Wrexham Community Radio Station Re-launches in £5m Centre

A community run radio station will get even ‘bigger and better’ after making a sound move to a new home at Glyndŵr University Wrexham.

Calon FM unveiled its revamped studios at the University’s Centre for the Creative Industries in front of up to 50 guests at a relaunch ceremony yesterday.

The team – led by station editors Katherine Wade and Amy Hughes – join BBC Wales and Glyndŵr’s Media, Arts and Design department in the £5million facility.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas launched the station at the former North East Wales Institute in 2004, and said he was delighted to see it grow in stature, as the University has over the years.

Mr Lucas said: “I’m really proud to see so many of the same faces are still here and part of its success.

“My ultimate ambition is for a local radio station for the whole of Wrexham and this can be done from here, with more support from the BBC, which has regional stations in other areas.

“We want to see that happen, so Calon FM gets bigger and better and has an even greater reach and listenership. That way we can build our media community; I know that’s the vision for the team here.”

Also on hand to share their experiences at Calon FM were former Glyndwr students Tim Barnes and Simon Berry, who used to present a weekly show on the radio station. Since leaving Calon FM and the university, the pair have gone onto work for BBC Shropshire.

Speaking about Calon FM and the platform it can provide for its presenters, Mike Wright, a Principal Lecturer in Audio Technology at Glyndŵr University said: “We have enjoyed so many significant achievements over the years, so this is a special day.

“More than 300 people from the local community have been trained in how to broadcast, we’ve had school placements, won awards, been involved in rehabilitation and many other successes that we often don’t shout about enough.

“What I can say is that we are proud of these achievements and hope for many more in the future.”

Among those accolades was the Radio Academy’s Nations and Regions Station of the Year for Wales 2014, which Calon FM won for the second year running.

The station beat off competition from other radio stations from across Wales to claim the prize, which is eligible to broadcasters with a listenership of up to 300,000.

Speaking about the new studio, Katherine said: “The new space offers a comfortable and accessible environment for volunteers, students and our community,” she added.

“We had over 800 guests at our old studios and we can’t wait to welcome people into our new home.”

For more information on Calon FM at Glyndŵr University Wrexham, visit www.calonfm.com