Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
This Radio Times article from 1981 promoted the relaunch of Radio Birmingham as Radio WM, and 206. The station enjoyed much improved reception due to two new transmitters.
The article interviews Viv Ellis and Stuart Roper of the 206 Team, who were on air for four hours a day, Monday to Friday.
Thanks to Viv Ellis for making the article available.
Thanks to Tim Manning for making this article by Nick Higham (now BBC News correspondent) available.
The article is taken from ‘Radio Month’ in November 1981, and talks about the relaunching of Radio Birmingham as Radio WM. The station’s frequency was changed to improve reception sound quality, especially in Birmingham, and the schedule was revamped and streamlined.
Tim Manning was responsible for the publicity and promotion of the station, as well as presenting on Saturday mornings.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
This photo flyer of Tim Manning dates from 1981, and the relaunch of Radio WM, as ‘206 – Five Star Listening’. Tim was the head of the 206 Information Team, as well as presenting ‘Great! It’s Saturday’, on Saturday mornings.
The photo was taken by Stuart Roper, at the side of Pebble Mill, by the brook.
Tim moved from radio and went on to work with executive producer John King on many television entertainment shows.
Producer/presenter Pete Simpkin remembers the era well:
‘It certainly was a time of great change and for some of us took some time to adapt, but it turned out to be fun, and there is no doubt that although some of the ideas were challenging, the changes laid the foundations for the present success at WM. Among other things I got involved with was a trip to Dallas Texas and another time found myself doing a ‘Radio 3′ style announcing job at the old Town Hall with the CBSO when we went stereo.’
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Tony was one half of the Radio WM, husband and wife double act, with Julie Mayer.
He began broadcasting for BBC Radio Leicester, filling in for his presenter father, Tommy, when he was on holiday. He moved on to Radio WM and became programme organiser for Radio WM in 1991, although he carried on broadcasting. He has presented Breakfast and Drive, and has won a Sony Award for his broadcasting.
Andy Walters makes the following comment about Tony:
‘Tony is a true pro. He was in management at WM for a while and was found on air at Breakfast, Drivetime and the Late Show, sometimes with his wife Julie (Mayer) at different points during his time at WM which I think spanned from 1991 to 2004. Oh, and he had worse ties than that too but we never held that against him!’
Kevin Lakin adds:
‘I used to listen a lot to the Late Show, they were a radio version of Richard & Judy … I liked the “on air ” arguments they used to have, being .. man and wife .. it was all very good. Superb radio.’
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
The Radio WM information cards were distributed to promote the station, and make sure people knew the right frequencies to tune in to. The cards were given out around the time of the official relaunch of the station with its new name – BBC Radio WM, instead of Radio Birmingham (which took place on November 23rd 1981), and were designed to publicise the additional medium wave transmitter on 828 khz at Sedgley, aimed at improving the signal in Wolverhampton and across the Black Country.
”Five Star Listening” was the tag line for the station, it was used before the official name change as well. From late 1980 onwards when the name Radio Birmingham was played down and the station started to refer to itself wherever possible as “206”. There was a lengthy discussion going on between BBC Local Radio HQ in London and the management at Pebble Mill about what the new name for the station would be. John Pickles was determined that the re-vamping of the station wasn’t going to be delayed forever by internal debate, and so the 206 strategy (the MW frequency) was adopted.
Thanks to Stuart Gandy for making this card available, and to Tim Manning for providing all the information.
