Restricted Service Licences

Other programmes at the weekend included a Dance Show, a Country Music special on both nights, a love song request show, along with film and video reviews.

During the RSL a spectacular fund-raising concert for the Children In Need Appeal was undertaken at the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, from where the highlights were broadcast and which raised over £1,000 for the appeal.

Due to popular demand, and to broaden our experience prior to the possible provision of a permanent
service, Birch Radio returned to the airwaves again for 28 days from 2^nd June 1997.

Programming followed similar lines to before, with the inclusion again of an hourly Community Noticeboard which promoted local fund raising events. The Classic Track also returned playing tracks from the day's
featured year every hour after the news.

IRN and Metro Networks again provided the news and travel, with the Rochdale Observer compiling and presenting two local bulletins each week day.

Regular features in the magazine morning and afternoon shows were again sponsored by local bodies
including Rochdale MBC, Nat West, Hopwood Hall College and local night club Pazaaz. Interviewees in these shows included actress Meg Johnson, Internationally renown artist, Walter Kershaw, along with
representatives from the Samaritans, RSPCA, the Community Health Council, Rochdale Civic Society, the local Talking Newspaper and the Association for Rochdale Charities for the Handicapped.

The Reverend Stephen Grey also provided daily 'Thought for the Day' features.

Other guests included the town's new MP Lorna Fitzsimons, the Mayor Jane Gartside, Andy O'Sullivan MBE. a community policeman who organises fun runs and fell races for charity, paralympic triple gold medalist Simon Jackson MBE and international singing star, Billy J Kramer.

Outside broadcasts again took place from the two shopping centres in Rochdale at weekend, with music from local bands. International hair dressers Greg Couzens and John Peers provided demonstrations of their skills, and talked about their experiences representing Wella and other multinational hair companies throughout the world. The mid morning show also came live from the Nat West Bank foyer on one day.

The station was also given the honour of launching the new fundraising initiative for the Springhill Hospice by Ken Davies their chief fund raiser.

To celebrate the 21st Anniversary of Birch Radio, the airwaves of Rochdale were once again filled with the sounds of the station on 106.4 FM from 22nd November to 19th December.

Programming once again concentrated on the people of Rochdale with guests from all walks of life appearing daily. The Mayor, MP, leaders of all the political parties in the town, and many other public figures were to be found in the studio over the month.

Live shows took place for 22 hours a day with the remainder broadcast from our Myriad automation system.

A campaign was launched to bring back a well known Rochdale landmark. A statue of three sheep used to adorn the entrance to the Rochdale Exchange shopping centre. However, when it was renovated, the statue was moved indoors. Subsequently it was then place on the multi storey car park. Our campaign was backed by many members of the public as well as local politicians. Hopefully, the statue will find a new home in the near future.

Throughout the broadcast, listeners were asked to send in birthday, anniversary or Christmas cards to the studio, and more than 400 hundred were received. On the final drivetime show, a card was drawn out and the sender won a £600 holiday voucher courtesy of Balloon Magic, Middleton Shopping Centre and the Co-Op Travelcare.

To celebrate the end of the RSL, a Party Night was held at Nemesis nightclub in Rochdale, to where all our competition winners, their families and friends were invited. A free buffet was provided, and a lucky listener won a car (even though it was a second hand Lada).