Media release: 26th Nov 2015
Use: Immediate
Take-off for ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’ Oral history project…
Past and present employees of Westland Helicopters (now AgustaWestland), together with their family and friends, are being asked to share their memories of working at the Yeovil factory for a project to mark 100 years of the aircraft manufacturer in Yeovil.
Radio Ninesprings - Yeovil’s new community radio station - has been awarded £45,000 funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a permanent spoken archive of Westland by recording interviews with people discussing their memories of the factory from 1915 to the present day.
Radio Ninesprings is now searching for people to tell their stories of how a business that started by making oil engines has grown to become a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of helicopters. The project called ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’ will provide a range of learning opportunities for students at Yeovil College. They will record and edit oral histories and present them on a new community-led website to bring the story of Westland to life. The students will also make a film using clips ofhomecine film of Westland built aircraft.
Project Director of Radio Ninesprings, Steve Haigh, said: “"We are delighted to have the Heritage Lottery Fund's support for this project. Westland has been manufacturing aircraft in Yeovil for 100 years and its activities remain in living memory. We want to capture those memories through recorded interviews to ensure the story of Westland is available for future generations to learn about and understand. Without those memories an important piece of Yeovil history will be lost with time."
John Ponsonby, Managing Director at AgustaWestland, said: “As we conclude our centenary celebrations it is great to see this exciting community project underway. It will provide a unique record of the aircraft manufacturing activities that have taken place here in Yeovil since 1915 and the important contribution those that have worked for the company over the last 100 years have made to make it the success it is today.”
Head of Curriculum for Creative Industries at Yeovil College, Adrian Ponter, said: “We are delighted to be part of such an exciting project covering local history in the town. It’s a great story for Yeovil and a terrific opportunity for our students to hone their skills on such an interesting community project.”
Nerys Watts, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “Companies and industry have always helped to define a place and over the last 100 years Westland has played a key part in Yeovil life. This National Lottery investment will help to preserve the company’s story and create a lasting legacy from its centenary year.”
The project will train volunteers to learn new skills to enable them to gather and share the spoken memories. The involvement of volunteers will be a key part of the success and on-going legacy of the project. The final versions of the interviews and the film will be made available to the public through Yeovil Library, Fleet Air Arm Museum and via a dedicated community website.
Anyone who would like to be interviewed about Westland, has cine film of Westland aircraft or, to volunteer for the project,please get in touch through our website:www.westland100.org.ukor, write to: ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’, E216, Yeovil College, Mudford Road, Yeovil BA21 4DR.
Photo' showsSteve Haigh and Adrian Dening of Radio Ninesprings with Yeovil College studentswho will work on the project.
For more on this storycontact: Steve Haigh, Project Leader, ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’ m: 07836 246678 or, email:
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery
Media release: 14th October 2015
Immediate use
Radio Ninesprings made a broadcast recording of last night's South Somerset District Council meeting when the future ofthe Westland Leisure Complex in Yeovil was decided.
To hear what was said and how the council voted:www.radioninesprings.co.uk
Click 'Latest programmes' in left hand margin
See 'Future of Westland Leisure Complex'
Click MP3 to play
Would you like a recording made of your event /meeting?
If so and your event has local news value then we will come to make record and put the recording on our website.
To discuss call:Steve Haigh, Project Director, Radio Ninesprings m: 07836 246678
Radio Ninesprings is the trading name of Radio Yeovil Community Interest Company (not for profit)
Media release: 28th September2015
For immediate use
It seems the craze of hula hooping has never gone away in Yeovil.
On Saturday (26th Sept), in the Quedam shopping centre, Yokel Jugglers showed that hula hooping is still very much in fashion at Juggling Jingles, an event organised by Radio Ninesprings, Yeovil's new community radio station.
Radio Ninesprings had their new outside broadcast van on show for the first time with lots of shoppers trying their hand at DJ-ing and jingle writing.
The mobile unit, which was once in use with Granada TV in Manchester for making sound recordings for TV shows, has been totally re-fitted as a mobile radio studio.
Radio Ninesprings are now looking forlocal events to take the unit to run live broadcasts.
Radio Ninesprings Project Director, Steve Haigh said "We had a fantastic day in the Quedam on Saturday. Juggling Jingles was our first major outdoor event and we could not have wished for a better response.Yokel Jugglers gave an outstanding performance and we hope to work with them again in the future. Wegave out more than 200 entry forms to our 'Write a Radio Jingle' competition and had lots of people being DJ’s. We were especially heartened by the level of support from local people for Yeovil to have its own community radio station and when Super Saturday takes place next year we hope Radio Ninesprings will be on FM and can broadcast the event live over the local airwaves".
