My (long) time at Trent
When i get time, ill tell you about my (long ) time here working with some people i really admire!................including the house wifes favourite Dale Winton, whom i still keep in touch with, in fact he phoned me last Sunday............

Please do Craig, we look forward to hearing it!

Trent DJs
How great it is to hear from Craig Strong! Radio Trent was a HUGE influence on me (which is something that can't be said of today's stations). Presenters such as Stevi Merike, John Shaw, Andy Marriott and the mighty David Lloyd were the Terry Wogans and Jonathon Rosses of my youth. I have many great memories of growing up listening to Radio Trent, and wish I had kept some tapes of this extraordinary radio station. . . But that's life, isn't it? You don't realise how special or important it is, until it's gone. Now Trent FM has been reduced to a cheap and trashy juke-box playing plastic music for a plastic audience. I think Craig is mentioned in Dale Winton's autobiography (£1 from all good 'Bargain Basement' book stores), a surprisingly good read if you can get your hands on it. . . although his departure from Trent is played down very tactfully - I remember reading some rather more acrimonious reports of it in the Nottingham Evening Post at the time! So to come back to the 'where are they now?' thread title: Stevi Merike went to BBC Radio Leeds, then 'retired' to Australia, and is now a lecturer in media studies at South Notts College, but still does weekend spots at SAGA 106 John Shaw moved on to Lincs FM, and was last heard doing the rounds at BBC Radios Leicester, Lincoln and Nottingham David Lloyd went on to work for the (then) Radio Authority in London, then Chrysalis Radio, running Galaxy in Leeds and Manchester; and is now is MD at LBC 97.3 in London (also now avaiable on some DAB networks around the country) Gary Terzza went to do voice-overs at Channel 4 and is still there Ridley E went to Globe FM and is now on Radio Nottingham using his real name Errol Mundle David Mannion (newsreader) went to ITV News, as did Ben Ando Gary Burton went to Trent 102.8 when it launched in Derby, and then BBC 6 Music for 4 years. I think he's now on Century or SAGA. Any ideas? Franklyn Hughes went to Mercia Sound in Coventry, Globe FM in Nottingham, then helped set up Choice FM in Birmingham. If anyone knows of his current whereabouts a number of people in the industry would be MOST amused to learn! Also, does anyone have the whereabouts of any of these presenters? . . . : Rob Wagstaffe, Len Groat, Viv Evans, Christina Burns. Keep up the good work, Simon! Steve G

Trent 301
I am now living in Portugal. I listened to Trent from 1975, when it first opened, nothing like the GWR corruption of now. In those days, I would only be 9 of course, but there was David Kid Jenson, Guy Morris, John Peters, Dale Winton, Chris Ashley, Peter Tait, Len Groat. Now there are a few names there. Len Groat is now at Saga, and emailled me once. I spoke on air on Christmas Day 2004 with David Lloyd on Saga. It was an interesting conversation. Preceded by extensive emails from David concerning his Trent days, and Leicester Sound days up to 1991. I remember Tony Lyman when he first joined Trent, and not only that remember well Steve Merike, John Shaw, and Viv Evans. Also remember going to the Albany Hotel for the HIFI exhibitions, where John Peters and Guy Morris always passed their programmes. Remember also NewsDay, presented by various well spoken professional news team. Also remember a presenter called Dave West, who presented the night programmes at Trent, from 10pm. Anyone remember him? Craig Strong, remember well. How are you? Despite missing Trent a lot, I am now listening to a professional station here in Portugal called Antena 1. This is a national state station, but its style is very much like Trent. Also Radio Nova, here in Porto. The best Saturday mornings were always spent in the company of David Lloyd. Wonderful surprises with Bride of the Day. Well my one dream unfulfilled is to be a Radio Presenter, and launch for Nottingham a station with the flavour of Trent. Anyone interested? :D

