Cover star, Titus Charles, talks music

Andrew Leary and Dave

Whilis discuss who has the

best dress sense

The Angel of Metal thinks everyone should get ready to rock

Plus all new Back Page Poetry

Spring 2011 issue

Page 2: From Leyland to Fox Street:

Page 3: The Angel of Metal says ‘Keep it Loud’

Page 5: Presenter Vs Presenter featuring Dave Whilis and Andrew Leary

Page 7: Q&A with DJ and music producer, Titus Charles

Page 8: Joyce Morris and Sylvia Hills talk Older People Speak Out

On the Back Page: Back Page Poetry proudly presenting two talented Preston FM poets

ContentsHello and welcome to the brand spanking new issue of the Your Preston FM magazine.

It’s been a while but the magazine is back in business after a long and somewhat healthy rest. And, it’s been reformatted for 2011. Gone are the printing costs, random colour pages and the glossiness. Hello to full colour, a shiny PDF format and more regular editions. Of course printed copies will be offered to anyone without computer access. So what’s inside this issue? Well, you’ll find Dave Whillis and Andrew Leary battling it out in Presenter Vs Presenter; the Angel of Metal wants everyone to keep it loud; Joyce Morris and Sylvia Hills speak out for older people. Flick to the back and you’ll discover back page poetry featuring the work of Terry Quinn and Alex Ashworth. Don’t forget that you can get regular updates on the project though our website www.preston.fm. If you’re reading this and aren’t a volunteer, then why not join us. Check out how on the website, give us a ring or drop in and speak to a member of staff. If you would like to submit short stories, poems, songs, cartoons/artwork or a letter to be included in the magazine then drop Kez a line on kez@prescap.co.uk or give her a ring on 01772 880791.

We hope you enjoy this issue

The Preston FM team

1

New Year, New LookIt’s not just the magazine that has a shiny new look. You may have noticed that Your Prescap has undergone a complete rebrand with new logos, the appearance of Ribble and the all new website. Ribble is Your Prescap’s busybody so as well as appearing on the logo you may just see it out and about causing havoc.

The all new Preston FM logo

The new look Prescap logo

The Arts Team are tickled pink

The business arm of Prescap

Preston FM is a Prescap Ltd community radio station Company No. 2117850 Registered Charity No: 1046936

2

We visted tour six venues:-The Roccoco Community Cafe in Leyland -Intact Community Centre on Whitby Avenue -Brite Futures Children’s Centre in Ribbleton -The Discovery Centre in Garstang -Preston College, Moor Park Avenue -St George’s Shopping Centre

143 of our regular volunteers took part in the tour and travelled from venue to venue never knowing what to expect.

356 people previously unconnected to Preston FM visited us while we were on tour – either as guests interviewed on-air, as workshop participants or just for a look around. This included at least 64 different statutory and community organisations connected with the areas visited, who took part in programmes.

Phew, What A Year!This time last year the radio project was busy preparing for our 12 week summer tour travelling around the area. At the same time, the powers that be over at Your Prescap’s HQ were working on plans for our new building on Fox Street. The tour was fantastic and we’d like to say a huge thank you to all the venues that hosted us, the local communites, and the volunteers involved. You can see our tour video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSEsBqJQuoU

The kids at Ingol were very animated.

Tour

Sta

ts:

Your Preston FM moved into Fox Street in October and undertook a mini tour of the school as the building work went on around us. Above is the first tempory office, in what is now the staff kitchen. The studios were just along the corridor.

We then moved the studios and office downstairs to the old kitchen which lacked heating. Everyone froze and volunteers bravely shivered through their shows with a smile on their face. The studios were nicknamed the toilet.

This

is w

hat t

he

stud

io a

rea

look

ed

like

befo

re it

s tra

nsfo

rmat

ion.The rest of Your Prescap moved in just before

Christmas and the radio project left the arctic kitchen. On the 17th February Prescap’s Arts and Media Centre was launched and Ribble danced with joy. It’s safe to say that we all love the new building!

