Rapping on the Rocket IV

Monday: Great gig with Debby Matthews and Briony Newman from South Street Bonfire Society; Toby Collins on visually-impaired cricket; Andrew & Romy from the Pelham Arms about the pub, with Briana Lynn Hardyman, singer and songwriter, on the phone from Nashville, Tennessee.
Tuesday: Steve Williams talked about Lewes Psychedelic Festival to be held at the All Saints Centre in the summer; Dave Underwood and Steve Reeve of the Koan Brothers played live in the studio; Mich Lorec, Nikki Gunson, John Geering and Paul Slot from Waterloo Bonfire Society played their choice of music and discussed the new arrangements for Bonfire Night.
Wednesday: Commercial Square Bonfire Society at 17:00: Peter Schueler, John and Ben Botting with Sharon Reid; followed by Steve Bland and Lucy Crook of the Cliffe Bonfire Society, golfing aficionados and beer-runners extraordinaire, at 18:00. A surreal experience. Thanks to Ansis for the music.
Thursday: 18:00-00:00 Bonfire 2009 on Rocket FM.
Friday: 09:00-11:00 sat in with Paul Watts as second banana; interviewed Dr Tony Parker re the industrial wind turbine at Glyndebourne. 21:00 Closedown.

Rapping on the Rocket III

My guests on week three of Rocket FM were:
Monday: Vic Elsey, poet; Andrew Embling from the Brighton & Hove Motor Club.
Tuesday: Fru Norris from Lewes Community Theatre, photographer; Nigel Lewis, drummer with Firebird and the Moonshine band.
Wednesday: Matt Street and Keith Austin from Southover Bonfire Society; John Bleach from Sussex Archeological Society.
Thursday: Jack Kellett, guitarist; Mick Hawksworth, drummer.

Rapping on the Rocket II

My guests on week two of Rocket FM were:
Monday: Kate Boxall, local author and friend of cats and dogs; June Eade, Empress of the Cliffe; John May, the generalist.
Tuesday: Martin and Lio Spinelli, local heroes; Kit Wood from Lewes Old Grammar School.
Wednesday: Luke Brown and Peter Martin from Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society; Charlie Croydon and Lindsey Shakoori from Lewes Constitutional Club.
Thursday: Derek Watts, local author; Kate Turvey, theatre director and singer.

Rapping on the Rocket

The internet week on Rocket FM is done and we are now transmitting on 87.8 FM. My guests in week one were:
Tuesday: Tim Cody, singer, songwriter and author; Conrad Bladey of the Baltimore Bonfire Society.
Wednesday: Adrian Stovold, musician from tastic.biz; Olivia Murphy, architecture student and diver.
Thursday: Tony Willmett, concert promoter in Cyprus; Eric Eggleston, rock singer in Ottawa, Canada.

You can listen to Rocket FM here.

Out there

Reb Stevenson, a guest of Rupert Lloyd Thomas on Rocket FM, has directed and starred in this marvelous short film, to bring you the full flavour of bonfire. Watch out for a cameo performance from the Thomas brothers. Note the opinions expressed in the film are those of the individuals concerned.

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Remember, remember

I'm revving up for bonfire here in Lewes. Somehow you know when the radio show is going well and yesterday was a cracker. I interviewed Martin Spinelli who was inspirational in how he has dealt with personal tragedy. Rick Newth from Cliffe Bonfire Society was his usual controversial self. Both interviews very challenging in different ways.
Last daily show today, then the big bonfire show tomorrow. England expects.
For more see Rocket FM.

Flying tonight

I'm off to the UK for a stint on Rocket FM. This picture shows how glorious autumn can be in dear old Blighty.

Bonfire 2007

My bonfire report finally made it onto the Rocket FM website.

