Philip started his ‘affair’ with music way back in the school days of the Sixties when as a shy kid at school who listened to pirate radio got the bug for pop music. Although he was found out by his parents as a secret listener to Humphrey Littleton’s Jazz programme on the BBC under the covers when he should have been sleeping!
Philip then wrote a page in the school magazine at Edgbarrow School, Crowthorne and developed a longing to be involved in the music business as a DJ as his voice had broken and was no longer considered for the choir. On leaving school his passion grew and so did the need to finance his way through his course at Guildford College of Technology. A friend lent him the money to build his own disco equipment and go out on the road. Having created a bit of a buzz guesting with other DJ’s he toured all over the South of England often clocking up so many miles midweek that falling asleep in lectures started to become a bit too frequent.
Residences at hotels, nightclubs and pubs followed including The Galleon – Chertsey, The Angel – Staines, The Dolphin Hotel – Maidenhead, Byron Hotel – Greenford, King of Clubs – Wokingham, Kidlington Rugby Club, Banners Nightclub – Camberley, Wednesdays Nightclub – Bracknell, Henry’s Nightclub – Burnham Beeches, La Moulin Nightclub, Teddington, The Hero – Bagshot, Top Rank Suite – Reading.
As well as holding down a daytime job as a CD and Video shop manager, Philip kept his eye on radio with work on Aldershot Military Hospital Radio and Radio Surrey at Surrey University. Then he was asked to produce and co-present a jazz chart on Wey Valley Radio – Alton and also ended up presenting a late show on Sunday nights full of contemporary pop and rock. The presenter of the jazz show left and Philip was given the chance to put his mark on an existing format which he did with inviting guests to ‘talk jazz’.
One of those interviewee’s turned out to be the ‘right person at the right time’ (thanks, Adam Sieff – I owe you) and recommended him to David Freeman at Jazz FM in London who was the programme controller just handing over to John Baish. Philip was given a chance to cover some maternity leave overnight which ended in him being given a full time gig on Jazz FM – London together with Jazz FM – Manchester and the Northwest.
‘Suddenly here I was in a studio on the radio station I had listened to for some years wishing it could be me and the dream came true as I played ‘Straight No Chaser’ by Thelonius Monk. Pinch yourself Philip! I got to play the music I loved so much and also got a chance to find out so much about radio while at Jazz’
Introducing ‘Jazz Chronicle’ to late night listeners a thirty minute encapsulated history of artists or groups. Presenting the World Premiere of Miles Davis’ ‘ Panthalassa’ album and subsequent interview with its producer Bill Laswell.
Stand in for ‘Dinner Jazz’ was also ‘a real dream come true having heard Helen Mayhew present it for so long it was an honour to cover the show if only for a short while’.
Interviews were also a part of the position including Jose Feliciano, Claire Martin, Ben Sidran, Geri Allen, Ernest Ranglin, Pat Metheny, David Sanborn, Nnenna Freelon, Colin Towns, Andy Sheppard, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson which were all made into one hour specials for Jazz FM broadcast.
Philip also produced and took an active part in Robbie Vincent’s Jazz Breakfast.
Whilst at Jazz FM Philip was helping Kestrel FM to get started although his path led him to the Classic Gold Network Overnight Show from Dunstable studio’s to not only just about every corner of the British Isles but also the whole of Europe via satellite. ‘You never really knew where the next phone call was likely to come from.
107.6 Kestrel FM – Basingstoke was next on Philip’s growing list of stations initially becoming the late night bass voice of ‘The Quiet Storm’, then becoming the afternoon / drivetime presenter before taking up the midday show which gave him an ideal opportunity to talk to many guests over the years amongst these;
UB40, Duran Duran, Imagination, Whitney Houston, ABC, David Essex, Michael Bolton, Paul Carrack, Su Pollard, Patrick Moore, Zoot Money, Steve Harley, Lewis Collins, Brian Blessed, Heather Small, Belinda Carlisle, Alan Titchmarsh, Hugh Laurie, Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Juliet Roberts, Sarah-Jane Morris, Spandau Ballet, Moody Blues, Julia Fordham, Katrina Lesnovich, Pepsi Riley, Ruth Madoc, Joe Pasquale, Paul Daniels, Hothouse Flowers, Jenny Agutter, Mary Wilson of Supremes, The Hollies, Eddi Reader, Adam Rickitt, William Franklin, John O’Donaghue, Hazel O’Connor, Shane Richie, Lesley Nielsen, Barbara Dickson, Lesley Joseph, Alexander O’Neal, Suzi Quatro, Shapeshifters, Ralph McTell, Nancy Sinatra, Beulah, Susannah York, Paul Jones, Rick Wakeman, Errol Brown, Jimmy Nail, Chris de Burgh, Jimmy Osmond, Philip Schofield, Ray Dorset, Deacon Blue
Philip was also the ‘first choice’ for race commentator for The Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK in Basingstoke and has remained so apart for one year ever since.
In the summer of 2001 a new station was being launched in Portsmouth and Philip was head hunted as the new breakfast show presenter on 107.4 The Quay which also had a very interesting new liason with Philip’s favourite football team Portsmouth FC. For the next two years this totally new and refreshing station raised itself up on the South Coast to find new and loyal listeners were welcomed to each with Philip and Philippa (news reader on the show) before both moved onto other things. Pompey got into The Premiership by winning the Championship overwhelmingly, Philip was instrumental in the inaugural Race for Life in Portsmouth and Southsea and was even given the wonderful job of tasting food including oysters and wine tasting on air from The Emsworth Food Festival (sometimes being on air is so demanding!).
After two years languishing on the South Coast 107.6 Kestrel FM approached Philip for a return to Basingstoke and Philip came ‘home’ to be the afternoon drive presenter and to cover the Sunday Brunch show. Having started a very successful competition at The Quay he brought ‘Mind Games’ to the afternoons as a trial and would you believe it, the daily trial of wits continued to February 2007 with a chance for listeners to pose their own puzzle to everyone each Friday afternoon.
From February 2007 Kestrel Daytime has been the regular show with a local fun competition 'Where Am I?' with cryptic clues and about twenty minutes to register an answer. Important issues both local and national are tackled, allowing listener interaction by telephone on 01256 694040 and the range of web polls on the Kestrel Website (www.kestrelfm.com) have proved popular with good response. Regular guests are and more issues are developing as the weeks unfold. Often creating news stories for the group news department.
Sunday mornings have been extremely successful as well raising the listenership with a mix of more laid back music to ease the way into the day and introduce a Thought 4 Sunday and Celebrity Guests.
Philip is often out and about in the community attending loads of events including Free Football Frenzy at Basingstoke Town Football Club and presenting the Dance Decades Party Nights.
Recent Comments