3

Hi Vicky, so what brought the Angel of Metal to Your Preston FM? Hi. I saw an opportunity to join Your Preston FM at Runshaw college where I was studying Media some three years ago now. It seemed the ideal way to combine my passion for rock/metal whilst learning new skills. I was attracted by the local aspect and opportunity to be involved in a studioenvironment. It also complimented my website www.angelofmetal.com as the two overlap. I already had an interest in radio, having done a spot on college radio.

Where did the name come from? Funnily enough I have been using it a long time. I actually wanted Angel Of Music on Myspace when I was about 14, as I am also a musical theatre nut and had been to London to see Phantom Of The Opera but that was already taken. Angel Of Metal Music seemed to be the next best thing. For my website, I cut it down to Angel Of Metal which I thought was more catchy and less of a mouthful. I had no idea at the time what it would turn into.

Has has the project benefited you in any way?Being involved with Your

For Those About To Rock!

Preston FM has helped me by gaining experience in stu-dio etiquette and meeting not only industry professionals but other volunteers at the station who I wouldn’t usually meet. It has opened up interview opportunities with bands from record labels such as Roadrunner and given me an insight into community radio.

You’ve progressed from having an excellent show to being a Volunteer Studio Manager.Thank you, I have strived to develop the KiLr Show since I first started. The extra responsibility has made me feel very much part of the team

and I take the commitment very seriously. All the members of staff are really friendly and helpful with a fantastic ‘can do’ attitude. I enjoy being a studio manager as you are constantly learning new things and over-coming problems.

Has the project helped your confidence? I do have a tendency to sit back and suss things out at first. In terms of confidence, I have been involved in amateur theatrics since I was 7 and I consider that has mainly been my biggest confidence builder. I have really enjoyed playing the part of some principal characters but Angel Of Metal

We caught up with the Angel of Metal aka Vicky Bradley and quizzed her on all things metal.

4

is very demanding on my time and I have had to drop my involvement there. The diversity of Your Preston FM has helped me to deal with different types of people. The longer you are there, the more familiar you become and the easier it gets.

Your show is packed with content, how much time does it take?Actually it is a lot of hard work and not always as glamorous as it might seem at first, but still very rewarding. Proposing and confirming all parties are aware of the interview, what is going to happen and when, researching the artist, checking the songs for content regarding Ofcom regulations, show prep, reporting play lists and coping with the ever changing challenges of live radio certainly keeps you on your toes!

You have some amazing guests on the show. Are they easy to get hold of?It depends on the artist and what level they are at. You need to go through the correct channels i.e. record labels, publicists etc. Sometimes I don’t get to speak to the artist until the day of the live show! I spend a great deal of time looking at who has a tour or album in the pipeline. As time has gone on, publicists and bands now tend to contact me. Why Heavy Metal?Initially I grew up listening to my parents’ favourite styles of music from the late 70s/80s. I was really struck by the at-mosphere at gigs and sense of community especially at festivals; it’s a real buzz! In

the words of Saxon…it sets the spirit free. It’s a way of life, of mutual understanding and heck too many clichés now!

What makes a good band? I think it is a combination of everything. It’s great having a strong image but you have to have the music to back it up. There are many great bands who are just as good as their contemporaries yet never quite make the big time. It’s important to have that signature sound.

Have you ever considered managing a band? I was approached to act as the UK publicist for American hard rock band Hydrogyn. They were actually the first band I ever interviewed in 2007. I also manage two bands. The first is a thrash band from Peterborough called The More I See which features guitarist Gizz Butt (Sabbat / ex-Prodigy). The other is local alternative rock band Population Four.

You’ve been involved in the music industry for a few years. How did it start?I organised a few local gigs (people thought I was much older). I got involved with promoting internet radio when I was 14 and was later invited to be a DJ on Hard Rock Radio Live where I still am to this day, along with Your Preston FM. I am also involved with Bloodstock festival and Simon Hall approached me in the initial stages of setting up Bloodstock Radio as well as being involved with The Metal To The Masses competition. This is a fantastic opportunity

for breakthrough acts to play at Bloodstock, with the added possibility of the overall winner playing high profile European festivals at Wacken in Germany and Metalcamp in Slovenia. Bloodstock was my first major festival experience and continues to be one of the highlights of my year. I made some main stage announcements back in 2009 which was a real buzz looking out on a sea of people. I set up the original Transcend Records and Wolf street teams. I was a torch bearer for the Hellfire Festival which took place at the NEC in Birmingham.

