Saturday 13 December 2008

Do you know, this is the first opportunity I've had to write anything up for weeks! Driving home from the studio this morning I listened to a couple of human dinosaurs, chatting abut Sat Navs. Both referred to this ubiquitous device as an "abomination". Now quite why they had both formed this opinion I didn't stay tuned long enough to find out, and I can only really comment from my own personal point of view and experience. I've found my Sat Nav to be one of the most useful pieces of hi-tech kit I've ever bought, and certainly wouldn't be without it, particularly on long-distance journeys. But even if you've no desire whatsoever to own one, and have dedicated your life and soul to the art of map reading, why describe them as an abomination? What possible threat could a Sat Nav pose to someone who doesn't own one, or doesn't want one? Sure, we've heard horror stories of people being taken over moorland tracts that are only really designed for four-by-fours or horses, but that's no reason to consign them to the dustbin!

Talking of the Sat Nav I got the opportunity to use mine a couple of weeks ago, when we drove up to Glasgow to meet some friends who'd flown over from Sweden for a little bit of retail therapy. We drove right into the city centre and managed to find a parking place almost immediately. My suspicions were aroused when I spotted the parking meter, but was amazed to find it cost only £2 for four hours! I managed to find a bottle of single malt whisky for sale at a modest £599.99, but later that evening my brother in law informed me that there's a single malt currently available at £12,000! We had a fantastic day out; it was great to see Hasse and Yvonne again, and I can certainly recommend Glasgow for a spot of Christmas shopping!

Very busy organising quizzes at the moment - we've a special fund-raiser next Wednesday at the Spreadeagle in Sawley (near Clitheroe, just off the A59) raising cash for MacMillan Cancer Care. Then of course we have the Christmas quizzes at Rolls-Royce and the Tempest. Prizes for the best fancy dress! Half past eight at both the Spreadeagle and Tempest, and nine o'clock at Rolls

Monday 17 November 2008

Ey-up, the claws are out and being sharpened!!! A new post has appeared on media forum Digital Spy, by an anonymous author using the name Early Morning: "The new breakfast show with Julian and James Wilson is possibly the worst I have ever heard, it can only be described as three hours worth of unadulterated inane banter with no interest to anyone other than the two people who present it. Self promotion and ego seem to take centre stage with the faint hope of actually hearing any music becoming just a distant memory". Miaow!!!

Been out at Coniston Hall today, clay pigeon shooting at their new facility which was unveiled at lunchtime. Julian did exceptionally well, but I kept closing the wrong eye! Still, it was great fun - despite the less than welcoming weather. The Bannisters treated us to an excellent meal after the shoot, followed by the official opening ceremony. More about that on tomorrow's Breakfast Show, then in Fresh Radio Reports at 1pm and 6pm.

Saturday 15 November 2008

It's been more than two weeks since I updated the blog again, but once again my excuse is because of how busy we've been. Since my last entry we've sorted out a date for next year's Inter-Pub Quiz Challenge and Masterbrain competition - Saturday October 31, in other words Halloween! I'm going to try to recruit another couple of pub teams to join in, and we're considering putting together some sort of selection knock-out for Masterbrain entries - more on that when it starts to come together.

It's been a while since our holiday in Sweden, and I'm acutely aware that I've written virtually nothing about it, but that was to an extent deliberate. At the time we came back from Trosa I didn't want to minimise my anger that Laser Broadcasting hadn't paid my salary, and those in charge had let me go out to Sweden effectively with no money without letting me know there was a problem. That said, I'm being pestered to write a little about was the best holiday I can ever remember, so in the next couple of days I'd better get on with it!

It's absolutely brilliant to be back on the Breakfast Show with Julian - from day one we've had lots of listener feedback - mostly from the ladies welcoming him back! The first song we played was "The boys are back in town" which caused some amusement. Lots of good things coming up in the near future, so keep listening!

