A COMMUNITY radio station has celebrated 17 years on air and announced a new board of directors.

Castledown FM held a celebration to mark the occasion at The Wellington Academy Sports Centre.

This year’s party started with presenter Kev Lawrence and guests including a phone conversation with Baz Reilly, who launched the station on November 4, 2006.

Baz was very pleased to be back on the radio and chatted with long-time presenter Sue Vallis and recently appointed chairman John Sparrow for several minutes.

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Baz said: “I clearly recall feeling elated when midday approached. That day was the culmination of years of planning. I am so pleased to see that the station continues to grow as each year passes.”

Originally established as part of the communications plan for Salisbury Plain and broadcasting on 104.7FM, the station has added an additional transmitter in Tidworth to give better coverage on a separate frequency of 107.6FM.

National and international coverage is achieved by streaming on the internet, which can be listened to via castledownfm.com or via any smart speaker or internet radio by searching for Castledown FM.

John said: “We continue to grow the station with additional volunteer presenters and the new board will give us the direction we need to continue to offer a local service with local content to our community." 

Last year the station was visited by the BBC when they were filming an episode of Escape to the Country. The presenter Nicki Chapman chatted to the hosts of Friday Morning Fun, Andrew Connolly and Susan Connolly. The episode can still be found on iPlayer and gives an insight into the goings on at Castledown FM.

John said: “To top the year off we were awarded Best Local Radio Station Wiltshire in 2022.

"The new board of directors will have to go some to top that!”

Castledown FM can be received in the Tidworth Community Area on 104.7FM and 107.6FM and via Listen Live on castledownfm.com.