Piccadilly Radio Personalities Gone To Glory
- Comments: 4
Yesterday, friends and family gathered to celebrate the life of a truly remarkable individual. His name was Colin Walters! Colin was the founding Programme Controller, then later, Managing Director of Piccadilly Radio and changed the lives of so many individuals including me. The stories told by the likes of Jim Hancock, Brian Beech, Chris Briar and others will live long in the memory. The more personal family contributions were simply beautiful. Having been in this game for quite a long time I have some favourite songs for times like these. I think Vince Gill says it best.
Mark McCall
21 October 2019 at 17:48
Dear Tony Emmerson, what a great broadcaster, a great man, possibly unique in that he adhered to the noble principle of never saying a bad word about anybody – or anything. Even in moments of intense pressure, for me at least, fiddling with the carts during news bulletins, Tony would be utterly unfazed, with his engaging smile, just dealing with it, lining up his next 45.
He was a true professional and a gentleman of the highest order, in every respect.
When I first met Tony I was a reporter at Piccadilly 261. I always considered Tony to be commercial radio’s answer to Alan ‘fluff’ Freeman. Tony was a stalwart, a safe pair of broadcasting hands.
His passing is a grievous loss. He was a lovely man. How very sad. Tony’s family and friends can be proud of his pioneering, on-air, precedent-setting achievements and perhaps above all, his kindly, accommodating demeanour. Most unusually for a celebrity of his prominence I found him to be exceptionally modest, unduly so, in my own humble opinion. My deepest, heartfelt condolences on the passing of a much loved colleague.
Sally Jackson
29 May 2020 at 05:44
Hi Mark, this is a real blast from the past but hopefully you will remember me – I was Carol Sundquist’s best friend and you, Carol, Ged and I would hang out together in Chorlton during the school hols. I lost touch with Carol after she got married so I didn’t hear the tragic story of Ged until long after the event. It still makes me very sad to think about it.
I have been living in Perth, Australia, for over thirty years now but my family are all still in Altrincham and I have a daughter living in London so I go over regularly to see them. I would love to meet with you for a drink on my next trip over and catch up on the last forty-odd years (although sadly it probably won’t be for a while due to COVID-19!).
I hope you are well and happy and would love to hear from you.
With best wishes, Sally
Rose Taylor
21 October 2019 at 23:11
So very sad. Didn’t know Tony, but am in touch with his daughter, Sharon. Also, there’s the loss of former Picc colleagues: Tom Tyrrell, Steve Barnes, Mike Briscoe & the lovely Danni Courage. May they all RIP.
Derek cope ake, dell johnson
20 August 2020 at 09:44
Knew Tony when we were working the circuit as mobile DJs in the Chichester area in West Sussex. I remember how excited he was when he told me of he’s new job as a presenter on piccadilly radio. Tony was a true gentleman. He will be sadly missed.