Thursday 30 October 2008

I think the row over Brand and Woss really ought to be put to bed now. Justice has more or less been done, and has been seen to be done, and heads have rolled. As it was pointed out at work today, all sorts of things are said in the studio, and it's the responsibility of the person editing the piece to air to make sure it's suitable. That said, I couldn't in any way condone what those two twits said on the voicemail message. It sadly typifies the cruelty that seems to be an essential part of so-called humour these days.  I admit both Brand and Woss have a big fan following, but I can't for the life of me see what people see in them. I haven't as yet found anything remotely funny about Russell Brand - even his outfits been done before, by Max Wall! A couple of examples of Brand's "hilarious" antics - the day after the World Trade Centre attacks he turned up for work at MTV dressed as Osama bin Laden; and apparently at least one police force has yet to decide whether to press criminal charges after he made yet another "hilarious" hoax call live on stage, claiming he's spotted a man responsible for a series of assaults! Ross is typical of the sort of egotistical presenter who thinks he is far more important than the music he plays on radio, and the guests he has on TV. And humour? - In my personal opinion like Brand he's about as funny as a wet weekend in Borrowdale!

I completely forgot to thank everyone who sponsored our contestants in Masterbrain. We still haven't got a final figure, but I promise I'll publish it here as and when we do.

Just a quick reminder to everyone entering the on-line competition to either use the buttons on the quiz page to enter, or simply add the pub name to jameswilsonmedia.co.uk - in other words - tempest@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk, unicorn@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk, or rolls@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk. You can also cast your votes for the quiz rounds at votes@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk but remember it's all automated and only two rounds will be accepted per e-mail. The quiz entries are also completely automated, so if you send them to me personally they won't be included!

Been across to Broughton Hall again today - one studio is now complete and the office furniture has arrived, so the move is getting ever closer. Lots of stuff boxed up at the office too, ready to go.

I've had an invitation to go to Alton Towers, to take part in the final ride on the famous Corkscrew, which is being de-commissioned at the end of the season. A few years ago I was well up for it, and went down with my friend Steve, who'll have a go at anything. This time though I'm not so sure - they have offered to put me up for the night but . . . . . . . mmmm, watch this space!

While I remember - the Christmas quizzes at the Tempest and Rolls will have a fancy dress theme - it's up to you if you want to come along in an outfit, but don't say I didn't tell you! I sent an e-mail out to everyone on the mailing list about Masterbrain, and I'll do the same for the Christmas quizzes nearer the time.

Sunday 26 October 2008

Well. Masterbrain is over again - whether we carry on with the annual event will be largely down to the pubs involved, but also to how we feel ourselves. It was a good night, despite the atrocious weather, and my thanks must go to those who did turn up, particularly the Masterbrain contestants. Special praise must go to new boy Steve Hepworth who had several answers shouted to him as he sat in the big black chair. Steve had the grace to pass, but it was really annoying and had the potential to spoil the whole evening. In the Pub Quiz Challenge competition scores could not have been closer, to the extent that we had to bring decimal points into the equation! Current champions the Tempest Arms took top place, but were divided from third placed Punch Bowl by just .8 of one point! It's the first time the shield has been retained for a second year, so if we continue next year competition should be really fierce! On the night we raised over £200 for cancer charities, with more yet to come in from sponsorship. Summing up the event; when you do a quiz you're always leaving yourself open to criticism from one direction or another, but I suppose by now I should just accept it as part of the job. But it is tremendously hard work for all involved, we try to pitch the questions as fairly and evenly as possible in the hope that there can be no claim of favouritism - which I can assure you there isn't!

Things are still moving at Broughton Hall, with the fitting out of the main broadcast studio nearing completion and a brand new very high-tech telephone system installed. A lot of the highly technical work has been done by Julian, with hours and hours put into the job. I think we'd all like to have been in there by now, because it is a fabulous place, but at least things are moving at last. Hopefully the changeover will be pretty seamless - but I reckon you'll know when we've moved!!

Thursday 16 October 2008

Boy are things moving rapidly at the moment! Once again I've left my blog for far too long, but before very long it will all become apparent why.

