MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER

It’s the first of the month, so it’s time for another Phoenix FM newsletter!  Here’s a look back on our programmes and interviews over the last month and a look forward to what’s coming up on the airwaves.

PHOENIX FM IS FINALLY COMING TO DAB (really)

Regular newsletter readers will know that we’ve been promising a launch of DAB.  It’s still happening but we’re still stuck in a legal maze with our new transmitter sites.  We’re hoping to launch in Southend in May and in Brentwood, Romford, Dagenham and Ilford in June or July, bringing in maybe 1.2 million new terrestrial listeners to the station.

INTERVIEWS

You may have missed some great interviews in February with local people, groups, charities and businesses …

Susan Spencer, Legacies Manager at Saint Francis Hospice came in to talk about how listeners can help the hospice.

Phoenix FM continues its regular mental health features on air with interviews with both Dominic Fenton and Philip Wharam, talking about men’s mental health, and Tracey Johnson of Vita Health Group, NHS Talking Therapies and Tammy Stone came in to talk to Michelle Ward about long term mental health conditions.  And Kamal Magecha from Guided Learning came in once again to talk about children’s mental health.

Jane Granby fom Billericay Operatic Society came in to talk about their production of The Wedding Singer.

Bob Simpson pays tribute to our long-standing listener Daphne Norris who recently passed away.

Liesbeth Newman from the Marillac Neurological Care Centre visited Mike Porter to talk about their latest fundraising.

Local celebrant Neil Patrick came in to talk on air about his business as part of our regular feature with Essex Business Partnerships.

Anver Anderson and Karla Marie from Pantaloons came in to talk about their production of Pinoccho.

Fitness coach Veronica Wilde came in to talk about fitness, health – and training with Mark Wahlberg.

Aviator Peter Hewitt came in to talk about his fascinating life story.

Jane Eve Horgan from Virtual Assistant Whiz visited the studio to talk about her work.

Patrick Sherring had a great selection of local people in on his Friday One 2 Three show, including racial justice advocate Nick Pucenot, Sam Brazier-Gibbs from Blackmore and Stondon Massey churches, Christian student Mike Baker and Katie Partridge, Colin Taylor, Allison Winfield and Natacha Dudley from Ongar’s Mulberry Writers.

Margaret Mills’ regular history slot with Scott Ross brought up some interesting features this month, including Squire Christopher Tower of Brentwood, Essex cartographers John Walker Snr and Jnr, Lord Rayleigh and folklorist Enid Porter.

Mike Davies from Rayleigh Town Museum also came in to talk about the coming of the railway in Essex.

Mark Searby came in for his regular film and DVD round up with Spencer Carter.

And don’t forget … Brentwood Foodbank still needs your support.  You can find out the latest news and what’s needed here.

MUSIC

We also interviewed some great singers and bands in February.

Chart-topping soul singer Gabrielle chatted to Mike Porter about her new tour.

Andy Gardener featured singer/songwriters Toby Lee and Cora Rebel on his Monday evening show.

Alex Boucher from 3½ minutes chatted to Jo Bailey about what it was like to be in a band in the 90s.

Michelle Ward chatted to cult singer Helen McCookerybook, Paolo Morena, Katanak, Nia Nicholls, Philippine duo The Thinkers, Amity, and The Jive Aces.

Ex-Damned guitarist Roman Jugg has been interviewing many local musicians and punk legends on his new show Truly Electric Camembert, including Marina Moore, Ell South, David Woodcock and Sean McLoughlin.

Nick Field spoke to Nick Cody, and Chelmsford band Kill Bosco.

Madeline Christy has been working hard on The Nightshift again this month; along with some great music you can hear her chatting to a number of country stars, including Regan Stewart, Pip Marsh, Louise Connor and Zoe Unsworth.

Kev Piggott runs Phoenix FM’s weekly Open Mic Night at The Essex Arms in Brentwood every Monday from 8pm, and plays out the best of the performances from local unsigned artists on his Sunday Sessions show.  This month saw new performances broadcast from some fantastic local performers – Annabel Claridge, Callum Wood, Carmen Mitchell, Claudia Mack, Diego Andrade, Finn Sexton, Grace Brazier, Gracie Mae, Hannah-Mae Duggan, Jane Oakman, Joseph Harrington, Joshua Lord, Katie Todd, Katie Todd (and her dad Gordon), Kiesha Mwase, Lewis Roche, Lexi Marshall, Phoebe Salas, Phoebe Salax, Richard Barker, Robbie Bunsell, Robbie Williams, Sam Castell-Ward and Scott Wood.

