A local radio station who now broadcast on DAB in Bedford celebrated a double success at the Community Radio Awards last week (16 November) at Cardiff City Football Club in Wales.
Black Cat Radio, fronted by one of the evening’s hosts in Ste Greenall, picked up two gold awards in the ‘Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year’ category and for Sage Person of the Year, won by the station’s Tony Gillham.
Black Cat Radio’s station Director, Gillham, has enjoyed a 50 year career in broadcasting, including on Chiltern Radio and BBC Bedfordshire, latterly known as Three Counties Radio.
Past winner of best female presenter, Fiona McNeill, announced Tony’s success saying that he, “clearly is passionate about radio and seeing his station thrive, with a wealth of experience and knowledge”.
Black Cat Radio also won gold for their coverage of the St Neots Festival, described by the judging panel as “an entry with a show plan on another level, with vivid descriptions of the event, voices from across the weekend, a smattering of live music and positive feedback.”
The station were also nominated in the News, Journalism & Factual Storytelling category, an award won by Oldham Community Radio.
“A fantastic year for community radio”
Martin Steers, another radio stalwart from Bedford and the founder of Bedford Radio, is also the Chair of the Community Radio Awards.
“What another fantastic year for community radio”, said Martin.
“It’s been a pleasure coming to Cardiff and working with the Welsh Community Radio Network alongside the UK Community Radio Network, to help deliver both the awards and conference earlier in the day.”
The station, which has now collected eight national awards in four years, began in broadcasting to St Neots on 102.5 FM but has recently extended it’s coverage to Bedford on DAB.
Find out more about the radio station at www.blackcatradio.org.
