Above: The DevonAir Radio newsroom at 35 – 37 St. Davids Hill, Exeter (1981). Pictured left to right, Mike Joseph, Head of Features and presenter, DevonDay, with journalists Helen Hughes and Keith Cooper.
DevonAir Beginnings
DevonAir Radio started life as Radio Haldon as this very early company archive shows:
Companies House
Radio Haldon Limited Registration
Registered with Companies House 19th January 1979 by John Ireland, Solicitor, Torquay.
Nominal capital: £250,000
Subscribers:
- Vice Admiral, Sir Ronald Brockman, KCB, CSI, CIE, CVO, CBE, DL of Budleigh Salterton
- Hamish Macdougal Turner of Torquay
The company was incorporated on 28th February 1979
Change of Name
6th August 1979 Radio Haldon Limited became DevonAir Radio Limited approved by the Secretary of State 4th October 1979
Change of Status
31st December 1979 converted from a private company to a public company
Contract Advertisement:
March 15 1979 – IBA Press Release:
INDEPENDENT LOCAL RADIO
APPLICATIONS FOR THE BOURNEMOUTH AND EXETER/TORBAY AREAS
Applications for the contracts to operate independently local radio services for the Bournemouth area (including Poole) and the Exeter/Torbay area will be invited by the Independent Broadcasting Authority within the next two weeks.
The closing date for applications will be about nine weeks later.
As with other ILR stations, the Authority will seek contractors capable of combining a popular programming with fostering public awareness of local affairs and with involvement in the community is they will be serving.
Details of the specifications, including the prospective coverage of the stations, will be available when the invitations to applicants are advertised.
Contracts for the Cardiff and Coventry areas where advertised in December 1978, and for the Gloucester and Cheltenham, Peterborough and Dundee/Perth areas last month. Preliminary interviews with applicants have already been held in Cardiff and Coventry. Stations for Aberdeen/Inverness and Chelmsford/Southend have been announced by the Home Secretary. The IBA is aiming to advertise for contractors for these are areas later this year.
From: John Guinery, Deputy Head of Information
The Applicants:
June 1 1979 – IBA Press Release:
APPLICATIONS FOR ILR CONTRACT FOR EXETER/TORBAY
On March 27th, the Independent Broadcasting Authority invited applications for the contracts to operate the Independent Local Radio service in the Exeter/Torbay area, to provide programmes to be broadcast by the Authority in accordance with the Independent Broadcasting Act.
The closing date for applications was May 30th, and those received were from:
- BAY CITY RADIO LIMITED, Exeter
- RADIO HALDON LIMITED ‘DEVONAIR’, Torquay
- RIVIERA RADIO LIMITED, Paignton
From: John Guinery, Deputy Head of Information
The Interviews and Public Meetings:
June 13 1979 – IBA Press Release:
INDEPENDENT LOCAL RADIO FOR EXETER/TORBAY
Members of the Independent Broadcasting Authority will visit to the Exeter and Torbay areas next week to hold preliminary interviews with the three sets of applicants for the contracts to provide an Independent Local Radio Service. Further interviewing will take place in London later.
As announced on June 1st, applications for the Exeter/Torbay ILR contract have been received by the authority from Bay City Radio Limited, Radio Haldon Limited (‘Devonair’) and Riviera Radio Limited.
The IBA group will include:
the Marchioness of Anglesey (taking the chair)
Lord Blease of Cromac and Mrs Mary Warnock (Members of the Authority)
Mr. John Thompson (Head of Radio)
Mr. Gerald Margolis (Head of Radio Finance and Administration)
Mr. Michael Johnson (Administristitive Officer, Radio)
Mr. Bryan Rook (Secretary to the Authority)
Mr. Alf Whitham (Assistant Director of Engineering, Policy)
Miss Barbara Hosking (Head of Information)
and Mr. Peter Bath (IBA Regional Officer for South-West England)
The Authority is holding open meetings at 7 PM next Monday, June 18th, to hear direct from local people what views they have in the needs of the areas, and in particular local points should be noted before the contractor is chosen. They will be held at St. George’ Hall, Exeter (chairman, Lady Anglesey) and at Oldway Mansion, Paignton (chairman, Mrs. Warnock).
