Essex Radio Remembered

These pages are dedicated to the memory of Essex Radio, the local radio station for the county of Essex. Essex Radio launched on the 12th of September 1981 from studios in Clifftown Road, Southend-on-Sea.
The site takes a nostalgic look at the radio station, and also provides a service for former staff members to keep in touch. Enjoy your look around these pages...

The voices

The pictures

Click on Radio House to see the picture gallery

The logos

You can also find some more logos and other snippets on This Is ILR's Essex Radio page.

The history

Some key events in the life of Essex Radio / Essex FM...

Launched in September 1981, Essex Radio was owned by local businesses, including Keddies, HW Stone, Garons and nightclub TOTS. For 23 years, the station broadcast from studios two floors below ground at Clifftown Road, in Southend-on-Sea, before moving to new offices in Chelmsford. Here are some of the milestones in the station's history:

1981	The station launched on September 12th at 6am (extract). Transmitters for North Essex launched in December
1983	Essex Radio's second birthday celebrated with a Royal Philharmonic concert at Southend's Roots Hall
1984	On-air, the station's jingles now sing "Somewhere Special". Presenters Tim Lloyd and Lindsay King wed in August
1985	New presenters Dave Eastwood (6-9am) and Graham Bannerman (drivetime) signed up. Jingle package changes, with a new strapline: "Together, we'll make it a great today". Towards the end of the year, the station's FM frequencies change to make room for BBC Essex - 95.3 changes to 96.3 and 96.4 becomes 102.6.
1986	The 1986 on-air lineup includes: Keith Rogers, Roger Buxton, Peter Holmes, Adrian Fox, Dave Eastwood, Graham Bannerman, Geoff Cullen, Dave Gregory, Tony Monson, John Hayes, Steve Wood, John Leech and Romilly Paradine. In September, the annual Helping Hands appeal includes an evening "Soul Appeal" over the weekend.
1987	Essex Radio 'Snowline' in effect when county covered in 2 and half feet of snow in January.1st April sees Essex Radio relaunch as "Greatest Memories, Latest Hits, after an April Fools stunt where the on-air team staged an on-air walkout (extract). IBA complain about the stunt. Presenters include Adrian Fox, Matthew Jackson. The Greatest Memories Band Magical Mystery Tour performs around Essex. At the end of the year, Chief Executive Eddie Blackwell resigns
1988	Programme Controller Craig Denyer leaves to set up Australian station Sea FM in December. Gavin McCoy joins the on-air lineup (extract). Other on-air names include: Robbie Dee, Barry Jones & Terry Ray
1989	Essex Radio in the press when Mike Ahern resigns in February, Keith Rogers steps in as acting Programme Controller . In March, courageous presenter Dave Eastwood lost his battle to leukaemia. April Fool's stunt with a hot-air balloon outside broadcast flying through the ozone-layer hole. 16th July sees a launch of Breeze, on the station's AM frequencies. Presenters include: Keith Rogers, Bill Rennells, David Baker, Ray Clark, Peter Phillips and Greg Bance. Mark Woodman takes over as Programme Controller at the end of the year
1993	The station's strapline is "The Music Station". Legendary DJ Emperor Rosko starts hosting his "LA Connection" at the start of the year. Chart singer Janey Lee Grace also signs up. Ten-17 launched in Harlow on 1st May, with local broadcasts for three hours a day
1994	Essex Radio relaunched as "The Big SX". A new American jingle package, and posters with sumo wrestlers marks the launch
1995	New idents Essex (swoosh swoosh) FM compliment "The Big SX" package. A troublesome pigeon knocks out the phone systems, and the station launches it's first email system on air in August
1996	31st March sees the launch of Essex FM's website
1996	April Fools stunt - the station's won £2.2 million in the pools. There's an on-air relaunch in July 1996
1997	Essex Radio acquires 96.6 Classic Hits in St. Albans. Vibe FM (regional dance station) launched in November.
1998	Southend relay added on 97.5 to cover the Southend area - 100 watts from the roof of Radio House, Clifftown Road. Daily Mail Group (DGM) acquires a controlling interest in Essex Radio in January. At the end of the year, DMG also acquired Kent station KFM
1999	Another image change - Essex FM becomes "Fresh, Fun and Exciting - the Hottest Hits"
2000	Daily Mail Group (DGM) sells it's stake to GWR in June. Paul Chantler quits as Programme Director
2004	In October, Essex FM moved from studios in Clifftown Road, Southend, to Glebe Road in Chelmsford. More
2005	The 2005 on-air lineup was Martin Day and Su (breakfast), Chris Skinner, AJ, James Bassam (drivetime), Dominic Atkins and Tim Murphy
2008	Announcements made by the station's owners, Global Radsio, that Essex FM will be re-branded to the "Heart" brand in 2009/2010... More
2009	Essex FM re-branded to the "Heart" brand in June 2009... More

Your questions answered...

The memories