Radio Aire celebrates its 30th birthday

A number of radio stations around the UK launched on September 1st over the years, including Xfm London, Jazz FM Northwest, Century Radio Northeast and Kiss 100.

Whilst most stations made no effort to mark the occasion, Radio Aire in Leeds took time out to look back at the last three decades.

The station ran trails promoting the most important person at the station – the listener – and asked people to join in the celebrations of the day. At one point, the station was trending locally on Twitter with people wishing the station a happy birthday.

The station launched on the 1st September 1981 and was broadcast live from the UK’s first ever purpose built radio studios on Burley Road, Leeds. Presenter Graham Thornton launched the radio station and the first song ever played was ‘Pilot of the Airwaves’ by Charlie Dore.

Over the years the station has had many incarnations (including Aire 963, Aire FM and The New Aire FM) and has nurtured many faces that have gone on to television and national radio stations.

Previous Radio Aire presenters have included Chris Moyles, Carol Voderman, BBC Look North Presenter Christa Ackroyd, Liz Kershaw and 1980’s TV legend James Whale. James even had his own late night show which The James Whale Radio Show, which broadcast live in a late-night slot on ITV from Radio Aire.

Anthony Gay, 96.3 Radio Aire Station Director told RadioToday.co.uk: It’s amazing to stop and consider how many talented presenters and journalists have worked at Radio Aire over the years. The station has a strong track record of nurturing talented
broadcasters that continues to this day. Our current breakfast show presenter Rich Williams was born and bred in Leeds and his passion for the city is a massive part of what we’re still about 30 years later.

Listen to the audio below:

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/22350256″]

Earlier this year the station held an open-air concert in the city centre as part of the celebrations.