Signal Radio

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ON AIR - 5th September 1983

After being granted the licence by the IBA, the real work started to turn a dream into reality. Signal Radio assembled a team of radio professionals. Premises in Stoke Road, Shelton, were transformed into a series of studios and offices.

Originally Signal Radio was just one station on both frequencies 104.3fm Stereo and 257 medium wave, now known as 1170am.

The first jingle package used by the station was made locally at Alfasound in Cheshire. Steve England and Alan Fawkes were two of the leading jingle producers in the UK and they enlisted as lead vocalist Clifford T Ward and to give a powerfull sound a full symphony orchestra was used, but not just any orchestra, it was the world famous Halle Orchestra. They produced a series of instrumental and vocal cuts that gave Signal Radio its first identity. The assocaiation with Alfasound was to last for a number of years, seeing a steady evolution in the stations sound through their jingles.

John Evington was the station first breakfast presenter and later programme director in an association with Signal that was to last for 22 years. It was John who played that first record, Neil Diamond's "Beautiful Noise" to launch the station on 5th Septembr 1983. Chris Moore the then Head of News read the first news buetin on that morning, bringing local news to Staffordshire and Cheshire like never before.

The new presentation team also included local legend
Mel Scholes, who for many years had been associated with
Jolleys caberet club.

Staffordshire born Digby Taylor with assistance from Jules
Bellerby were given the mid morning slot on the station. They
were followed by a pirate radio legend Ray Teret. Known as
'Ugly' Ray Teret. His career had seen him work at Radio
Caroline together with Manchester's Piccadilly Radio, one of
the first commercial stations in the UK.

Some of the days biggst news stories were brought to air
each evening by Richard Howells.

Originally Signal Radio only broadcast for fifteen hours a
day, and extended to 10pm at the weekends. It closedown
overnights just like the BBC and ITV television services.

Signal Radio came to air promising Staffordshire and
Cheshire a lively, refereshing and friendly approach to
local radio.

A station at the heart of the community, proud to serve the
people with a mixture of music, local news, sport and
features. The station also featured some specialist
music programming including local bands and four
nights a week a rock show.

For the stations lauch a commemorative newspaper
was released. It introduced the presenters and news
teams together with features about some of the
backroom staff who the station coudln't do without.

Since Signal Radio's inception, the station has been
at the forefront of events across the area, even having
a RSL (restricted service licence) to broadcast a
unique station from the Garden Festival site. This was
one of the first stions of its kind in the UK to
broadcast from an event of this nature.