This section - which has just been started - contains archive pictures and material from newspaper and radio days. The section will grow as new material is scanned or retrieved from the digital archives.
After leaving Tiverton Grammar School (badge, left) Mike became an indentured trainee journalist with the Somerset County Gazette series of newspapers, based at the Devon & Somerset News/Tiverton News in Mike's home town. The indentures lasted three years during which time he attended "block release" courses at Cardiff College of Food, Technology and Commerce, passing all his qualifying exams along the way before taking and passing his National Council for the Trainng of Journalists (NCTJ) Proficiency Certificate in 1972.
Mike writes: This picture dates from somewhere between 1969 and 1972 when I was a trainee reporter for the Devon & Somerset News in my home town of Tiverton, Devon, UK. In the centre is the man who taught me 90% of what I know about journalism, Colin Richie (the other 10% I got from college!) and on the right, Colin Gunney. Happy days!
Mike writes: From the Devon & Somerset News, I went to Pulman's Weekly News between 1973 and 1980. During this time the legendary Caroline Design Disco flourished (go HERE for the tribute site).
In 1980 I joined DevonAir Radio, Exeter, Devon, UK - first as a journalist, then Head of News and breakfast show presenter and finally as Acting Programme Controller when Jeff Winston (third from left) quit. Also in this pic: my wife Jean and presenter Tim Arnold. The picture must have been taken between 1980 and 1982 because at the end of '82 in one of the best career moves I ever made, I moved Guildford as News Editor of County Sound Radio. A year later I was Programme Director and a year after that, Managing Director. In 2005 I was delighted to attend the 25th anniversary DevonAir reunion and it was great to meet up again with Jeff, Bob Kingsley and many other old friends and colleagues (pics below) from what was a ground-breaking radio station and an amazing experience.
Mike writes: 96.4 The Eagle in Guildford was one of my most successful radio stations. Its mascot, android radio presenter, Talon, became famous all over Surrey and NE Hants. This picture was at a private lunchtime fashion show (attended by important advertisers) for the launch of Talon's new wardrobe! Previously Talon used black breast-plate and black boots - this occasion launched her all-silver look. Depending on the function, Talon could wear shorts, mini-skirt, or thong. Her "default" boots were thigh-length with very high heels, however, when appearing at events on show-grounds or lawns where the heels might have sunk into the mud, she had alternative boots with chunky non-sink heels! Her main costume designer was the dancer front right, Gill.
Mike writes: The two girls performing a dance routine with Talon are Sophie (left) and Gill (right). The Talon "story" was as closely guarded as Walt Disney protects Mickey Mouse. But now the secret can be revealed that both Sophie and Gill were actually two of the elite band of Talon models. On this particular day, the body of Talon was played by ... Zoe. When the girls weren't actually playing Talon, they often took the role as one of Talon's "Minders" - guarding her during public appearances or worked as part of our outdoor events and promotions team. While the public were only ever aware of Talon and her good-looking assistants, what they never saw was that "plain-clothed" minders were always discretely waiting in the wings to provide additional security if needed. However, in all the years of Talon (and her predecessor at Star FM, Twinkle) and despite all the thousands of people who came to see her public appearances, there were never any real problems.
Mike writes: One of the best radio presenters I ever hired ... er, not hired exactly, make that ... INVENTED! Talon's overnight show was so successful that she gained her own Saturday afternoon show on 96.4 The Eagle. The show gained one of the highest audience shows of the week. How did she speak? Talon's voice was provided by the brilliant Dallas radio presenter, Pam Steele whose voice-tracked links were inserted automatically into the show by the RCS Master Control system.
In 2005 former DevonAir staffers from around the globe converged on Exeter for the 25th anniversary reunion. Mike (left) is pictured with Gerri Bennet and Jeff Winston (one of the most influentil figures in Mike's radio career).
More DevonAir reunion memories: Debbie Clapshaw and presenter Paul Owens who worked with me at DevonAir, then later at County Sound, Star, Eagle and many more.
After leaving Tiverton Grammar School (badge, left) Mike became an indentured trainee journalist with the Somerset County Gazette series of newspapers, based at the Devon & Somerset News/Tiverton News in Mike's home town. The indentures lasted three years during which time he attended "block release" courses at Cardiff College of Food, Technology and Commerce, passing all his qualifying exams along the way before taking and passing his National Council for the Trainng of Journalists (NCTJ) Proficiency Certificate in 1972.
Mike writes: This picture dates from somewhere between 1969 and 1972 when I was a trainee reporter for the Devon & Somerset News in my home town of Tiverton, Devon, UK. In the centre is the man who taught me 90% of what I know about journalism, Colin Richie (the other 10% I got from college!) and on the right, Colin Gunney. Happy days!
Mike writes: 96.4 The Eagle in Guildford was one of my most successful radio stations. Its mascot, android radio presenter, Talon, became famous all over Surrey and NE Hants. This picture was at a private lunchtime fashion show (attended by important advertisers) for the launch of Talon's new wardrobe! Previously Talon used black breast-plate and black boots - this occasion launched her all-silver look. Depending on the function, Talon could wear shorts, mini-skirt, or thong. Her "default" boots were thigh-length with very high heels, however, when appearing at events on show-grounds or lawns where the heels might have sunk into the mud, she had alternative boots with chunky non-sink heels! Her main costume designer was the dancer front right, Gill.
Mike writes: The two girls performing a dance routine with Talon are Sophie (left) and Gill (right). The Talon "story" was as closely guarded as Walt Disney protects Mickey Mouse. But now the secret can be revealed that both Sophie and Gill were actually two of the elite band of Talon models. On this particular day, the body of Talon was played by ... Zoe. When the girls weren't actually playing Talon, they often took the role as one of Talon's "Minders" - guarding her during public appearances or worked as part of our outdoor events and promotions team. While the public were only ever aware of Talon and her good-looking assistants, what they never saw was that "plain-clothed" minders were always discretely waiting in the wings to provide additional security if needed. However, in all the years of Talon (and her predecessor at Star FM, Twinkle) and despite all the thousands of people who came to see her public appearances, there were never any real problems.
Mike writes: One of the best radio presenters I ever hired ... er, not hired exactly, make that ... INVENTED! Talon's overnight show was so successful that she gained her own Saturday afternoon show on 96.4 The Eagle. The show gained one of the highest audience shows of the week. How did she speak? Talon's voice was provided by the brilliant Dallas radio presenter, Pam Steele whose voice-tracked links were inserted automatically into the show by the RCS Master Control system.
In 2005 former DevonAir staffers from around the globe converged on Exeter for the 25th anniversary reunion. Mike (left) is pictured with Gerri Bennet and Jeff Winston (one of the most influentil figures in Mike's radio career).
More DevonAir reunion memories: Debbie Clapshaw and presenter Paul Owens who worked with me at DevonAir, then later at County Sound, Star, Eagle and many more.
