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Before
making the move to Blackburn, I joined a strange group of
people at 'The Langham' in London where the BBC had their training HQ. We all stayed at "The Ashtons
Arms" at Paddington, and I shared a room (fro 2 nights)
with Stuart Whaley. Stuart left saying it was 'too noisy'
- so I had a single for the rest of the three weeks!
We were all new together and it was GREAT - I never got to
the bottom of the 'Googe Street Tea rooms' saga - but I was
young!
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'The
Langham' - BBC Training Unit |
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BBC
Radio Blackburn (now Lancashire) was the penultimate
of the first 20 stations in England and was built in a
converted Motor Bike showroom on King Street in the winter
of 1970/71
(See my Radio
Blackburn pages for more detail)
We went on air at midday January 26th 1971 - and had a
fantastic time! We only broadcast on VHF (FM) and it was
a year and a half later that we also got Medium Wave (AM)
You can see a short video of the opening - but as I took
the movie, I'm not on it!
See the video (click the link)
First
10 years in three minutes!
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The
original studios on King Street
Early days at King Street (I'm on the right)
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[In
1974 I married Elaine (now my ex but still friends).
We had five children, Richard, Sarah, Ben, Daniel and Michael. Now also have three grandchildren Jade, Lauren and Josh]
In
1981 I went back to 'The Langham' - but THIS time
as a training officer. And when I came back to Blackburn
it was with a promotion and a name change. I was still Gerald
Jackson - but Radio Blackburn became Radio Lancashire!
By 1988 Radio Lancashire needed a new home and we had custom
studios built on Darwen Street in Blackburn.
I stayed with the station 'till 1992 and then went freelance.
Visit
BBC
Radio Lancashire web site
and BBC
Lancashire for all the latest news.
Tel:- 01 254 26 24 11
Phone in: 01 254 583 583
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Last
week at King Street before the move
Paul O'Gorman & Bernard Shields
Switch over to Darwen Street |
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October
30th 1993 - and another little bit of Radio history. The
UK's first football club Radio station, Radio
Rovers, opened at Ewood Park, in Blackburn. We're still
there and broadcast EVERY match day.
With the Championship won in 1995, it's been an amazing
time to be associated with the club
(See my Radio
Rovers pages)
Visit Blackburn
Rover F.C. Official site.
Studio: 01 254 26 14 13 (matchdays only)
Email
radiorovers@creatv.co.uk (matchdays only)
and TEXT to 88442 + roversradio
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 Wendy,
Gerald and Alan
BRFC web site |
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Also
in 1992 I started teaching Media Studies at Blackburn College.
It was another great adventure and I had the good fortune
to team up with some great guys - some of whom have gone
on to great things in the broadcasting business!
The Staff in Fielding Street were good to work with and
I left at a time when other work was building up. Happy
days!
Some of my students working locally:-
Leanne
Pilkington & Mark Harrison
@
BBC Radio Lancashire
Glenn Hunt @ RealRadio North West
Roy Martin @ Smooth Radio North West
Sally Stone
AND now left the area (but still a Rovers fan!)
Adrian Chenery with the BBC Bus
CONTACT:
On the web www.blackburn.edu
Address : Blackburn College Feilden Street Blackburn Lancashire
BB2 1LH College Reception - 01254 55144 Postal Student Services
- 01254 292929
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Blackburn College
Blackburn College web site
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And
as I'll probably NEVER finish this section ....
For the past seven years I've been based at the BBC in
Manchester - working for what is now called Red
Bee Media.. I'm called a 'creative' and provide promotional
work for BBC English Regions Local Stations. Also now
as a "Station Sound" producer, along with my colleague
Chris Harris, I create and commission the 'jingles' for our
network of stations.(2003) |
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...And
for the past three of years, I've worked (in Manchester)
as BBC English Regions Station Sound Producer. Along
with my London Colleague Chris Harris, I look after jingle
packages for our English Regions BBC Local Radio Stations.
(2006)
 NOW
relocated to Blackburn - managing 'Station Sound' from my
office at BBC Radio Lancashire. I still look after the audio branding
for the 40 Local stations in England
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For
three years I presented "Unforgettable" every Monday
Night on BBC GMR (finished August 4th 2003) NOW BBC
Radio Manchester. When it comes to nostalgia - I'm your man
- some great music.
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AND "Unforgettable" is back! Now 'live' every Monday night on BBC Radio Lancashire from 19:00 to 22:00...
Your requests taken live by 'phone, text and email
NOW listen ANYWHERE in the world via the BBC Lancashire website
bbc.co.uk/lancashire - and click the
"Listen Live" logo and 'Listen Again' to "Unforgettable" any time for a full 7 days after every broadcast.
Phone the studio - 01254 583 583
Or text to - 07786 201 955
e-mail me at the bbc if you wish ..
gerald.jackson@bbc.co.uk
PLUS - collect the latest playlist each week
Click HERE for mini-site
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CLICK the iPlayer to listen live
CLICK to ENLARGE |
Download
BBC Desktop - Click Here |
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And
now where were we... Oh yes, I was at BBC Radio Leeds and the BBC
announced the opening of 12 NEW local stations. I was still freelance
in Leeds - and it was a good chance to get on the staff and have the
thrill of starting a brand new station. I applied for THREE Blackburn,
Teeside and Humberside. I was 'boarded' for ONE - BBC Radio Blackburn
- and the rest is history .....