How was the 12 Weeks of Summer for You?It was a great opportunity to cast the net further into surrounding areas. Whilst challenging at times in terms of new studio set up every two weeks, it was excellent in raising the profile of Your Preston FM.

Is your new radio home Rock ‘n’ Roll enough?Your Preston FM can only go from strength to strength. The Arts and Media Centre is not only rock ‘n’ roll but it’s metal, jazz, pop, drum n bass, sport, country, current affairs, students’ views, arts and most importantly community.

Here are my linkscome over and say hi!www.angelofmetal.comwww.facebook.com/ange-lofmetalwww.twitter.com/angelofmetal

I’d like to thank Your Preston FM for everything. Keep It Loud!

Presenter V PresenterTake two unsuspecting presenters, lock them in separate rooms and present them with identical sets of questions about each other. They can’t confer and their screams of ‘help, this is unfair, everyone knows I have the best hair’ go unheard, well for about five minutes anyway. For this issue two fun loving, happy go lucky presenters were picked; Dave Whillis and Andrew Leary.

Dave:Q1: How and why did you get involved in Your Preston FM?Initially I got roped into it. I was a last minute replacement on Andrew’s first ever show, he‘d been let down by somebody (I‘ve still not forgiven him for not asking me in the first place). I said I wasn’t working that afternoon, so I’d come and help him out as a guest host. I loved it so did the course myself and haven’t looked back since.

Q2: Has it been an exciting experience so far?Every minute I’ve been involved with Your Preston FM I’ve loved it.

Q3: Describe your show in five words?Cheesy, informative, quirky, spontaneous, entertaining!!!

Q4: Which of you has the worst taste in music and why?Andrew has definitely got the worse taste in music. If he doesn’t like it it’s ‘rubbish’, or words to that effect. I am way more cultured and can listen to anything without judging it - initially. In fact looking at that response it seems may have the worse taste.

Q5: If the world was to end tomorrow what is the last track Dave wouid play?Probably something by U2.

Q6: How was the 12 weeks of Summer for you?I thoroughly enjoyed the 12 weeks of summer. Garstang was a lovely place to visit. So much so, I’ve been back the the worlds ‘First Fairtrade Town’ twice since. Lovely. It was good to get out and about, and spread the word of Your Preston FM.

Q7: Did you get the opportunity to act like a badly behaved rock star on tour?I wouldn’t quite say badly behaved, although when we were at Preston College on Moor Park, our studio had a drum set in it. Safe to say I was like a kid at Christmas, and whenever a song was being played, I was smashing it on the drums, made all the better as Mr Leary was hungover!

Q8: Describe yours and Dave’s worst habits?I believe Lears would say mine is my ability to leave things to the last minute, or the fact that I can be slightly hyperactive, this has elements of truth about it. His worst habit without a doubt is this silly noise he makes quite a lot, it’s hard to describe, it resembles slightly Hannibal Lector hissing noise, but with an intake of breath, mixed in with saliva. You really have to hear it to believe it.

Q9: Out of the two of you, who has the worst dress sense?I like to think my dress sense is quite cool, so I’d have to say Lears is worse. He’s colour blind, which shouldn’t affect his taste, but sadly does. He wears a lot of red and green clothes. He sometimes looks a bit like an elf as a result. He also has a load of t-shirts that have cartoons on them, he’s a massive TMNT (turtles) fan and wears them quite a lot.5

Presenter V PresenterTake two unsuspecting presenters, lock them in separate rooms and present them with identical sets of questions about each other. They can’t confer and their screams of ‘help, this is unfair, everyone knows I have the best hair’ go unheard, well for about five minutes anyway. For this issue two fun loving, happy go lucky presenters were picked; Dave Whillis and Andrew Leary.

