Aircheck Tracker Quick-Hits

Aircheck Tracker Quick-Hits LAST UPDATED: 28/12/2004

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Hello & welcome to TRACKER Quick Hits. The reason for this new page is as follows - through e-mail, we've been receiving llots of requests for presenters, without necessarily having enough to write a profile on to warrant full inclusion on our main Tracker page. So, here it is - the answer - Tracker Quick-Hits, again, in alphabetical (surname) order, with the name and whereabouts, or what we know so far. All updates and further information appreciated - (e-mail) and if we can make a full tracker page out of one of the following, then we'll do so as soon as possible, so keep checking back!

David Francis: Simon Astrop asked what happened to David who was at Real Radio until May 2003, and who was previously on Invicta (1990), Ten 17 (1994), Chiltern (1995), Southern (Cover), Horizon , Red Dragon and Hospital Radio Barnet.

Simon Parry said: 'According to Virgin Radio's website, he's doing overnights there during the Christmas period.' (2003)

Jason King added: 'Noticed a bit about David Francis - well he used to be a V/O at 106 Century FM - he's currently doing production stuff and the odd on-air shift at Virgin.' (Jan 2004)

Fiona Fraser: Ben Morris asks: 'Where has Fiona Fraser gone? She was on Chelmer FM before it became Dream 107.7....'

Emma Tozer replies: 'Fiona Fraser is now Fiona Faulkner... she is at Swan FM (High Wycombe) - but is about to have a baby.' (December 2003)

AIRCHECK elaborates: Fiona presents the Weekday Drivetime Show from 4:00pm-7:00pm and the Sunday Evening show from 7:00pm-10:00pm.

Darynn Garrett: Ben Morris asks: 'Where has Darynn Garrett gone? He was on Chelmer FM before it became Dream 107.7.'

AIRCHECK replies: Darynn joined Chelmer FM on it's launch back in October 1998, where he presented freelance shifts at the weekend. His radio career goes back about 10 years or so. As of Thursday May 25th 2000, he took over the station's Breakfast Show At the time, Chelmer FM's MD Martin Mumford said that Darynn's 'sharp wit and warm style' made him the perfect choice the show, and the change fitted in with the station's policy to promote from within.

On Saturday 2nd June 2001, listeners bombarded the station's switchboard to find out why Darynn's Breakfast Show wasn't on the air. There was actually nothing on-air because the previous night, around 11:20pm, the station went off-air after it's Danbury based transmitting equipment, worth £10,000, was stolen. It's thought the kit was stolen by pirate broadcasters as it would've been useless to anyone else. The station was actually off-air for around 12 hours, with broadcast suppliers ntl providing loan equipment by the lunchtime of the Saturday. Whereabouts: Darynn is currently presenting the Sunday morning breakfast show at GWR station Q103 for Cambridge & Newmarket (formerly CNFM) from 6:00am-10:00am.

Graham Hall: In September 2004, James Robinson asked: Do you happen to know what happened to Graham Hall, (who I last heard working for the Wireless Group.) He used to be Station Manager of Dune FM (Southport), then moved to Imagine FM (Stockport), but I have not heard him for about two years now. Is he in management somewhere? It's just I used to listen to him regularly overnight when he was on Beacon Thanks for your help.

Jason King replied in October 2004: 'Quick update on Graham he’s now living on The Isle Of Wight and no longer involved in radio - pity because he’s bloody good. Worked with him and learned from him at Beacon - top fella!" It's understood that Graham has received a few offers of radio work since leaving the industry, but is happy with his current career.

Rachel Hopper: Stuart Keeling wrote: 'Rachael Hopper was on Ram FM from launch with Dick Stone at Breakfast before being shunted to the late night show soon after, as Dick Stone covered Breakfast on his own. Rachael then moved to Capital FM initially between 1-4am during the week before being given the 10pm-1am slot. When Steve Penk rejoined Capital she moved to the weekends but has been off air for a few months now. Whatever happened to her?

