Mark Willis
Mark was born in Chelmsford and has lived here all his life. In 1999, Mark joined Hospital Radio Chelmsford. And then 15 years later, Chelmsford Community Radio as the station was starting to build up its show team. His programme was the third live programme ever to be broadcast on Chelmsford Community Radio on the Internet. Three years later Chelmsford Community Radio would begin broadcasting on 104.4 FM.
Marks early life was consumed with radio. Soon after Mark became a teenager, Radio Caroline began broadcasting from 3.5 miles off the coast of Frinton-on-sea. Mark says “It was wonderful being able to listen to pop music all day and most of the night. I wanted to become a radio DJ. Sadly, my epilepsy got in the way of that ambition, as well as driving. Instead I had a record deck, a microphone and a stack of records. (which kept me permanently poor!) I had saved up for a good tape recorder. So I could at least produce radio programmes and play them back. I was lucky to get a job working in a music/record shop in 1965 with James Dace & Sons Ltd. This was a job which I really enjoyed, so much. The business owner, Mr. Hickman, even let me use his expensive hi-fi equipment to listen to music during my lunch hour. I did listen to a lot of classical music, to show willing, but I ended up loving it as much as jazz and pop music. One year, in 1967, I got the chance to visit Radio Caroline. The very enterprising owners of the boat, the “Lady Kent” realised that this was a wonderful increase of trade for their company. We came alongside the Mi Amigo and talked to the DJs. Plus, I met my first ever girlfriend!”
Marks other hobbies are: astronomy as well as other sciences, cooking, (He has been a vegetarian since 1988). He also loves drawing and sings in the choir of Anglia Ruskin University “The Anglia Singers”.
Mark Willis presents the Retro Chart Show every Monday morning at 10 and embraces the challenge of bringing you two charts from that week in years gone by. He says “When I first took on the Retro Chart Show at Chelmsford Community Radio, I thought that at my age, this might be outside my abilities, and my comfort zone. I have never worked so hard on a radio show before, ever. But, I think it has been worth it. The show has evolved and I really enjoy it.”
Tune in and give Mark your support.
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