Bebo

Paul Mansell <astonwoodhouse>

"MarlowFM"

	My Life with MarlowFM	595 giorni fa
	I spent more time in my final year at Wolves Poly booking and promoting bands and having fun being a DJ than worrying about getting my Graphic Design degree. I was also probably 'enjoying' myself far far too much for my own good so now I long to retrieve the millions of burnt out brain cells that would certainly come in handy now. Where was I...? Something to do with sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll...? Well, somehow I did get my BA(Hons) and so thought that maybe I'd better try and get a job as a graphic designer. I applied for every suitable job going in the area only to find on arriving at the interview I'd be up against half a dozen other hopefuls, many of them my com-padres of the past three years. Yes, you've guessed it ... I was usually 'pipped at the post' by someone I'd regarded maybe not always as a close friend, but at least a kindred spirit as we worked towards a common goal of fame and fortune in the graphics world. Mind you, they had actually worked their b*lls off preparing their final shows whilst I'd been working the city halls, clubs, pubs and student unions playing and listening to great music and generally enjoying wild late night excesses. The only 'graphics' job I managed to secure was with a quick print company and was so unfulfilling I only stuck it out a few weeks; I decided I'd be better off going full time as a DJ. I became one of the most highly qualified jocks in the West Midlands and had 8 or 9 great years earning lots of money which I promptly spent as soon as it was earned. Oh I kept up to date with the rent and my bills but I certainly didn't think about putting anything aside for the future. I don't think many people in their twenties, even these days, consider what's ahead of them. I had, however, decided to try and move over to radio and become a presenter, particularly as a friend of mine, Pete Clements, had successfully moved from mobile DJ to local radio DJ on Wolverhampton's commercial station, Beacon Radio. In fact it was Pete who first got me behind the turntables when he was the student union social secretary and I was his chairman of entertainment's. His flat mate was a seasoned broadcaster even then at the age of 28. He did the late night shift on Beacon, 9pm 'till 2.00am and it was Dave Owen who inspired me to pursue a career in radio. Dave was one of the 'founding fathers' of pirate station Radio Jackie based in South West London. He moved on to join Radio Caroline in the early seventies and then Piccadilly Radio in Manchester before arriving in Wolverhampton. He used to let me use one of the adjacent studios to practice and put demo tapes together. When he was on the air he would be the only one in the building so no one was ever any the wiser about my serendipity. You can listen to Dave on Radio Jackie most days. The pirate station eventually became legit when it applied for and won the licence to broadcast to the people of South West London and North Surrey. If you go to http://www.radiojackie.com/ you can listen in. I was shortlisted a couple of times for jobs; on BBC Radio Sheffield it was down to just two. Alas, close but no cigar. Dave eventually used his influence with his old contacts to get me a stint aboard Radio Caroline, but a tremendous storm that Spring put paid to that as the battered boat and the equally battered DJ's and crew were towed into port. Fate did not seem to be on my side, but it was sheer chance that led me to hang up my headphones, put away the slip mats and take up the artists pen and brush. However, I often wished I'd persevered with the radio aspirations, but I opted to stick at graphic design. Then last year, almost 30 years on, I got my opportunity to broadcast again on MarlowFM. We took to the airwaves, albeit for just 28 days, and were very well received by not only Marlow residents, but listeners across the UK and around the world courtesy of Sky and the internet. I did the 9.00pm - midnight show Mon-Thurs, a kids breakfast show with my good friend Phil Evans. My 10 year old twin daughters and a couple of their school friends also helped out. Keeping things in the family, myself and my brother-in-law Andy Fowler produced and presented a folk and world music programme every Saturday evening. We're all looking forward to getting involved again, but I for one will not be attempting to do a daily evening show for 5 years which is how long the licence will initially run for. We should be sending our application in to Ofcom any day now. Soon MarlowFM will be broadcasting once again online until we gain our FM frequency. Watch this space... or go to http://www.marlowfm.co.uk and give us your support.
	inserito da Paul Mansell