A Liverpool radio icon and key figure in North West radio broadcasting has died, with a former colleague confirming the news on social media over the weekend.
Jenny Collins was among the original team that launched BBC Radio Merseyside in 1967, where she dedicated many years of service.
The station became the third BBC Local Radio outlet to begin broadcasting, going on air on 22 November 1967 – the very first month of the BBC local radio experiment that would pave the way for the network we know today – from Commerce House, Liverpool.
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Fellow Radio Merseyside broadcaster Roger Lyon shared the news on Facebook over the weekend: “Very sad to hear today of the passing of one of the founding members of Radio Merseyside, the lovely Jenny Collins,” he said.
“She was there at the start in 1967 and performed many duties both in front of and behind the mike.
I still have letters that we swapped in the mid 90s when I was living and working in Oz, and she was acting Programme Controller, planning what shows I could do on RM when I returned.
The last time I saw her was about 4 years ago when she was my guest on RM chatting about her career working there. She was married to Steve Voce who for many years presented a Jazz Programme called Jazz Panorama.
“She had a great broadcasting voice and was a genuinely lovely person. R I P.”
Lyon’s followers soon shared their memories too. One recalled Collins’ championing of the local poetry scene on the airwaves, saying: “She did a poetry programme and if she needed a story or poem recording and spotted you, she had a persuasive manner and you couldn’t say no. Lovely lady. RIP Jenny.”
Another revealed how Collins had helped to launch a four-decade career in broadcasting: “I remember Jenny from the late 1970’s, back when the studios were on the top floor of Commerce House, Sir Thomas street. Jenny offered me work experience at the station, which started me off on a 40 year career in broadcasting. R.I.P Jenny,” said Chris Lovegreen.
Meanwhile, on a Radio Merseyside fan page, one fan wrote: “Sad news as I note the death of an original Radio Merseyside stalwart.
“Jenny Collins was part of the team which launched the station in 1967 and was Senior Producer for many years, and presented programmes including Junior Spin. She had been married to the station’s former jazz show presenter, the late Steve Voce.”
Voce, who was a renowned jazz critic and broadcaster, passed away in 2023.
Image: Collins conducts an interview on Penny Lane in the station’s early days, courtesy transdiffusion.org
