Peter Stewart

In the early days of my career, and specifically in this neck of the woods, an election count at Donnings interviewing Joanna Lumley at the opening of the Belfry, for example. It was really great to be on the radio station for where I lived. Now, I wasn't actually employed at Radio Mercury when it started. I was still at school.

In the early days of my career, and specifically in this neck of the woods, an election count at Donnings interviewing Joanna Lumley at the opening of the Belfry, for example. It was really great to be on the radio station for where I lived. Now, I wasn't actually employed at Radio Mercury when it started. I was still at school.

But I always had an interest in journalism and radio, and my work experience was on the local newspaper. And I managed to persuade the editor that the opening of the new radio station was something that I should go along and cover. So it was that... Forty years ago this weekend, on October the 20th, 1984, my mum drove me down to the studios at Broadfield House. I was too young to drive myself.

But I always had an interest in journalism and radio, and my work experience was on the local newspaper. And I managed to persuade the editor that the opening of the new radio station was something that I should go along and cover. So it was that... Forty years ago this weekend, on October the 20th, 1984, my mum drove me down to the studios at Broadfield House. I was too young to drive myself.

And I'd been invited there to be part of the opening celebrations of Radio Mercury.

And I'd been invited there to be part of the opening celebrations of Radio Mercury.

Good morning. It's 8 o'clock. for the very first time is Radio Mercury. And I'm Ed Stewart, welcoming you to the very first transmission of the 48th station in the independent local radio network where we're broadcasting on 103.6 FM stereo and 197 metres medium wave, that's 1521 kHz. From now on, every day, music, news, entertainment and information.

Good morning. It's 8 o'clock. for the very first time is Radio Mercury. And I'm Ed Stewart, welcoming you to the very first transmission of the 48th station in the independent local radio network where we're broadcasting on 103.6 FM stereo and 197 metres medium wave, that's 1521 kHz. From now on, every day, music, news, entertainment and information.

And if you're wondering, yes, they did later on change their frequency to 102.7 And isn't it strange how Ed said stereo? Anyway, you can imagine my thrill when, a few years later, I got to go back and actually work at the radio station, alongside some names that you may recall if you listened in all those years ago. Tony Myatt, John Scragg, Andrew Marshall, Peter Young...

And if you're wondering, yes, they did later on change their frequency to 102.7 And isn't it strange how Ed said stereo? Anyway, you can imagine my thrill when, a few years later, I got to go back and actually work at the radio station, alongside some names that you may recall if you listened in all those years ago. Tony Myatt, John Scragg, Andrew Marshall, Peter Young...

Russell Pocket, unusual name, Jeff Aspel, yes, Michael's brother, Linda Bond, who had been working previously at Bristow's, the aerodrome, and a very young Pat Sharp, who went to Capital and Hart stations. Chris Oxlade was a presenter at Radio Mercury. He's now a West Sussex County Councillor for Crawley. Ironically, I read my first live radio bulletin into the show of Ed Stupot-Stewart.

Russell Pocket, unusual name, Jeff Aspel, yes, Michael's brother, Linda Bond, who had been working previously at Bristow's, the aerodrome, and a very young Pat Sharp, who went to Capital and Hart stations. Chris Oxlade was a presenter at Radio Mercury. He's now a West Sussex County Councillor for Crawley. Ironically, I read my first live radio bulletin into the show of Ed Stupot-Stewart.

No relation. I met some of my best friends at that radio station, presenter Martin Blunt, for example, and Judith Falcon, who, like me, read the news and presented the evening news show, The South Tonight. And Judith is the person who does the announcements for this podcast. Here she was back then.

No relation. I met some of my best friends at that radio station, presenter Martin Blunt, for example, and Judith Falcon, who, like me, read the news and presented the evening news show, The South Tonight. And Judith is the person who does the announcements for this podcast. Here she was back then.

And here she is today. This is the Planet Reigate podcast.

And here she is today. This is the Planet Reigate podcast.

Another presenter, Danny Pike, met the producer of my afternoon show, Jane, at Radio Mercury. And I'm a hugely proud godfather to their two wonderful daughters. Now, back in the 1980s, there weren't many radio stations. Yeah, there were the national networks, Capital from London. And, of course, there wasn't DAB and internet stations. And Radio Mercury was a much-loved sound across the area.

Another presenter, Danny Pike, met the producer of my afternoon show, Jane, at Radio Mercury. And I'm a hugely proud godfather to their two wonderful daughters. Now, back in the 1980s, there weren't many radio stations. Yeah, there were the national networks, Capital from London. And, of course, there wasn't DAB and internet stations. And Radio Mercury was a much-loved sound across the area.

As we used to say, not from London, not from the coast, but from the heart of the South. And that's probably why, back in the day, around 40% of people in the Reigate and Crawley area would listen to Radio Mercury. Maybe you did.

As we used to say, not from London, not from the coast, but from the heart of the South. And that's probably why, back in the day, around 40% of people in the Reigate and Crawley area would listen to Radio Mercury. Maybe you did.