Swindon 105.5

infobox Radio station


name=Swindon 105.5
airdate= 15 March 2008
slogan=Daring to be Different
frequency=105.5 MHz,
and Online [http://www.swindon1055.com/listen]
area= Swindon flagicon|England | format =Community Radio
owner = Community Radio Swindon
website = [http://www.swindon1055.com/ swindon1055.com]

Swindon 105.5 is a community radio station for Swindon, Wiltshire fully licensed by media and communications regulator Ofcom. The station is run by volunteers and gets its funding by donations from the public and local companies and Ofcom grants. The station is not allowed any on-air advertising.

The station was launched on Saturday 15th March 2008 with Station Manager Shirley Ludford and former BBC Broadcaster Peter Heaton-Jones.

The station's aim is to establish an effective, inclusive radio station that dares to be different, providing a unique, diverse and open access service for the citizens of Swindon, contributing to the promotion of cultural, spiritual, social and economic life of Swindon.

Planting the seeds

The original project was founded by Ian Rowe, Johnny Robinson, Rich Grace & Greg Stevens in 2004, who were all presenters at Swindon FM at the time. Former BBC Radio Wiltshire Sound (Now BBC Radio Swindon) & Swindon FM Presenter Shirley Ludford was then suggested and brought in.

SCB Radio

In September 2005 the group had their Test Broadcast (Restricted Service Licence) to see whether a community radio station would work in the area. After positive feedback came in about the stations success thoughout the 28 day broadcast it was decided the project would go to the next step and apply for a Community Radio Licence from Ofcom.

Community Radio Swindon

In 2006 the group, now fronted by Shirley Ludford and with a board of directors applied for a community radio licence for the Swindon Area. Two Groups applied for a licence. Swindon FM Community Radio, which had ran a local DAB only service in Swindon since 2002, and Community Radio Swindon. Ofcom decided in favour of Community Radio Swindon and was awarded a licence in February 2007

Daring To Be Different

Swindon 105.5 was launched on March 15th 2008 by Swindon’s Town Crier Fred Ferris. The Inaugural show was presented by Shirley Ludford with Fellow Ex-BBC Radio Swindon Broadcaster Peter Heaton-Jones which included talking to the other presenters of the station.

Most of the shows between 8am-10pm are live with some repeats of certain shows in the daytime. Other shows are repeated in the Nightshift strand of programming usually from 10pm until 8am. Pre-recorded shows are sent to the station from local schools and colleges, the Swindon Talking Newspaper (STAN, a talking newspaper service for the visually impaired) and the Tamil Association.

Swindon 105.5 was the first legal radio station (and still currently the only radio station) to have a regular Drum & Bass show in the UK outside of the BBC.

People at Swindon 105.5

Tuesday

Friday

Trivia

*The Station’s first song was Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing in the Street

*The Station’s first regular show to air was The Johnny Robinson Show at 7-9pm on Saturday 15th March. He was apparently “tired and shattered” after helping out the technical team, and had only been awake for 36 hours before presenting the show.

*The Technical Team had worked constantly for two days to get most of the station’s kit working by 10am on Saturday.

*The studios are situated at Swindon's County Ground, the football stadium for Swindon Town Football Club and share studios with ITV Thames Valley

Notes

External Links

* [http://www.swindon1055.com Swindon 105.5 Website]

* [http://www.swindon1055.com/listen Listen Live!]

* [http://www.johnnyrobinson.co.uk/ Johnny Robinson's Website]