A local man is celebrating fifty years of being on the airwaves.

On Saturday (10th December), Moorlands Radio presenter Mervyn Gamage celebrated a radio career that started in 1972.

He first joining Hospital Radio Chelmsford as a volunteer, and soon had his own show, which eventually led to him joining the BBC.

In his career with the BBC, he presented a weekend breakfast show on BBC Radio Sheffield, followed by the prestigious breakfast show on BBC Radio Northampton.

The local radio veteran can be heard on the air on Saturday mornings from 7am.

In the late 80s he moved to the Staffordshire Moorlands and took up a position as programme organiser at BBC Radio Stoke, with a time managing the entire radio station. Mervyn left the BBC in the late 90s to take on a media role within the local NHS until his retirement just over ten years ago.

In 2003 Mervyn joined Staffordshire Moorlands based 'Moorlands Radio' and over the years with the station he has worked as a director and manager, along with helping them to secure a full-time 'FM' license in 2009.

For the last eight years, Biddulph listeners have been able to hear him on the Saturday Breakfast Show.

On Saturday, the radio station team surprised Mervyn with a party at the station, including clips and jingles from the last 50 years. Mervyn's co-presenter Tony Mullins presented him with a special gold disc on behalf of the station team, his friends and family.

2023 will see Mervyn's 20th anniversary at the community raadio station, which broadcasts from Stockwell Villas in Leek, near the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council building.

Mervyn said "it was a real surprise when everyone turned up at the station. It was also strange to hear some clips of my shows and interviews from the last 50 years.

"I have been in local radio for most of my career and I still believe in the concept. Saturday mornings are a lot of fun, and my career has gone full circle as my first proper radio show was Saturday Breakfast on Radio Sheffield. My wife Trish and my daughter Carrie have been working with the team at the radio station for weeks to organise this surprise. It was such a shock!"

Moorlands Radio broadcasts a mix of music, chat and local news across North Staffordshire on 97.3 and 103.7fm.

They received their full FM licence in 2008 - and while broadcast from Leek - they can be heard all over Biddulph. Listen to them on this link.

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