Saturday, November 19, 2011 by Cooky.

Just recently we lost Sir Jimmy Saville. I come from the same town as he, as it ‘appens,guys and gals, now then now then, goodness gracious me.

People of a certain generation will not know, or care about all the fuss that has been made in the press recently. That is because they never knew his work. Coming from Leeds it was natural that if he were going to make a name for himself, and ‘make some sheckel’, it would be in his home town. This is where he started, but, he spread his wings, and started to get into the entertainment industry running clubs in Yorkshire, and Lancashire. Not many people will know , or remember he worked on a station, which would seem now, long forgotten. To those of us who remember ’steam radio days’ the station was Radio Luxembourg. A bit of ‘pirating work’, and then a ‘big break’ with Radio One. Here he worked helping new talent to get into the world of radio.

He presented the first programme in the most successful pop programme ever. ‘Top of the pops’. Over the years this format was copied by many european television companies. Two of the most famous being, Netherland TROS ‘Top Pop’, and ZDF ‘Musik Laden’. He is also credited with being the first ‘DJ’ to use double deck, and mixer table, an idea of his own.

His charity work is well known, and recorded, but the difference he made in peoples lives is still going on, and will be hard to measure. Always a man with an answer, and a kind word and deed it was natural for him to host the programme that many will remember him for. ‘Jim’ll Fix It!’

He made alot of peoples dreams come true in many ways, from the simple, to the more complex, but if it could be done it would happen. The spirit of this programme lives on with John Barryman in ‘Tonight’s the Night’.

Sad fact for me is I never got to get my dream come true because I was in the RAF doing ‘my thing’ for Queen, and country. What would I have liked to do? I wanted to drive a London Transport Routemaster with all my family, and friends across the North Yorkshire Moors to Whitby for fish and chips. So if your listening Jimmy, ‘ows about, now then, now then fixing it for me please?’

One other thing he will be remebered for , in Leeds, is the well known ‘Printers Gala’ at Roundhay Park. He managed to get some big names to perform in the park, and make it a day to remeber for all who attended.

So now let the man speak for himself through this page, or what I think he would say.

‘Now then, as it ‘appens I was just trying to make a difference for the guys and gals. If I was a success then that is good enough for me. Goodness, gracious me  is that the time. Well it’s time to make some sheckel, and ‘ave a cigar. ‘Ows about that then?’

Goodbye, and thank you Jimmy. From someone who valued what you did.

Wingman Down. A song featured in my next programme, or the current, however you are listening. This song is written by Ken (Ryback) Nicholl. Ken served as a Recce Commander in the British Army. On occasion serving with NATO, a pleasure I have had here, and there.  His son James is also serving with the army in Afghanistan, doing his third tour.

Ken wanted to show the people of this country, and Royal Wooton Basset, that their respect coming from a selfless emotion, was recognised, and appreciated.

He makes it clear in a statement that he does not see himself as a sensitive guy, but wanted to reach out, and say thank you to all those people who have helped, and shown respect for the memory of ‘The Fallen’ in our Armed Forces. A sentiment I want to support also.

Ken makes it clear, in his statement, that there are times when words just can’t cover all the emotions, and sentiment that we want to express. In this song the words, and the poetry go a long way to correcting this. Ken also wants to mention the American people who support their own troops, and the British troops on a daily basis. I would also like to give my thanks to the American people.

Bill Everatt will be interviewing Ken, so you will be able to hear the man himself on Bill’s show.

You can find more information, about this song, you can buy it at this address: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wingman-down-single/id480662954.

That’s it from me except to say. Thankyou for listening, reading this missive, and making Celtica Radio a success. Goodbye, and may your God go with you.

Posted in General | 2 Comments »

Sunday, October 2, 2011 by Cooky.

Hello!….Hello!….Hello!, and health to you all! Today is a special day it is Bills Birthday, so why not send him a birthday hello. Well things are going in a Northerly fashion, although my body seems to be heading in a Southerly fashion, Ahhh! the joys of getting older.

What! do you say? Age catching you up? Never! You are ageless in the world of radio. Bless you!.

Well my holiday is over, the weather was rubbish, and now I am back to work…….yes the weather has become mediterranean. It makes you want to spit doesn’t it.

The music is getting better, and better, and the standard of the artists we play is blosoming as we speak. Thanks to all you listeners who take time to let us know what you think, we always try to take notice. Thank you also for your kind comments when you think we have got it right. Bill strides up,and down, the corridor when he gets a pat on the back by you lot. Please don’t over do it he’s bossy enough.

In my programme I have placed some of the old Celtica tags, so listen out for them. They catch me out on occasion, and I sometimes think to myself I had forgotten that one. I remeber spending one afternoon doing Taz tags for people on the station. My throat hurt for a couple of days.

