Ridge Radio broadcasts from Soper Hall in Caterham Valley, we now have 48 volunteer presenters broadcasting 24/7 over the internet.
To listen go to the website www.ridgeradio.co.uk and click ‘Listen Live’ or download our free Apple or Android Mobile Apps, which allows you to hear us anywhere in the country.
At home, if you have an Alexa enabled device you can listen by asking ‘Alexa Install Ridge Radio’.
This month we would like to introduce you to our November Presenter in the Spotlight, Amanda Weston, her show is on Thursday mornings from 9:00am to 12:00 called Amanda’s Mighty Mad Mix Show. When we interviewed her, we asked the following questions:
How did you get involved with Ridge Radio?
About 4 years ago a friend told me about an Open Day for Ridge Radio advertised on her Facebook page, so I thought I would go along and see if I could join. Mind you, at the last moment I tried to get out of it and said that I had a cold, but they insisted I came. When I arrived, they made me so welcome I knew then and there it was where I belonged.
When I was a teenager, I volunteered for Radio Lollipop at Queen Mary’s Hospital for children, due to his illness my disabled brother spent a lot of time there. I was only ever allowed to collect requests or get the vinyl records out, but I always wanted to be a DJ, and Ridge Radio gave me that chance.
Tell us a bit about the show you present on Ridge Radio?
It originally started out as an 80’s show, (my hubby says I’m stuck in the 80’s) but as the family began to listen, they requested a lot of older songs, so now I just play whatever songs catch my eye.
I even have a funny half hour of old and new comedy songs, and you should listen to my jingles they are wicked and totally crack me up, even though I hear them every week.
What’s your earliest memory of music?
Listening to Radio One with my mother, buying a Rolf Harris record, which I am not sure I should admit to now! The best thing was our record player, which would take about 6 records and dropped each one down, when the last had played. I also remember having the dreaded 8 track cassette player.
If you could meet any musician, either living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
Those who know me, know the answer is SUGGS, real name Graham McPherson and front man for 80’s group Madness, be still my beating heart.
I saw him on his live karaoke show, my mate kissed his cheek, I was flabbergasted, and told her, “you can’t kiss Suggs, I should be doing that!”.
What is something you are great at cooking?
I can cook most things, and I’m also a fully qualified baker, but I usually make recipes up. At the moment I am getting lots of ideas from ‘MasterChef Australia’, and ‘Come Dine with Me’, mind you the crushed potatoes I did the other day were delicious.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Originally a nurse but I didn’t want to deal with naked bodies! Then a policewoman, but my eyesight was too short.
What is your daytime job, and do you have any spare time for hobbies?
I became a bus driver, I have a full PSV license so I can drive buses and coaches, but not a bendy bus. I like to stick to doing the school runs, and work for a fantastic family run company called, ‘Vision Travel’ in Purley.
For hobbies, and you are not going to believe this, kick boxing and karate, also, and quite differently, I am almost halfway through a homeopath course, to become a qualified homeopath.
If you hadn’t been born in this century, when and where would you have liked to live?
I quite like the Tudors; I think I would have given Henry the VIII a run for his money although I am not sure I would have liked the bad hygiene.
Finally, do you have a motto for life?
Yes, as a mother of a child with additional needs, never ever give up fighting for them, you are the parent, and you know what is wrong. I think that’s it ‘Be Strong and Don’t Give Up’ no matter what anyone says. If you think you might be able to present a radio show, we are always looking for presenters, email Andy Mac at andy@ridgeradio.co.uk for more information.
