Windmill Broadcasting

Windmill Broadcasting
City Stafford
Broadcast area Staffordshire
Slogan All About Feelgood
First air date 12 June 2016
Format Community Radio
Owner Independent
Website www.windmillbroadcasting.com

Windmill Broadcasting is an online local community radio station, broadcasting to the people of Stafford and its environs, including Stone, Eccleshall and Penkridge, from the Broad Eye Windmill. It is branded as a 'Feel Good' radio station, and is the only known radio station in the world to broadcast from a windmill.

Windmill Broadcasting can be heard online, on TuneIn, and on Wi-Fi radios, and is operated entirely by volunteers, with no paid members of staff.

History

Windmill Broadcasting started as Stafford Radio on 11 December 2011, the station having decided a year earlier that the Broad Eye Windmill was a perfect location for a radio station.[1] In preparation to start broadcasting, in studio one, a specially made curved desk was made for the presenters, which fitted around the building's curved interior. As well as this, partitioned walls were put up to create a studio space, and carpet tiles were fitted to the wall to make the studio more sound proof.

Since launch, Windmill Broadcasting has been self-funded through show and feature sponsorship, rather than advertising, which means no adverts are aired during the station's output.[2] As well as this, owing to its 'Feel Good' nature, the station airs no news or travel reports. These choices, along with the renovation project and 'quirky' location of the Broad Eye Windmill, were implemented to make Windmill Broadcasting unique, and to offer an uninterrupted listening experience.

In 2016, due to two of the directors wanting to leave, a change in management occurred, and the station re-branded to Windmill Broadcasting.

Present day

Presently, Windmill Broadcasting broadcasts online from Tuesday nights to Sundays, with specialist shows in the evening, varying from Rock music to Dance music.

Throughout its life, Windmill Broadcasting has appeared at many events throughout the area, including the MOD Open Day at Beacon Barracks and Stafford Borough Council's Party in the Park.[3]

Windmill Broadcasting regularly invites local guests to come into the Broad Eye Windmill studios, to talk about what they do and their activities. Over its years of broadcasting, members of Windmill Broadcasting have interviewed many famous names too, including swimmer Ellie Simmonds,[4] pop band EverYoung, singers Steve Harley, Seth Lakeman, Glenn Tilbrook and Matt Cardle, Strictly Come Dancing stars Craig Revel Horwood[5] and Robin Windsor,[6] and ceramics manufacturer Emma Bridgewater.[7]

Aims

The Broad Eye Windmill, home of Windmill Broadcasting

Windmill Broadcasting has a number of aims. As well as being based in the Broad Eye Windmill, the heritage location reflects the stations ethos of working with projects within the Stafford community and assisting them in achieving their goals.

One of the aims of Windmill Broadcasting is to work with the Broad Eye Windmill members to assist with fundraising and renovation, and to boost awareness of the windmill. All of the volunteers are fully paid up members of the Friends of the Broad Eye Windmill, who work voluntarily in conjunction with the Mill's committee. Indeed, a number of Windmill Broadcasting directors also serve as Broad Eye Windmill directors.

Another aim is to provide a platform for local talent and bands to promote themselves, and is also a feature for local people to talk about their trade, crafts and charities, including Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy,[8] who chatted with the team and the restoration work they are involved in, and former Stafford Mayor Angela Loughran, who visited the station in April 2014.[9]

Birthday Celebrations

On its first birthday on 16 December 2012, Stafford Radio invited in local artists to come and play live at the windmill studios, including The Players, Neomantix, Sophie Bohanan, Helena Raby, Georgia Stanway and others.[10]

For its second birthday celebrations in 2013, the station held a light show, using the windmill as a backdrop. This showed cogs turning (to symbolise the Broad Eye Windmill's past) and Windmill Broadcasting's logo.[11] As well as the light show, a special message was recorded with singer Kim Wilde, wishing Stafford Radio happy birthday.

In 2014, another light show was held, again using the windmill as a backdrop. A laser shone onto the Mill, showing a dancing man and the Stafford Radio logo.

Current presenters and shows

As presenters change from time to time, the current presenters are listed on the Windmill Broadcasting web site.

References

  1. ↑ Stafford Radio | Page 2 | Stafford Forum
  2. ↑ Stafford Radio at Broadeye windmill
  3. ↑ Stafford radio station's campaign to save historic mill | Staff Newsletter
  4. ↑ Ellie Simmonds visits Sainsbury's
  5. ↑ Windmill Radio - Timeline
  6. ↑ Windmill Radio - Timeline Photos
  7. ↑ Windmill Radio – Mobile Uploads
  8. ↑ Stafford's MP Visits Windmill Broadcasting
  9. ↑ 2014 Official visit by the Mayor of Stafford Borough
  10. ↑ Windmill radio blows birthday candles | Staff Newsletter
  11. ↑ Light fantastic at radio station | Staff Newsletter
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