Bradley Stoke Radio launched on 87.7 FM

Bradley Stoke Radio hit the airwaves at noon on Saturday (4th June), preceded by a launch event in the Town Square.

Volunteers from the community radio station, whose studio is located on the first floor of the Willow Brook Centre, worked tirelessly to attract the attention of shoppers with music, entertainment and a free raffle offering the prize of a trip for two on the Weston Wheel.

A countdown to the station’s first live programme was accompanied by spotlights, a smoke machine and a fanfare before the dulcet tones of Stephen Poole and Lucy Smith (pictured above) got the two-week FM broadcast period underway.

The launch show heard Stephen and Lucy give an overview of the programme schedule planned for the next fortnight and interview some of the presenters that will be fronting the shows.

Speaking at the end of the launch weekend, Bradley Stoke Community Radio Association (BSCRA) Chair Stephen Poole told The Journal:

“For most of the presenters, this was to be the first live broadcast they had ever done. And although some were a little nervous at the start, the enormous effort that went into training and supporting the presenters coupled with the tremendous technical support meant that they were very quickly settling in to their roles as presenters and co-presenters and delivered a very polished performance.”

The station’s schedule consists principally of a mix of music/chat shows and community interest programmes.

The ‘Bradley Stoke Breakfast Show’, presented by Stephen Seaton and Lucy Smith, will get things underway on weekday mornings, from  7am – 9am , with community news and contributions from local schools, thought of the day from the local churches and travel & weather bulletins.

The Daytime Community Show, from 10am – 12 noon Monday to Friday, will include guests from local community groups and features from local community events held earlier this year.

Community Voices, on Tuesday (7th June) from 3pm – 4pm, will be hosted by Winsome Barrett-Muir, the local Community Development Worker employed by Southern Brooks Community Partnership, who will be “speaking up for community voices, groups and individuals in Bradley Stoke”.

Later in the week, on Thursday evening (9th June), The Bradley Stoke Big Issues show and The Big Debate, hosted by Julian Okoye, will see local politicians giving their views on topics likely to include better broadband, youth provision, the possible expansion of Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre and the planned bus rapid transit scheme.

History fans should tune in to the Clive at Twelve Show on Friday (10th June), when local researcher Martin Davis will be a studio guest. The show will also include features from the recent BBC Domesday Reloaded event held at Bradley Stoke Library.

More info: Bradley Stoke Radio Programme Schedule

BSCRA Committe Member Lucy Smith was keen to stress that the new radio station has a reach that extends beyond the town’s boundaries:

“We are also more than a little pleased that our broadcast on 87.7 FM is reaching far and wide and we have presenters and volunteers from many areas around BS32 including Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford, Winterbourne, Frampton, Patchway and Filton and even further afield. This means that while we are called Bradley Stoke Radio, we are pleased to be able to broadcast to the wider local communities including Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford, Harry Stoke and Stoke Lodge.”

Have you listened to Bradley Stoke Radio yet? What do you think of it so far? Let us know via the comments form that follows this article.

Programme presenters: why not leave a comment to tell us more about what you have planned for your show this week?

More photos from the launch day: album; slideshow (PicasaWeb)