Atlantic Oldies 2NG

Radio has been in my blood as long as I can remember. Huddled under a blanket as a kid listening to the Big L – Radio Luxembourg on 208 metres MW (or 1439kHz AM!) and the Top 20 on a Sunday evening at 6pm when Stereo BBC Radio 2 would hand the precious stereo to Radio 1 for the hour.

Career wise I planned to be a radio magnate but for some reason I ended up in Television where I still am today. It’s as fun as ever but more pressured today. That is why 2NG was born. My station broadcasting the music I love and I know, by listening you do to.

So, a few years ago I was contacted by another Internet Radio station owner, Alan who started Rewind 45. Musically very similar to mine but different all the same. He had different songs to mine and different playlists. We emailed back and forth over the years, listening to each other’s station and frequently we asked for and offered each other advice that helped make our stations better and run more reliably. We both knew it was fun and a hobby.

Sometimes I would have his station on as I worked or pottered about the house. Even though I had many UK oldies, I was always amazed by the tracks that he had and many memories that they bought back. Alan concentrated on getting some presenter led shows as they gave the station some personality and did that very well. Roger Davies had a brilliant idea, those Rare 60’s tracks and I was pleased when Alan suggested that I air it on 2NG as well. Now I do and I hope it continues. Rewind 45 had another show, and I hope to be able to take that soon.

Last week Rewind45 had to close down. Alan, for personal reasons felt he would be unable to continue administration of the station over the next few months. I felt sad for him as I was in the same position 18 months ago when I closed 2NG down due to finance. Alan went one stage further and had some last shows, one by Roger Davies and the final hour by Bill Rollins. I listened all afternoon, and it bought back all of those memories I had in the seventies. Radio was a living breathing thing…, it had personality, it talked to you and it played a wide variety of music that you loved. Today, sadly radio is too focused and too narrow.

When Rewind45 closed, I actually felt sad. I had gone though the same emotions when I closed 2NG last year. I was fortunate that I was able to revive 2NG a few weeks later and I hope that Rewind45 will return in due time. Let us hope it’s “au revoir and not good-bye”