Community radio · 5 km · 41 presenters

Forty-one neighbours, one studio, and no playlist from anybody else

A small licence, a room above the launderette and a rota of volunteers who play what they like and talk about where they live. No adverts, no news from London, and a traffic report that is mostly about the level crossing.

How to listen

A red neon sign reading On Air glowing on a dark studio wall.

97.4 FM

Anywhere inside the ring road, and on the hill as far as the reservoir if the weather is dry.

Online

The stream on this site, and the last fourteen days of every show, to play back when you like.

Downstairs

A speaker in the launderette, turned up. About a third of our callers are waiting for a spin cycle.

This week on air

Seven in the morning till midnight, every day. These are the five shows people write in about; the whole schedule is on the board in the studio window.

A studio microphone on an arm in front of a glowing computer screen.

Weekdays, 07:00

The Early Wash

Two hours of what is happening today within walking distance. Bin days, the market, who has lost a cat, and one song chosen by whoever rings in first.

Presented by Nadia and Col, on the rota since 2016

An old reel-to-reel tape recorder beside a small desk microphone, notes and a pencil on the table.

Tuesday, 20:00

Records From the Loft

Listeners bring in the records they found when they cleared out a parent's house, and play three of them. We have heard a lot of brass bands and once a first pressing of something very rare.

Presented by Frank, who says he has no records of his own

A silver microphone on a boom arm in a dark studio, desk lights behind.

Wednesday, 18:00

Surgery Hour

A GP, a housing adviser and a solicitor take turns answering questions you ring or text in. Names left out, and nobody is ever told to see someone else without being told who.

A different guest each week, chaired by Ama

A black record spinning on a turntable, the silver tonearm resting on it.

Friday, 22:00

Second Side

One album, side two only, played from start to finish without talking, and ten minutes afterwards about why side two is always the better one.

Presented by Jules, who ran the record shop that closed

A studio microphone with a pop shield in warm orange light.

Sunday, 09:00

Anyone's Sunday

A new presenter every week, chosen from the waiting list, with one of us beside them on the desk. Most people's first ever hour on the radio, and usually our best one.

Presented by you, eventually

A mixing desk in the dark, its faders and buttons lit in red, yellow and green.

Want a show of your own?

Anyone who lives within the five kilometres can have one. This is what it takes, said plainly before you fill in the card.

Four Tuesday evenings of training: The desk, the law about what you can say, and how to fill a silence when the phone line drops. Free.

A Sunday first: Everyone starts with one hour of Anyone's Sunday. If it goes well, you get a slot; if it doesn't, you get another Sunday.

Every week, for a year: A slot is a promise. If you can't make it, you find a cover from the rota, and there is always one.

Five pounds a month: Every presenter pays it, including the chair. It covers the licence and the electricity, and nothing else.

Studio playback decks with red counters in the foreground and a screen of coloured buttons behind.

A studio desk under a single lamp, with a tape machine, a small microphone and a notepad.

One room above the launderette

A desk, two microphones for guests, a record deck that everyone argues about and a window onto the high street. The door is open on Saturday afternoons if you want to see how small it is.

On air07:00 to midnight, every day

Presenters41, aged 15 to 83

Waiting list for Sundayabout ten weeks

Advertsnone, ever

Stairsone flight; guests can join by phone

Come up on a Saturday