The early days broadcasting on BBC Radio Norfolk's airwaves

We switched on our radios to listen to John Mountford, already a well-known local BBC presenter, at the Norfolk Tower controls in the city.

Terry Wogan and John Mountford on the opening day at BBC Radio Norfolk (Image: Submitted)

TV and radio presenter Ian Masters watched on as 11-year-old Duane Trower from Outwell and seven-year-old Andres Hughes from Hemsby cut the tape to open the station.

Terry Wogan later presented his Radio 2 morning show from the studios and  OUR radio station was up and running.

This was the 21st BBC local station to be opened and the first to be added to the chain since the early 1970s.

BBC Radio Norfolk started broadcasting in September of 1980 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

Our listening habits changed forever…we loved tuning in to listen to the shows, the presenters and their guests. All members of the Norfolk family.

A station which offered warmth and quality…and also told you if the buses and trains were running late, where the roads were blocked and what the weather was up to. Remember Stan Worgan?

Weather man Stan Worgan, October 1991 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

In a foreword to a book The First Ten Years, published in 1990 and edited by our own Keith Skipper, former EDP reporter John Timpson, described how he had been as exasperated as anyone else at the way the BBC in London largely ignored our existence.

He singled out events such as gales and storms saying: “This is where BBC Radio Norfolk really comes into its own. I rely on it greatly, even in normal times but particularly during emergencies.”

In the beginning the station had two great men at the helm, manager Mike Chaney and news editor Ian Hyams.

Ian Hyams, News Editor, BBC Radio Norfolk, in the newsroom at Radio Norfolk, July 1985 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

Mr Timpson said one of the pleasures of returning to Norfolk was to hear the leisurely tones of Don Shephard at Sunday lunchtime introducing Dad’s Favourite Toons, the unflagging fluency of Keith Skipper on weekdays and the “serendipitously-named” Olly Day entertaining the youngsters from Larks’ End.

“Better still, there are the Norfolk-born listeners who come in or telephone to talk about themselves, or local goings-on, or the ‘braintub village of the week.’

“The true Norfolk accent is heard nowhere else in the country: full marks to BBC Radio Norfolk for preserving and encouraging it,” said John.

Simon Ellis gives a tour of the BBC Radio Norfolk studios, November 1982 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

On Sundays there was a religious news magazine programme and its more thoughtful discussion shows, including phone-ins on important subjects, provided a valuable balance.

Writing back in 1990 John added: “I congratulate BBC Radio Norfolk on its achievement over the last decade and I am grateful to it for the information and enjoyment it has given me.

Radio Norfolk presenter, magician and road safety educator Olly Day taking a break from the EDP and Radio Norfolk Road Show at Yarmouth, September 1990 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

“As for the future, may Stewart White continue to summon the Bride of the Week out of her bath to discover if the proposal was a ‘one-knee job’ and may Ray Cossey continue to baffle me with his clues to the Golden Nugget winners,” he said.

In those days about a quarter of a million people in Norfolk tuned into the station during the average week to listen to the likes John Taylor, Tom Thurston, Chris Durdin, Ray Loose, Charles Henderson, Grahame Humphries, Mike Hicks and the rest. Experts on so many subjects.

The Norfolk Airline pilots are up in the clouds with their Sony Award. Neil Walker and David Clayton (with the trophy) received their prize from newsreader Martin Lewis in 1986 (Image: Submitted)

Then of course were the regular presenters including David Clayton and Neil Walker who won the prestigious Sony Radio Award for their Norfolk Airline programme. A huge honour.

Not forgetting the great Rob Bonnet, Roy “what’s for tea, mother?” Waller, in the studio and at Carrow Road, Wally Webb, Tony Mallion, the straight-talking John Mills and so many more.

The late, great Roy Waller of Radio Norfolk pushing his luck at Banham Zoo in the 1980s (Image: Submitted)

Oh, and I almost forgot, Major Egbert Gladstone-Pyle of Wanglingham Hall. A man worth listening to

There were also  the “Early Risers,” groups of listeners who went on holidays across the world, and the Old Car Rally

Terry Wogan chats to ladies at the new BBC Radio Norfolk office in Norwich, September 15, 1980 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

As for Radio Norfolk in 2023…let’s just say there have been a number of unwelcome changes. Mind you, it’s good to hear Chris Goreham and the rest of the team in the mornings and at the football.