Thornbury's radio station has launched new shows as it starts ramping-up to full time FM broadcasts.

Following last month's news that Thornbury Radio had been given a broadcast licence, the station has added a number of new shows in its schedule.

To help people keep up to date on coronavirus news, there are daily bulletins at 9am, 12 noon, 3pm and 6pm. These are complemented by regular Government public service announcements to help everyone stay safe during the crisis.

On Saturday and Wednesday at 12noon station Director David Wrench presents “Lifeline Thornbury” with a selection of local coronavirus-related news and easy listening music. The first show last week featured Toby Savage – leader of South Gloucestershire Council.

Coming to Thornbury Radio on Tuesday evenings at 8pm, is Tony Bradley with his new show, Anything Goes.

Tony will be making a departure from his usual show, The Dance Band Days on Thursday’s at 8pm, and playing a wide variety of vintage music from many different genres, up to the early 1960s, with a focus on the popular music and singers of the 1940s and 1950s.

The show will also include vintage broadcasts, spoken word, poems, comedy songs, plus quizzes, such as name that song and name the mystery singer, plus chat from Tony himself.

Tony, feels that there is a real need amongst local listeners of all ages to access this kind of music, what he calls a Golden Age, especially at this time when many are self-isolating, and many listeners are at home. This includes Tony himself.

The first public meeting of Thornbury Radio on April 23 will now be held online rather than at The Swan pub. Anyone interested in attending the meeting should register by visiting thornbury.radio and clicking on “Contact”.

The station’s management team are keen to talk to any local businesses, organisations and stakeholders who would like to collaborate with the station on premises or logistical or financial support. They should contact radio@tmcic.org.

While it builds towards FM launch, the station continues its online local radio service 24 hours a day at thornbury.radio