My FM Archive : December 2018

Manx Radio postmark, 3rd April 2018.

 NOVEMBER 2024 is here, though today we are remembering FM broadcasts from December 2018.

A previous post of FM logs, dated May 2018, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in MegaHertz (MHz). Logs transcribed from the original notes. Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-405.

December 2018 : FM

• [Friday] 7 December [2018]: 2058 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Manx Radio  Music with a female vocalist and band. Christmas song. Male host: "Stand by for music news and the mystery song challenge - Join me again at 6.30" ID for Manx Radio, 'Manx Radio Classifieds' with short ads including car dealer. Male host with extended speech, music.
  This is Manx Radio, the Isle of Man. Fair reception. 11.3 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man.
  Jazz music.
  Logged to 2108 UTC.
  
  Cup of tea break.
  
  
• 7 December: 2129 UTC: 97.7 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Male introduces music, "Your reactions after this [track]" Music.
  Strong reception. 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  Pete Tong.
  Logged to 2135 UTC.
• 7 December: 2149 UTC: 99.6 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Pete Tong with listemer reaction and music.
  Strong reception. 10 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancashire].
  Logged to 2155 UTC.
• 7 December: 2159 UTC: 99.9 MHz: Classic FM  [Ads] Lidl, flu jab, Branston Chutney, Listerene Nightly Reset. Crisis at Christmas [Charity].
  ID 'This is Classic FM, from Global' Margarita Taylor 'The World's greatest music, Classic FM'.
  Strong reception. 250 kW via Sandale, Cumbria.
  'Smooth Classics, on Classic FM' Congregation sings 'O Come All Ye Faithful' to the Church organ. King's College, Cambridge. Music now: St Martin's In The Field, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner.
  Logged to 2210 UTC.
  
• 7 December: 2218 UTC: 100.7 MHz: Heart - North East  Music from Bruno Mars 'Just The Way You Are' ID for Heart. Music: Katy Perry 'Hot n Cold'.
  Fair reception. 10 kW via Bilsdale.
  Female host with IDs for Bruno Mars & Katy Perry, speaks of Yorkshire, speech and ads: Athletics 2019, booking online. Free spins on Heart bingo. The Claims Guys PPI. Marks & Spencer. O2. Heart website. ID. Music: Shakin' Stevens Christmas song.
  Logged to 2230 UTC.
• 7 December: 2241 UTC: 101.4 MHz: Smooth Radio  Ads: Listerene, Ladbrokes, takeaway or restaurant. ID for Smooth Radio (former frequency of Lakeland Radio). Music: Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes '(Love Lift Us) Up Where We Belong'.
  Fair reception. ID 'You're listening to Smooth Radio'. Music: 'Please Don't Go'.
  100 watts via Keswick Forest, Cumbria.
  Music: 'Silent Night'.
  Logged to 2252 UTC.

A page of information regarding the Keswick Forest transmitter, can be found on mb21.

• 7 December: 2256 UTC: 101.8 MHz: Classic FM  'Smooth Classics on Classic FM, with Listerene Nightly Reset'. 'Classic FM Live, with Land Rover Jaguar'. Ads: Giftcards, M&S, Cotswold Outdoor. Bells. Crisis at Christmas [Charity]. ID. Music.
  Strong to good reception. 6.4 kW via Morecambe Bay [Lancashire].
  Logged to 2304 UTC.
• 7 December: 2310 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  Rap track 'Miss Jackson' on CFM - ID: 'Every night, it's chilled. Chilled - on - CFM'. Justin Bieber.
  Good reception. 815 watts via Broughton Moor, West Cumbria.
  Female: Sara Wylde (host). Music: Justin Bieber ft Major Lazer 'Cold Water'. Sia 'The Greatest'. ID, Chris Rea 'Driving Home For Christmas'.
  Logged to 2321 UTC.
• 7 December: 2328 UTC: 102.5 MHz: CFM  McDonald's ad. 'Chilled' CFM.
  Fair reception. 100 watts via Penrith, Cumbria.
  Logged to 2334 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My FM Archive: September 2011

 KNOWLEDGE of the Medium (AM) and Short Wave broadcasts have been plentiful on this blog, so let's take a little break and bring some memories of broadcasts heard on the FM band.