AIRCHECK replies: She appeared on BBCTV's 'Radio Faces' edition of 'The Weakest Link' Wednesday 15th January 2003 where she, amongst all the other bits of plugging by other DJs, said she was still at Capital Radio....and by the way, Rachel didn't win, but instead lost out to the final two, Heart 106.2 jocks Pat Sharp & Jono Coleman - Pat won £10,700 for charity. If we can arrange a tracker page for Rachael then we certainly will! Otherwise, now you know!

Simon Parry adds: She is now at Heart 106.2 in London (I found her while flicking through the channels on Sky). According to Heart's website she is on air on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 3.00pm - 6.00pm.

Murray J: Gareth Healey from South Wales asks: 'Does anybody have any idea where Murray J is? Many thanks for any help.'

Emma Tozer replies: 'Murray J has opened a nightclub in Wellingborough (Northamptonshire) - called 'Fire & Ice' I think...

Paul Wright reports: 'Murray is living in Kettering, Northants. We used to work together on KCBC in Kettering, a station run by the late great Howard Rose (aka Crispian St. John / Jay Jackson)

Andy Johnson: Gareth Healey from South Wales asks: 'Does anybody have any idea where Andy Johnson(ex-Red Dragon FM) is? Many thanks for any help.'

Paul Easton replies: 'You were asking about Andy Johnson - ex-Red Dragon FM. He's now head of group programming with Capital Radio Group. Hope that helps.'

AIRCHECK updates: Can anyone help with more background information about him? E-mail AIRCHECK to help Gareth out!

Robert Kenny: Stuart Keeling wrote: 'Robert Kenny joined 96 Trent FM on its relaunch in or around 1993 presenting weekday evenings between 10pm-2am and Saturdays between 2-6pm. He left the station when notified that 'Late Night Love' would be "networked" from Swindon with Graham Torrington. He then re-appeared in the East Midlands during the week between 1-6am "networked" from GWR H/Q across the Mix network, and on a Sunday night between 7-10pm. He also covered from Graham Torrington on numerous occassions. Where is he now?'

Simon Parry replies: Robert Kenny is now presenting at Reading 107, the new station in (amazingly!) Reading. I think he's doing the morning show! AIRCHECK says: In the past, Robert actually left a lengthy message on our Guestbook, however, there is not enough space on there, and Robert's reply was muted before it had even got going, and to date, we've not been able to get hold of Robert on his e-mail. Robert! Drop us a line with what you originally said at e-mail us - we'd love to hear from you!

Graham Knight: AIRCHECK's Editor recalls: 'Ex-BBC Radio Derby and BBC Radio 2 man - another nice bloke - Graham Knight (incidentally - there's one thing I've always rememberred hearing Graham say about radio that I've remembered ever since my visit to a hospital radio conference weekend lecture quite a few years ago - 'If you've got nothing constructive to say - don't say anything.' I seem to remember Graham leaving his radio presenters job with the Beeb to run his own company but, what the company did I couldn't remember.' So it's thanks to Ben Moore who wrote: 'I went to college with Graham's son Paul. Graham went to run '...an award-winning business delivering practical website and web application consultancy'. It's called 'Broadband Communications' and you can find their site at www.broadband.co.uk Thanks Ben! Ray Green gave us a further update in October 2004: 'I tracked down Graham Knight whilst in Nottingham in July. He is running a speciality tea/coffee store in Sherwood, not far away from where he lives...'. AIRCHECK research concludes this to be called 'General Store' at 570 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham - Graham appears to be a regular contributor and indeed a 'guru' on the forum of the following site: www.periodlife.com

Barry Lewis: Ben Morris asks: Could you tell me where the ex-Breeze DJ has gone? He was fired when Classic Gold took over the station late 2000/early 2001:

AIRCHECK replies: According to AIRCHECK research, Barry was born in a maternity ward just yards from where Mick Jagger attended school. Mick became a rock-star, and Barry didn't. It seems a station talent scout spotted his potential (in return for a few cups of Hot Chocolate), and rather than getting a job as tea-boy or window cleaner, he found himself on-air. We've previously traced him in two places! Dream 107.7 (Chelmsford) on Breakfast Monday-Friday 6:00am-10:00am and on Sundays from 8:00am-12:00noon, and secondly, Colchester's Dream 100 from 6:00pm-10:00pm Monday to Friday and Sundays from 12:00noon-4:00pm, presumably from the same studio for the latter! In September 2004, Bernard Hilton asked us whether he was still on Dream 107.7 and our research proved negative, i.e. he's wasn't at Dream 107.7, or it's sister station 100.2 in a presenter role.