Radio gigging III

Fourteen shows done - last weekday prog tonight 17:00 until 19:00, featuring the Commercial Square Bonfire Society boys after 18:00 [listen out for "Anarchy in the UK" by the Sex Pistols]. Then the big bonfire thrash on Monday night when I'll be calling the whole event from 18:00 until midnight.
Saturday is bonfire night in Newick, also at Battle; Sunday is Badge night for many of the societies and Monday is the real thing when Lewes astonishes itself and the world with the greatest bonfire bash known to man.
Good luck to all the bonfire boys and girls - keep it safe and keep it spectacular - no political correctness required. If you are dripping wet, metaphorically speaking, please stay home - Bonfire is not for the faint hearted! For those who have to stay home anyway catch the whole event on Rocket FM - the next best thing to being there!
Good luck to the Baltimore Bonfire Society in Maryland, USA, with their celebration on Saturday.

Radio gigging II

I've been featuring Lewes band The Pursuit on Rocket FM - about to make it big. I also interviewed Hank Wangford on the phone - he'll be playing Lewes Con Club soon.

Radio gigging

Kyla Brox was on the phone from Australia, currently on tour with her particular blues style. Spoke Eric Eggleston in Ottawa on air yesterday. Correctly forecast on Derek Watts sports show on air that Räikkönen would win the Brazil G.P. - didn't say he would be champ but of course we now have another appeal! The soap opera goes on.

Transatlantic hook-up for the two Jims

James Ford III, Mayor of Lewes, Delaware will greet Councillor Jim Daly, Mayor of Lewes, East Sussex on Rocket FM at 17:30 on Friday October 19. Both will be talking on the Get Smart show with Rupert Lloyd Thomas on Rocket FM at 17:30. Jim Daly has recently visited Lewes, Delaware to promote contact and goodwill across the Atlantic.

Standing by

Rocket FM launches on 87.8 FM tomorrow after five days as an internet-only service. Is Lewes ready? Stephen Pilfold is blogging Rocket FM here. Our fab new webcam is here.

The show must go on

First weekday show yesterday with Chloe Alexander, smart car owner and sixties music aficionado, plus Mark Hewitt of the Lewes Live Literature Festival.

Rocket FM

I'm in the UK for Rocket FM which kicked off on Saturday morning. Yesterday morning the three Thomas brothers reviewed the newspapers from 9:00-11:00.
The Get Smart show starts this afternoon 17:00-19:00 local time. Listen here.

Down like the stick

Rocket FM is all done for another year. Many thanks to all those who sent good wishes, my listeners, my guests and my producer Andy McBean. The response has been touching with folk being unfailingly kind.
I've been up in Surrey and Norfolk since, including an afternoon in the National Archives at Kew. Back to Canada on Tuesday to recover!

Half way through

Six shows in the can, six to go. Don't miss it all on Rocket FM on the internet. Please sign our guestbook - it makes it all worthwhile!
This week sees the big build-up to bonfire. I'm on Get Smart, 5-7, weekdays and will be providing the play-by-play commentary on bonfire night, this year on Saturday November 4th 18:00 to midnight.
Chaplain Clive Anderson is flying in from Toronto on Thursday and we're expecting Doug Chiasson on Air Canada. The bonfires at Newick and Firle were held successfully this last weekend and the excitement is building for the main event here in Lewes. Good luck to all the bonfire boys and girls and fraternal greetings to Conrad Bladey at the Baltimore Bonfire Society in the USA.

We're off to see the Rocket

I'll be on Rocket FM from this Friday 5-7. Don't forget to tune in here.

Rocket Rant

Doug Chiasson sent me this picture shot in the forward studio above Fox & Sons on Bonfire night in Lewes.

Down like the stick

The closedown on Rocket FM came around 11:30 last night as Andy Thomas, Peter Flanagan, Andy Reeve, Dino Bishop and myself wound up the season. A splendid cake with five candles baked by my sister was produced and a few glasses of wine supped. We chose a few tracks each and burbled about the run. We were too tired to be sad - and elated to reach the end of two weeks of grafting. Here's to 2006.
P.S. Good to host Doug Chiasson in the studio on Bonfire night with his good lady - here in Lewes from Toronto in Canada.