A previous post of FM logs, dating back to November 1997, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in MegaHertz (MHz). Logs transcribed from the original notes. Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

September 2011 : FM

• [Sunday] 4 September [2011]: 1019 UTC: 88.1 MHz: BBC Radio 2 via Sandale, Cumbria.
  250 kW [kiloWatts]. Full power.
• 4 September: 1024 UTC: 89.0 MHz: Music from Manx Radio, broadcasting 2 kW on this frequency, via Snaefell, Isle of Man.
  Male speech and music.
  Logged to 1033 UTC.
• 4 September: 1041 UTC: 90.0 MHz: BBC Radio 2 via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire.
  10 kW. Full power. Movie review.
  Logged to 1048 UTC.
• 4 September: 1051 UTC: 90.3 MHz: BBC Radio 3 via Sandale, Cumbria.
  250 kW. Full power.
  Also: 1100 UTC: 92.2 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. 10 kW. Good reception.
  'Sunday Morning' ID 'Private Passions' Pottery.
  Logged to 1106 UTC.
• 4 September: 1108 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4 via Sandale, Cumbria.
  250 kW. Full power.
  Also: 1125 UTC: 94.4 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. 10 kW. Good reception.
  'Just A Minute'.
  Logged to 1131 UTC.
• 4 September: 1133 UTC: 94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Scotland via Sandale, Cumbria, for South West Scotland, 250 kW. Full power.
  Weather forecast.

Sandale transmitter.

• 4 September: 1144 UTC: 95.6 MHz: BBC Radio Cumbria via Sandale [pictured above] 15 kW. Full power.
  Music: George Macrae 'Rock Your Baby'. Promo for BBC Radio Cumbria weekends. ID for John Mann. Music: 'Mary's Prayer', a 1987 song by Danny Wilson.
  Also: 1150 UTC: 96.1 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, 3.2 kW.
  Good reception. The John Mann Show. Music: Bill Wyman.
  Logged to 1155 UTC.
• 4 September: 1157 UTC: 96.4 MHz: Music from SWV 'Right Here' on CFM 'The Golden Sunday' ID, male host. Ad break.
  Good reception via Caldbeck, Cumbria. 3 kW.
  

Break at 1203 UTC.

• 4 September: 1257 UTC: 96.9 MHz: 'Solid Gold Sunday' on The Bay  ID. Music: ABBA 'Super Trouper', ID, John Lennon 'Just Like Starting Over'. ID: 'Kendal, Lancaster, Barrow - The Bay'.
  News at 1300 UTC: Alistair Darling criticises Gordon Brown over his handling of the economy. Libya latest. Rebecca Leighton plans to sue police. Police may make pubs and clubs pay for policing. Mo Farah wins gold medal.
  'The Phantom of the Bay' contest. 'Best of the 80s' Music from Bananarama. Music from Tina Turner 'What's Love Got To Do With It'.
  This is The Bay via Morecambe Bay, 3.2 kW (Studio in Lancaster).
  Music: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney 'The Girl Is Mine'.
  Good reception. Darren Milby is the host.
  Logged to 1315 UTC.
• 4 September: 1320 UTC: 97.2 MHz: Ad break: Butchers in Douglas. Britannia International branches in Douglas and Port Erin. Presenter: Bob Harrison on Manx Radio ID.
  This is Manx Radio broadcasting 10 kW via Carnane, Isle of Man. Good reception.
  Music: Katie Melua 'A Happy Place'. Cher Lloyd. Toyah Wilcox will be playing live on the Isle of Man soon. Interview with Toyah Wilcox.
  Logged to 1330 UTC.
• 4 September: 1355 UTC: 97.7 MHz: BBC Radio 1  Music: The Verve 'Bittersweet Symphony'.
  Transmission site: Sandale, Cumbria. 250 kW. Full power.
  Dev is the host, 'Resident DJ' feature.
  Also: 1406 UTC: 99.6 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, 10 kW. Strong reception.
  Music: The Noisettes. BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards in October.
  Logged to 1412 UTC.
• 4 September: 1416 UTC: 99.9 MHz: Classic FM via Sandale, Cumbria. 250 kW. Full power.
  Also: 1426 UTC: 101.8 MHz via Morecambe Bay, Lancs, 6.4 kW. Good reception.
  Violin Concerto.
  Logged to 1430 UTC.

