Steam Fair FM's regular daily presenters are here.
Patrick hails from West Sussex, and has a lifelong interest in commercial radio, founded in the days of pirate radio in the late 60's. He was a keen campaigner for the introduction of independent radio in the UK, but went on to pursue a career in sales, marketing and management.
In 2003, he co-founded Steam Fair FM with Chris Evans, and took over the full management of the station in 2007. "Planning this broadcast in all its aspects keeps me busy throughout the year" says Patrick, who is a keen music historian, and enjoys researching and playlisting the "Vintage Hits" which form the backbone of the station's output. "We try to combine the popular hits of the 50's to the early 90's with some that are rarely played on other stations, but deserve to be remembered" he says
Off air, Patrick enjoys the countryside and spending time on his narrowboat - named aptly "Wavelength"!
Jon has 17 SFFM broadcasts under his belt, and this year became a partner in the station with Patrick Heeley. He is responsible for all technical aspects as well as getting up with the lark to present the breakfast show every morning. Jon has worked in radio for the majority of his career, qualifying as a Technical Operator for BBC Network Radio in London in the mid 1980s. He has since worked in various roles at several key private companies supplying the radio industry. As well as facilitating, installing and maintaining complete studios, IT networks, FM transmission and internet streaming facilities for events around the UK he is also a specialist engineering trainer for BBC World Service partner staff across Asia and Africa. He also works globally behind the scenes at international cricket series and tournaments providing secure communications as well as audio and video facilities for the match officials.
He enjoys his time on the other side of the microphone and has worked on many FM, RSL, satellite and digital radio stations including EKR, Radio Caroline, Hastings Rock, Battle FM and Radio Airbourne. His passion for great oldies music and a sound knowledge of both vintage and modern technology makes him a great asset to Steam Fair FM.
Jon lives by the sea in East Sussex. In his spare time he enjoys walking, cycling, sailing, tinkering with old Land Rovers and bicycles and collecting vintage transistor radios (which of course are ideal for listening to Steam Fair FM on as long as they cover the ‘VHF’ band).
Philip brings a wealth of reporting and outside broadcast experience from a lifetime career in the media. He says “I have worked all my life in Broadcast Television and Radio. First with BBC TV and Radio, then Southern TV, TVS, Meridian and Channel 4. I enjoy all aspects of broadcast media production and have been involved in many different areas of it from Television and Radio outside broadcasts, to research, editing and presenting.”
Born in London and now living in Ferndown, Dorset, Philip can be heard regularly these days reporting on the popular Verwood-based Forest FM.
He enjoys talking to people and getting to know them, what they do and what makes them tick.
“The Steam fair is always a favourite venue for me. I enjoy the atmosphere, the vibrancy and the multitude of different things to see and do. It’s a great pleasure to be out and about for Steam Fair FM this year - Look out for me with my roving mic- I’d love to talk with you!”
Fondly known by his colleagues as “The Weird Beard on the Wireless”, Tony hails from Kent, and joined the Steam Team in 2009, since when he has presented daily shows and compiled and presented weather bulletins, a daily what's on guide, and assisted in the production of Showground Reports..
During a broadcasting career spanning some 40 years Tony has founded a hospital radio station; made a series of programmes for BBC Local Radio; presented a variety of programmes at stations in Kent, Essex, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire; and currently presents a daily show on SFM 106.9 in Sittingbourne, Kent, as well as producing and presenting a weekly music show which is syndicated to stations in the UK, Spain, Canada and the U.S.
He has expert knowledge of UK music heritage, and states his favourite artists as the Beatles, Beach Boys, Stones, Hollies, Abba, Simon & Garfunkel, 10cc, Cliff, Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Dusty, Lulu, Elkie Brooks, Alison Moyet, and Madonna!
When he's not on the radio Tony likes walking, playing bowls, watching cricket, taking part in pub quizzes and doing sudoku and crossword puzzles.
Another veteran broadcaster with a story to tell, Worcestershire-based John's first radio involvement came with the highly popular radio ship "Radio London" in 1967, where he was initially hired to co-host discos at a Spanish resort as part of a "Holidays with djs" promotion. Here he worked alongside the ship's top djs including Tony Blackburn and Ed Stewart. Government legislation subsequently forced the closure of the station, and John pursued a career managing and owning a chain of nightclubs, before returning to his first love - radio - during the last decade.
John also contributes to editorial output with a special brief reporting on the NTET.
Daniel was born in Vienna, but has lived and worked in Dorset for the past 20 years. He's worked on a number of radio stations over the years, and currently presents various shows on Forest FM in Verwood. During this time, he's covered various local events - everything from the Ellingham show to the Dorset County Show and more recently, the Great Dorset Steam Fair!.
Daniel loves meeting people and talking about their hobbies and interests, and especially enjoys sharing interesting stories on the radio. So if you see Daniel wandering about the showground, be sure to say hello! You might very well end up on the radio!.
He takes a keen interest in steam and heritage, classic and modern cars, and anything to do with technology, history and architecture. He's especially fond of a good book and watching terrible B Movies......
An important man for our advertisers – Chris produces most of the commercials you hear on Steam Fair FM. A radio industry veteran, Chris spent many years as Head of Commercial Production at the Viking Radio group in Hull, and has received many industry awards for his work. In 2013, Patrick Heeley convinced him to join the presentation team, hosting the "Midnight Steam Party" from 10.30pm to the wee small hours
A historian of Offshore Pirate Radio, Chris owns one of the largest collections of 60s pirate radio memorabilia “Flashback 67”, which he has exhibited up and down the country, marking the 50th anniversary of the pirate radio revolution.
Hailing from Chelmsford, Peter grew up listening to the pop pirates in the 60s. As a young teenager he volunteered at Hospital Radio Chelmsford, and while working as a sales rep in the 70s, also gained experience at BBC Radio Medway. With the arrival of commercial radio in the 70s, Peter was snapped up by Suffolk's Radio Orwell, before moving to Pennine Radio in Bradford in 1980 to present the lunchtime show. In 1988 he helped launch Viking Gold from Hull, which expanded into Classic Gold and Great Yorkshire Gold. During the 1990's Peter was heard on Manchester's 1458 Lite AM, its successor Fortune 1458, Warrington's Wire FM, then from Stoke-On-Trent's Big AM to Manchester and Bradford. Full circle!
Peter also works as a Commercial Producer and freelance voice and been heard on hundreds of radio and tv ads.
From before the craze in 1994 and for over 20 years after, he was a major figure in the world of Line Dancing, organising some of the most successful classes in Yorkshire, and travelling throughout England for national events, and with P&O cruises as far as New York on the Oriana.
Now semi retired, Peter still enjoys preparing and presenting radio shows, cooking, walking along local canal towpaths, cycling, and holidaying on narrowboat Solace.
Warwick joined the reporting team at Steam Fair FM in 2019, with special responsibility for traffic reports!
He was introduced to radio as a teenager, when his father was one of the founder members of Hospital Radio in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Warwick joined him to assist in presenting a weekly request show using very basic equipment. Later, studio facilities were improved, and Warwick presented his own programme for many years.
He was appointed as head of outside broadcasts, and was technically responsible for many of these long before the introduction of the internet.
Warwick maintains his keen interest in radio today, be it BBC, Commercial or Community.