Mark’s blog – Week Eight 3rd March 2008

Mark’s blog – week eight
Monday 3 March 2008

All in all quite an emotional evening.

At first, it was nerves : despite seven previous shows, I was not prepared to walk into what is normally an empty Phoenix office to find a Board Meeting going on. I felt like the Spanish Inquisition had just walked in on me…..

And then to hear Paul Tomkinson, a great friend for ten years now, broadcasting was amazing. Here’s a bit of a secret : despite having been in some of the biggest shows in the West End he is desperately shy and, in fact, refused to be interviewed on Phoenix just before Christmas. But a change of heart meant that he came in and gave  THE most entertaining Wander Through The Arts yet.

After my two tracks (needed to give us time to set up the keyboard), Paul chose / performed the following, including one World Premiere!:-

1. Overture & All That Jazz – Chicago
2. Tell Me Its Not True – Blood Brothers
3. I Wish – Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder
4. It Never Rains But It Pours – Bum, Bust and Belly (Paul Tomkinson)
5. The Only One – Boorskale (Paul Tomkinson)
6. Chiquilana – Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder
7. Flowers – Bum, Bust and Belly – Paul Tomkinson
8. One Day I’ll Be A Famous Actress – Motley Driftwood (Paul Tomkinson)
9. Saturn  – Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder
10. Send In The Clowns – Judy Collins

My eight weeks at Phoenix 98FM have been amazing. When I was offered the chance, I was also contemplating the number of hours I would be out canvassing for my election on 1 May, but as my sister said – this was an opportunity not to be missed.

And so it proved to be.

Not only has the broadcasting been great fun but – just as importantly to me – the people at Phoenix are beyond a joy to work with. Despite being less than a year old, they already have an identity that is so special. Everyone is supportive of each other’s efforts and I don’t think that I have ever been so warmly welcomed across the board as by these guys and girls.

Thank you. I do hope I lived up t o your expectations.

And the wonderful thing about the guys at Phoenix – especially Steve Mead, Station Manager (who will probably kill me for this!) - is that they don’t realise just how great they are  : and that is an asset that they must hold on to.

And you, the listeners must never forget how unique Phoenix is and that, after many years battling to get them on air full time, it is a service we must never let slip away.

I do hope to be back on Phoenix again sometime soon.

Article by Mark Reed, 5 Mar 2008
Posted in Wander Through The Arts

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