RADIO WINCHCOMBE NEWS
Reports from the Gloucestershire Echo
 
24 October 2006
 WINCHCOMBE ON THE WEB
Radio Winchcombe now has listeners as far away as Australia and the US. The station was launched over the airwaves and the web at the same time this month and aired programmes continuously for two days.
It transmitted simultaneously on 87.7FM and www.radiowinchcombe.co.uk
Chairman Philip Arkell said emails had been received from listeners in Australia and the US.
Mr Arkell said: "We have listeners online from around the world, and also from Cheltenham and surrounding areas."
Spokesman Mike Rafferty added: "We are surprised at just how much interest there is overseas. There must be a lot of ex-pats out there."
 
17 October 2006
TO WEB NEIGHBOURS
Radio Winchcombe will be launched over the airwaves and the web at the same time. The community station will air programmes continuously from 7am on October 20 until 11pm on October 22.
For the first time the station will be transmitting simultaneously on 87.7FM and website www.radiowinchcombe.co.uk
It will allow fans as far away as Australia and the US to hear the station.
Spokesman Mike Rafferty said: "We were surprised at just how much interest there is overseas. There must be a lot of ex-pats out there.
"It gives us a great opportunity to repeat some of the programmes in the small hours of the morning to catch these far-flung listeners at times more convenient to them."
Programme schedules are available from shops, churches and pubs.
 
15 August 2006
 RADIO TEAM MANS A STALL
Radio Winchcombe will have a stall at the town's 57th annual flower show on August 28. The team plans to launch a supporters' club at the event.
Members Ray and Anita Bennett will invite show goers to take part in their flower show music request programme.
The team will soon take delivery of new studio equipment bought with the help of their lottery award.
Their next broadcast will be from October 20 to 22.
 
27 June 2006
TUNE IN: WE WILL BE ON AIR LONGER
Radio Winchcombe is set to expand its service. The community station broadcasts every six months for 48 hours from Winchcombe Youth Centre.
Thanks to a lottery grant of £2,750 the station has secured its future and plans to expand on the internet.
It is also planning to buy a transmitter and, by cutting the rental costs of equipment, the station will be able to increase its air time from 48 to 72 hours.
The changes are due to come into force in time for the radio's next broadcast in October.
Radio spokesman Mike Rafferty said: "There's a real sense of achievement in qualifying for the lottery award. We can now be confident of staying on air two or three times each year.
"Our future plans include expanding each broadcast to 72 hours and streaming on the internet.
"This will help eliminate pockets of inaudibility we know to exist to the south and east of our transmitter where the hills intervene.
"As a station we are continuing to meet our twin objectives of informing and entertaining. We're producing programmes of high quality many of which would be fit for national radio.
"We're providing a showcase for talent of all ages and backgrounds and serving a potential listening audience of around 8,000 in Winchcombe and the surrounding villages.
"There were nearly 4,000 hits on our website just before and during the April 2006 broadcast."
Radio Winchcombe was trialled during a two-day period in April 2005 using a studio put together in Winchcombe Youth Centre from equipment owned by Forest of Dean Radio.
The trial was well received and the station has broadcast every six months since. It has had to be financially self sufficient.
The licence costs £400 together with a £70 fee for each day of broadcasting. Studio equipment also had to be hired.
Collections kept the station going before the lottery grant of £2,750.
 

18 November 2005
Radio Winchcombe Volunteers
 Radio Winchcombe needs more volunteers following the success of its first broadcasts. The two-day output on October 28 and 29 was hugely popular in the town - and the station needs help to make them even better two or three times a year. Donations from Winchcombe Town Council and the businesses funded the venture and a team of technicians, presenters and programme writers worked hard to create and produce a mix of music and talk shows. Radio enthusiast Mike Rafferty said: "Our twin objectives were to entertain and to inform, and we certainly met these aims. The feedback we've received has been most complimentary. "We now need to translate this enthusiasm for a community radio service into additions to our workforce to help carry the project forward." Anyone interested in joining the team at Radio Winchcombe should contact Philip Arkell on 01242 603003, or email : admin@radiowinchcombe.co.uk