Radio Pembrokeshire
Encyclopedia
Radio Pembrokeshire is an independent local radio station (ILR) located in Narberth, Pembrokeshire
, Wales
.
during the summer of 1999. The first 30-day trial broadcast of Haven FM went down well with the residents of Pembroke
, Pembroke Dock and Neyland
. During the second stint of broadcasting in November/December 1999, the station was encouraging listeners to send in letters and cards to Haven FM to prove their case for a local station to the Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom
), which issued all commercial radio broadcast licences in the UK.
Following two more 30-day trial broadcasts (a maximum of four broadcasts were permitted) during 2000, Haven FM went off air from their small studios in December 2000, quietly confident that they had secured enough of a mandate to win the licence not only to broadcast permanently to Pembroke & Pembroke Dock, but to the whole county of Pembrokeshire.
In November 2001, Haven FM beat off two other rival applications from More FM and Real Radio
. They were awarded an eight-year licence which expires in July 2010. The station broadcasts to the majority of the county of Pembrokeshire
on 102.5 MHz FM
at high power from the Haverfordwest transmitting station
near Woodstock, and to Fishguard
and Tenby
from separate low power transmitters in each town, both on 107.5 MHz FM.
It was at this point that the managing director, Keri Jones
, renamed his new station 'Radio Pembrokeshire' to reflect the fact that it was to broadcast countywide, and not just a small area around the Cleddau Estuary. The original location for the station was to be in the centre of Pembrokeshire's administrative town, Haverfordwest. Following problems in securing premises in Haverfordwest, a suitable building was found at the Old School Estate in Narberth (pictured) - some 9 miles to the east of Haverfordwest near the border with neighbouring Carmarthenshire.
After seven months of planning, building studios and training staff the station was finally launched on 14 July 2002.
. The shares of Jones and the other local directors in Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Ltd were sold to Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd.
The company now owns and operates six local radio stations across south Wales including:
Martin Mumford (formerly of Brunel FM
in Swindon
) is the group managing director.
Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Narberth is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales. . It was founded around a Welsh court, but later became a Norman stronghold on the Landsker Line. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth. It was once a marcher borough...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
History
The prelude to Radio Pembrokeshire was Haven FM, which broadcast on 107.0 MHz from a small makeshift studio at Bethany Chapel in Pembroke DockPembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
during the summer of 1999. The first 30-day trial broadcast of Haven FM went down well with the residents of Pembroke
Pembroke, Pembrokeshire
Pembroke is an historic settlement and former county town of Pembrokeshire in west Wales. The town and the county derive their name from that of the cantref of Penfro: Pen = "head" or "end", and bro = "region", "country", "land", and so it means essentially "Land's End".-History:The main point of...
, Pembroke Dock and Neyland
Neyland
Neyland is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Cleddau and the upstream end of the Milford Haven estuary. The nearby Cleddau Bridge crosses the river, linking Neyland to Pembroke Dock.-History:...
. During the second stint of broadcasting in November/December 1999, the station was encouraging listeners to send in letters and cards to Haven FM to prove their case for a local station to the Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
), which issued all commercial radio broadcast licences in the UK.
Following two more 30-day trial broadcasts (a maximum of four broadcasts were permitted) during 2000, Haven FM went off air from their small studios in December 2000, quietly confident that they had secured enough of a mandate to win the licence not only to broadcast permanently to Pembroke & Pembroke Dock, but to the whole county of Pembrokeshire.
In November 2001, Haven FM beat off two other rival applications from More FM and Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
. They were awarded an eight-year licence which expires in July 2010. The station broadcasts to the majority of the county of Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
on 102.5 MHz FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
at high power from the Haverfordwest transmitting station
Haverfordwest transmitting station
The Haverfordwest transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located 9 miles to the north east of the town of Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire, Wales . It is owned and operated by National Grid Wireless....
near Woodstock, and to Fishguard
Fishguard
Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census....
and Tenby
Tenby
Tenby is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, lying on Carmarthen Bay.Notable features of Tenby include of sandy beaches; the 13th century medieval town walls, including the Five Arches barbican gatehouse ; 15th century St...
from separate low power transmitters in each town, both on 107.5 MHz FM.