Morecambe Bay transmitter.

• 4 September: 1435 UTC: 102.2 MHz: CFM  ID: 'This is CFM'. Music: JLS. ID, Music: Stereophonics.
  CFM for West Cumbria via Workington, 815 watts. Poor reception.
  Logged to 1442 UTC.
  Also: 1447 UTC: 102.5 MHz: Music: Adele 'Rolling In The Deep', ID for CFM, rap music.
  Fair reception of CFM via Penrith relay, 100 watts.
  Music: Katy Perry 'California Girls'.
  Logged to 1452 UTC.
• 4 September: 1501 UTC: 104.1 MHz: Anne Hopper on BBC Radio Cumbria via Whitehaven, 1 kW. Poor reception.
  Logged to 1506 UTC.
• 4 September: 1508 UTC: 104.5 MHz: BBC Radio Lancashire  Strong reception, music: Glee 'Sway'. Presenter: Gerald Jackson. Contact details: Telephone number, text number, email.
  Pete in Rochdale requests 'Sowing The Seeds of Love' by Tears For Fears.
  Strong reception via Lancaster, 2 kW.
  Dave in Blackpool texts Big Country, Chris Rea.
  Marie Meagan travel news: M6 clear, M55 good, Blackburn lights. Preston-Wigan: bus replace trains. Blackburn reverse one-way system.
  Live Lancashire football. Featured single: Avril Lavigne.
  Logged to 1520 UTC.

Notes:
The Morecambe Bay transmitter.  I must admit, prior to this post, I had not researched the location of the said transmission site. I had pictured it in my mind as a mast on the shores of the Bay, with the sun shining brightly overhead. The Google map above shows a slightly different location to that I had pictured in my mind; A location that is actually within the Askam-Ireleth parish of South Cumbria, to the east of Askam-in-Furness, to the west of Ulverston. Here is a Google maps link to the location within South Cumbria; The location marked by the red pin.

You really do learn something new everyday.

Goodbye, old friends.  You won't find CFM or The Bay on your radio anymore. Bauer Media absorbed CFM into their Greatest Hits brand, whilst Global Media absorbed The Bay into their Heart network.
Similarly, some of the presenters named above have moved on to pastures new.
John Mann, listed above on air for BBC Radio Cumbria, is now on air Monday evenings on Regency Radio.

Darren Milby, listed above on air for The Bay, now broadcasts for BBC Radio Lancashire and Gaydio.

I shall assume Bob Harrison (Manx Radio) and Anne Hopper (BBC Radio Cumbria) have [been?] retired, whilst Gerald Jackson (BBC Radio Lancashire) is now on air Sunday afternoons on Rossendale Radio.

The lost frequencies.  A very small cluster of frequencies did not make the cut in this post - As I did not know who the broadcasters were at the time. I noted I heard an interview with Pixie Lott on a chart show, which was audible at 1605 UTC, on the frequencies of 105.4 MHz (Possibly NW England - Winter Hill), 105.3 MHz (possibly NE England - Burnhope) and 105.6 MHz (Possibly Fenham, 50 watts, NE England).

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower - Enjoy listening to your radio!

Remembering Steve Wright MBE

 HIS Life was dedicated to radio, remembering Steve Wright MBE.