We have been extraordinarily busy trying to organise this years Fresh Radio Inter-Pub Quiz Challenge, and the Masterbrain competition - and with everything else that's going on around us it's not been easy! That is going ahead on Saturday the 25th of October, with all funds raised going to cancer charities. We've put out an open invitation to other pubs to join in - tonight I called in at the Punch Bowl in Earby to ask them if they'd like to put in a couple of teams. I have to admit, the shield would look excellent behind their bar; the place has been absolutely transformed!

We've had the IT team in from Broughton Hall to look at our requirements, so that's one thing that's getting sorted re the planned move - only 999 other things to organise now!

I went up to Kendal today to meet local MP Tim Farron, and to put together a feature on what's known as the Streetsafe initiative. One of my interviews was with a chief superintendent who I was convinced I knew, but couldn't remember where from. Halfway through our interview it suddenly dawned on me - it was Detective Chief Inspector Paul Kennedy, who I'd interviewed two years ago on a horribly rainy day in Ilkley as he appealed for potential witnesses to a horrendous attack on a woman on Ilkley Moor. Paul was leading the inquiry, which was ultimately successful, and in fact next week he's back in West Yorkshire as the culprit is sentenced at Leeds Crown Court.

Sunday 05 October 2008

Many thanks to everyone who's expressed concern over Judith, and for the beautiful flowers. She's out of hospital over the weekend, but goes back in tomorrow for more investigations.

I've got a phenomenally busy week ahead - tonight I'm heading for Richmond to do a quiz on behalf of the Richmond Walking and Book Festival, Ripon tomorrow, Elslack Tuesday, write a speech for Friday (I'm the leader of Richmondshire Council's guest at the annual bash at Catterick Garrison) and amidst all of this we're trying to put the Inter-pub Quiz Challenge and Masterbrain competition together. I'm still after a couple of Masterbrain contestants from Ripon - they're a little backward in coming forward this year - and we could also do with another pub team or two. The event is on the 25th of October at Rolls Royce Leisure in Barnoldswick, and all funds raised go to cancer research. 

News at Fresh Radio now has it's own e-mail address once again - news@fresh-radio.co.uk, (note the dash) but so far it hasn't worked particularly well, so I've kept the news@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk address up and running for the time being.

That's it for now - thanks to those of you who've posted kind comments on the media blogs in the last couple of days - they're much appreciated.

Saturday 20 September 2008

Not a week I'd like to repeat. Wednesday evening I was in Leyburn compereing Richmondshire District Council's State of the District debate, where the ratepayers of the district are invited along to a social evening to discuss items of concern - or to hand out compliments if they think their council is performing well! It's an excellent concept, and one which several of our other local and district councils could well learn from. Problem was, my wife was rushed into hospital, and we spent several hours in the A&E Department before she was finally admitted. By this time it was 6:30 and I was supposed to be in Leyburn before 7pm. Trouble is, we were at Airedale hospital, near Keighley! I raced up to Leyburn, getting there in 52 minutes, only to trip over a hidden step as I rushed into Wensleydale School (the venue) and falling flat on my face! Ruined the trousers, holed the knees and looked a complete idiot at the same time. It turned into an excellent night all the same, with superb entertainment from the Leyburn Band and several people and organisations from the district being recognised officially for their good works. Spent the last couple of days visiting hospital in between trailing off to Manchester for an audition for Eggheads. Now that was an experience in itself, I can tell you! More about that some other time, but the latest calamity to hit us is that the Fresh Radio website and e-mail servers are down, and could be for a few days. Any mail intended for the news team should - for the time being at least - go to news@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk. Must get on - I'm writing bits for next week's quiz.

