South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2006 | February | 3
From the archive, first published Friday 3rd Feb 2006.
THORNBURY FM is on its way back to the airwaves - bigger and even better than before.
Volunteer organisers are applying for a new broadcasting licence enabling the community station to go on air for virtually the whole of May - twice as long as the first broadcast last November.
"We'll be on air for 28 days from Bank Holiday Monday, May 1 right the way through to Sunday, May 28 - a period that will cover Thornbury Arts Festival," said Thornbury vicar the Rev David Primrose, TFM chairman.
"Our first fortnight last year was a fantastic success and we're keen to catch the wave of enthusiasm. This time there are even more people wanting to get involved. Many of them are people who were impressed by the first broadcast and who recognise what the station can do to bring the community together.
"In May we want to include groups which were not represented last time and we're particularly keen to have enhanced input from children and young people.
"We have 40 individual presenters lined up and they will all be choosing their own guests so a lot of people are going to be on air, many of them for the first time."
Mr Primrose said that the committee behind the venture were delighted with the station's reach during the November broadcast.
"It was quite amazing how far away you could go and still tune in," he said. "There's a few places locally where reception's not possible because of natural obstructions but on the whole we're pleasantly surprised that we're reaching so many parts of the district."
The May broadcast would involve the station in significant costs, he said.
"We have set ourselves a high advertising target to cover running costs and we urgently need more volunteers to go round the district approaching businesses."
They are also anxious to increase the number of people directly involved with the station. Membership of Thornbury FM costs £5 a year.
Anyone seeking more information on membership or on ways of helping the station should contact David Primrose on 01454 413209 or email thornburyfm@blueyonder.co.uk.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008