"We were about to challenge a comfy print media monopoly in the area. Trinity Mirrors' Visiter and village title newspapers, plus the independent 'Champion' were both thriving. We needed our share, and more of the local audience, with regular advertising revenue. But we needed it yesterday. If we got Dune FM wrong at launch, we'd be assassinated publicly by our print colleagues. For us, it was all or nothing from the start. This is the story of a brilliant team of local people who worked together and pulled Dune FM quite literally up by the bootstraps to be a serious contender, skillfully navigating many 'many' hurdles. Then, professionally structuring a senior team and creating a winning submission for the licence to launch full-time, in the Radio explosion of the 90's."

 

Steve Dickson, Dune FM Co-founder, Launch Managing Director & Author of the anticipated book on 'The Dune FM story'.

 

These were the 4 'Test' 28 day broadcasts as part of the planning and research process:-

 

Dune FM 1 - April 1993 | Dune FM 2 - November 1993 | Magic Dune FM 3 - May 1995 | Magic Dune FM 4 - December 1995

 

The list below is of the wonderfully enthusiastic and skilled volunteers, who helped Steve Dickson, Phil Hilton and John Cooper, 'make the above station tests happen', which was pivotal, in the formation of this Radio Station. Very sadly, and with heavy hearts.....there are a few names on this list who have since passed.

 

Angela Birchall, Beth Johnson, Bill (from Formby), Bob Baxter, Brian McGovern, Carl England, Chris Mills, Claire Bowles, Clive Pounsby, Dave McDermott, Dave Quinn, David Raynor, George Sephton, Gwen Story, Helen Jacklin, Henry Henderson, Ian Bryden, Kenny Bell, Kev Linden, Kieron Fox, Kieron Howlett, Lee Cadwell, Lizzie Allen, Mike Devlin, Mark Sleet, Mike Dixon, Mike Enoch, Mike Taylor, Neil Hodgkins, Phil Roberts, Richard Bond, Rob Turner, Ron Ellis, Ron Watson, Ron Tierney, Simon Smithies, Simon Logan, Stan Wooley, Stephen Blackburn, Tom Simm, Tracy Mitchell, Trevor Ford, Zoe Richards, Zoe Petrie, PLUS many of the Hospital Radio voluntary team in Ormskirk on Dune fm 2.

 

July 2023 was the 25th Anniversary of Golf FM, and those chapters from 1998 are already written on the 4 month build up and 8 day dedicated broadcast of the 1998 Open Championship. This included qualifying at local clubs, such as Hillside GC and Hesketh GC, practice days and then the 4 day tournament at Royal Birkdale. It recalls and celebrates some amazing stories with local, national and international golfers and broadcast media greats. Golf FM was a sister station initiative to Dune FM, broadcasting from a 3rd studio at Dune, and from the R & A International press centre at Royal Birkdale. It was an amazing achievement paving the way for future Open Golf Radio.

 

From 1997 up to 2012, many congratulations to the talented and committed broadcasters, technical team, administration and sales personnel who were all part of the various Dune FM families and owners in this time.