Aircheck Tracker
Thanks go to Simon Parry who tracked Colin Woolley - and with help from Stuart Keeling, Colin Woolley has sent an update & new picture!
UPDATED : 10/11/2003
Profile: Colin Woolley. As a kid, there was one moment which defined Colin's future - this was the moment, when, during discussions with his careers teacher, he was told he would never be a DJ and was strongly advised to concentrate his efforts on getting a proper job. Some middle ground was established where both Colin, and maybe just to a small extent, his careers teacher, were content - his first job was in a record shop, but Colin later got into Sales, working for Parker Pens.
All in all, Colin is a fairly laid back sort of character - but this hasn't held him back from meeting big stars in his radio career so far - he's got a picture of him with Irish superstars The Corrs, although his daughter tells everyone that it's actually her Daddy with the Spice Girls! He is married with two children and enjoys spending time with them all. Born under the starsign of Virgo, his first car was a Vauxhall Viva, and his first record ever bought, (no doubt from the record shop he worked in) was 'Slow Down' by John Miles. His favourite song isn't that one - it's actually The Four Tops' classic 'Baby I Need Your Lovin'. He loves Italian food, feeling snug in his comfy fleece, and sitting down in front of the TV to watch 'Back To The Future', his favourite film. He grew up watching Blue Peter, (his favourite colour is Blue!), but says 'Fawlty Towers' is his favourite today.
Colin cut his teeth at Derby's Hospital Radio station, Radio Link with a vast array of local Derbyshire radio talent including Dick Stone and Mark Burrows. When Trent 945 started in Derby in 1987, Colin made a move to the big time and was a key part of Trent's parent company Midlands Radio plc which owned BRMB, Trent (Nott'm & Derby), Leicester Sound & GEM AM amongst others. During the freak snow blizzards of 1990, Colin joined Dick Stone and Andy Miller on the Trent FM (102.8 Derbyshire) Snowline coverage. (Two air-checked 90 minute tapes of highly entertaining Snowline stuff are available in the Aircheck archive. Visit the link or e-mail to arrange an order. Simply supply the tapes and we'll do the rest!)
Simon writes: 'After his time with Trent, Colin moved to Leicester Sound in 1992, where he stayed for 4 years, mostly presenting the afternoon show, but also having stints on breakfast & evenings too. He moved to RAM-FM in Derby and then joined the ex-Trent team at Radio 106 FM (latterly Century 106 & 106 Century FM) at it's launch in September 1997, eventually becoming Programming Manager in 1999, before leaving to join a telephone company which specialises in providing competition lines for radio stations. He then did some swing work at 100.7 Heart FM in Birmingham, and then became a regular presenter on Magic AM in Sheffield.'
Doug Hope adds: '..by the way .. he worked for Great North Radio between 1995 & 1997 presenting 'The Tea-time Show' (5-8pm weeknights) and various weekend shifts. From there he went to Radio 106.'
It was the end of February 2000 that Colin left Century 106 to join Leicester-based Lines Unlimited. At the time, Colin was still both a Presenter and Programme Manager at the station but moved to take up the role of Radio Account Manager. Century were, at the time, using Lines Unlimited for vote lines and competitions. It was the potential of these services that persuaded him to use his industry experience to join in a key advisory role. At the time he said: “To coin a phrase, I was so impressed, I bought into the company.....Lines Unlimited currently work with a large number of stations around the country. I want to enhance the service the company currently offers the industry and help build an ideas bank, driving large numbers of calls into the stations.” he said before joining the company on March 6th 2000.
Simon Parry 'He left Century 106 to go and work for BFBS where he was involved in providing programming for the Armed Forces.'
John Pope adds (April 2002) 'He has been recently presenting on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, covering the early morning show and doing bits at the weekend, as well as Broadcast Assistant work at BBC Radio Derby ...'
In September 2002, whilst suffering a terrible cold, Colin filled in for Alex Trelinski on BBC East Midlands' night time network show for a week.
He's now understood to have left BBC Radio Lincolnshire from where he used to present a Sunday morning show from 10:05-12:00midday. We also understand he's done some work for BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service, but there's no trace of him there now.
Stuart Keeling reports: 'Colin Woolley has returned after a short break to Lincs FM to present Saturday mornings between 9am-12noon and Sundays between 10am-1pm. Source: "The Radio Times"' (Dec 02 / Jan 03)
Whereabouts: Colin Woolley writes: 'After leaving Century 106 I did some freelance work, 100.7 Heart FM, BFBS, Peak107 & Magic. I then went to Magic-AM in August 2000 where I presented the 10am - 2pm show Mon - Sat. From Magic I went to BFBS in March 2001. I am now working at BBC Radio Leicester where I produce trails and on air branding. I also present Sunday morning 10am - 1pm at BBC Radio Lincolnshire.'
(Thanks Colin...all the best at Auntie...and thanks to Stuart for researching on behalf of the site! Ed)