Q10. Batman or Spiderman?Batman - he flies.

Andrew:Q1: How and why did you get involved in Your Preston FM?To further my media career…hmm

Q2: Has it been an exciting experience so far?Of course, there is never a dull moment at Your Preston FM! Will the equipment work? Will Dave arrive on time?

Q3: Describe your show in five words?Best Show on Your Preston FM*

Q4: Which of you has the worst taste in music and why?Dave, but he only has about 4 CDs

Q5: If the world was to end tomorrow what’s the last track Dave wouid play?Bye Bye Bye by N*Sync

Q6: How was the 12 weeks of Summer for you?Chaotic, but that’s the Your Preston FM way, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Visiting the different locations was interesting, getting out and about spreading the word and meeting new people. The Your Preston FM staff and crew really worked their socks off to make it asuccess.

Q7: Did you get the opportunity to act like a badly behaved rock star on tour?“What happens on tour stays on tour…”

Q8: Describe yours and Dave’s worst habits?Dave is always late and very secretive whereas I am always too early and tell way too much!

Q9: Out of the two of you, who has the worst dress sense?Dave, too much sports wear, I think he wore a shirt once but even that had a PNE badge on it! I do have a thing for wearing red though …

Q11. Batman or Spiderman?Spider-man just edges it because of the classic cartoons, but this was a hard question! Plus I don’t think I will be seeing my DVD of Batman Begins ever again, Dave only borrowed it about a year ago…

*We are biased though!

6

Meet Superstar DJ, Titus Charles

7

The ever smiling Titus Charles took time out of his busy day for a quick Q&A

know your crowd, what music they like and always be ready to please.

Q: Do you use vinyl or have you gone technical with your DJ set up?

A: Vinyls are old school. I’m not yet fully technical but I’m down with CDJ’s

Q: I understand you run DJ workshops. How long have you been doing those?

A: Well what I do is music workshops covering diffrent sides of the music, and I’ve been doing that for 3 years now.

Q: Why do enjoy about teaching people DJ skills?

A: To be honest, it makes me feel better, it’s always good to help young people develop themselves

Q: Do you have plans to have a full time career in music?

A: Yes, music is me and will always be a part of my life. I am a rapper, a DJ, I do music workshops and I’ve got my own records ‘Skull City Records’.

Q: What would you say is the best thing about community radio?

A: Well its a good outlet for people in the community. No matter who you are, if you’re into music, you can learn and develop skills.

Email triftytbone@gmail.com or follow him on www.twitter.com/boneyblack

Q: You’ve been involved in Your Preston FM for just over four years, what attracted you?

A: I thought it would be a good way to get more involved in the community.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being involved in Your Preston FM?

A: Being able to do my radio show and receiving positive feedback.

Q: What would you say is the greatest skill you’ve learnt from being involved in community radio?

A: Radio Production and being able to put together a show that will appeal to everyone.

Q: One thing we’ve noticed is that you are always smiling, have you found the secret to happiness?

A: What can I say, I’m a smiler.

Q: Tell us about your radio show.

A: My radio show is called ‘The Boney Black show’ and it’s a mix of hot music and interviews from local to UK to International artists. I enjoy doing it very much. And it’s been receiving good feedback.

Q: It’s very obvious you have a huge passion for music, where did that come from?

A: I have grown up around music and have always had a huge passion for it.

Q: You produce your own

music. How did you get into the production side of things?

A: I got into music production, because at the time it was hard to get a producer in Preston to work with, so I did it myself. I’ve also work with other producers on my EP, ‘Save The World’.

Q: What do you find attractive about music production?

A: For me music production is part of being an artist, for instance you need to know how to bring the music and lyrics together to make a hot track.

Q: Do you have a favourite music genre?

A: I enjoy every genre of music, but I like Hip Hop the most. I feel its a good way for artist to express their views.

Q: You’re also a DJ. How long have you been doing that?

