ContactRed Rose Radio/Rock FM
"Window on the weather... with Croft Roplasto..!"
Red Rose Radio, Red Rose Rock FM, Rock FM
Red Rose Radio to Rock FM
Rock FM and Magic started as Red Rose Radio 301, (999khz) at 6:00am on Tuesday 5th October 1982 and was Lancashire's first commercial radio station.
It was launched by one of the earliest broadcast entrepreneurs Owen Oyston, who would go on to build his radio empire (and get arrested for dodgy things).
The first record was Barbra Streisand's 'Evergreen', played by Dave Lincoln and this was followed by Spandau Ballet's latest song from the time, 'Lifeline'. Programming initially aired daily until Midnight. It covers Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn, Wigan and Southport, and launched again as Red Rose Rock FM on 1st June 1990 under EMAP's tenure.
After this the station become simply "Rock FM" and the AM service's name "Red Rose Gold" name was lost and Magic 999 was rolled out. Previously, as with most stations, it simulcast on AM and FM and was part of Owen Oyston's empire before personal difficulties forced him into abandoning it. It was nevertheless Mr. Oyston that launched the station from studios in a converted church in Preston. The dropping of the Red Rose moniker didn't go down too well with the members of the public, but as with many other stations up and down the country, the listeners don't have a say in it and are just the ears not the mouth of the station.
Notable shows from the Red Rose era include Russell Harty, Dave Lincoln's Morning Market, Sally Moon on afternoons, Allan Beswick's phone in (he once received an IBA suspension for being overly abusive to a caller and left shortly after returning!) and an evening shift including the likes of Derek Webster, Jerry Rowlands, Ian Calvert and Andy Brittain. A great deal of praise was bestowed on Red Rose Radio by the Radio Authority's predecessor, the IBA regarding their coverage of the local Abbeystead disaster, which read 'A tragedy of this nature stretches a radio station`s resources. It would seem that through this tragedy that Red Rose Radio has been drawn even closer to the community which it serves so well.'
Information amended from the excellent Aircheck UK webpage
Red Rose Radio Jingles
- Radio Rose Radio - stuff from the early days