Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio, one of the UK’s first and most successful regional commercial radio stations, is 50 today (April 2), and a new website has been launched to celebrate the occasion.
The features previously unseen photographs, shots from the 50th anniversary reunion; archive broadcast material that’s been hidden away for years; interviews with presenters from the ‘golden days’; a shop where you can buy the Piccadilly Radio original 1974 design tee shirt; details of books written by Piccadilly presenters; a ‘Back to the Future’ where are they now style feature; and magical memories from over the past 50 years.
Tony Ingham, who worked for Piccadilly Radio and co-wrote the book ‘For the Record – Celebrating Piccadilly Radio’s 50th Anniversary’, created the new website with fellow former presenter, Pete Baker, and author Brian Beech.
“For the 50-year celebrations, we felt that it was important to document the story of the station before material and memories are lost,” Ingham said. “Many of the original team went on to do remarkable things so it’s nice to feature this snapshot of before they were famous.”
“There’s all kinds of memorabilia as well as pictures of the 50th reunion which took place last week. We’re featuring the ‘For the Record’ book which is now available as an audiobook with actual programme clips, interviews and jingles, not to mention fabulous memories from listeners.”
The team are now working with students from the Salford University Media and Journalism course who are interviewing former members of staff in a series of podcasts which will be featured on the website, starting with Piccadilly Radio old boy, Mark Radcliffe.
Although Piccadilly Radio no longer exists – the station was split into Piccadilly Key 103 (now Hits Radio) and Piccadilly Gold (Now Greatest Hits Manchester) in 1988 – the station is still fondly remembered by listeners in the North West having launched the careers of household names including Chris Evans, Timmy Mallett, Gary Davies, Mark Radcliffe, Andy Crane, Steve Penk and Andy Peebles.