Steve Wright's first broadcast was in his High School days; broadcasting a show over the school's speaker system from a store cupboard.  After leaving school, he volunteered on hospital radio, before first joining the BBC as a gramaphone library clerk in 1970.

Steve also worked as a journalist and reporter for LBC, London, 1975, before joining Radio 210, Reading, 1976.  In 1979, Steve joined Radio Luxembourg, though would leave 'The Station of the Stars' to rejoin the BBC, January 1980, where he broadcast Saturday shows on BBC Radio 1.

His first television appearance on Top of the Pops was in 1980, where he would be a regular host until 1989.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon first went on air October 1981, introducing the listeners of BBC Radio 1 to the zoo radio format and 'The afternoon posse'.

31 August 1990: Steve Wright in the Afternoon interview with George Michael.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon would be a fixture at BBC Radio 1 for 12 years, during which time Steve and the posse had success on the UK singles chart - Inspired by the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Arnee and the Terminaters reached number five on the UK singles chart with 'I'll Be Back' ('The Dancefloor Devastation Kick-Up'), 1991.

The last show was broadcast Christmas Eve 1993.

Changes to the schedule at BBC Radio 1 saw Steve and the posse move to the Breakfast show, January 1994, whilst also presenting the television show Steve Wright's People Show on BBC One, 1994-1995.

Wright would leave the BBC to join Talk Radio UK (which broadcast on the medium wave frequencies vacated by BBC Radio 1, 1053 kHz and 1089 kHz), where he presented Steve Wright's Talk Show.

Steve rejoined the BBC in the Spring of 1996, presenting Steve Wright's Saturday Show (which aired until 1999) and Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs for BBC Radio 2.  Top of the Pops 2, scripted and narrated by Steve, went on air on BBC Television in 1997, running to 2008.

BBC World Service brought us Wright Around The World on Saturdays, from January 1999 to October 2003.  Enjoy a sample of Wright Around The World, BBC World Service, courtesy of Ilya B.

 

BBC Radio 2 revived Steve Wright in the Afternoon on July 5, 1999, which replaced Ed Stewart's afternoon programme. Wright's on-air team was Tim Smith, Janey Lee Grace and The Old Woman (Joyce Frost), the show also brought us factoids - Pieces of information we never knew we needed.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon was on the air for 23 years, broadcast for the final time September 30, 2022. The last song on the playlist was Queen 'Radio Ga Ga'.

Steve Wright was awarded an MBE for services to radio in the 2024 New Year Honours List.

'Sunday Love Songs' last aired the day before Wright's death, a Valentine's Day special recorded two days earlier.

Steve succeeded Paul Gambaccini as presenter of Pick of the Pops October 2023, Wright's last Pick of the Pops aired February 10, 2024.

Steve Wright MBE died February 12, 2024.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon Opening Theme BBC Radio 2

Radio Technicolour

Source credit: 31 August 1990: Steve Wright in the Afternoon interview with George Michael picture from the book Radio 1's Classic Interviews Edited by Jeff Simpson, published by BBC Books, 1992. Picture © BBC.

Steve Wright MBE obituary inspired by British DX Club Communication Monthly Journal of the British DX Club Edition 592 March 2024 (pages 17-18).

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower.

My FM Archive: November 1997

A sunny Sunday afternoon and another visit to my radio archive - What more could you ask for? This post brings you logs of the FM band twenty years ago: November 1997.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in MegaHertz (MHz). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

November 1997: FM

• 8 November [1997]: 2126 UTC: 88.1 MHz: BBC Radio 2 David Jacobs, Michael Crawford 'When I Fall In Love'.
• 8 November: 2130 UTC: 90.3 MHz: BBC Radio 3 Susan Tomes ? Classical music.
• 8 November: 2134 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4 Professor Steve Jones with reference to the arts and science. 'The Hydro' followed by 'Classics with Kay' Profile of Gracie Fields.

