JULY 2024 NEWSLETTER
Hello again and welcome to the latest 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.
INTERVIEWS
You may have missed some great interviews in June with local people, groups, charities and businesses …
Mike Porter spoke to Liesbeth Newman from The Marillac Neurological Care Centre about the work they do in our community, and to Colin Barber from the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce about the candidates for this week’s general election.
Mike also spoke to Sharon and Klaire from Saint Francis Hospice about the Therapies Team Open Day, and to gallery owner John Brandler who is looking for help from our community.
Jo Bailey chatted to Sammi-Jo Goldman from Barnardo’s and Larchwood Gardens Family Hub and Aaron Watts, Youth & Community Pastor of Doddinghurst Road Community Church about their new Uniform Bank initiative.
Jo also caught up with Ella Vaday, host of Thurrock Pride.
Patrick Sherring chatted to Essex actors Chris Rew and Rebecca Reynolds about the 100th anniversary of Paycockes House in Coggeshall, and also to Ian and Evie from Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust.
Patrick also spoke to Ingatestone Hall guide Richard Pusey and Tim Lee from Buttsbury church and Mike Power, former actor and now Archdeacon of Southend.
Bob Simpson hosted Francis Quintrell and Wendy Sant who talked about the new Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill.
Mark Searby came in for his regular film and DVD round up with Spencer Carter.
Sally Sykes from Essex Business Partnership visited with EBP members Monica Cooper and Duncan Moore from Let’s Get Out and Steve Chilton from ERB Insurance.
And don’t forget … Brentwood Foodbank 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 June.
Bob Simpson welcomed in Mick Clarke from chart-topping band The Rubettes.
Daisy Veacock came into our Drive show to play live in the studio.
Nick Field chatted to actors, musicians and promoters on his reguilar Curveballs show, including Sofia Gillani, Jack Parr, 035 Promotions & 10 Plagues, Artie O’Daly, Concrete Age, Modes & Destroy The Idols and Reverent Son, Metal2TheMasses, and organisers from the Southend Airport M&B Festival.
Paul Golder caught up with Welsh art rock band HMS Morris after their performance at this year’s Urdd in Meifod, Powys.
Michelle Ward hosted a live session from David Angus and also chatted to local band The Milk and to singer/songwriter James Smith.
Madeline Christy welcomed in a number of country stars to her regular show The Nightshift, including Raintown, Christian Hayes, Rae Isla, Emilia Quinn and Alyssa Bonagura.
Spencer Carter caught up with local band Nyther Silence.
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 – Callum Wood, Dan Stracey, Dawn Milton, Frankie Garrett, Grace Brazier, Gracie Mae, Jane Oakman, Jodie Tarrant, Josh Barber, Katie Savage, Kristian Pomfrett, Richard Barker, Robbie Bunsell and Scott Wood.
BOOK NEWS
Local writers Sylvia Kent and David Worsfold came in to chat on Eat My Brunch’s Book Club. And of course we now have a dedicated show – Wednesday Words & Music – to book news and reviews.
SPORT
John Chubb is the host of our regular Saturday Sport show, bring you the latest news from our grass-roots clubs.
Daren Mootoo’s popular cricket show 98 Not Out is on every Thursday. This month Daren chatted to cricket writers Debbie Knight, The Guardian’s Ali Martin, Race Against The World’s James Mukherjee, former England cricketer Don Topley.
Andy Gilson hosts our weekly Orient Hour with a rotating panel of fans running through the latest Leyton Orient news, matches and rumours. This month guests included former player Scott McGleish,
Steve Linton from Brentwood Town FC came in to talk to Jo Bailey about latest news at the club, including the formation of a new women’s team.
Our regular sports correspondent Jack Patmore is also writing and appearing regularly with news from our local non-league clubs including Brentwood Town, Billericay Town and Southend United.
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.
Mental Health Matters – our regular monthly look at Mental Health issues locally, nationally and globally, in partnership with the Essex Community Tree – is back on Phoenix FM. This month’s podcast deals with coping with anxiety and depression.
Made In Essex is a regular business podcast celebrating Essex entrepreneurship, presented by Jill Willis, co-founder at Attract & Engage, author and communications strategist. In the latest instalment Jill talks to Marc Jones, Business Director of Antobot which is an award-winning start-up providing affordable robotics for sustainable agriculture.
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 JULY
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.
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, Turn It Up with Vic Damhar, The Show That Goes Like This with Ben Simmons, Reggae Revival with Daren Mootoo, Curveballs with Nick Field, The Golden Years with Andy Gilson, The Bliss Disciples with Daniel Gregory, The Weekend Wind-Up with Spencer Carter, 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, Stepping Out with Nigel Fitzmaurice, GR80s with Xanthe Bearman and Wednesday Words & Music with Emma Marns.
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 new supporter Anytime Fitness, and to our existing supporters and partners:
Attract & Engage, Brandler Galleries, Brentwood Golf Club, Brentwood Spanish School, Brentwood Town FC, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, Essex Business Partnerships, Essex Community Tree Network, EV Charging Systems, Foxtel, Guided Learning, Hallmark Care Homes, Heralds Way Dental Clinic, Herongate Dental, Holiday Inn Brentwood, Hutton Spice, JWD Heating & Plumbing, Layalina, Malina Patisserie, The Mortgage Specialists, Not Just Travel, Pinney Talfourd, Players Lounge, Saint Francis Hospice, SEH BAC and Shepherd Neame.
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 – 213,500 hours on air and counting
