Reunion 2003

TWENTY two volunteers from the original

Heartbeat Radio and 8 Towns Radio

came together in 'Staly Vegas' to celebrate the 20th anniversary

of the station's October '83 launch. A perfect opportunity to recall old times, share a few memories and 'catch up' with old friends and colleagues from years - or even decades - ago! A great time was had by all - and as we went our separate ways at the end of the night, the view widely expressed was that there should definitely be a follow-up!

Thank you to Sylvia, landlady of the legendary

Stalybridge Railway Station Buffet Bar for the use of the conservatory room (above) where the first-ever Heartbeat - 8 Towns Reunion took place on

25th October 2003, the nearest Saturday

to the station's 20th birthday.

They know because they were there...

Let's name names... in no particular order:

Alan Swallow, Mike Thorpe, Mike Wallbank,

Sheila McIlvenny (now Hallworth), Andy Banks,

Stuart Peters, Simon Borroughs, Andy Hoyle,

Beckie Stafford, Julie McKinlay,

Phil Hurst, Kevin Taylor, Neil Tonepohl, Craig Etchells,

Mel King (now Broughton), Marc Farr, Pete Meadows, Allan Garner, Mike Pav, Karl Crookes, Martyn Heelam, David Spencer.

October was always a BIG month for the

radio station. It was on Saturday 22nd

October 1983 that Heartbeat Radio

(as was) went on air for the first time

and over the next 10 years we always

used to mark the station's birthday

in some way. 8 Towns Radio volunteers will

remember Radiothon 24-hour sponsored

broadcasts and fundraising weekends

with street and pub collections etc

and in later years the community broadcasts which went on for a whole month.

Click on Smiley Headphones to visit the 8 Towns Radio

page on the Friends Reunited

website

Thanks to everyone who sent their best wishes including

Ian Shepherd, Tim Fernley, Lisa Clayton (now Pinder) Wayne Peters, Roy Pickersgill, Tony Williams and Norman Leaver...

Also: everyone we have seen 'in person' or have had contact with by phone or e-mail, via various message boards and the Friends Reunited website, including... Andy Collier, Phil Loftus,Graham Hart, Sandy Gort, Nik Proctor, Mike Hadfield, Stephen Crumley (aka James), Jan Conway, Kevin Conway and Simon Norton.

Second reunion: October 2004