Lost and Found

[Sput]

Oh James Martin is still cracking, it's just now he's cracking in the up position.

[Nick Harvey]

Don't be too hard on Mr Martin at the moment.

Having "taken the mood of the county" this evening, I don't think it was all his fault by any means.

He's put a very fair and honest piece in one thread on here, which seems to sum up the situation exactly.

I don't want to say too much on here but basically I was hired by one Programme Controller, who was sacked the following week.

I was reassured that my employment was not affected.

The new Programme Controller had an entirely different vision for the station than had originally been planned, and whilst I do not blame him for what has happened - at the end of the day I was unable to be what he wanted me to be.

I wasn't cutting the standard, basically. Although I doubt that comes as a surprise to a lot of you. It does, however, hurt when people (not on here I should point out, but friends and radio peers) are saying you're good when infact, you move up the ladder and it turns out you're shit.

The other factor was the money. It's rubbish. Commercial radio can't expect the standard of Heart/Real/Magic presenters, if they don't match their wages.

Until commercial radio can realise that listeners, and not shareholders, must come first, there will always be a huge problem.

And at the end of the day it's too fickle an industry. 10am you're the dog's bollocks, 11am you're dog shit.

I am happy to freelance still and do the odd bit of sick/holiday cover, so that radio is kept as a strictly occasional hobby - and not the determining factor as to where my next meal comes from. I hope I've not said my last link just yet.

But I wouldn't touch another full-time job in commercial radio with a barge pole.

People say to me that jocks would happily saw off their right arm for my gig.

I say it's a bloody big waste of a right arm.

I'd recommend giving James a bit of slack for a little while.

I've been fairly anti-TLRC for many years and not been popular for my specific views on Three Tits Radio in Warminster.

I backed off a little when Dave Latham and TLRC got Swindon, mainly because of knowing Dave for so many years.

However, I think Dave's fairness has been overruled by standard TLRC policy, and Brunel will now go the same way as the rest of the TLRC network, down the tubes.

[Pete]

oh I never doubted JM's story for a second. When he writes elloquently rather than a tirade of garbage it's usually the truth.

I'm being nasty because I don't like him - full stop.

[Nick Harvey]

I'm being nasty because I don't like him - full stop.

Oh, that's all right then.

I'm just somewhat saddened by his departure, seeing as I was intending to visit him at The Lime Kiln, where I used to work.

[cdd]

we start with an appeal to find father of the forum nick harvey who hasn't posted in a while. if anyone knows of his where abouts, or last sightings of, please give me a tinkle

432 2000 isn't a valid number in any UK region, I don't think.

[Nick Harvey]

432 2000 isn't a valid number in any UK region, I don't think.

Looks pretty bloomin' valid in Birmingham from where I'm standing!

Just because it "does not receive incoming calls", that doesn't make it an invalid number.

[tvmercia]

we start with an appeal to find father of the forum nick harvey who hasn't posted in a while. if anyone knows of his where abouts, or last sightings of, please give me a tinkle

432 2000 isn't a valid number in any UK region, I don't think.

it used to be rather famous in the midlands

[Nick Harvey]

it used to be rather famous in the midlands

Nearly as famous as 359 4011.

[cdd]

I thought local numbers were 6 digits long, unless they were in London where they were 7 digits until 2000ish when they were changed to 8 digits. I didn't know 7 digit numbers were still kicking around!

[tvmercia]

I thought local numbers were 6 digits long, unless they were in London where they were 7 digits until 2000ish when they were changed to 8 digits. I didn't know 7 digit numbers were still kicking around!

most big cities, such as birmingham, newcastle, manchester, glasgow etc have XXX XXXX numbers, do they not.

[Daniel B]

Well the area code for inner london is 020 7*** **** and the one for outer london is 020 8*** ****.

Other places in the UK use ***** ****** like for example biggin hill is 01959 ******.

But I think Southampton's area code is 023 **** **** and the same may apply to Cardiff and Belfast.