Wednesday 10 September 2008

We've had the Great Milk Stout ride, and Going Green Day, and all-in-all it's been a pretty hectic couple of weeks. The Great Milk Stout Ride was a remarkable success, considering the lousy weather in the run-up to the event. Around 400 riders turned out on the day, and half a dozen bands provided entertainment for spectators and riders when they got back. A great day out, and if you want to sponsor anyone MacMillan would still be grateful for your help!l

Plans are now underway for our annual Inter-pub Quiz Challenge, and Masterbrain competition. The event, at Rolls Royce Leisure in Barnoldswick, will be thrown open to all-comers this year, with half a dozen competitors taking part in Masterbrain, and at least three pubs in the inter-pub quiz challenge. Cash raised this year goes to cancer charities, and if you'd like to get involved e-mail me at james@jameswilsonmedia.co.uk

Monday 01 September 2008

Well, the consensus appears to be that Fresh sales at least will be moving to Broughton Hall in a matter of weeks, which is a bit of a worry; Now as I recall, the last time we moved the powers that be forgot to tell me where they were going. It took me months to get the new address out of them! Still feeling rotten, but I've just watched Tommy Walsh putting a new loft conversion in, smothered in a heavy cold. Made me feel a lot better, I can tell you!

Sunday 31 August 2008

Went to bed feely pretty "crook" last night - and woke up this morning feeling even worse! It has all the symptoms of flu, which I sincerely hope it's not. Anyhow, I'm a man so I can take it!

James Barrett has now left Fresh Radio, which I think is a great shame. He was a great team member, much liked by everyone at the station, and all of his clients (James was on the sales team). He would pull out all the stops for his customers, making sure they always got what they needed - and he always provided a great "after-sales service" too, as well as coming along and volunteering at our roadshows. With his background he was a natural entertainer.

And the biggest revelation of all; James was the alter-ego of the one-and-only Badly Sung Boy! If you take a look at the Fresh website you should see pictures of James at Skipton Gala, dressed not as Badly Sung Boy, but as . . . . well, let's see if you can spot him!

Got to go - not feeling too sparkling at all

Friday 22 August 2008

Wrong again Wilson! Daisy's funeral wasn't a particularly sad occasion - if fact it opened with John Miles and Music - one of her favourite pieces. Radio York, Stray FM, Harrogate Hospital Radio and Fresh Radio were all represented at St John's Church in Harrogate today. The service finished with another couple of Daisy's favourites - Dancing Queen and My Way. I'm sure the former Fresh presenters who were there all winced as Dancing Queen came on, as it was used for years as a "back-up" if our links to the transmitters went down, Bumped into Chris Marsden, Alan Potter and Ian Wighton in the church, who'd all come along to pay there respects, and "chewed the cud" a little with Ian before he had to leave. One of the abiding things that we all remembered about Daisy was the fact that - despite her advancing years - she loved the music we all played. I can never recall her criticising our playlist in all the years I knew her. It was a privilege to have been in Daisy's "elite circle" of special people - she was special to us too. 

Thursday 21 August 2008

I'm getting terribly lax at updating this blog - but in my defence I have been incredibly busy over the last few weeks. Sadly I have to announce the departure of Julian Hotchkiss from Fresh Radio. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him over the last few months, particularly as he gave me the opportunity to get back to doing some real broadcasting! Some of the things we did on the Breakfast Show were a bit daft, but it was all great fun, and seemed to please the (majority of) listeners! Not, apparently a former Fresh Radio sales exec though, who wrote to the local papers in praise of Jeremy Gartland on the Breakfast Show and was - shall we say - less than enthusiastic about us! Jeremy is without doubt our best presenter, but his stint on the top spot will sadly be limited due to other commitments. We've been silenced too, with orders to "drop the chat", which is why you've not heard anything from me in recent weeks - c'est la vie! Julian if you're reading this "blog", many thanks for all you did for Fresh Radio and the team, particularly the hours and hours of voluntary "extras" you put in under extremely difficult and demanding circumstances. Hopefully our paths will cross again and maybe we can re-create some of the good times we had together!

Another really sad announcement is that of the death of one of our most loyal listeners, Daisy Oliver. Daisy followed me from Stray FM and has struggled over the years to listen from Harrogate on 936AM. She would phone in during every show I did on Stray FM, and when I moved to what was at first Yorkshire Dales Radio Daisy came too! I understand she hadn't been well for a while, and passed away in hospital a week last Sunday. I'm going to her funeral in Harrogate tomorrow, and although I never met her face-to-face it'll be a very sad occasion.