Tina Watkin Presenter Profile

Tina Watkin has been with BCB Radio since 1999.

This year she celebrates TEN YEARS of recording.

Her interest was stimulated by a leaflet picked up a couple of years previously and whilst passing, to visit the Environmental Health Department Offices, in Forster Square, she called in to the studio to ask if there were now any courses on offer. One had just started and this was the second week of running. Mary Dowson suggested that Tina wait till the next course. "Where and when is this one taking place?” Tina asked and was told, "Kirkgate Centre at Shipley at 1pm today". Tina said it was possible for her to get there in time.

Missing the first segment, Tina was unaware of the looming agenda. Promos were done for the New Shipley Corner Programme by all the class and Tina was amazed to hear herself on air when one of hers was played when she called into the studio one day. Several weeks of learning passed and a mock show was arranged (so Tina thought!). Imagine her surprise when she discovered on arriving at BCB Studio that week that the show was actually going out LIVE that very day. Alan Keeling and Gordon Landall (co-presenters) waited for her in the foyer. Who would be first to speak? Alan suggested ladies first and that is how Tina became the FIRST voice of the half-hour show "Shipley Corner", to be joined at a later stage by Janet Davis and others.

On several occasions Tina has joined with the 'all women's team', "Radio Venus", interviewing and being interviewed on a variety of subjects. This show is geared around International Women’s Day, when all the presenters and interviews are female.

Whilst BCB operated on an RSL (restricted service license) Tina covered events like the Bradford and Shipley Festivals, dragging in guests from every corner of the city. Standing at a bus stop, she would get into conversation and recruit people for her programme, or dialling a wrong number find that they were a potential guest; nobody was saved from her grasp.

As the years rolled on and Tina became more comfortable approaching people, she visited many events and got into networking to swell the mountain of guest names for the show.

Joining several groups, as Tina found out, brought in a wealth of names to add to the ever-growing guest list.

As Leader of the Bradford Writers' Circle, Tina was able to channel some of these people onto the Scribe Slot, her other (Tuesday at 6.30pm) monthly spot for writers. Vera Killgalon-Bennett, Diane Johnson, Sheila Royle and Sheila Kendall, some of the names who brought laughter to the audience. When an issue for environmental concern arose, Tina called upon Martin Wooff to share his knowledge with the listeners.

Being the editor of the Bradford U3A Magazine, she used Alan Bamford (its chairman) to talk about Philosophy and Scripture and Valda & Alec Swain to relate their journeys through the Yorkshire Dales by public transport.

Finding out about the BSP (Bradford Senior Power) led her to another gold mine of interview material. Jean Walker, the Chairman, has been on the programme several times. At first just telling about the formation of the group, and then its journey through heats to get to London for a place on the 'First ever' ITV series of a Programme called "Fortune, The People's Millions". Tina accompanied Jean and nine others to the Three Mills Film Studio, one cold December day. Duncan Bannatyne from the Dragon's Den was a "No!" vote, but changed his mind when the feisty Jean challenged his decision, so they came away having been awarded £50,000 by the FIVE millionaires.

Fame led to a TV appearance on "Calendar News", a large spread in the T&A and of course an exclusive interview on BCB’s "About Bradford Show". Jean returned to tell of the Civic Reception at the Town Hall, invited there by Councillor Choudhary Rangzeb, where the group were shown the private chambers and introduced to "Brad Ford", the bear being sold for the Lord Mayors charity NB Brad actually has his own website, really!). As the search for a building for their "Centre" is hotted up, Jean will give regular progress reports. She contributed to two other BCB productions: the "One to One" spot (a type of desert Island Disc format show) and also "The Round Table" (a discussion group for the news in Bradford and district over the past week); quite a media magnet is this 74-year-old woman.

Another charity, which touched Tina’s heart, originated in the village of Denholme where she lives. Mpika Relief Fund was set up to raise money to provide children in Mpika, Northern Zambia, with a place to live. Tina became a Trustee and this was another chance for her to bring in the Chairman, June Matley (remarried and now called Martin) to emphasise the plight of the state of the county's AIDS problem. Land was purchased, a building bought and turned into "The Village of Hope Orphanage", which now houses ten children. At this very moment (June 1st 2007) June and Peter Martin are in Mpika checking on the running of the orphanage and finding out first hand what is still needed over there, whilst the rest of the Trustees and voluntary staff are manning the two shops, one in Denholme and one in Keighley.
A Charity Walk is actually being done in Zambia where Jenny Musakanya (the house mother) will walk with the children, whilst in England locals will cover a ten-mile circular route around Denholme. June’s report on the situation in Zambia is eagerly awaited and she will be telling it to BCB at the beginning of September.