A: I’ve been a DJ for about 5 years now, it goes hand in hand with my music

Q: What’s been you favourite gig to date?

A: Well, as a rapper my favourite gig will have to be my performance at Leeds and Reading festivals. As a DJ I’m fighting between Preston Carnival and a private gig in Cheshire for a well know Manchester United player.

Q: What would you say are the most essential skills needed to be a good DJ?

A: As a good DJ you should 8

Just over two and half years ago two people, both connected with Your Preston FM in different ways, met during a computer course at Lancashire

College. When one of them brought up the Your Preston FM website a conversation began and sparked an idea for a programme that two and a half years later is still going strong. They are Joyce Morris and Sylvia Hills, the champions of Older People Speak Out. Joyce was very familiar with the radio project in her role as a Your Prescap Trustee and Sylvia has been involved since the start of the project in 2005. But it wasn’t until 2008 that they finally met each other. ‘I’d been looking for a new programme idea for some time and Joyce mentioned that there should be more radio programmes for older people.’ says Sylvia. ‘We hit it off immediately and I knew it would be a

brilliant idea to work on a programme aimed especially at older people. With Joyce’s experience in creative arts for older people and my radio knowledge I felt we would make a good team.’ One lunch meeting, and a bit of planning later, Older People Speak Out was born and they both feel that it’s extremely important to have a show dedicated to people over 50. When asked why Joyce’s reply was instant, ‘We must not create ghettos for the old or the young. We must all be absorbed into the community.’ In the past Joyce worked on hospital radio and felt that everything was geared towards young people with aspirations to work on Radio 1. So whilst there, Joyce decided to appeal to a different audience and devised a programme for older people, which she describes as ‘a desert island disc programme’. Older People Speak Out couldn’t be more different. ‘Sylvia and I try to spread lots of information on all sorts

of subjects and make everything accessible to older people. I hope that lots of people listen to us and get something out of it and that they know it’s a two way programme. They can email in, write in or phone in if they want’ says Joyce. Sylvia feels the same, ‘I think the programme works well at communicating messages to all ages. The older people range can be from around 50’s to 90’s and onwards. I can input from the younger older person’s view and Joyce can input from the older, older person’s view. Although I have to say that we get on so well that we never notice the 25 years between us!’ Over the past couple of years the show has grown and now includes regular features including finance and, more recently, gardening. It’s a great listening experience and its appeal goes beyond the targeted age group. Sylvia thinks this is a good thing, ‘Everyone has a mother, 9

WHEN

SYLVIA

MET

JOYCE

grandmother, older relation or friend that they can pass the information to, or maybe gain a better understanding of the issues that affect them. After all, we will all become older people!’ Both Joyce and Sylvia would love to see community radio stations in general dedicate a percentage of their airtime to older people’s interests. ‘It would be interesting to find out how many do. I mean, I’d like to see Your Preston FM win an award because of our work with older people, because it’s innovative’ states Joyce. This begs the question whether Your Preston FM could do a lot more to involve older people. Joyce says yes but thinks it has to be done organically, ‘It’s not to be imposed on either the station or the listeners. It’s got to be managed hasn’t it? That’s all I can say’ says Joyce. ‘If we get more of a response from the community telling us what we’re doing right or wrong then perhaps we can expand, but I think it’s got to be organic rather than imposed’. For Joyce and Sylvia the organic approach involves making the programme more interactive so older people become directly involved with it. ‘Older People Speak Out has been a learning curve for both of us and is developing each month. We are trying to cover as many aspects as possible including finance, health, entertainment, arts, education, community and hot topical issues. But most of all we would like the programme to be led by what the listeners want. We’re really keen to report on issues that

