Ridge Radio is Tandridge's local community radio station. Broadcasting from its studio in Soper Hall, Caterham, it is staffed by 48 volunteer presenters. To listen, download the free mobile app, ask any Alexa-enabled device to install and then enable Ridge Radio, or visit www.ridgeradio.co.uk and click 'Listen Live'.
This month, our Presenter in the Spotlight is Mandy Revill. Her Saturday afternoon show, '80s Revived', goes out from 13:00 to 15:00.
Tell us about your show
80s Revived is a show I do with my best friend Lisa Hagger (and if Lisa is ever away my lovely mum, Sue Smith, assists me as a stand-in guest DJ).
We both grew up in the 1980s, and presenting our show on Ridge Radio is a walk down memory lane for us. There are so many fab and diverse music styles, and it helps that we know most of the words!
We especially love playing songs requested by listeners, who get in touch during our live transmissions. Lisa and I get extremely excited when we can give shoutouts to our fans!
What made you decide to become a radio presenter?
My uncle Bob Wilson, who is also a Ridge Radio DJ, and Lisa, who previously had her own solo show, persuaded me to come on board, and I have never looked back. I LOVE being a radio DJ and even my water bottle has the name DJ Mandy printed on it!
What is your most treasured possession?
I think it would have to be my photo albums. I love hard copy photographs more than digital ones: nowadays, many of us only take photos on our phones and then forget all about them. In my opinion, having physical photographs to look back on is so much better.
What is your daytime job?
I am a property law assistant at a local firm of solicitors. I like my job but love the weekend when I can get on the radio.
Apart from Ridge Radio what do you do in your spare time?
Walking in the local woods and enjoying the countryside is one of my favourite things to do. We should all do more and it's fairly good exercise too. Also, meeting up with my friends and family: one thing we could not do during 2020, so I do hope this year is going to be better.
What is your fantasy holiday destination, and why?
I would like to get away from this weather, and so it would have to be a Caribbean cruise. I have never been, but I imagine it would be fantastic and really relaxing. I would have to take my fellow presenter and bestie Lisa Hagger with me.
What is something you are great at cooking?
Cooking is another one of my favourite things to do. Chilli con carne and ratatouille are two of my specialities. Lisa and I like cabbage and tomato casserole, which I cook and we enjoy during our playlist prep night for the show…with the obligatory couple of creative glasses of vino too, of course!
If you could meet anyone alive or dead who would it be and why?
I just loved Queen when Freddie Mercury was still alive. I feel sad I never had the chance to meet him, so he would be the one.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My first ambition was to become a singer, but I didn't have the talent or dedication required. I guess that's why I became a DJ: playing records and singing along to them is the next best thing. I also remember loving to look at the displays in big department store windows, and so I once thought I would like to be a window dresser, but that didn't work out either. After that you just get on with life, don/'t you?
What TV series have you recently binge watched?
Call the Midwife. If you haven't seen it, it's about the day-to-day lives of some 1950s midwives in the East End of London. Fantastic acting and an emotional roller coaster to watch!
Finally, do you have a life motto?
Learn by your mistakes and embrace all of the happy times in your life!!
Ridge Radio is always looking for presenters. If you would like to get in the studio, email Andy Mac: andy@ridgeradio.co.uk