• 8 November: 2147 UTC: 94.7 MHz: BBC Radio Scotland Main transmitter site: Sandale, with Dumfries transmitter opt-outs. Music.
• 8 November: 2150 UTC: 95.2 MHz via Kendal, 95.6 MHz via Sandale: BBC Radio Cumbria Bob Preedy's 'Hot Country'. (Country music broadcast).
• 8 November: 2156 UTC: 96.4 MHz: CFM Carlisle. Music.
• 8 November: 2158 UTC: 96.9 MHz: The Bay Lancaster. Music: 'I'm Not In Love' 10cc, 'Return To Sender' Elvis Presley. [22 UTC] Bay News: Louise Woodward trial, tenth anniversary of Enniskillen bombing. Anti-American protests in Baghdad. Basingstoke Chlorine Gas alert. Sport: Great Britain win rugby league contest, football: Hibs, Blackburn, Leeds United. Lottery roll-over. Weather: showers, 5°C 41°F. Music: The Police 'Message In A Bottle', Hot Chocolate 'You Win Again', Simply Red 'Something Got Me Started'.
• 8 November: 2224 UTC: 97.7 MHz: BBC Radio 1 'Westwood' Radio 1 Rap Show with Tim Westwood.
• 8 November: 2230 UTC: 99.9 MHz: Classic FM 'The Classic Quiz'.

Letterhead of the Classic FM Engineering Information release from the Radio Authority, 1992.

• 8 November: 2230 UTC: 100.4 MHz: Jazz FM Music: Leon Parker 'All My Life '84'. Write to Jazz FM, The World Trade Centre, Exchange Quay, MANCHESTER M5 3EQ Music: Joyce 'Banana '80'. Ad for Sellafield Visitors Centre. Jez Nelson is the host.
• 8 November: 2257 UTC: 100.7 MHz: Century FM 'phone-in with Stu Macfarlane. [23 UTC] News: Louise Woodward trial, Gerry Adams apologises for Enniskillen bombing. Queen at Remembrance Service. Spice Girls manager sacked. Weather.

November 1998: FM

• 16 November: 2328 UTC: 92.5 MHz: BBC Radio 4 'Aerial Views' Jennifer Cox visits Vatican Radio and talks to Sean Lovett of the English Service.

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My DX Archive: Spring 1994

WELCOME to the second Sunday of February, a busy sporting Sunday with the Winter Olympics underway, the Six Nations Rugby tournament continuing and football fixtures being played. We are also days away from Valentine's Day, which will also mark the midpoint of the month.

Reporting From The Fox Tower takes you back to March 1994, as the starting point of memories of the Springtime of that year, for the logs of radio broadcasts heard at the time.
Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

March 1994 : Medium Wave

• 15 March [1994]: 1945 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio Four, UK. Feature regarding abortions in the USA.
• 15 March: 2004 UTC: 612 kHz: RTE 2FM, Republic of Ireland. Sports Update, 'That Petrol Emotion' in concert tonight.
• 15 March: 2006 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. News: UK tried to stop Sweden, Finland, Austria and Norway entering the EU. Troubles in Estonia.
• 15 March: 2012 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five, UK. Live football: Arsenal 0 - Torino 0 (Half Time).
• 15 March: 2035 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five, UK. Live football: Arsenal 0 - Torino 0 (Second Half).

• 15 March: 2038 UTC: 1053 kHz: BBC Radio One, UK. Dance music. Also broadcasting on 1089 kHz.
• 15 March: 2055 UTC: 1179 kHz: Radio Sweden. Music programme.
• 15 March: 21 UTC: 1215 kHz: Virgin Radio 1215, UK. News: UK to get another national commercial radio station - Speech / talk / phone-in based programming. Music: James 'Sit Down', Pearl Jam 'Jeremy'.
• 15 March: 2115 UTC: 1386 - 1494 kHz: Radio Moscow, Russia. Listeners Letters: Letter from Northern Ireland.

