John Williamson

I am the Station Manager for Bay Trust Radio, responsible for the day to day running of the station and making sure everything runs smoothly with the help of my Deputy Manager Danny.

I was born in the Midlands and had a very happy childhood and adored my parents. I left school at 15 and was one of the last ones before the age was raised to 16!

I just love music – I was top of the class in music exams and was also in the school choir – something I wish I had continued with.

Eventually, I went and did some voluntary work at BBC Radio Derby and learned the art of interviewing and if I remember correctly I used a Studer Field Reporter ¼” reel to reel machine. It was a very heavy – you knew you had it on your shoulder! Editing the interview was not an easy task and a razor blade was used to splice the tape down – something that wouldn’t happen today!

Over 30 years ago I moved to the Lake District and just fell in love with the area. I joined the hospital radio, then for local hospitals in Kendal, as a presenter for a few hours a week. Fast forward to today and I make sure everyone has the best experience – both as a volunteer and as a listener to our service – and keep the station running. I’ve been presenting Saturday Morning Live for over 30 years – something I’m immensely proud of.

Over the years I have seen many changes, in my option all for the better. Moving from records to minidiscs, CDs and now an entirely digital system which is a similar level to professional stations across the country. From a weekly show in the 70s through to a 24-hour service available from just about anywhere. Volunteer numbers are higher than ever before, with much more planned for the future – although I must remember to slow down occasionally!

In 2019, I was so proud to be invited to a garden party at Buckington Palace hosted by Her Majesty the Queen and a few day’s later the team being honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.