Tina regularly organises for spokespersons from charities to talk to her about their fundraising efforts. Manorlands, RSPCA, PDSA, Sue Ryder and McMillan are some of the charities, which she has invited to BCB. Even the vicar of Queensbury Church came in to talk about his project to save the roof and sold raffle tickets to the office staff. Great hilarity broke out when Tina was a prizewinner. Not renowned for being early for appointments and sometimes sitting down at the mike with seconds to spare to go on air just as the strains of the theme tune are still riming in her ears, Tina's win of an ALARM CLOCK seemed most appropriate, however, she did also win a box of chocolates to console her for the laughter of the staff at BCB.

Being a volunteer can be most rewarding, says Tina, more so at the Theatre, especially at Bradford's own, The Priestley Theatre. As a volunteer Steward or Running the Coffee Shop, she says she feels a fulfilment of service there, gets to see some damn good shows and meets lots of nice people who are only too willing to come and talk on BCB 106.6FM. Tina has mopped up Producers, Directors (Ken Taylor), Cast Members (Cat (?) and Edmund Davies (now of TV fame), Volunteer Workers (Chris and Ryan), Ange Curtis from "The Wardrobe" and last but not least Marilyn Adey (Bradford Stage and Theatre School) who she interviewed in the car, as Marilyn was unable to get out of it due to a freak storm. Sadly this interview was cut short when Marilyn’s mobile ran out of power. You see, the shows really are live; the listeners thought that Marilyn was in the shower, cause the rain was beating sown so heavily on her car roof. "All in a day's work", says Tina, when asked.

Having regular guest spots has become a feature of the Afternoon Stretch. The PDSA give an update of their Animal Hospital, which operates as a benefit scheme for those unable to afford the hefty vet's bills, which can accrue. Irene Lofthouse gives a monthly report on the goings on at Otley Courthouse. This is not of the crimes, which have been committed there; The Courthouse is now an Arts Resource Centre with music, theatrical events and various workshops from time to time. Square Chapel at Halifax regularly sends e-mail information, which Tina uses for sifting out artists and musicians to interview on the Afternoon Stretch or The Scribe Slot. The Cathedral Centre, home of adult learning and skills, regularly sends in a representative to update on the courses, which are available to those with time on their hands. Tina experienced this in 1995, when she had an accident and looked at the therapeutic qualities of learning instead of feeling sorry for herself. She tried many of the courses on offer and found that some of them gained qualifications and she would recommend the centre to anyone feeling they need to get more information and skills for their CV.

Tina's co-presenter Alan Keeling, who drives... (Men are good at that, but note, we are not talking about cars)... the desk, puts the guests through their paces of a voice test (something Tina discovered, first hand when being interviewed elsewhere, is not a regular check by more established radio stations) and he explains the format of the programme. With this male/female duo, guests soon settle in and appear to forget the listeners out there. Many who quake at the knees on entry, beg to come back for a second dose of 'Radio Fever'. Some people think Tina and Alan are a ‘Mr & Mrs’of radio. That is true, but from different families, that is why they get on so well.

We hope you enjoy the show. If Thursday is a 'bad day' for you, there is the opportunity to hear a similar version on a Wednesday Afternoon from 2pm to 4pm, when Alan forsakes Tina for the dulcet tones of Janet Davis, as his co-presenter.

As you are reading this, if you feel that there is someone you know who would make an interesting guest for the show, please contact Tina on tina.watkin@bcbradio.co.uk to arrange a time one Thursday afternoon between 2pm to 4pm or ring her on 01274834273 or the studio on 01274771677. And do not forget, if you listen to the Scribe Slot (every fourth Tuesday 6.30pm to 7.00pm) it is repeated the following day from 1.30pm to 2.00pmon 106.6FM. If you are out of this area but have access to the web, you can listen on the net. Just log onto the website at http://www.bcbradio.co.uk and follow the instructions to listening live on centre screen.

If your eyes have drifted as far as this line, thank you for reading about Tina and the shows she has. We might just mention here that Alan Keeling hosts a Jazz programme once a month, even though he gets his leg pulled by certain guests about his passion for this genre of music. Details of shows can be obtained by ringing 01274 771677 or email info@bcbradio.co.uk or email him on alan.keeling@bcbradio.co.uk





   

Listen to presenters show

Sorry, this presenter is yet to upload a music clip