Note: Press correspondents are invited to attend the public meetings and to meet members of the Authority group.
From: John Guinery, Deputy Head of Information
The Winner:
June 16 1979 – IBA Press Release:
EXETER/TORBAY INDEPENDENT LOCAL RADIO CONTRACT
After interviewing the three groups were applied to provide the Independent Local Radio (ILR) service for the Exeter/Torbay area, and fully considering their written applications, the Independent Broadcasting Authority now proposes, subject to agreement on some points of detail, to offer the contracts to Radio Haldon Limited (formed by Vice-Admiral Sir Ronald Brockman and chaired by Mr. Norman Devonport).
The four compositions will be announced as soon as the company has completed its membership and received the Authority’s approval, during next year. The announcement will include a reference to any provision made for local newspaper interests and the turn of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973. The company’s programme plans will be published when it begins broadcasting.
Enquiries on Radio Haldon Limited to:
Mr. Norman Devonport
From: John Guinery, Deputy Head of Information
RADIO HALDON LTD.
Members of the group include:
Vice-Admiral Sir Ronald Brockman KCB, CSI, CIE, CVO, CBE, DL
Non-executive President of Radio Haldon. Served in the Royal Navy for almost 40 years. Gentleman Usher to the Queen. County and town councillor. Chairman of Dartmoor National Park Committee. Governor of Bicton College of Agriculture and of Rolle College of Education. President Elect of Devon County Agricultural Association. County President of St. John Ambulance and Board of Governors Vice-President, Royal Western School for Deaf.
Norman Devonport — Chairman
Founder in 1965 of the Devonport Houses for Children and is actively involved still in child care. Formerly an executive in the timber and mechanical handling industries and managing director of five other businesses. Took up yachting for a period, becoming Flag Officer of the Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Manages his own farm.
Ian Amory
Chartered Accountant. Chairman of the Lowman Group and its subsidiaries, based in Tiverton and involved mainly in engineering. Member of Devon County Council since 1973. Governor of East Devon College of Further Education and of several schools. Management Committee Member of the Exeter Hospital Aid Society.
David Cousins
Song Writer and recording artiste. Formerly media manager of a company marketing and supplying colour advertising to regional newspapers. Formed his own company in 1965, specialising in preparing marketing and market research analysis. Started a successful recording career in 1968 with his group ‘The Strawbs’. Artistic Director for the Exmouth Summer Festival of Arts.
Keith Fordyce
Founder and Managing Director of Torbay Aviation Limited which operates the Torbay Aircraft Museum. Formerly Head of the British Department of Radio Luxembourg. Has broadcast frequently, for example during coverage of Royal events and as a presenter of Westward Television’s ‘Treasure Hunt’.
Anthony Martin
Chartered Accountant. Director of Martins Caravan Company (Exeter) Limited and of property investment companies, including Deepdene Development Co Limited of Exeter.
Dr. Bill Parker
Lecturer in Physics at the University of Exeter. Warden, University Hall of Residence. Has served on various university committees, including the Exeter University Radio Services Committee and the Fine Arts Committee.
Mrs. Rosemary Mercer
A graduate in history with a diploma in education. Captain of her University women’s athletic club. Appointed a JP in 1965. Married to the Bishop of Exeter.
Mrs. Pauline Sangster
Born and educated in Torquay. Daughter of the present Chairman of Devon County Council. Has spent four years working in the intensive-care unit at Torbay Hospital. Married to Mike Sangster, the former Davis Cup and international tennis player.
Hamish Turner
Deputy Coroner for Torbay. Past President of the Lions Club of Torquay. Chairman of the Torbay Victim of Crime Support Group. National Trustee of the Cheshire Foundation.