Sunday
14
December
Nostalagia and memories for the Magic 756
04/07/2023 @ 02:20
Nostalgia and memories have been sparked after former volunteers and staff of the former Newtown-based Radio Maldwyn, the Magic 756, gathered to celebrate what would have been the 30th anniversary of the commercial radio station.
The event took place at Hafan Yr Afon, a riverside venue that now stands on the site where the former radio station once broadcast from.
Radio Maldwyn first graced the airwaves on July 1st, 1993, at precisely 07:56.
Broadcasting on 756 kHz AM, equivalent to 397 meters on the medium wave band, the station's reach extended across the expanse of Mid Wales and the Borders.
Its signal even stretched far and wide, throughout Mid and North Wales, as well as the English Midlands.
Originally established as a community cooperative, Radio Maldwyn evolved into a Limited Company in subsequent years, garnering success within its transmission area before concluding its broadcast in 2010.
Despite its closure, the station left an indelible mark on the local community, becoming an integral part of people's daily lives.
One notable attendee was John Barnes, the first manager of Radio Maldwyn, who subsequently broadcast on the airwaves of renowned stations such as Rock FM in Preston, the Chiltern Radio Network, and various BBC stations including Hereford and Worcester, Berkshire, Lancashire, and Manchester.
Reflecting on his time at Maldwyn, Barnes, said: "It was a very special radio station; we had some incredibly talented staff and volunteers, many of whom went on to achieve great success in the broadcasting industry.
"We became deeply ingrained in the hearts of the local population, playing a vital role in their daily lives. Maldwyn has often been described as having the DNA of pirate radio, but in reality, I was largely influenced by the early days of Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton and sought to transpose that amazing big sound to a rural setting."
The reunion witnessed the presence of numerous former staff members who had soared to successful careers in the broadcasting industry.
Sue Charles, who kick-started her journey at Maldwyn and subsequently worked as a music reporter for Radio 1 and Radio 2, ultimately finding herself as a journalist and TV weather presenter at BBC Wales, said it was great to be reuniting with her Maldwyn colleagues.
She said: "Meeting up with the old Maldwyn alumni was a reminiscent journey back to the halcyon days of broadcasting across Mid Wales and the borders. Radio Maldwyn was a warm and friendly station, yet it possessed that unmistakable taste of the pirates – a strong community presence, presenters brimming with a genuine love and knowledge of music, and an immense variety that often eludes contemporary radio.
"It served as an exceptional training ground for aspiring young talents interested in music, radio, and journalism. Regrettably, such opportunities are scarce for today's youth."
The mastermind behind the reunion was Ashley Owen, who, at the tender age of 16, had volunteered as a presenter when the station first went live.
Owen later flourished as a member of the Heart radio station in North Wales and pursued a career as a stand-up comedian. Reminiscing about his time at Radio Maldwyn, Owen recollected: "Radio Maldwyn - The Magic 756 was pure fun; it never felt like a job. When we commenced our live broadcasts in July 1993, I had just finished high school and my GCSEs.
"My first show, 'Hits not Homework,' aired on Thursday evenings, and eventually, I worked my way up to hosting Drive. It was an absolute joy and never felt like work. How incredible it would be if the station were still thriving today."
The event took place at Hafan Yr Afon, a riverside venue that now stands on the site where the former radio station once broadcast from.Radio Maldwyn first graced the airwaves on July 1st, 1993, at precisely 07:56.
Broadcasting on 756 kHz AM, equivalent to 397 meters on the medium wave band, the station's reach extended across the expanse of Mid Wales and the Borders.
Its signal even stretched far and wide, throughout Mid and North Wales, as well as the English Midlands.
Originally established as a community cooperative, Radio Maldwyn evolved into a Limited Company in subsequent years, garnering success within its transmission area before concluding its broadcast in 2010.
Despite its closure, the station left an indelible mark on the local community, becoming an integral part of people's daily lives.
One notable attendee was John Barnes, the first manager of Radio Maldwyn, who subsequently broadcast on the airwaves of renowned stations such as Rock FM in Preston, the Chiltern Radio Network, and various BBC stations including Hereford and Worcester, Berkshire, Lancashire, and Manchester.
Reflecting on his time at Maldwyn, Barnes, said: "It was a very special radio station; we had some incredibly talented staff and volunteers, many of whom went on to achieve great success in the broadcasting industry.
"We became deeply ingrained in the hearts of the local population, playing a vital role in their daily lives. Maldwyn has often been described as having the DNA of pirate radio, but in reality, I was largely influenced by the early days of Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton and sought to transpose that amazing big sound to a rural setting."
The reunion witnessed the presence of numerous former staff members who had soared to successful careers in the broadcasting industry.
Sue Charles, who kick-started her journey at Maldwyn and subsequently worked as a music reporter for Radio 1 and Radio 2, ultimately finding herself as a journalist and TV weather presenter at BBC Wales, said it was great to be reuniting with her Maldwyn colleagues.
She said: "Meeting up with the old Maldwyn alumni was a reminiscent journey back to the halcyon days of broadcasting across Mid Wales and the borders. Radio Maldwyn was a warm and friendly station, yet it possessed that unmistakable taste of the pirates – a strong community presence, presenters brimming with a genuine love and knowledge of music, and an immense variety that often eludes contemporary radio.
"It served as an exceptional training ground for aspiring young talents interested in music, radio, and journalism. Regrettably, such opportunities are scarce for today's youth."
The mastermind behind the reunion was Ashley Owen, who, at the tender age of 16, had volunteered as a presenter when the station first went live.
Owen later flourished as a member of the Heart radio station in North Wales and pursued a career as a stand-up comedian. Reminiscing about his time at Radio Maldwyn, Owen recollected: "Radio Maldwyn - The Magic 756 was pure fun; it never felt like a job. When we commenced our live broadcasts in July 1993, I had just finished high school and my GCSEs.
"My first show, 'Hits not Homework,' aired on Thursday evenings, and eventually, I worked my way up to hosting Drive. It was an absolute joy and never felt like work. How incredible it would be if the station were still thriving today."
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