Whereabouts: Ian Smith reported in October 2004: 'Barry walked out of Dream 107.7 in mid-June 2004, apparently without a place to go. Fortunately for him, he has found solace and can now be heard on Time FM on 107.5 in East London (formerly known as Soul City and prior to that Active FM).

Mark Mason: Stuart Keeling asked: '...where is Mark Mason who also presented late night and weekend shows on Gem-AM for quite a while?..."

Mark Mason himself replies: 'Hi there...cool site. That Mark Mason who was on GEM AM...after GEM he went to Magic in Sheffield, WABC Wolverhampton, Silk FM Macclesfield...did a few shows at Alpha in Darlington...until June this year (2003), was drive presenter at Classic Gold Hereford and Worcester (for 4 years). Now freelance, recent stations heard on - Rugby FM and Centre FM (Tamworth)!

Gary Mulligan: Ben Morris asks: 'Does anybody know where Gary Mulligan has gone? Until recently (November '03) he was on Dream 107.7.'

AIRCHECK replies: Back in December 2001, he was working at Mercury 101.7's Latton Bush Centre which latterly became Ten17 again. As of the compiling of this item, (November '03), Gary was showing as being the PC at Dream 107.7 according to the Radio Authority's website. Whilst we appreciate it could be a different Gary, GWR's site at www.gwrgroup.com shows a Gary Mulligan being in charge of Programming and Station Enquiries at Harlow's Ten17 101.7, where he was a former presenter. Our best suggestion is that Gary has now shown up at Greenwich & Henley's incremental station Time 106.8. He's recently joined the station, presenting the weekday Breakfast Show 6:00am-10:00am, Saturday 6:00am-8:00am and Sundays 8:00am-11:00am.

Adrian Seek: Ben Morris asked about the location of this presenter from radio in the south-east, most recently Breeze AM (now Classic Gold Breeze). Ian Smith advised us in October 2004 that it's believed Adrian has returned to teaching at Primary School.

John Shaw - 'Andy' sent this update: 'I believe that John has graduated from doing cricket reports on Radio Nottingham to, er, doing cricket reports on Radio Leicester! Shame they don't allow him to do music shows any more though.' Stuart Keeling reports: 'John Shaw presented Boxing Day 2003 Breakfast on BBC Radio Leicester between 6:00am & 9:00am. '

Simon Parry adds: John Shaw - He now has a regular slot on BBC Radio Leicester, presenting 'The Big Birthday Show' on Sunday lunchtimes from 12.00 - 2.00pm. I believe he still does some sports reporting as well.

Paul Dover provided this update on August 15th 2004: 'John deputised for Ashley Franklin on SAGA 106.6FM (East Mids) a few weeks ago and managed to sneak Richard Thompson into a Light Classical Show. Paul Robey, the Programming Director, doesn't seem to rule out a permanent spot in the future if there is sufficient interest. Please send him a begging message!'

Steve Voce: Stuart Keeling says: 'Steve Voce was an excellent presenter on Gem-AM for many years covering late night, overnight and weekend shows before being replaced when the stations output was networked from GWR Swindon. Where is he now?

Simon Parry replies: 'Steve Voce - has recently (September 2003) done swing work at Saga 106.6 FM. I didn't actually hear him, but he was listed on the schedule.'

If you can give any more information about these people, or if you would like to place the name of someone you've either lost or a name and profile of someone you've found, please e-mail the site.

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