Summer 2012

WELCOME  to Summer 2012 – I hope it has stopped raining, for the moment, at least. My last posting here on RFTFT was in May – So let’s have a catch up!

At the beginning of June, I had a nice day at the Kirkby Stephen Jubilee Summer Fair, Parrots Park, Kirkby Stephen. I was on ‘promotional duty’ for Eden FM Community Radio with my colleague, John Stewart, handing out leaflets and generally enjoying the events of the day.

Bank Holiday Monday (4^th June) was a real highlight, with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert (Gary Barlow and Cheryl Cole performing Lady Antebellum’s ‘Need You Now’ – Great stuff!),  which I followed at 9:30pm with a walk to Church Brough for the lighting of the beacon to mark the Diamond Jubilee. Other beacons were also visible from Church Brough, including Barras, Nine Standards, Tailbrigg Hill, Winton and Orton Scar (the latter with fireworks).

Early June is also the annual Appleby Horse Fair – Though these days, more caravans, top of the range Land / Range Rovers and motorhomes than horses!

Mid June included the launch of the second ‘RSL’ (Restricted Service Licence) for Eden FM Community Radio, broadcasting on 87.7 FM from the studios in Penrith. The transmission was preceded by a special programme hosted by Harry King – A ‘Merry Neet’, which Eden FM subtitled ‘The Show in the Showroom’ as the show was broadcast from the car sales room, rather than the studio! The image below is of the Eden FM team during the show in the showroom.

Left to right: Andy Neen, me, Nick Wells, Stef Yourell, Dave Hill, Sian Whittaker, Harry King, Jordan Summers, Lora Elliott, Max Newbold, Lee Quinn, Richard Bracken, John Stewart, Matty Buck.

Brough Hound and Terrier Show took pride of place mid June, another memorable day. Eden FM was broadcasting live from Greystoke that day too, so the Eden Valley was very popular that day!

The Eden FM RSL broadcast included the return of full daytime broadcasting, including the breakfast show (the presenter of which would wake at 5:30am), the morning show (the presenter of which would wake at 6am) and a Classic Rock show hosted by the legend that is Toby La Rhone!

Wednesday 20 June – The Olympic Torch Relay. I was in my home town of Brough for 4pm to see the Olympic flame pass through the town – It really was an amazing experience. I was lucky enough to be ‘whisked away’ to Penrith to see the flame again – Twice in one day!! To top the day off, I was a guest on a most excellent radio programme ‘Girls Nite In!’ hosted by Sian Whittaker (in the picture above).

Another highlight of the monsoon season this year was the Ullswater Country Fair, Patterdale, yes, it rained!! But the weather did not deter those who attended; another enjoyable day.

During all of this, my 37^th Birthday occurred and I could not thank family, friends and colleagues at Eden FM enough for their gifts, kind messages, cards, cake and love shown on the day. I was very impressed by the Eden FM card!

The Birthday card I received from Eden FM!

Eden FM were on the road at Dalemain Fair, which included an interview with Melo Sparrow – the popular Johnny Depp / Captain Jack Sparrow lookalike – and at the Scarecrow Festival, Langwathby, the Eden FM outside broadcast vehicle proving very popular, not least whilst parked at Langwathby railway station, capturing the sound of a passing train!

And as all that was going on, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Euro 2012, the Olympic Torch Relay and now the London 2012 Olympic Games, Summer 2012 had one recurring theme – yes – it kept on raining!