March 1994 : Short Wave

• 17 March: 20 UTC: 5920 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. News headlines in 'News English' followed by Ukrainian service.
• 17 March: 2010 UTC: 5960 kHz: Deutsche Welle, Germany. English for Europe 20 - 2050 UTC. Meeting of the Anglo-German Association. Today's German papers: EU to find fishing rights for Germany. Mark Rossman: 'Hits in Germany': Bruce Springsteen, Tori Amos, D:Ream. DW investigates St Patrick's Day celebrations in Cork. Also available on 7170 kHz, 9615 kHz & Astra 1A satellite. Address: 50588 Cologne, Germany. 'Germany Today' ends, 'Tourism' programme.
• 17 March: 2145 UTC: 9750 kHz: BBC World Service 'Newshour'.

Radio Moscow QSL, 17 March 1994

• 17 March: 2205 UTC: 9890 kHz: Radio Moscow News: Russian MIG 29s to fly in South America. Demonstrations in French cities over social policies. Pakistan may join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Fire extinguished at Ukrainian nuclear plant.
• 17 March: 2225 UTC: 9915 kHz: BBC World Service English to the Caribbean 'Network UK' Rugby sport.

March 1994 : FM

• 20 March: 1650 UTC: 89 MHz FM: Manx Radio (Isle of Man) Good reception. 'Solid 60s Show' Helen Shapiro. News: Helicopter crash in Northern Ireland. Colin Parry (Father of IRA victim Tim Parry) places a white carnation in Warrington. The family of Jonathan Ball also attend.

April 1994 : Short Wave

• 4 April: 1615 UTC: 6065 kHz: Radio Sweden Strong to good reception. Feature regarding Swedish Children's television: Barney Bear, Alfie Atkins, Pippy Longstocking.
• 14 April: 1134 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands (Holland) Strong to good reception. News: Rwanda. Weather: Sunny. Newsline: Greece in the European High Court. Media Network: Jonathan Marks saw Phil Collins in concert on Saturday. Deutsche Welle relay in Kigali. BBC, Adventist World Radio, WCSN and TV Radio Marti, on UHF, in Florida & Cuba.
• 15 April: 1847 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Special English', 'Mosaic'. Wartime memories from a man who was in his '20s at the time. Letter from a listener in Malawi, 'how do you choose names for kids?'.

Voice of America QSL, 15 April 1994

• 15 April: 1855 UTC: 6100 kHz: Radio Yugoslavia Female host talks of writers and the Baltics, Greece. Next broadcast: 2030 UTC, 9620 kHz.
• 15 April: 1910 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service 'Outlook': Man tries to buy an aircraft.
• 15 April: 1916 UTC: c.7195 kHz: Radio Romania International Press Review. Electoral campaigns, several European countries to take part in 'World Trade 94'.
• 15 April: 1942 UTC: 9760 kHz: Voice of America English to Europe via Gloria (Portugal) 'The Magazine Show' Monday hosts the Boston Marathon. Pat Bodner previews the race, including a runner from 1928, Johnny Kelly. 100th anniversary of a recording by Betty Smith.
• 15 April: 1958 UTC: 9765 kHz: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Listeners Special, music. Letters from Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Holland. L Groubert from Cincinatti, USA. Letter from Japan, in Japanese. D J Powell from Switzerland. American listener asks how he could work on shortwave radio. Iranian geography: 62000 miles. Male & female host. Letter from India. Postal address: PO Box 33 34 Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran. Programme close at 2025 UTC.
• 15 April: 11 UTC: 9535 kHz: Swiss Radio International, Switzerland. Strong to good reception. News: US helicopters, Rwanda. 'Dateline': Italian politics, UN in Yugoslavia, Japanese politics, World Health Organisation leads fight against polio.