SPORT

John Chubb continues to cover grass roots sport as host of both the Saturday Sport show and our mid-week Non League Show.

Lee Vehit, the Isthmian League’s EDI Director, came in to talk to Jo Bailey about Football v Homophobia.

Daren Mootoo’s popular cricket show 98 Not Out is on every Thursday.  This month’s guests included former England cricketers Tymal Mills and Ricky Ellcock and Derbyshire stalwart David Griffin.

Andy Gilson hosts our weekly Orient Hour with a rotating panel of fans running through the latest Leyton Orient news, matches and rumours.  Guests this month included Orient midfielder Ethan Galbraith.

Jaden Christy reports back from Leyton Orient’s games against Stockport County, Lincoln City and Wrexham, and Alex Stripe covers the recent Os fixture with Mansfield Town.

BOOK NEWS

Essex author Michael Robb came in to talk about his new book, Shelf Life.

Emma Marns’ Wednesday Words & Music talks about books from George Plimpton and H G Bissinger.

PODCASTS

There are only so many hours in the day – but that doesn’t mean we can’t cram in more programmes! We also have podcasts which are produced regularly:

Rising Stars is a regular weekly podcast highlighting unsigned artists from around the world across every genre possible.

Made In Essex is a regular business podcast celebrating Essex entrepreneurship, presented by Jill Willis, co-founder at Attract & Engage, author and communications strategist. This month Jill chats to Andy Thorne from Kestrel Group.

We also host QFM – the occasional show made by the children of Quilters Junior School in Billericay.  The most recent edition is now online here.

COMING UP IN MARCH

We’ve already got some great guests lined up for the next month and beyond.  You can see our full and ever-changing list here.

SO WHAT’S ON AIR?

On daytimes you can hear Mike Porter, Michelle Ward and Jo Bailey five days a week with local news, information, features and great music – lunchtimes are shared between Scott Ross (Mon/Tue), Bob Simpson (Wed), Roy Tyzack (Thu) and Patrick Sherring (Fri). Weekend breakfast is covered by Antonia Jones and Richard Connolly.

Evenings and weekends are also the home of our many specialist music shows including Synth City with Rob Harvey, Under The Radar with Andy Gardener, Resurrection with Paul Golder, The Show That Goes Like This with Ben Simmons, Reggae Revival with Daren Mootoo, Truly Electric Camembert with Roman Jugg, Curveballs with Nick Field, The Golden Years with Andy Gilson, The Bliss Disciples with Daniel Gregory, The Weekend Wind-Up with Spencer Carter, TFI 90s with Chris Stagg, The Nightshift with Madeline Christy, Geezers Pleasers and Cheesers with Mandy Cullen, Boogie Nights with Andy Furneaux, Classic Phoenix with Steve Robertson, The Sunday Sessions with Kev Piggott, Sunday Lunch with Tony Smith, Vicki Michelle’s Music Mix, GR80s with Xanthe Bearman, Wednesday Words & Music with Emma Marns, The Midlife Mixup with Michelle Spencer, Good For The Soul with Beth Linnell and Living For The Weekend with Ian Cash.

None of the shows on Phoenix FM are “syndicated” – every single hour is created and produced exclusively for Phoenix FM by local people passionate about music and their community.

You can see our full schedule here.

IN THE PAPERS

Phoenix FM has had a regular page in the Brentwood Gazette since 2013 – you can see our recent columns here.

A BIG THANK YOU TO …

Phoenix FM is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to maintain a full-featured community radio station for Brentwood, Billericay and surrounding areas. Any money we raise goes straight back in the pot to broadcast more programmes on FM and online.

So we’d like to say a big thank you to our existing supporters and partners:

Anytime Fitness, Attract & Engage, Brandler Galleries, Brentwood Golf Club, Brentwood Spanish School, Brentwood Town FC, Essex Business Partnerships, Essex Community Tree Network, Foxtel, Guided Learning, Heralds Way Dental Clinic, Herongate Dental, Holiday Inn Brentwood, Layalina, Malina Patisserie, The Mortgage Specialists, Pinney Talfourd, Saint Francis Hospice, Shepherd Neame, The Family Parks Group, Virtual Assistant Whiz and You & I Care.

FEEDBACK

Is there anything you would like to see in a future newsletter? Email us straight back!

See you on 98FM and https://www.phoenixfm.com!

Thanks for reading and listening

The Phoenix FM team

Phoenix FM – 117,500 hours on air and counting