The Buzz Of Good Radio
"This feels like a coffin," I said to the man with the beard as I helped him carry the wooden crate out of the car park and around to the back of the radio station. He gave me the kind of quizzical look you tend to give a complete stranger who starts talking about coffins for no good reason. The crate, in fact, contained a huge satellite dish, the station was Moray Firth Radio and the man with the beard was the boss, Thomas Prag.
That was in 1988 and my very first day of work experience. I hadn't even reached the front door when I was asked to engage in some heavy lifting. This was typical of my time at the station where you were asked to pitch in with just about everything. As a result you got a great range of experience (although we'll gloss over my time as a D.J presenting an evening music show).
This afternoon I teamed up with Thomas once again at annual conference of the Highlands and Islands Community Broadcasting Federation. The Federation comprises a network of small stations which Thomas helped set up many years ago. Today I was helping him judge the annual Thomas Prag award and what a joyful experience it turned out to be.
I heard some amazing programmes - largely produced by volunteers - and it really renewed my faith in the future of radio. There were some great music shows, comedy, an archive series on war songs, outside broadcasts, political discussions.
The winner, though, was a powerful and moving programme on Cot Death presented by John Carstairs at Nevis Radio. He drew on his own experience and that of his family to describe the full impact of such an event on everyone concerned. It was a compelling listen.
I also enjoyed the breakfast show at Two Lochs Radio in which the local postman turned up at the studio with a present for the station: a wasps nest in a bag, complete with buzzing occupants!
Afterwards, Thomas sent me a note to thank me for my help. I immediately offered to do it again next year.
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