Aircheck Tracker
PAGE UPDATED 17/07/2003
Thanks go to AIRCHECK correspondent Jeff Martin for sending us the following profile:
Profile: Keith Skues:
Born
4th March 1939
When Radio London closed in 1967 Keith was in the first line up of disc jockeys on the new BBC pop channel Radio 1 and stayed until 1974. In May 1974 Keith became programme director of Radio Hallam, an ILR station broadcasting to South Yorkshire. The station merged with two others in the county in June 1987 and he became programme consultant with the new group. When the Yorkshire Radio Networks AM frequencies became Classic Gold in 1989 Keith did a show six days a week and was also programme controller. He was then called up for Military service by the Royal Air force during the Gulf war, serving in Saudi Arabia. While away, his station made him redundant but he landed a position at BBC Radio Sheffield, presenting a daily show for six months, and in November 1991 he returned to national radio presenting Celebrity Choice on BBC Radio Two.
In
1987, Keith Skues wrote one of the best books about the 1960s Offshore Stations
called Pop Went The Pirates. He now presents a nightly show on six local BBC
stations in the Eastern Counties.
Other information researched:
Keith has been described by fellow broadcaster John Peel as "the jewel in the crown of East Anglian radio." He is the only broadcaster in the world to have completed broadcasting with Forces Radio, the pirates, Radio Luxembourg, independent local radio and BBC national, regional and local radio.
Keith was born in Timperley, Cheshire and began his broadcasting career with British Forces Network in Germany in 1958 whilst serving in the Royal Air Force. His tours with BFN have taken him all over the world, including three years in Kenya, East Africa.
In 1964 he returned to the UK and became a "pirate" broadcasting on the high seas aboard Radio Caroline. He later joined "Big L", Radio London and was in the first batch of DJs to join Radio 1. He was the second DJ on the network on its opening day, 30 September 1967. He has held various appointments with the BBC including editor of the award-winning series "The Story of Pop" on Radio 1
In '74 Keith was appointed programme director of Radio Hallam in Sheffield and remained there until he took over the late night programme slot on BBC Radio in the Eastern Counties in April 1995.
He has written six books, the most recent 'Pop Went the Pirates', became a best-seller in Eastern Counties. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a squadron leader in the Royal Air Force Reserve, he also holds a private pilot's licence.
Keith now lives on the Norfolk Broads together with his collection of 250,000 records, mostly vinyl. He has the freedom of the City of London, having the honour bestowed on him back in 1995.
Whereabouts: Keith now appears on the night-time network of BBC stations across Norfolk, Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and in the Three Counties, from 10pm to 1am on weekday nights. In July 2003, former Radio 1 and offshore radio DJ Keith Skues reached 2000 editions of his weeknight programme aired on the night-time network in the Eastern Counties. His show quickly became popular after starting in 1995 and was in 2003, the country's most popular late night BBC local radio programme. Affectionately nick-named 'Cardboard Shoes' and 'Skuesy', the former from his RAF career when he was a Squadron Leader., speaking on his landmark show and long radio career, Keith is modest in tone. 'It's a simple answer. I give listeners what they want to hear. I mix music from the 1930s through to the more melodic tunes of today. The listener who tunes in late at night is generally a more seasoned person over the age of 40, so it's all about nostalgia.'
Mary Payne adds: 'Keith Skues has a website: http://www.keithskues.co.uk from which fans can purchase his books.'
A fan of Keith's show on BBC Local Radio in the Eastern Counties has released a CD of the broadcasting legend. You can find out more about how to obtain this recording through the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/music/nfk_musicians/skuesville.shtm