should imagine, but don’t know for sure, there was some new Birmingham to Channel Islands air route opening up which wanted the publicity that WM might provide. Freebies were welcome!! Gyn & Stuart co-presented so its likely there was a separate producer.

Alastair Yates obituary

alastair yates BBC Midlands TV news

Alastair Yates BBC Midlands TV News circa 1979

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following obituary for Alastair Yates, who died 26th July 2018,  is from his daughter Elspeth:

“Daddy. What do you say about a man who has graced our screens and our hearts for over 4 decades? Alastair (Yates) was a gentleman and a gentle man. Born in Burton upon Trent in 1952 he went on to be schooled at Manor House School, Ashby de la Zouch and the Burton Grammar School. His father instilled in him a love for ‘getting things done’ and a ‘lets have a go’ attitude, which permeated his whole life. He could often be found in the garden shed tinkering with broken equipment or making something. We often joked about his Heath Robinson contraptions and solutions.

Al didn’t enjoy school much but found his passion in DJ’ing for local clubs, and soon got himself a radio slot. His smooth tones and love for information however saw the newsroom make a beeline for him, and in 1978 he first appeared on television on the Midlands Today programme. He worked in regional news for 11 years before opening Sky News with Penny Smith in 1989. The BBC snapped him up in 1992 where he helped to launch the new BBC World Service before it changed ultimately to BBC News 24. With a sense of symmetry, Alastair finished his career back on the radio with Classic FM.

Alastair always enjoyed adventures and loved the outdoors. Family holidays were spent on activity breaks in Europe where he would wile away the days sailing and windsurfing while the children learnt to waterski, play tennis or explore local markets.

In his retirement Alastair could always be found on an evening with a glass of his favourite wine, Viognier or Stellenbosch. But he never really retired, he threw himself into charitable endeavours running communications for the Horse Rangers Association and later becoming Chair and communication lead of the ADHD Richmond charity. He spent all his retirement dedicated to expanding the knowledge and research around ADHD and ensuring parents had the tools they needed.

In the days since he has passed we have been in awe at the amount of people that have commented, tweeted and posted about him. There seem to be endless stories and amusing accounts from people around the world but the overriding sentiment is that he was a gentleman and a consummate professional that everyone loved to work with.

Alastair is survived by his long term partner Ginny, children Elspeth, James and Elyan and two grandchildren.”

Elspeth Yates

John Taynton compliments slip

It’s amazing what can turn up in a charity shop. Luke Earle found this comp slip, which looks like it is from Radio WM presenter, John Taynton to someone called Roy who presumably won a competition, on a shelf in a Belper charity shop. I wonder how it got there?

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Gyn Freeman: ‘That is so good ….. but yes it would have been a book with an interview, but some review copy and Roy, won it …… so good to hear it was in a Charity shop though ….’

Radio Birmingham top

Photos by Jane Partridge, no reproduction without permission

Radio Birmingham top, belonging to Phil Partridge. This dates from the very late 1970s or early 1980s. Thanks to Jane Partridge for taking and sharing the photos.

The following comments were added on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Tim Manning: ‘These were produced while negotiations about changing the name were still going on with the BBC in London; “WM”, rather than a standard place name, was a big change for BBC local radio style. John Pickles, the manager, wanted to get on with a “soft” relaunch of the station in the meantime, and for a while there was less emphasis on Radio Birmingham and more on “206” and the broader West Midlands identify.’

Andy Walters: ‘I have a feeling that dates from 78. It later morphed into the Radio WM logo. To show you how old some of our OB gear is, this logo still adorns some of it.’

Radio WM sticker on OB kit still being used!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete Simpkin: ‘This one was the best of all the designs for the Radio Birmingham/WM shirts…..wore all mine till they fell to pieces!!’