Congratulations to erstwhile Phoenix FM presenter DAVID PICKTHALL who has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

David was rewarded for his services to education and charity. A former student at Brentwood School, he returned as a music teacher in 1982 and became Head of Music in 1987, a position he held until his retirement in 2014.

David has also collaborated with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and City Of Prague Philharmonic, and some of his music also appears in the Wallace and Gromit film A Grand Day Out.

David was also involved as our first jazz presenter in our “part time” broadcasting days. His show “Jazz Cafe” appeared on our first temporary broadcast in December 1996 and part in each of our 28-day outings over the next 7 years.

Here’s David at work during our second temporary licence in March 1999, broadcasting from the old Tourist Information office in Ongar Road (now the home of Brentwood Mind).

A list of all the award winners for education and children’s services can be found here.