Swiss Radio International QSL, 15 April 1994

• 15 April: 2030 UTC: c.9410 kHz: BBC World Service 'Science in Action' to Africa.
• 15 April: 2035 UTC: 9615 kHz: Deutsche Welle 'German by radio' female host, verbs.
• 15 April: 21 UTC: 9700 kHz: Radio Bulgaria News: Military arms to pass through Bulgaria. No change in former Yugoslavia. UN to send equipment to blue helmets. German politician visits Bulgaria.
• 23 April: 0844 UTC: c.6295 kHz: Adventist World Radio Strong to moderate reception. Joanna Lim presents nutritional information, food magazine show. 'Lifestyle Magazine'. Address: AWR, 39 Brendan Street, London W1.
• 24 April: 1136 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'Happy Station' with Pete Myers. Strong to good reception. Telephone call. An Indian man gets married today. Music from Madonna. Gerry MacDuff writes from Canada. Letter from Martin Cowin, Cumbria, England - Me! - "Who puts the 'Happy Station' programme together?" Music from Ella Fitzgerald. Also heard at 1530 UTC.

May 1994 : Short Wave

• 14 May: 1913 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Newsline': Chancellor Kohl of Germany. Conference featuring Czech Prime Minister and the Danish foreign minister. President Clinton nominated Judge Brier for Supreme Court, Clinton hails change in South Africa. Transfer of power from Israel to Palestine. Report regarding the forthcoming soccer world cup, world cup postage stamps, US postage stamps of Elvis Presley. Music: 'Hound Dog'. 'Press Conference USA' reviewing Apple Macintosh computers.

• 14 May: 1956 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service 'From The Weeklies'. World news at 20 UTC: BBC Worldwide.
• 14 May: 22 UTC: 9445 kHz: Voice of Turkey News: Heavy fighting in Bosnia. Turkish-Cypriot community asks to be recognised. Heavy fighting in Azerbaijan. Refugees caught between Somalia and Yemen caught in rebel crossfire. 'Press Review': Neo-nazis fight in Germany. 'Outlook': EU meeting in Luxembourg. 'DX Corner': Lagos 1 on 4990 kHz, Chad on 4910 kHz. 4890 kHz - RFI. 05 UTC 4770 kHz Africa.

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Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower - And keep listenin'!

That was the week that was

FIRST of all, let's go back one week and begin by congratulating Carlisle United, Johnstone's Paint Trophy Winners 2011! The Johnstone's Paint Trophy (Football League Trophy) Final took place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 3 April 2011, with a 1:30pm kick off. Peter Murphy, who only became a Father for the first time the previous Friday, scored a goal for Carlisle United twelve minutes into the match - This decisive goal eventually proved to be the winner. On their sixth appearance in the Football League Trophy Final, Carlisle United won for the second time at Wembley Stadium. Congratulations Blues!

REMAINING with the football theme, those of you following RFTFT at the beginning of this football season may recall a week-by-week publishing of the results from npower League One, the division of the Football League in which my team, Carlisle United, compete. I can only apologise for being so lazy as to not continue posting the results from the division here on RFTFT, maybe next season I can take up posting the results from the division and continue to do so until the season end, which will take us up to the Olympic summer of 2012.

TELEVISION has played a big part over the last week or so - First, the BBC Red Button service has played host to video from the BBC Radio 2 'In Concert' programmes, including a set at Abbey Road studios, London, from Taylor Swift. Taylor and her band played the following tracks:

The Story Of Us / Speak Now / Fearless / Fifteen / You Belong With Me / Enchanted / Love Story.

Also 'In Concert' on the Red Button were Rumer and Friends, which I believe has also been very popular.

Cumbria featured throughout the week on television: Channel 4 had an early evening show presented by Fern Britton (rumoured to be axed due to falling viewer figures), who included Alan Carr as a guest. Carr insulted Barrow - In - Furness on the programme, though I would expect neither Britton nor the studio audience in London would know where Barrow is, so Carr's 'joke' (like all of them) fell flat.

