Some
years later, and I am now working at the
Bay radio station in Lancaster as morning
presenter and Head of External Affairs.
The MD Julian Allitt opens the presenters
office door and hands me some papers saying, "why don't
you apply for this"? As soon as he handed it to me, I knew
what it was about because it is the only comunication
I have ever seen with the word 'promulgate'.It was a word I
had never seen before receiving the same communication back
in the Sunset days. It was suggested
that we promulgated the information among the staff.
As
someone who had never been abroad since I arrived in this country
in 1968. I thought this was a wonderful idea and a great chance
to see how radio stations actually operate in other countries.
Within minutes, I had come up with the idea of visiting Victoria
in Canada to see and commentate on the 1994 Commonwealth Games.
Over the next few days I gathered all the information I could
in support of the application. Julian suggested that I contacted
Bob Scott (now Sir Bob Scott) of the Manchester Commonwealth
Bid, for a letter of support.
I
was amazed when he agreed to support my bid. When my application
was dispatched, it was quite impressive. My suggestion was to
visit a radio station in Victoria, arriving one week before
the games. I would then help them with their plans, spend the
two weeks of the games with them assisting in any way I could
and remain there for one further week as they wound down their
operation. As well as helping at C-FAX, I would also file reports back to the BAY.
After
about a week I got a reply saying that they quite liked the
proposal but I would need alot more information. What was
the name of the radio station? How much was it going to cost?
What benefit would there be to the Bay? Would they be providing
any money? Most of the questions were quite easy but what
about a radio station.
To
be honest I didn't even know where Victoria was and I certainly
didn't know any station there. I picked up the telephone and
dialled the International enquiries. Within minutes they had
given me the name of a station. Seconds later, I was on the
phone to the programme Controller. "Yes we'd like to
have you, but we're a music station and we won't be doing
too much on the Games.
The station you really need to talk
to is C-FAX 1070." "You wouldn't by any chance happen
to have their number would you?" "Well I don't have
to call them too often! Hold on I'll look it up".
C-FAX
1070 is a speech station broadcasting to Greater Victoria
in British Columbia (BC) and is the number 1 rated station
in Victoria. I made contact with the Head of Operations Terry
Spence and he was delighted that they would have an extra
pair of hands and voice to assist them during their games
coverage.
After
much planning and organisation I finally arrived in Victoria
on Saturday the 30th of July 1994. The start of the games
were about 10 days away. On the long plane journey to Vancouver,
I had planned to arrive quietly, stay in the background and
just do what they wanted me to. Well that was the plan anyway. On
the Sunday I walked by the station just to see where it was
and then on Monday I turned up to find the building totally
closed but still broadcasting.
It
was a bank holiday. I rang the bell anyway and withing minutes
Terry was at the door. He was actually on the air at the time
and he showed me into the studio. No sooner had I got a coffee
and look round in amazement at the studios and I was on the
air. He introduced me as the guest from England here to assist
them with their Commonwealth Games coverage. Over the next
few days I was on the air nearly as much as I was back home.
All
the presenters wanted me to be a guest on their show. Boy
I felt like a real celeberity. So much for the quiet start. As
we moved towards the games I was attached to the Commonwealth
Cruiser, a people carrier beautifully painted and logo'd for
the games, the station and the sponsor.
The man in charge
of the cruiser was Kevin Sing. Over
the next three weeks, I would see every corner of Victoria.
Every one knew Kevin and we were invited to everything. Even
if they didn't know Kevin, the C-FAX logo was all we needed.
The role of the Commonwealth Cruser was to be at all the cultural
events taking place in the leadup to, and during the games.
C-FAX
was a real local station and nearly everyone in Victoria identified
with it. It was their first place for news and information
and under the leadership of Mel Cooper, presenters of the
calibre of Terry Spence, Joe Easingwood, Mike King, Alan Perry
and Kathleen Brandsma, made sure that it was and remained
the number one rated station in the city.
Next
time I will tell you more about my trip to the 1994 Commonwealth
Games and I tell you about the wonderful people I met in Victoria,
oh yeah and I'll tell you about Kathy Baan as well.
READ PART 2 HERE
READ PART 3 HERE
