DevonAir Radio

124 posts

DXers Corner

I applied for and was auditioned to present the late evening programme in August 1980. Although the audition was a nightmare (I had to ‘interview’ Programme Controller, Jeff Winston, about Russian dissidents a subject he knew a lot and I knew nothing), I got the job and the 2200-midnight weekday […]

National Archives (HO 327/5)

DevonAir Radio, as a member of AIRC (Association of Independent Radio Contractors), submitted a response to the Peacock Committee in 1985 regarding BBC funding. This document is now held by The National Archives at Kew (HO 327/5). It reads: Professor A Peacock c/o Room 1078 The Home Office 50 Queen […]

Radio Serena

Former Bunny girl Serena Williams phoned a Torquay radio station to check the weather and was offered a job Daily Mirror – Monday 18 January 1982

Wendy’s news flash

Broadcaster Wendy Buckingham blushed as she read the local radio news yesterday – for she was dressed only in a nightie and slippers. Aberdeen Press and Journal – Wednesday 10 December 1986

Hit DJ becomes a miss …

A radio station shocked thousands of listeners yesterday by announcing that one of its top DJs, Glenn Richards, had undergone a sex change. Aberdeen Press and Journal – Saturday 01 October 1988

Sun goes down on DevonAir

The station’s Christmas card says it. Instead of the usual bright sun shining in the middle of their logo, they have a sinking sun setting behind the hills with Father Christmas waving goodbye.

Radio daze

DevonAir staff are stunned as station loses licence A brief four paragraph statement from the Radio Authority at 8.15am yesterday left DevonAir’s dreams in ruins.

Studio with a view

DevonAir chairman Norman Devonport and managing director Maurice Vass look out over Torquay harbour. But to them the fourth floor Harbour Point balcony offers more than a view.

Bright dawning for Devonair

In tune at Devonair yesterday were the former Bishop of Crediton the Rt. Rev. Wilfred Westall and TV personality Keith Fordyce, seen outside the Exeter studios. Devons new independent local radio station came to life at exactly 6 am yesterday. Early birfs throughout the wide area of the county were […]

Two weeks to blast-off for Studio One

Right in the heart of Exeter is a tiny box room which cost £50,000. Once inside, you are as close being suspended in mid-air as an ordinary mortal is ever likely to be – because this odd room has hardly any contact with the outside world.

Radio plans rise above mediocrity

The Westcountry’s new independent radio station, DevonAir will provide a unique community service when it begins broadcasting next month. Programme Controller Mr Jeff Winston said this yesterday when disclosing plans for the station at a special conference at Dartington Hall.

Devonair debut soon

A new DJ taking to the air? No, Exeter’s MP, Mr John Hammam, in the presenter’s seat when he visited the studios of Devonair, the new commercial radio station in Exeter. With him are Mr Maurice Vass, left, managing director, and Mr Nick Johnson. The station plans to start broadcasting […]

Local radio plans ahead of schedule

DevonAir Radio, the new commercial local radio service for Exeter and Torbay, will be on air later this year. Mr Norman Devonport, the chairman of the consortium that was awarded the franchise by the Independent Broadcasting Authority, said on Tuesday that the Exeter studios were several months ahead of schedule.

Radio Boss Pulls Out

The man who was to have been the first managing director of Devon’s new independent local radio station, DevonAir, will now not be taking up the job. Mr Colin Mason, 36, of Bristol, right, and DevonAir Radio Limited, announced jointly today that they had not been able to complete their […]

Radio chief is chosen

Independent local radio for the Exeter area came a stage nearer today with the news that a managing director has been appointed. He is 36-year-old Mr Colin Mason, of Bristol, and he takes over in Exeter next month.

Radio not to be all pop – 1979

DevonAir, the proposed independent local radio station for Mid and East Devon expects to be broadcasting by 1981, possibly earlier. Mr. Norman Devonport, its chairman, said at a press conference in Exeter yesterday that the station, to be run by Radio Haldon Limiter, would cost about £750,000 to start, but […]

Devon Air Has Twins

Devon’s new independent local radio station – Devon Air – will make history as the first of its kind in the world. It will be the first to run a “twin” operation – with a service for the Exeter area on one side and the Torbay on the other.

On the air by 1981 – or earlier

Devon’s new independent local radio station, Devon Air, hopes to be broadcasting to its potential audience of 450,000 listeners by 1981 and possibly earlier. So said its chairman, Mr Norman Devonport, at an Exeter Press Conference today.

Haldon Wins Devon Battle Of Airwaves

Devon’s new independent local radio station will be run by Radio Haldon. That is the announcement expected early next week from the Independent Broadcasting Authority following a series of interviews in Devon and in London. The IBA has had to choose between three groups which had applied for the franchise, […]

DevonAir suffers £150,000 loss

Recession and competition hit local radio revenue DevonAir, the Exeter based independent local radio station, suffered a £150,000 loss in the year ended September 30. Sir Ian Amory, chairman, told the company’s annual meeting in Exeter but the outlook for this year was optimistic, and the advertising turnover was on […]

Radio to launch service

Exeter based DevonAir is to launch a new service for east Devon and west Dorset. The commercial station will broadcast under the name of South West One and is planning to be on the air this summer. David Cousins, managing director of DevonAir, said yesterday that the Home Office had […]

DevonAir Radio goes Japanese

“Raising the school leaving age to 90”, a programme produced by Exeter based DevonAir radio, has been chosen as Britain’s entry in a prestigious international competition for educational programmes. The eight week series of programmes, devised by disc jockey Tim Arnold, will be entered in the Japan awards competition in […]

DevonAir is top of the pops

DevonAir, one of Devon’s independent local radio stations, has come top of the pops among listeners in its transmission area. Independent research shows weekly listening figures for the station rose by 10 per cent last year 257,000 to overtake the audience of the BBC’s national Radio One. Radio one’s audience […]

Local radio plans ahead of schedule

Devonair Radio, the new commercial local radio service for Exeter and Torbay, will be on the air later this year. Mr. Norman Devonport, the chairman of the consortium that was awarded the franchise by the Independent Broadcasting Authority, said on Tuesday that the Exeter studios were several months ahead of […]