So I am back at it, and pleased that you want me to entertain you. It seems that alot of you like my ‘old codswollop’, and bless you for that.

Time for me to take the special cocoa that Matron makes for me, so farewell for the moment, and may your God go with you. 

Posted in General | 1 Comment »

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 by Cooky.

Hello once again. I am on holiday for the next week or so. The programmes are in ‘the can’, so I can relax in the garden with ’The Memsahib’, and a Pimms or two.

Beddowes the gardner has done stalwart work on the estate, the woodland walk, kitchen garden, main driveway and the rest of the landscaping are in their final ’summer blush’. What the future holds for the programme will unfold as we move into autumn. All the presenters are working feverishly away at the coming autumn schedules, so listen out, and enjoy.

I am very pleased to hear from so many people, too many to name them all, telling me they love Celtica Radio. Thank you so much for taking ‘time out’ to let us know. It does make it worthwhile to hear your praise, and constructive comments. We do pay attention to them all.

Bill has been working like a ‘little demon’ on the uderground show, so don’t miss this.

I can hear ‘The Memsahib’ calling me for another Pimms, oh dear it’s a hard life.

Farewell, until the next time, and may your God go with you. Bye.

Posted in General | 1 Comment »

Saturday, August 13, 2011 by Cooky.

Hello everybody, thanks for listening to my show, and of course Celtica Radio. I am always pleasantly surprised when I get a chance to sit back, and realise that people want to listen to my ‘load of old rubbish’ I call the Dave Cook’s Zoo. Your responses make it all worthwhile for me, as it does with the other presenters.

It has once again been a period of progress for Celtica Radio. Moving onto the Medium wave, I always think when we say the medium wave that we should all be sitting round a table holding hands chanting……..’ is there anybody there!’ Since we became involved with Radio Hafren we have taken on a new energy, and thanks to all our listeners there, and to all our internet listeners we have found through this a new strength to carry on. I bet you didn’t think you could make that much differenc to an organisation, but you have………’fer sure, fer sure it’s clean clear to Flagtown c’mon!’

So what’s in store for you the ‘Good listener?’ Well we have all been ‘cogitating our navels’, although Bill did get moved on in Cardiff for doing his cogitating in public.

He is so precocious, and at times ’slack Alice’ about such things. We are receiving so many airplay requests from bands, and single artists that we are literally spoilt for choice, and as I always say with this kind of music…’ who would want to turn the dial?’

Lookout for a track from the ‘Blue Horses’, a Welsh band that will be playing on my ‘upcoming’ show this week. The track is called  ‘In Flanders Field’. This song is dedicated to the memory of The Fallen of World War One. This is something close to my heart, and we should all be grateful to these men.

The band uses Celtic themes mixed into a rock and roll spirit that, in turn, charges them into producing some ‘mind blowing’ improvisations. This in turn gives them the means to produce a truly unique hybrid sound not to be missed. They are fronted by Gothess Lizzy Prendergast (who is loverley to look at, but after the event I have to lie down in a darkened room, with vinegar cloths on my legs, and a nurse on standby). The band also is influenced by her co-founder, and co writer Nic Waulker.

They formed in the 1990’s working hard to form there unique sound, and now it is ‘paying off’. This is a band to watch in the future. They could easily become famous, and then it’ll be a ‘Fiver to talk to them’.

Also ‘listen out’ for Luke Aaron Clark. A new voice on the ‘airwaves’. Luke has been working hard on his productions to ‘hone his style’ for the listener. He ‘hales from’ Brighton, but he could be in Paris, London, Istanbul……….he get’s about a bit. I did when I was younger, but that was because we were always one step ahead of the rentman. I hope that’s not the reason for him ‘being on the go!’. The track you’ll hear from Luke is called ‘You’. I feel sure we will hear alot more from Aaron in the future.

Well that’s it for the moment. I wish you well, and I would like to leave you with this saying from Confusious a third century philosopher……..’Man with hole in pocky can feel cocky. Man with two hole in pocky cannot feel two cocky! Man with three hole in pocky is downright over ambitious!!!!!

Bye for now, and may your God go with you. Ta!!

Posted in General | 1 Comment »

Sunday, August 7, 2011 by Moderator.

Our “Old Bill” [Everatt] started in radio in 1979, and amongst the stations he’s broadcast on include ABC in Ireland, two years at Red Dragon Radio in Cardiff and six years at Swansea Sound!  But the station he’s spent the most time on is Celtica Radio.

He’s a rather reclusive animal – he doesn’t even do Facebook!  But now you can get to hear some vintage Bill, along with the other guys chatting to some great artists in Classic Celtica Interviews, every Sunday.

Click Here To Listen

Posted in General | 1 Comment »