Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 44
life
WAVE 105
the isle of wight’s best variety of hits
It all began with
Luxembourg radio
John Clayton
At about the age of 7, John
was given a tiny transistor
radio for his birthday present,
from his music loving Dad.
Each night, John took it to bed
with him and started listening
to Radio Luxembourg at night,
when he was meant to be
sleeping! This was the start of
John’s love affair with radio.
As John got older, he started
listening to Radio One and
Capital Radio and became a
big fan of Peter Powell, Mike
Read and Mike Smith. Soon he
began ‘broadcasting’ Bedroom
FM to anyone who happened
to be in the house at the time.
This lead to hospital radio and
eventually the big break!
Following a speculative
visit to his local commercial
radio station – Essex Radio,
John found himself on air that
night, broadcasting from 2am
to 6am. In no time at all, the
Programmer of the station,
noticed John’s talent and flair
and he got given Weekend
Afternoons. This was perfect for
John, since he loved covering
John Clayton is here with
the evening Show every
weekday from 4pm.
44
the Sport on a Saturday
afternoon and continued
working at his ‘proper’ job,
training as an accountant
for a large investment bank
in the City of London.
Then came John’s big break.
The phone call he had been
waiting for from Keith Pringle,
the Programme Director
appointed at the brand new
radio station for London,
Heart 106.2. John was given
the weekend overnights,
quickly moving to weekend
afternoons and daytime cover
/ swing presenter. During
this time John completed his
accountancy exams. From
here Johns radio career took
him from Heart London, onto
Wave 105, where he poached
to present at rivals Ocean FM.
John then took a sabbatical
from Radio and started
travelling the world with his
full time job until after several
requests from radio bosses
persuaded him that ‘he really
should get back into radio.’
After having the first of his 2
children, John did precisely
that and started working
weekends in Kent. Soon,
after more badgering from
his Programming Director
he resigned from the ‘real’
job and took over drivetime
in Kent, only to then end
up back at Wave 105.
John is married with 2
fantastically challenging
children. They are both (almost)
at school (the youngest to
start in September). The family
have moved into the area,
near Winchester and loving
life on the South coast.
So much of John’s time
is now taken up with
decorating the new house
and still emptying boxes.
In addition to all this, John
is a fanatical West Ham
supporter and tries to get to
see them as often as he can.
He also plays football, tennis
and played squash until his
wife almost killed him with
a delicious hit in the eye!!
Does John regret
leaving the City life?
No, not at all, Radio is really
what I always wanted to do,
from the day that my Dad
gave me that tiny transistor
radio and I illegally sneaked it
under the bed covers! That’s
where it all began……..
As for the show…
Well John has been on
evenings for nearly 2 years
now. During that time, the show
has evolved and has numerous
interactive features. Each night,
a cabbie from the region is
invited to take part and choose
a favourite song. In return they
also get a certificate to proudly
display in the office of their cab,
along with getting a chance to
win the chance of a flight on the
Wave 105 Bournemouth eye.
Additionally, Johns listeners
get to influence the music
that gets played on the
show, by way of voting for
the single of the week.
All this coupled with the
Chill out tune and late night
love songs from 11pm,
including a chance to win
that romantic dinner for 2!!
In addition John adds his own
slant on life and gets the region
talking on a number of subjects,
including ‘ what’s the point of
skimmed milk’ or ‘Why do you
have to book a hair appointment
for your 4 year old boy’
Feel free to join the fun from
8pm each night, Monday to
Thursday, or join John for
Sunday afternoons, where you
get to choose the music.
Why not mail John and start
taking part, go to his page at
the website, Wave105.com
Email John:
[email protected]
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