Former IRN Managing Director John Perkins has died, his family has announced.
Polly Perkins, John’s daughter, tweeted the sad news today. She said “My lovely, sweet, kind, caring, justice driven, horticultural mad Father passed away in our arms this morning. I finally understand what it means to have a heavy heart. Sleep well Dad. We love you x.”
John has been involved with commercial radio since its inception in the early 70s and was MD of IRN for 20 years before stepping down in 2009.
He joined Radio City in Liverpool as a reporter in 1974 and a year later joined LBC as a political reporter where he also presented the first “rolling news” programme on UK radio.
He then moved to IRN where he was Industrial Editor and Home Affairs Editor.
In 1982 he was appointed Managing Editor of LBC/IRN and Managing Director of IRN in 1989.
Former BBC Political Correspondent and ex IRN, LBC and Radio City journalist Paul Rowley has paid this tribute: “Very sad news. John did the opening day lead story – a council exclusive about a housing scandal – when Radio City came on air this month in 1974 setting the standard as its first Local Government Editor.
“We were the first radio station outside London to broadcast 24 hours a day with a local bulletin round the clock every hour under the tutelage of Terry Smith, Gillian Reynolds and David Maker. Peter Gould, Peter Marshall, Kieran Devaney and myself followed John in that role in the most explosive political city in the country. We were all expected to beat the opposition – which we invariably did.
“I was fortunate to cover the Militant Tendency running the City Council for four years from 1983 providing national stories most days. In 1987, John then invited me to join IRN as Political Correspondent in what was another wonderful adventure. So thank you, John. Condolences to Cathy and the family. RIP JP.”
John spoke to David Lloyd as part of David’s Conversations podcast series, which you can hear below.
My lovely, sweet, kind, caring, justice driven, horticultural mad Father passed away in our arms this morning. I finally understand what it means to have a heavy heart. Sleep well Dad. We love you x pic.twitter.com/erJWGR1bql
— Polly Perkins (@PerkinsPolly09) October 9, 2022
So sorry to hear this Polly. Your dad was one of the pioneers in commercial radio and did so much to make the industry what it is today. Lovely images. Everyone’s thoughts will be with you.
— Phil Riley (@radioriley) October 9, 2022
RIP John Perkins, former editor of Independent Radio News, who died today. One of the good guys. A lovely man – and what a voice! pic.twitter.com/UuTexpzCsu
— Paul Chantler (@PaulChantler) October 9, 2022
Sorry to hear of John Perkins death. A great journalist and the man who employed me to read IRN news bulletins in the early 80s. I can still remember saying the famous outro…..‘Independent Radio News, it’s three minutes past ten.’@RadioToday https://t.co/eG60T24rzL
— jonathan charles (@JCharlesLondon) October 9, 2022
Posted on Sunday, October 9th, 2022 at 6:01 pm by RadioToday UK