BBC Radio Jersey has paid tribute to long-serving presenter Phil Taylor following his death at the age of 62.
Phil was part of the station’s team for more than 35 years before retiring 18 months ago, leaving behind a significant on-air and behind-the-scenes legacy within the island’s radio community.
Although best known for presenting the Sunday request programme By Special Request, he also hosted Saturday morning shows and a range of bank holiday specials, becoming a familiar and trusted voice for listeners across Jersey over several decades.
Matthew Price, BBC Radio Jersey executive producer, worked with Phil Taylor for 25 years and told the BBC he built a close bond with audiences. He said: “Phil developed a wonderfully warm relationship with listeners,” recalling how the presenter became closely associated with Sunday afternoons and a programme shaped by personal music choices.
Price said that slot became defined by “music that mattered to you”, with Phil playing requests spanning classical, hymns, country and pop, reflecting the tastes and stories of his audience.
Alongside presenting, Phil was a valued technical operator for major broadcasts including Royal Outside Broadcasts, Liberation Day and Election nights, and regularly supported the Saturday Sports Show. He first joined the BBC as part of the rota for the Sunday morning request show Lion’s Share, also carried by Hospital Radio.
Following changes to scheduling and the decline of traditional request shows after Covid-19, Phil moved into a support role, offering technical expertise and training to sports reporters and presenters.