About DevonAir Radio

During the late 1970's the UK broadcast regulator started a new phase of what was then the recently introduced UK local commercial radio system (Independent Local Radio - ILR). Until 1979 only the larger highly populated urban areas of the UK and a few rural districts were within listening range of this non-BBC wireless phenomenon. So in the late 1970's the gaps in the ILR UK network were beginning to fill. As a result South and East Devon, in the English Westcountry, was to have its own local radio station.

The original plan was to have a station for the Torbay Riviera and South Devon and separate station for the city of Exeter and East Devon. But as the financial and practical reality sank in at the regulators it soon became clear that two different companies so geographically close scratching round for advertising and revenue wasn't going to work. Despite very strong applications from other groups what was to become DevonAir Radio bubbled to the top as the eventual winner (Companies House and former IBA archive here).

Above: Two individual areas, one franchise and a world first. Left: The East Devon city of Exeter. Right: The South Devon English Riviera. Each area were to receive their own local radio service. The station was to have "the technical capability to provide separate memorable programmes to different areas within the DevonAir transmission network" (images: © Nick Johnson).

DevonAir's plans were revolutionary in 1979. They had promised the regulator a full news and entertainment service which would cover both areas whilst at specified times of the day would actually 'split' into sub-areas (Torbay and Exeter), thus providing each area with its very own programming and editorial. On top of this DevonAir was to have the capability at anytime of the day to 'split' its commercials providing the advertisers with the opportunity to target a specified area. The 'splits' were, unbeknown to the listener, to become the technical focus of the station as well as being a world first.

It meant that the engineers under the leadership of Nick Johnson were to invent a seamless fool-proof system providing listeners with perfect continuity.

Operationally it was just a cart split button on the control desk, a simultaneous dual cart start button and a series of easy to use select and deselect telemetry buttons in both Torquay and Exeter. (Even as I write this the memories flood back!) So from a presenter or operational point of view it was logical, instant and fairly basic.

It was the engineers who built two radio stations (two studio centres) for DevonAir. One in a late Georgian terrace in Exeter and another on the top floor of a building overlooking Torbay. Nick Johnson was the brains behind the worlds first fully operational split radio station and invented a telemetry system to link the stations over a GPO line. It also meant that, in theory, neither Exeter nor Torbay were to be (as far as the listeners were concerned) the dominant station - whilst Exeter was the company headquarters and provided a bulk of programmes across the DevonAir network, equally Torbay had the capability to network its programmes as well.

This was exciting and challenging stuff.

Above: The architects of success. Left: Devon man, Nick Johnson,  who designed and built the two radio stations for DevonAir and invented a system to link the stations over a GPO circuit. Right: DevonAir Radio's first programme controller, Jeff Winston, who created a speech with music mix that was so overwhelmingly popular with the audience (images: © Nick Johnson).

By late summer 1980 the Exeter phase of this ambitious plan was complete - ahead of schedule. Advertisements started to appear in the local press and I was one of the hopefuls to join the station as a freelance presenter.

Jeff Winston was DevonAir's first Programme Controller and it was his speech with music programme policy and inspirational scheduling that so very successfully launched DevonAir Radio.

Just before 0600hrs on Friday 7th November 1980 DevonAir dumped its test transmission tapes and at commenced its regular live broadcasts to just over half its potential audience in Exeter and East Devon.

The day started with DevonDawn, continued with Paul Owens, broke for an extended lunchtime news bulletin, then an afternoon show with Travis Baxter, the 90 minute news magazine, DevonDay with Mike Joseph and finally John Pierce's The Kids Are Alright until 2100hrs when we closed down. And that was it! That was our first day on air.

There was real camaraderie with all of us on the station. We were all determined to make this thing work and I have to say that when we did go on air we really did sound as if we had been there forever which is a fantastic achievement for the entire small team. As a result DevonAir Radio instantly became part of the establishment.

It wasn't until the 12th December 1980 that DevonAir completed its transmission obligations with the launch of the Torquay studio centre, the South Devon transmitters, the capability to split programmes and commercial breaks and the extension of transmission hours until midnight. The excitement was really indescribable! This second phase was as smooth and professional as the station launch thanks to the expertise of Nick Johnson and his engineering team and Jeff Winston with his programming and news  department.

Above: Live at last. Control One at Exeter in 1980 before the introduction of the 'splits' and the start of broadcasts to Torbay. No Nonsense presenter, John Pierce, taking over the live desk over from Jeff Winston at 1830hrs after the station's news flagship, DevonDay which was presented by Mike Joseph in Studio One, facing the control room (images: © Nick Johnson).

Early 'dipstick' research results showed that DevonAir Radio was, without doubt, an immediate success. its 'produced talks with well selected music' programme philosophy designed by Jeff Winston and a commitment to local news coverage set DevonAir on what looked like an extremely successful future.

Above: Trouble at the top. DevonAir's first Managing Director after the franchise was appointed was Colin Mason who was joined the company in January 1980, by the end of March that year he had quit. Left: The launch Managing Director, Maurice Vass joined DevonAir Radio in 1980 from Trident Television. Following Jeff Winston's resignation as Programme Controller, Maurice Vass also resigned from the company in 1982 and was succeeded temporarily by Bob Kennedy (a former DevonAir director) who became acting Managing Director. Right: Ken Whittaker DevonAir's third fulltime Managing Director in so many years appointed in 1983. He "left the company" (source: Chairman's Report) during 1984 (images: © John Brocks).

This work is not just about the early years - through archive and recollections we chart the story of what became a ill-fated yet much loved radio station and finally its sad demise as a local broadcaster only 14 years after its glorious launch.

Company records, on the whole, are very dry and insensitive documents, however, reading the various Chairman's reports as the years progress have filled my heart with interesting memories and an inevitable sadness as the years passed and the death knell for the company was fast approaching. 

It is ironic that in 1994 the then Chairman, Kenneth Holmes, proudly stated

"The year to 30th September 1994, in financial terms, has been the most successful in the company's history"  

and then later in the document he reported (in the final paragraph of the last ever Chairman's report)

"The listening public of Devon have been deprived of what, in recent times, it has shown to be its preferred station. This is a matter for much regret. We, as the company, are proud of the achievements of DevonAir and all the staff, past and present, who have been responsible for this."

With the help of archive and contributions from former station employees, freelancers and contributors this website looks at the achievements and life of DevonAir Radio.