We had a chat with Nick Wright, Station Manager at Canalside Community Radio. Here's what he had to say....

What is your job title and main responsibilities?

Station Manager / Programme Controller

Where did you begin your broadcast career?

I helped set up Hospital Radio at Macclesfield District General Hospital in 1978. I worked on O/B’s with Signal and Piccadilly in my teens and was involved from the outset 20 years ago with Commercial Station Silk FM. I parted company with them in 2004 and with some other Trustees set up a Community Radio Station in Bollington (Canalside). We broadcast to North East Cheshire & on the W W W 24/7.

What made you want to work in radio?

I have been DJ-ing and entertaining since being knee-high to a grasshopper ………… I’m in radio basically because in the main, it is a job but with the fun.

What do you think the radio industry will be like in 10 years time?

I can’t see the industry changing much to be honest, except for more & bigger conglomerates …… there will of course be more technology and certainly more people being able to listen on the internet (wherever they may be in the world). All stations, no matter how small will be global.

What makes a good interviewee?

One easy lesson on being an interviewer is to be interested in your interviewee. So far as the interviewee is concerned, they themselves have to be interesting and in particular enthusiastic ……….. if they have at least one out of two, there is a chance of a good interview, if they have neither then the interview ends up like ‘platting sand’!

What has been your favourite interview and why?

I once interviewed and had a phone in with a ‘spoof doctor’. It was a set up, and we had ringers calling the programme …… the interview started off with very serious questions, but slowly went dafter and dafter …………. It wasn’t until half way thru’ that listeners twigged it was a joke …… we were complimented on an excellent programme.
So far as a serious interview goes, I particularly enjoyed interviewing Terry Waite.

What are you most proud of?

I’m proud of the fact that we built Canalside Radio from absolutely nothing and against a lot of adversity. I’m also proud of my Country ……… we are a very caring, welcoming, understanding and tolerant nation, regardless of what some may try to say.

If you weren’t working in radio, what would you be doing?

Dunno’ the answer to the last one …………….. wherever life takes me really?…………….. I’ve worked in shops, factories, on farms, driving artic’ trucks ……. You name it ………………… in ones fifties you take what’s going I suppose.

God Bless everyone

Regards

Nick