After 2 years with Plessey Training School, 3 years with Burmah oil at the same time as a volunteer teaching English to Polish ladies, 1 year in Corsica, Shirley fell into broadcasting!

Shirley has been in broadcast for about 30 years.  She started with Cable TV after a year living in Corsica teaching English and living the Corsican life.  Took a challenge to present a sound-only programme - and was off on a broadcasting career.  

She started the Swindon Talking Newspaper for blind people - in the attic of her family home, whilst with Swindon Viewpoint.  This and it led to establishment of a permanent home in Victoria Road where it still thrives today.

Next came GWR (started life as Wiltshire radio), when she became the first employee of this first radio service for Wiltshire.  Helping to start the annual Christmas Appeal, presenting a programme for blind listeners, running challenges to help people realise their ambitions and moving on to working in the Marketing and Promotions Department.

The BBC called and offered her the chance to work on research and production.   Based in Swindon with BBC Radio Wiltshire, this led to Presentation of a wide range of programmes and what became a passion... outside broadcasts.  She also co-ordinated the Children In Need Appeal for 6 years.

After almost 13 years she left and worked in freelance PR and was invited to teach radio Production at New College.  She was also offered a job as Marketing Officer with Swindon's National Dance Agency, staying with them for 5 years, until being asked to help trial a community radio service. 

Shirley wrote the application document for SWINDON 105.5 and the licence was won.  A daily totally local service launched on 15th March 2008 where Shirley has been Manager and Trainer as well as chief fundraiser since then.  

Board Member: SWINDON 105.5
Patron:  Commonweal School
Patron:  SHOC
Chairman:  Swindon Young Musicians 2011-2012

  Shirley (mid right) out and about with ex Swindon Mayor 
  Cllr Wren and Miss Swindon as firefighters for a day. 
  Photo: after Shirley was cut out of an accident vehicle - part
  of the programme





The programme meets individuals with stories to tell, or comes from local events, capturing local life through features and interviews.  Music is chosen by the guests.

This Week: hear from MP for Swindon South Robert Buckland  and Swindon's Council Leader Robert Buckland - looking back and looking forward....

2011 Guests included:-

December


Community Safety Partnership Day:  Swindon's Christmas Keep Safe Campaign... with a host of local Organisations.  Recorded as-live in the town centre.

A hundred years of bell ringing in Swindon celebrated with a 3-hour non-stop peel.  I joined 3 of the team at rehearsals.... and learnt a lot whilst at St Mary's Church in Rodbourne.


November
Greg and Jo Dunningham. Ran the great Classic Car Show at Wroughton Airfield amongs other events...  Greg started a Santa School.  They met on the internet and both work with young people with individual special needs.  In the process of converting a traditional Swindon pub into a youth support venue.

OCTOBER
Simon May,  proflific composer of music for TV and bigh screen, international performers and stage.  This year Simon became the second Patron for SWINDON 105.5.

Black History Month introduction.

John Winterflood leader of award-winning Brunel Brass, Niki Eans (X Factor finalist) touring in Blood Brothers and preview Simon May in town.

Richard, new Marketing Manager, Swindon's Wyvern Theatre.  Appeared in first gay play in Cheltenham...  has written several short productions.


SEPTEMBER included:
2 local men who separately faced personal odds and disabilities and kyak'd the Thames for different local charities.

Actress Louise Jameson (Dr Who, Bergerac, Tenko, Eastenders, Doctors, acclaimed Shakespearean work.....).  Recorded at the Swindon Arts Centre live on stage in conversation with Shirley and the audience.

AUGUST included: 
Classical pianist Paul Turner

Rachael Illsley - music, community support, playing live in the studio.  Return a year after their first visit to the station.  Rachel has recently been united with a sister she never knew she had - and a family to go with this discovery.

Swindon Gynaecologist, John Cullimore, born in Liverpool.  Nicknamed "Swindon's Singing Surgeon" by me a few years ago when we devised an initiative to get him performing and get his CDs sold, identifying a piece of kit that would help the Mother and Baby Unit that could be bought with the proceeds.

Local pianist Ian James talked from his bed at the Prospect Hospice where he was terminally ill with cancer.  A man and his music.  Sadly Ian died a week after this recording and 3 days before a special tribute cabaret arranged in his name in aid of the Prospect Hospice.


JULY included
Craig Pruess.  Twice nominated BAFTA music composer.  Composed and recorded TV programme themes.  Worked with several international singers.  Internationally renowned.  

Emma Faramazi.  Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses.  Marketing Director, Emnico.  Supporter of Swindon Carers Centre.  Newly elected as a Swindon Councillor.


JUNE
Ivan.   A South African in Swindon.  He played and gang live in the studio.   He hung up his guitar for 19 years, but dusted it down to busk! 

Nick Fogg, founder of Marlborogh International Jazz Festival

MAY
Toothill Community Event + Swindon's 1st Walking Festival
Fire Chief John Popowicz talked of his life and experiences


March
Dr David Barnado, great newphew of the founder of Barnados homes... he visits Brookfield School as part of a SWINDON 105.5 schools project - and is quizzed by a class of young people.

February
Words and comic poetry from the late High Sheriff of Wiltshire, David Margesson, who died this month.   And MEP Graham Watson visiting SWINDON 105.5

January
Alan Fletcher - ex HSBC Bank Manager.  First Chairman of SWINDON 105.5,  Chairman of the Green Hut (for homeless people), Trustee of NSPCC and Prospect Hospice, Community Foundation, Rotarian, Chairman Swindon Music Co-Operative and Swindon's Pegasus Brass.