It was at this point that the managing director, Keri Jones
Keri Jones
Keri Jones is a British radio executive.Keri Jones attended university from 1989 to study law and worked for a number of radio stations throughout the 80's and 90's including DevonAir, Radio Medica, Viking FM, BBC Radio Humberside, Fosseway Radio, Leicester Sound, Valleys Radio and various BBC...
, renamed his new station 'Radio Pembrokeshire' to reflect the fact that it was to broadcast countywide, and not just a small area around the Cleddau Estuary. The original location for the station was to be in the centre of Pembrokeshire's administrative town, Haverfordwest. Following problems in securing premises in Haverfordwest, a suitable building was found at the Old School Estate in Narberth (pictured) - some 9 miles to the east of Haverfordwest near the border with neighbouring Carmarthenshire.
Ownership & Management changes
On August 21, 2006 it was reported that managing director Keri Jones along with all the remaining local directors and shareholders was to leave Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Ltd which Jones founded with local businessman Stephen Cole in November 2000. Jones has since moved to the Scilly Isles and has launched his own community radio station, Radio ScillyRadio Scilly
Radio Scilly is a not for profit, non-profit distributing community radio station, owned and run by Keri Jones. It launched at 2pm on 3 September 2007, and broadcasts to 2,100 residents of the Isles of Scilly...
. The shares of Jones and the other local directors in Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Ltd were sold to Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd.
Town and Country Broadcasting
Town and Country Broadcasting Limited is a media company registered in Wales. It currently owns and operates seven radio stations across Wales...
The company now owns and operates six local radio stations across south Wales including:
- Bridge FM
- Bay Radio
- Scarlet FMScarlet FMScarlet FM is a local radio station covering the Llanelli, Burry Port and Pembrey areas of south Carmarthenshire in west Wales. It plays contemporary and classic songs...
- Radio CarmarthenshireRadio CarmarthenshireRadio Carmarthenshire is a British Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Carmarthenshire county on 97.1 and 97.5 FM from studios in Narberth, Pembrokeshire in South Wales. It launched on 13 June 2004...
- Radio CeredigionRadio CeredigionRadio Ceredigion is a bilingual local radio station that serves the Welsh county of Ceredigion.-History:From its launch on 14th December 1992, the station broadcast a bilingual schedule with roughly half-and-half proportion of English and Welsh output, much of it community-oriented, from studios...
- Nation RadioNation RadioNation Radio launched on 16 June 2008 as a regional radio station broadcasting to the South Wales area from Neath.Nation Radio took over the Ofcom broadcasting licence held by Xfm South Wales when GCap Media sold the station to Town and Country Broadcasting for an unspecified fee on 30 May 2008....
Martin Mumford (formerly of Brunel FM
Brunel FM
Brunel FM was a UK commercial radio station broadcasting to the town of Swindon and outside areas of close proximity.-Overview:Brunel FM was owned and operated by YMC Ltd, however it was a company in its own right....
in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
) is the group managing director.
Presenters
- Richard Clarke (The Big Top 40 Show)
- Toby Ellis (Saturday Sports)
- Jez Holden (Friday Nights)
- Will Pritchard (Farming)
- Tony Dibbin (The Most Wanted)
- Jim Hughes (Musical Memories)
- Kat Shoob (The Big Top 40 Show)
- BB Skone (Pembrokeshire Music Show)
- Ben Stone (Mon-Sat Breakfast, Friday Night Sports)
- Andrew Tommo Thomas (Weekday lunchtime)
- James Southon (Weekday drivetime)
- Sarah Miller (Farming)
External links
- http://www.videomajic.co.uk/RadioPembs/LaunchChapter2.htm Video documentary of Radio Pembrokeshire's launch in July 2002
- http://www.townandcountrybroadcasting.com Town & Country Broadcasting
- http://www.radiopembrokeshire.com Radio Pembrokeshire
- http://www.radiocarmarthenshire.com Radio Carmarthenshire
- http://www.thisispembrokeshire.net The Western Telegraph (local newspaper)