Tony Lyman began his radio career in hospital radio at Radio Nene Valley – whilst working as a postie - before making his radio debut on board the Voice of Peace, anchored just off Tel Aviv.  From there, he joined Trent in Nottingham in May 1979, assuming the role of relief presenter before graduating to his late-night slot, for which he’s fondly remembered on a station which then owned its market. He spent time too at the then National Broadcasting School as he honed his craft. Like many, he progressed up the schedule, with spells on breakfast and on the mid-morning show – and moving across to Leicester Sound at its launch, before returning to Trent.   The East Midlands was to become his long-term home, appearing on the oldies service GEM AM, Classic Gold, Century 106 and Saga Radio before moving to BBC local radio, eventually settling down at BBC Radio Derby. Tony was a calm, quiet operator who, like many presenters, just got better and better as a natural, witty communicator. In this audio, hear Tony’s early Trent work, then Classic Gold – and clips from what was to be his final programme on Radio Derby. Tony died in May 2021. 

Radio Moments - Clips

1710: Farewell, Tony Lyman - 2021

1709: Mental Health Minute 2021

This montage illustrates how UK radio broke into regular programming on the event of the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday 10th April 2021. The gaps are as broadcast – there were several handbrake turns, as the internal procedures demanded. It does not do justice to the many thoughtful links by so many broadcasters as the day unfolded – and the carefully crafted obituary pieces aired. 

1708: UK radio announces the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh - 2021

In the most expected move in UK radio, Simon  Mayo transfers from Scala weekdays to Greatest Hits Radio. He calls upon the decent 'new term' analogy - just as he did when beginning  Radio 1  breakfast.

1707: Simon Mayo first on Greatest Hits Drive - 2021

1706: Boom Radio launch - 2021

When Simon arrived at Bauer-owned Scala Radio, a few of us stroked our chins and thought he'd turn up on Greatest Hits Radio before too long. On the 1st February 2021, he announced just that.

1705: Simon Mayo announces move

How many true radio greats are on air in a generation? A dozen? Jane Garvey is high on my version of that list.  And if the list is a chart, she's still on the way up. She leaves Woman's Hour at just the right time to carve out a Jane-shaped future - where she can own the next decade in UK radio and beyond.Like most greats, her brilliance sounds effortless - and, frankly, I doubt she does have to put in the effort many would have to when seeking anything like the standards she does. Authentic, irreverent, intelligent, honest. All the traits which show radio at its best.A baby boomer - just - inspired by the likes of Janice Long - and the poetic Ray Moore, she arrived at Radio 4's Woman's Hour via Radio Wyvern in Worcester, BBC Hereford and Worcester and the launch of BBC Five Live. Thirteen years later, she left the programme  - and this clip is from the final edition of Woman's Hour on 31st December 2019.She's joined by the wonderful Elizabeth Day - who will also be a big part of radio's next era - and I've gone to pains to add on Jane's intro to the drama at the programme's end...

1704: Final Jane Garvey Woman's Hour on Radio 4 - 2020

1703: Radio 4 news - change and style as heard on The World at One - 2020

What a wonderful culture clash - with Alan Freeman at his peak hosting Pick of the Pops and hitting a Radio 2 junction.

1702: Pick of the Pops into Radio 2 continuity! - 1969

1701: Final Jenni Murray Woman's Hour - 2020

1700: Capital Dance launch - 2020

27th September 2020 saw Keith Skues hit the stab on Mr Tambourine Man for the final time, as his 500th show marked the end of his broadcasting career at the BBC, aged 81.  As he previewed some of the songs to come, he conceded that he might not fit them all in. Last shows can be like that.  Other choice moments included: “Are you familiar with a gentleman called Tim Davie?” “Keith: ‘Why should I be?” His 60-year career included: the British Forces Network in Cologne; pirate radio on board Caroline and London; BBC Radio 1 at its launch; programme director of Radio Hallam; and a long spell in BBC Local Radio. His farewell show was broadcast across local radio in the East of England across BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Northampton, BBC Radio Suffolk and BBC Three Counties Radio. Ten minutes before the end, hear him express his regret for never finding a wife. Anyone who knows how Keith works know how well he prepares each show.  There are moments here he clearly couldn’t.  

1699: Keith Skues final BBC show - 2020

The style and voice of characters like Cousin Brucie dominated AM radio in the 50s and 60s in the US - whilst life in UK radio was altogether more sedate. Gradually, life changed there as it has here. He moved around and his famous WABC went all talk.  But in 2020 - some 46 years since he appeared on the station, he was back - aged 84.  The chap who'd listened to Bruce Morrow as a kid ended up buying the station - and, off peak, chose to give his old hero another go. Brucie was back - with his old jingles and his old reverb. 'You can imagine why I'm so emotional'.

1698: Cousin Brucie returns to WABC - 2020

2020 and another slew of stations reach the end of the road, as national radio brands become bigger. This time, Bauer incorporate more of their new acquisitions into their branded world after a journey which, thanks to the competition authorities, has been more protracted than any sane person would have wished. The arguments in favour of the brand and networked approach are well-rehearsed, and we all appreciate that the future of radio in a broader audio world - not least with the economics of COVID around us - is a very different picture, and it is dangerous to imagine that everything can carry on in the way it did in previous generations. Nevertheless, for the human beings involved, the closures are hugely sad.  Some of the individuals have new radio homes – others do not. But in this series of hugely professional and thoroughly authentic farewells, you can hear the pain.  Economics aside - as I do not have access to their accounts - some of these operations have proven that local radio can have a place – most evident in smaller proud communities where its is well run by a committed team. The overheads of these stations will fall, national revenues will grow and one imagines, local revenues may fall. In some cases audiences may rise, and in others they may fall.  It remains to be seen whether Bauer will feel in five years’ time that each of the moves were wise for the organisation overall. In smaller broadcast areas, particularly, where reach was high, yet overall audience volume (and thus national revenues) will never be huge owing simply to the TSA size, the balance of all these factors- taken together with the growth in overall brand might -  is an interesting one.  Recordings here  from the final weekday of broadcasting on 28th August 2020 before the new approach begins on September 1st.

1697: Bauer station 'closedowns' - August 2020

On 27 August 1990 the BBC launched its fifth national radio station – Radio 5 - the first network addition since 1967, using the frequencies 693 and 909, formerly occupied by Radio 2.  Radio 5 carried sport, educational and children’s programmes.  In 1994 Radio 5 was replaced by Radio 5 Live, featuring news and sport. 

1696: The BBC Radio 5 story

Vintage clips from UK radio - and more recent broadcasts of note. (Check out too the 'RadioMoments - This Week in History' podcast and also 'RadioMoments - Conversations')

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Radio Moments - Clips

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