Andy Watts, guitarist and founder of Amber Studios in Stratton - recording and training facilities with special support for people with disabilities.

November
Mother and son who work together helping others. She had an illness.  He became her carer.  They formed the Swindon Therapy Centre and now help and support hundreds of local people.

October
Helen Miah, Head of Cultural Services, Swindon Borough Council.                 
                        
                         
 Rachel Ilsley's adoptive mother died in 2010 and Rachel staged a       fundraising Country Night in her memory,  to support organisations who help young people.   She plays flute and her husband is a guitarist.  In the programme they talked together, played a couple of pieces live... and presented £300 to the station.



September
Melina Waters.  A lady with a passion for film, music, capturing people-stories - and more...

Sonny Hamid - travelled the world, worked in international engineering, involved in the Swindon Mela and with many local organisations.

Kavitha, Malaysian descent.  In her late 20's, handles a whole range of PR, inlcuding The Burj, an Indian restaurant based in a traditional old English pub in Wanborough - the Shepherds' Rest - and supports local charitable concerns through her work.  

July
Nicholas McCarthy   age 21.  Worlds only professional one-handed, left-handed classical pianist, who launches his first CD and who'll be making a guest appearance as a special guest in the SWINDON TALENT finanals Concert at the Wyvern Theatre on 8th August.

Rachael Illsley.  From foster care, to a lady of music and a passion for supporting local initiatives.  She was preparing for a musical charity event in September.  In addition to Rachael's music choice, she played a number live, as an accomplished flautist...

Rob Elliott, Musical Director, Wessex Male Choir.  A Welshman in Wootton Bassett, with a passion for music.  Rob has taken the men to success at the international Llangollen Festival, to concerts across the region, supporting charitable causes and hosting their own annual international concerts each July.

June
Ash Madni and Mike Locke
                     Ash - a passion for composing music and for Royalty.  Ash has achieved his desire to record his music professionally and hear it played by a Big Band.  
                     Mike Locke, well respected trumpet player of many year's standing, and heads three local Bands.  He is working on one of Ash's pieces for a performance this summer.      Hear the story of these two men and their linked passion for music and live performances.


May
Dave James - musician, singer, songwriter.  Dave started Redbrick Studios at Swindon's Town Hall (one of the first recording studios in Swindon), ran first pub in West Swindon.
Cllr David Wren  outgoing Mayor of Swindon talked of his year in office.

April
Ted and and Ivy Pool - award-winning Folk enthusiasts. Moved from London to Swindon in 1940
Tony Huzzy - Peckham lad, moved to London.  Talked about life as a diabetic, dance halls, working in The Railways, working with the Labour party 


March
Steven Maull  young singer/songwriter, who Came Out a few years ago, gained confidence, performed at several Pride festivals and has brought out new songs for 2010 (which we think are pretty good - and play them on SWINDON 105.5)

February:-
A local man tells of experiencing a kydney transplant and how the whole story changed his life.

Mikki - a writer extraordinnaire from Malmesbury, with many intreaguing stories and experiences!

3 local ladies, who love fun, fundraise for Breast Cancer, and love life! 
(Amanda, one of the ladies, since joined our weekly Girls About Town programme)

Bob, Swindon's own Elvis!, who has taken on marathon events to raise money for charities, is part of a local amateur drama association and who took part in SWINDON TALENT '09, reaching the finals at Swindon's Arts Centre.. great fun.

John Ball alias also Julie (John's alter-ego).  John talked openly about the two personas in one body.  Their individual fashion sense and how his dual-personality affects his life and work.   He's also passionate about gardening and protection of our natural wildflowers and countryside.

January:-
Mike Buss
Medically discharged from the Army after a bomb explosion.  Had a difficult life, lived rough,
decided to get his life back on track... decided to do his bit to help others injured in the line of duty and set himself a £million target for Help For Heros through world record attempts - breaking records and setting new ones! 
 

Previous guests...
Neil Patterson
Neil took a lead role in Eurodisney's Lion King and is an accomplished singer, songwriter,
dancer, actor, poet, guitarist.  As a black person, he is intreagued bu white English traditions and rituals and is working during 2010 on special features.  Hear more on SWINDON 105.5.

Caroline Marsh
Caroline comes from Zambia.  She realised her dream to become an air hostess and was able to support her family after her father died.  She met her Husband To Be through the closure of the airline and move to Swindon.  She went on to be come a Channel 4 "Secret Millionaire" and now loves to support and inspire others.

Eddie Neilson
Ex professional boxer.  Fought Henry Cooper and Mike Tyeson.   Now has a training cntre at his home just outside Swindon - and runs Blackwells at Purton. 


Mayors of Swindon, including:   Cllr David Glaholm.   Cllr Barnes (2007-9).   Cllr Steve Wakefield (2008-9) ex police officer, fanatical and knowledgable about railways.   Cllr David Wren (2009-2010)

People who settled in Swindon coming from countries including Mauritius to America, India to Caribbean

Craig Pruess:  music composer for film, TV, recording artists - including Cliff Richard's Millenium Prayer, films like "Bend It Like Beckham"... Royal TV Award for Music 2009... check out his website... it's impressive!

Sheila Harrod:  Founder of the highly impressive Kentwood Choir, with a long-standing reputation and many thousands of pounds raised for charitable concerns.

John Winterflood:  military bands in the Army, Director of Pegasus Brass, latterly founder of Brunel Brass who in the winter of 2009 performed at Aardman studios in Bristol for an anniversary TV programme.