To enter our 'Write a Radio Jingle' competition go to our website -www.radioninesprings.com. Download the entry form and then email the completed form or, send by post, to:Radio Ninesprings, Rm: E216, Yeovil College, Mudford Road, Yeovil BA21 4DR
Who knows, it could be your jingle that launches Radio Ninesprings and becomes the most recognisable radio jingle on the airwaves of Yeovil!
For more:Steve Haigh, Project Director, Radio Ninesprings m: 07836246678
Radio Ninesprings is the trading name of Radio Yeovil Community Interest Company (not for profit)
Media release issued: 15th September2015
For immediate use
Could you write a radio jingle about Yeovil?
If so, Yeovil's new community radio station - Radio Ninesprings - would like to hear from you.
The jingles are needed for a new programme streaming service from Radio Ninesprings planned to launch early next year.
Radio Ninesprings Project Director, Steve Haigh said: "This is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved with Radio Ninesprings. People should listen to the jingles on the radio and then write one to fit a radio station broadcasting to Yeovil. They shouldpick words that evoke familiarity and build an emotional connection, using words that describe Yeovil’s unique character, even local lines like - where’s it to! - to make their jingles indisputably about Yeovil. Verses that incorporate words abouthelicopter flying, glove making, local place names, and use no more than 25 words with four lines would be ideal for our purposes”.
Experts say radio jingles should convey one clear message and that, when it comes to writing radio jingles, less is more.A typical example of a jingle you might hear on Radio Ninesprings would be:
You'll love Radio Ninesprings in the morning, you'll love us at noon
You'll love us in the evening, so try Radio Ninesprings soon
To enter the competition, go to our website -www.radioninesprings.com- and download the 'Write a Radio Jingle' entry form then email your completed form or send it by post to Radio Ninesprings, Rm: E216, Yeovil College, Mudford Road, Yeovil BA21 4DR
Who knows, it could be your jingle that launches Radio Ninesprings and becomes the most recognisable radio jingle heard on the local airwaves!
For more on this story contact:Steve Haigh, Radio Ninespringsm: 07836246678
Radio Ninesprings is the trading name of Radio Yeovil Community Interest Company (not for profit)
Media release issued: 4thJune 2015
For immediate use
Freedom Parade of Yeovil recorded by Radio Ninesprings
Radio Ninesprings – community radio for Yeovil – made a broadcast recording of the Freedom Parade of Yeovil by sailors and soldiers based at RNAS Yeovilton.
To hear the speeches made by Yeovil Mayor Mike Lock, Commodore Jock Alexander of RNAS Yeoviliton and Chaplain Rev Jim Pearce go to:www.radioninesprings.co.uk
A commentary of the Freedom Parade itself, voiced by local historian Jack Sweet with Steve Haigh, can also be heard via the Radio Ninesprings website.
Audio 1: Yeovil Mayor Mike Lock gives troops permission to march with bands playing, colours flying and bayonets fixed
Audio 2: Local historian Jack Sweet with Steve Haigh describes the parade as it passes along Princess Street, High Street and into Middle Street.
To listen to the recordings go to:www.radioninesprings.co.uk
Click: Latest programmes
Click: MP3 file
Click: Play button
The recordings can be played on all devices, including mobile phones
For further details contact:
Steve Haigh,Project Manager,Radio Ninesprings
m: 07836 246678e:
Radio Ninesprings is the trading name of Radio Yeovil Community Interest Company (not for profit)
Media release issued: 8th May 2015
For immediate use
Final speeches on election night recorded by Radio Ninesprings
The votes have been counted but what did local candidates have to say about the results?
Radio Ninesprings, Yeovil's community radio station, was at the count for the Yeovil and Somerton and Frome constituencies to record the final speeches of each of the candidates
To listen to the recordings go to:www.radioninesprings.co.uk
click latest programmes
click MP3
click play button
The recordings can be played on all devices including mobile phones
During the election campaign, Radio Ninesprings recorded hustings at Wadham School, Crewkerne and Westfield Academy in Yeovil.
At the election count, Radio NInesprings ran the sound desk at the Westland Leisure Centre and provided BBC, ITV and Sky with sound feeds of the results as they were declared.
For further details:
Steve Haigh,Project Manager,Radio Ninesprings m: 07836 246678
Media release issued: 27th April 2015
For immediate use
Local candidates in radio debate
Yeovil’s community radio station, Radio Ninesprings, will be recording an Election Question Time in Crewkerne this Thursday, 30th April.
The hustings event is being held at Wadham School, starting at 7.45pm.
Each of the five candidates contesting the Yeovil constituency at the general election will be on the panel.
It's open to the public and questions to the panel will be invited.
The debate will be available as 'Listen Again' on the Radio Ninesprings website from Friday.
To hear the recording go to:
www.radioninesprings.co.uk
For more details contact:
Steve Haigh, Project Manager, Radio Ninesprings m: 07836 246678