Chris Baird, Jerry Cooper, Colin Bower,Anne Marie Minhall,
These are names from the golden Trent era. Can you tell me if the radio situation is going to get better. It seems that the GWR rebranding has been disastrous. Is there going to be any way to unravel the damage, or do you think that we are living in another generation where personality does not count, just music. Here in Portugal there are 3 national stations, state owned. Then there is RADIO COMERCIAL, RADIO RENASCENCA, RADIO MIX FM. These are national commercial stations. The local ones ARE ALL like the original ILR makeup, all individual, all independent of each other. Wonderful. I listen to two of them, the national ANTENA 1, AND RADIO NOVA. Back to Britain, I think the radio industry needs to think clearly what silly things it has done to radio in the 90's.

Firstly, sorry its taken soooo long to do another post! iI think ts a shame that the Trent that was, is no longer with us, some will say its natural progression, or if you dont like what theyre doing now...you is getting old! maybe both true, but i know, and it seems most others agree with me, that the older style was better. Just to set a couple of things straight, Len only did one or two shows on Saga, and went out to New Zealand, but, according to Dale Winton, who i chatted with only this monday, hes back in the UK. John Shaw on Lincs? i was working for them for a few years on and off, but dont ever recall him being there too, sorry if im wrong though....... Franklin Hughes, i now work with him again, on wednesday nights at Oceana nightclub (formerly Palais/Ritzy) come along and see us!!! (blatant plug there !) The hifi shows at the Albany! blimey, i remember we did a competition from there to find a dj, whos prize would be to make a show, i recall Stuart Westmoreland the hifi dealers being involved, and me and Gary Burton, currently on Heart 106 ( are you sure he went to Trent Derby? i should know this , working there at the same time, but in all honesty think he stayed back at 96.2) anyway, we were in the Nottingham Evening Post, along with Stuart, and Phillip? who won it, wow, digging up the memories there! I believe the rest of the stuff others have put is accurate, but if i remember more, ill let you know. Me? i went over to the dark side (Trent Derby!) and then moved around loads, doing many stations ...want me to try and remember? ..ok........Trent 102.8 evolving into Ram, obviously Leicester Sound too, Gem am, Mercia fm, Hereward, B97 (Chiltern) Lincs, Trax, (both) Fosseway, and a stack of RSL's, including Trax (obviously getting the licence) Smooth, Soul, for Kev Roberts, who i used to have on my show in 1980, and now runs VIP Radio on Sky 0196, Pride, and Erewash sound.Obviously meeting some great folk along the way, and, sorry to say one or two total A*se holes! Im sure a lot of my former colleagues know who im referring to in the latter section! Anyways, always a pleasure to talk to the people who were listeners back then! Russell, i totally agree with your sentiments! Almost forgot my year at 106 Century fm! :oops: Lastly, feel free to contact me on craigstrong1@hotmail.com anytime!

Peter Tait and Len Groat
Peter, sadly, the late great Peter Tait, was sounding much like Len, unless I was mistaken, my 9 year old ears were not so good. What about Tony Lyman and John Peters, wonderful two...hmmm....surprised me when I was at the Albany, see a huge John with a great beard...wonderful professional. Guy, that good looking chap, with a very distinctive voice, for Sunday mornings. Chris Ashley and Brian Clough, get on yer bike! Remember that? John Darby was a canadian sounding newsreader. He used to be the one who would read the news in John Peters' show. It would start at 5am and finish and 9am. Now take you to Graham Knight and his ROUND TABLE! Remember that Craig? Now try to get David Lloyd on this forum... Steve Merike, those lovely sunday morning shows. Chris Baird for dinner LOL. Newsday for evening meal LOL...then talkback...then specialist shows, with John Shaw, and here be dragons, or Castle Rock, with that infamous, sad affair of murder.. remember....Trent never forgot...Graham Neale.

Andy Miller where are you?
Craig, You know where Andy Miller went? He was at Trent 102.8 Derby from its outset, on Trent 96.2 before then.

Gary Burton
Dear Forum, Gary Burton has left 6 MIX and gone over to HEART 106FM for drivetime weekdays.