Radio Trent

"Sounds like you want to hear..."

Radio Trent

Radio Trent, Trent FM

Radio Trent... Trent FM...

3rd July 1975 was an epic day in national radio history with one of the greatest ILR stations outside London, probably partially because it was one of the first outside London to launch. By 1980, the station's output had expanded to 20 hours per day.

Studios have always been at 29-31 Castle Gate, Nottingham. It has operated throughout it's broadcasting life on 96.2, and in it's Radio Trent AM days, 999 kHz Medium Wave. Seventies presenters of note include Dale Winton, Radio Derby's Chris Baird and the late great Peter Tait. Chris Hughes became Programme Controller at Radio Trent in July 1980, then took on similar position at sister station Leicester Sound, then Radio Trent 945 in Derbyshire.

Midlands Radio plc, also the home to BRMB, Beacon Radio, Mercia Sound & Xtra-AM, and Trent-FM 102.8 was purchased by a company called GWR in 1993 - this put a dread fear through everyone as the GWR company had already gained a reputation for taking over stations and wielding various sizes of axe upon doing so. Trent-FM lost all it's American jingles and personality led presenters in favour of the same presenters, reading liner cards for 'a better music mix' and playing a standard set of records. Arguably a GWR trade mark replicated all too often around the country. Trent-FM is, to fans at least, a mere shadow of it's former self - and is Trent in name only.

The Radio Authority website refers that they serve Derby & Nottingham - this is certainly true on signal coverage but not on-air content! They are currently only too happy to slag off their near neighbours, especially from a footballing perspective. The current business director is one of the old Trent school, ex-Derby FM manager Chris Hughes, with ex-Derby hospital radio and Trent-FM Derby presenter Richard 'Dick' Stone as the Programme Controller. He recently took over the post from another Trent legend, Rob Wagstaff, who recently left.

Prior to the launch of the SALLIE station, Mansfield 103.2, it was felt by both Trent management and the Radio Authority that Mansfield was having reception problems with the 96.2 frequency and, as Mansfield was in Nottinghamshire, it needed some assistance for listener satisfaction - Mansfield is now served by a separate relay on 96.5FM.

Ahhh. and we must mention GEM AM... but it's so important, we'll do that on its own page! Lucky GEM!

More great Trent 301 memories are available at Jeff Cooper's website

Information amended from the excellent Aircheck UK webpage

Radio Trent Jingles

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Take me back!