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Happy birthday Mansfield 103.2

Posted onPosted on 4th Feb

Radio station Mansfield 103.2 has celebrated its 20th birthday.

The company has been on the airwaves since 1999 and now boasts 20,000 listeners each week.

Station managing director Tony Delahunty has been there since the start, when he was head of news and sport.

Tony, 73, said: “I originally came here for three months, but I stayed and was asked to be news editor.

“Within three months I was the programme controller, and when the manager left I took his place.

“In the early days, the staff were far from local and were soon gone, as they couldn’t understand Mansfield.

“There was so much talent in Mansfield that I hired local people, rather than people from big cities with high incomes who couldn’t understand Mansfield.

“Everything in commercial radio has changed, it doesn’t resemble what it once was.”

As well as presenting, Tony, who has had a long career in broadcasting and reported live from the fire at Bradford City FC in 1985, is a lecturer in broadcast journalism at Derby.

He added: “My favourite part of radio used to be being on it, but now I enjoy the connections with places like the University of Derby.

“But for Mansfield, the people here are as good as you can get.”

Former breakfast show presenter Katie Trinder has also been there from the start.

She was part of Radio Mansfield before it had an official full-time licence, and joined Mansfield 103.2’s newsroom when the station officially launched in 1999.

Katie, 42, originally from Kirkby, still presents a Sunday morning show after leaving the breakfast slot in 2016 to concentrate on her role as marketing director of Dalmatian Systems.

She said: “Local radio is still incredibly important.

“My favourite part of presenting is getting to know listeners, I’ve heard some incredible stories over the years and some listeners have become friends.

“I started at my first ‘proper’ job here in 1999, and I remember being stuck in the newsroom putting stories together on the day we launched.

“It was very exiting, we didn’t know how the station would be received, but other stations didn’t pay attention to Mansfield and Ashfield like they deserved.

“Radio has changed, but I think we will see a return to more personality-based radio — people listen to radio because presenters have such great personalities.”

Another proud local member of the team is programme controller Ian Watkins.

“I’m a Mansfield lad born and bred, and I’m so proud to be a part of the Mansfield 103.2 story,” he said.

“Twenty years is a fantastic landmark for the station, I’d like to thank those that have worked here over the years, our wonderful advertisers and, most importantly, our listeners — you are simply the best.

“I personally think Mansfield and Ashfield is a brilliant place to do business, and definitely a great place to do radio.

“So keep listening and celebrate our birthday, because our success is your success too.”

Ian presents Watko In The Afternoon every weekday between 1pm and 6pm, and a Sunday afternoon show from 1pm to 5pm.