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| Clive G1EUC (left) and BBC Essex
presenter Steve Scruton |
BBC Essex Radio Interview, 12 February 2007
by Clive Ward G1EUC
We have been trying over the past few months to find new and hopefully
more productive ways of attracting people to attend our Foundation Courses.
Adverts in the paper have had a limited success, as have various posters
that have been sited in what was thought to be strategically advantageous
areas. So it was decided that perhaps we should try radio, after all that
is what we are meant to be good at.
I received a call from Renee Hockley-Byam at BBC Essex
Radio, saying that she been speaking to Trevor M5AKA
and that could I be on the air the following Tuesday. I agreed, but the
station's plans and priorities changed and this was changed to the following
Monday.
On Monday 12 February, I arrived at the BBC Essex Radio studios, hoping
the experience would be a better one than my last stint on the radio,
when I was carrying out a consultancy for BT in Guyana, South America
five years ago.
Then I was handed a microphone and told that I would be on air ten minutes
after the interview had finished. It was such a shock I started coughing
and carried on doing so during the interview. I was promised that the
coughs would be wiped before I went on the air. I listened to the broadcast
on the tape they gave me and although the interview went well the coughs
were still there, as they were when the interview was broadcast.
The receptionist at BBC Essex told me I would be on at 13.45, ten minutes
later than I was expecting.
At 13.44, I was led into the studio and was given a very brief few moments
to explain to the DJ Steve Scruton, what our hobby was
all about. I had in mind to talk about the hobby and all its different
modes and characteristics, that it was open to all, whatever age or gender
etc. I also intended to could go into depth about the Foundation Course
content; how it just wasn’t all theory and that it included a good
deal of fun practical sessions etc.
The first question came, what is Amateur Radio?
I started to get into the answer and then the next questions came like
a rocket. This meant I had to curtail my answer and start answering the
next question, before finishing, the previous one. This continued throughout
the interview with Steve indicating by hand signals when I should finish
talking. As a consequence, I could not relay all the information I would
have liked to. Though to be fair to Steve my interviewer, on occasions
he could see I was determined to answer some questions fully, which he
let me do.
I was very impressed with BBC Essex. The receptionist, the lady that
led me through to the Studio and Steve Scruton the DJ were all very professional
helpful and polite. During my short stay in the studio I felt comfortable
and reasonably relaxed. I don’t think I coughed once!
I would though, if there is a next time, like a little more time to answer.
Clive, G1EUC
An MP3 recording of the broadcast can be downloaded from http://www.essexamateurradio.org/interview.mp3
BBC Essex
http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/local_radio/
Profile of Renee Hockley-Byam
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/essex/staff_profiles/
renee_hb.shtml
Profile of Steve Scruton
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/essex/staff_profiles/
steve_scruton.shtml
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Training Courses
http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/training/
To join a Chelmsford training course contact Clive on
Tel: 01245-224577
Mob: 07860-418835
E-mail: training2007 at g0mwt.org.uk
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