Mark

I source, produce & present three free-form weekly radio shows on Blast 1386. This includes arranging my own guests/interviews. Blast 1386 is a university radio station (started April 2002 as college radio) based in Reading, UK and broadcasts live 24/7 on 1386 am (Reading) & on the net www.blast1386.com - click on Listen & select your player of choice. My shows go out as follows:-Mondays:5pm-7pm EIGHTIES Wednesdays:7.30am-10am AMERICANA AM Saturdays: 9am - 12 MARK WATKINS MUSIC SHOW.BACKGROUNDI read about Hospital Radio in Record Mirror in 1981 & wrote off for details. I then applied to join Maidenhead Hospital Radio as Reading turned me down as I was too young (you had to be 18 to sign up).I first appeared on radio in 1982, presenting a half-hour midweek show "Trends" on Maidenhead Hospital Radio,aged 17, moving closer to home by joining Reading Hospital Radio in 1983. The Summer of '83 was spent on Saturday Sport reading out football and racing results copied off the TV! No internet in those days!In the early 90's (after a brief spell back at Maidenhead in 1986) I was often heard on BBC Berkshire/Thames Valley FM and 2-TEN FM as a "spokesperson" for my 9-5 job, before rejoining Reading Hospital Radio in 1997 helping out with the Saturday night request show. Reading 107 FM started up late '97 and for the next 5 years I presented classical & late shows for the station that broadcast on monthly Restricted Service Licences to the town. The radio station came under the Oracle Broadcasting banner and also trialed kids radio in Reading as well as putting out a "sister" radio station for High Wycombe in 1998 called WAX FM, where I was on weekends and nights. When the new, permanent FM radio licence for Reading was advertised & subsequently granted it went to "rivals" New City FM ,who, quickly changed their name to - Reading 107 FM! A smart marketing move some might say! Meantime, Blast 1386 was starting up, and so after 6 months on Thames Valley TV (radio arm, they also did cable TV) I joined Blast in 2002 and have been on-air every week ever since, building up the shows to what they are today!! For a time some of Blast's shows were also broadcast on Apple FM via Sky TV (sat.) so I've spread the word there too. To think. I had spots when I started aged 17. Now I have slots!!

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