THE BBC relocated to Easegill Head, Wharton, Kirkby Stephen for a week, to broadcast the 2011 series of 'Lambing Live', presented by Adam Henson and Kate Humble from the Marston family farm. The first broadcast was Monday 4 April, through to Saturday 9 April. Not all went well, as some of the Tuesday live broadcast was lost, as the BBC and outside broadcast partners Arena and Hyper Active battled with the stormy weather which caused the satellite links to be lost. The rest of the week went very well, producing a wonderful, interesting and informative programme, which gained over two million viewers on Monday night.

BBC Radio 1 will be in Carlisle in May for the Radio 1 'Big Weekend'. To be precise, the event will be taking place at Carlisle Airport. Applications for tickets have now closed. Seven hundred and eighty thousand have applied for the forty thousand tickets which are available, so if you are among the applicants, I wish you luck.

Finally, let's look ahead to Monday 11 April and wish a Happy Birthday to British musician and vocalist Joss Stone, who celebrates her 24th Birthday. Here is a classic image of Joss to mark her Birthday:

That's all from RFTFT for now, take care and enjoy the sunshine! (Now I have said sunshine... cue... rain!)

Make Miss Cumbria Miss England 2010!

HELP MISS CUMBRIA Kirstie Day (pictured right) to raise money for Variety Club - The Children's Charity - and to win the title of Miss England! To vote for Kirstie - Winner of Miss Cumbria 2010, Finalist in Miss England 2010 - Text 55MissCumbria to 81118 or call 0901 293 7900 and press 55 when prompted. Votes cost £1 and 15p goes to The Variety Club Children's Charity. Voting lines close September 1 at 6pm. Kirstie is sponsored by The Edinburgh Woollen Mill. To view Kirstie's official profile on the Miss England website, click here. Good Luck Kirstie!

• DAB Digital Radio Channels List, August 2010

IN the ever-changing world of UK Digital Radio, here is the latest list of stations broadcasting on DAB :

• Absolute Radio Extra

Absolute Radio Extra provides live football commentary every Saturday and live music from concerts and festivals.

• Absolute 80s

Visit the Absolute 80s website, listen on DAB, Sky channel 0200, Virgin Media 951, Freesat 726.

• Absolute Radio

Visit the Absolute Radio website.

• Amazing Radio

Visit the amazingtunes website.

• BBC Asian Network

'Retro Selection' with Kanwal Qazi. Email retroselection@bbc.co.uk or visit the website.

• BBC Radio 6 Music

Visit the BBC 6 Music website.

• BBC Radio 1Xtra

'On DAB, TV and online' 'The Summer Sunday Rewind' with Ronnie Herel.

• BBC Radio 1
• BBC Radio 2

'Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s'. Email walker@bbc.co.uk or visit the website.

• BBC Radio 3

'BBC Radio 3 Requests. Coming next - Choral Evensong'.

• BBC Radio 4
• BBC Radio 5 Live

Visit the 5 Live website.

• BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
• BBC Radio 7
• BBC World Service

'To comment on our programmes, call 0144 960 9000 or email overtoyou@bbc.co.uk'

• BFBS Radio

British Forces Broadcasting Service. Website, Text 07740 377377 (start message with UK and a space), Telephone 01494 848001. Also available on Sky 0211, Freesat 786.

• Classic FM

Visit the Classic FM website.

• Planet Rock

Visit the Planet Rock website.

• Premier Christian

Visit the Premier website.

• Smooth Radio UK

'Smooth Radio : Love Life, Love Music. Enjoy our London station while we get the national channel ready for its autumn launch.'

• talkSPORT

Visit the talkSPORT website. Call 08717 223344. Also available on Sky 0108, Freeview 723, Virgin 927 and HomeChoice 625.

• UCB UK Christian

Telephone 08456 300 400 or visit the website.

And that is the complete list as of 22 August 2010. The line - up will change again at some point, I have no doubt...

And Finally! A new feature - RFTFT Loves . . .

Zahia Dehar.

Teenage blonde French prostitute, anyone?