the listeners want to hear about and are looking at ways to interact more with listeners in future broadcasts’ explains Sylvia. ‘It’s difficult at the moment because, as Joyce says, it has to grow organically, so we need to be patient.’ Encouraging an older age group is something the project is extremely keen on but how do they feel Your Preston FM can do this successfully? ‘Well with regards to putting programmes out, the last scheme worked wonderfully didn’t it, training older people,’ says Joyce in reference to a dedicated training course for older people run by Your Preston FM over a year ago. A course that Sylvia was involved in delivering. ‘It was a privilege to have the opportunity to be involved in the training course, especially as it came from an idea I put forward to the Steering Group meeting. We noticed the statistics were showing fewer women and fewer older people when looking a the demographics of volunteers involved with Your Preston FM. In an effort to change that, it was suggested doing some female only sessions and a training session aimed at the over 50’s. I’m proud to say that we had 100% achievement on the over 50’s course.’ Joyce is highly supportive of this move and feels that it brings older people into the community on a more even level. ‘When it comes to creating a session for training older people, it’s already safe. We are all sharing the same problems. Your fingers won’t work properly, or you forget

what was said last week, and you might have to write a lot more down. ‘But once you’re able to do it, you can take your place on the station and feel competent and innovative, because we do have a lot of ideas, having lived so long, and the station encourages that’ says Joyce. What makes Older People Speak Out such an impressive show is the passion behind it. Joyce and Sylvia care deeply about being in a position to use radio to include the older age group. It’s not about campaigning on behalf of older people; it’s for older people. Two and a half years later that passion is stronger than ever and they are really glad to be in this together. ‘Well’ says Joyce, ‘I should have said this at the beginning, thank god Sylvia can do the techie bits and the speaking; I only want to do the speaking, I’ve done a bit of technical work before and it’s not for me. I mean, it’s certainly not for me now I’m older because I can easily get into a flat spin. I can cope with anything domestic and I’ve even coped with a computer since turning fifty. ‘No, I’m happy. Our personalities go well together don’t they?’ They do and Sylvia is just as happy, ‘I love working with Joyce and have learnt so much from her during our time together. She has so much knowledge and experience and I’m proud to say that we are not just co-presenters, we have become close friends, and it’s all thanks to Your Preston FM.’ Older People Speak Out, a unique show created by two friends.

10

Preston FMby

Terry Quinn

For a live broadcastbe on time,

be prepared,don’t upset the manager,

don’t bring a script,lock the door,

studio two,turn down the light,check the levels,

get the nod,you’re on your own

and you’re on.Sixty minutes

where what you areis what they want,happy in the dark,

watching the needlesflick silently

to the sound of a voice,my voice,

across the table,children playing,part of the family.I’m another matein a student flat.I’m hitching a lift

in a neighbour’s car,filling the space.

What more do I need,my black box is a city,I’m touching people87.9 million times a

second.It’s enough.

No one, anyone,can cope with more than

that.

The Sum of the Earthby

Alex Ashworth

Momentary feelings of loss overwelm,The clockwork orange is a sign that life ticks, Old man rustles the vintage paper, Shadows of yesteryear set

adrift.

Tapestry patterns mend unwoven mind,The gathered leaves fall around your feet, A sense of belonging centres your heart, The room vibrates with

every beat.

Beacon fires trigger an emotion,The side step to childhood is a firework jaunt,

Memories float like ash, As I recall my youthfull haunt.

Hollow are the trees that fill the pitiful land, An absence in my diary is waiting to be made, Be gone the voice of

fear, Was inscribed upon my grave.

The once clear cloud,Has become a thunder in my eye,

Dramatic storms demonstrate the changing world, In which close relations must wave goodbye.

Wolfs will howl an unearthly bemoan,For the dawn of day is quietly creeping, Prisoners of

alcatraz , Are in the midst of regretful sleeping.

Soldier marches forward with a bayonet in his hand, A representation of an inhumane act, Violence soars into

the 21st century, As disputes over land continues to react.

A rocket awaits for my disposal,My only escape to orbit the moon,

If I should land to late,Then I came too soon.

BACK

PAGE

POETRY

The Who’s Who of Chat City - meet the presenters behind the mic

The Nesta project - Preston’s citizen journalists in action

Next Issue, due out in August:

Mark Howard talks brunch, celebrity guests, and the joy of theatre

And much, much more..

Supported through the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communitites (NLDC) fund in partnership with Lancashire County Council’s Adult Learning Service