Lots of folk in Ilkley and across the Yorkshire Dales will be saddened that Fresh Radio (formerly Fresh AM and originally Yorkshire Dales Radio) has ceased broadcasting tonight with the frequencies to be taken over by the big UKRD Group who run Stray FM. For the past few years Fresh has broadcast from Broughton Hall (well the business park there) but before that it came from what looked like a caravan in the centre of Skipton. We understand that Fresh will be rebranded as Stray FM taken over as part of an enlarged area across Harrogate.
Since 2007 Ilkley has enjoyed Fresh Radio in FM Stereo from a transmitter in Ben Rhydding. OK, sometimes it went down and it was rumoured at one stage that the transmitter had been turned off due to unpaid bills (under previous ownership). But we enjoyed Fresh! It was friendly. It was enjoyable. It was local.
Annie visited the studios to collect a prize she had won on the breakfast show, last summer. Even aged 10, she invariably correctly answered the breakfast trivia quiz and regularly texted the answer whilst eating breakfast! The first we would know was when her name was read out as the winner!. At the Fresh studios, she met Head of News James Wilson (I think he WAS Fresh Radio news!) and made very welcome. We were just amazed how low-key everything was - just three folk and that included the afternoon presenter and someone selling on air advertising!
Sad days for truly local radio.
