Roy Waller
Encyclopedia
Roy Waller was a regular radio presenter on BBC Radio Norfolk
and was the main football
match commentator
for the station until 2007. He died in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 6 July 2010, after battling with liver illness. Waller's funeral service took place at Norwich Cathedral
on 23 July 2010. Known as "the voice of Carrow Road", in September 2010, a commentary box at Carrow Road
was dedicated to Waller's memory, and was unveiled by Alan Bowkett
and Waller's widow, Sylvie, before a home game and to the applause of the fans.
fan. His deep Norfolk
accent has often been the subject of light-hearted criticism from other football fans but he was popular among other football fans in Norwich. In March 2008, Roy was made Sheriff of Norwich. His popularity even led to him once being gunge
d by Noel Edmonds
on Noel's House Party
in the 1990s.
from the early 1980s until 2009. Roy Waller's last weekday show aired Monday to Fridays at 1pm to 4pm. The theme was an entertainment show featuring guests and fun "with music thrown in". Features included 'The Alternative News', 'Roy's Phonebook Challenge', 'War of the Work Force' and Norfolk drama 'Little Bexham'. The show regularly took calls and texts from the listeners. He stepped down from presenting a daily show on 19 September 2009 to focus on Rodeo Norfolk. His show was succeeded by Stephen Bumfrey who moved to the slot after presenting the breakfast show.
's The Archers
, Little Bexham was a sixteen-part drama from BBC Radio Norfolk. It was created by Norfolk author Sue Welfare
with the help of Roy Waller and former producer Amy Barratt. The first series aired in Autumn 2007 on Roy's afternoon, with an omnibus at the weekend.
in September 2009, Roy continued to present Rodeo Norfolk on the station. The programme was a specialist music show focusing on the best in country music. The show also included special requests. It aired every Saturday between 9am and 12pm.
BBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Norfolk, broadcasting since 11 September 1980. It broadcasts from the studios of BBC East in The Forum, Norwich on 95.1 FM , 104.4 FM , 95.6 FM , 855 kHz AM/MW , 873 kHz AM/MW BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local...
and was the main football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for the station until 2007. He died in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 6 July 2010, after battling with liver illness. Waller's funeral service took place at Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
on 23 July 2010. Known as "the voice of Carrow Road", in September 2010, a commentary box at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
was dedicated to Waller's memory, and was unveiled by Alan Bowkett
Alan Bowkett
Alan Bowkett is the former Chairman of British company Redrow and the current Chairman of Norwich City football club, Norwich, England.He was previously Chief Executive of Boulton and Paul.On appointment to his role at Norwich City, he said:...
and Waller's widow, Sylvie, before a home game and to the applause of the fans.
Personal life
Roy was known for being a die-hard Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
fan. His deep Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
accent has often been the subject of light-hearted criticism from other football fans but he was popular among other football fans in Norwich. In March 2008, Roy was made Sheriff of Norwich. His popularity even led to him once being gunge
Gunge
Gunge as it is known in the British Isles, or slime as it is known in America and other parts of the world is a thick, gooey, runny substance similar in consistency to paint. It has been a feature on many children's programmes for many years around the world and has made appearances in game shows...
d by Noel Edmonds
Noel Edmonds
Noel Ernest Edmonds, is an English broadcaster and executive, who made his name as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He has presented many light entertainment television programmes, including Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops, The Late, Late Breakfast Show, Telly Addicts, Noel's Saturday...
on Noel's House Party
Noel's House Party
Noel's House Party was a BBC television light entertainment show hosted by Noel Edmonds that was broadcast live on Saturday evenings throughout the 1990s. It was set in a large house in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, leading to much innuendo. The show was broadcast during the...
in the 1990s.
Weekday Show
Waller presented a daily show with BBC Radio NorfolkBBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Norfolk, broadcasting since 11 September 1980. It broadcasts from the studios of BBC East in The Forum, Norwich on 95.1 FM , 104.4 FM , 95.6 FM , 855 kHz AM/MW , 873 kHz AM/MW BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local...
from the early 1980s until 2009. Roy Waller's last weekday show aired Monday to Fridays at 1pm to 4pm. The theme was an entertainment show featuring guests and fun "with music thrown in". Features included 'The Alternative News', 'Roy's Phonebook Challenge', 'War of the Work Force' and Norfolk drama 'Little Bexham'. The show regularly took calls and texts from the listeners. He stepped down from presenting a daily show on 19 September 2009 to focus on Rodeo Norfolk. His show was succeeded by Stephen Bumfrey who moved to the slot after presenting the breakfast show.
Little Bexham
Similar to BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
, Little Bexham was a sixteen-part drama from BBC Radio Norfolk. It was created by Norfolk author Sue Welfare
Sue Welfare
Susan Welfare, is an English romantic fiction writer who also writes under the pseudonyms Kate Lawson and Gemma Fox. She is also the creator of BBC Radio Norfolk's first audio drama Little Bexham...
with the help of Roy Waller and former producer Amy Barratt. The first series aired in Autumn 2007 on Roy's afternoon, with an omnibus at the weekend.
Rodeo Norfolk
Despite finishing his daily show with BBC Radio NorfolkBBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Norfolk, broadcasting since 11 September 1980. It broadcasts from the studios of BBC East in The Forum, Norwich on 95.1 FM , 104.4 FM , 95.6 FM , 855 kHz AM/MW , 873 kHz AM/MW BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local...
in September 2009, Roy continued to present Rodeo Norfolk on the station. The programme was a specialist music show focusing on the best in country music. The show also included special requests. It aired every Saturday between 9am and 12pm.