Radio Gaga

Watch out pop-pickers, there’s a new radio station in town. Sydenham Community Radio (SCR) is set to take the airwaves by storm when it broadcasts over the air for the first time at the Sydenham Arts Festival.
South east London is known for its clutch of tight-knit communities, and this is no more apparent than in SE26, where a group of dedicated residents have set up the area’s first community radio station.


“My idea for a radio station in Sydenham started with five people sat around in a pub back in 2007,” says chairman Peter Aleksin from their HQ at Eco Computer Systems, Sydenham Road. “To gauge interest from local residents I handed out flyers at the railway station, and I was surprised by the amount of interest it attracted.”


Peter held the first meeting in November 2007 and formed a group of volunteers including fellow presenter and Sydenham resident, Simon Banks. Within months Simon had registered SCR as a not-for-profit limited company and in 2008, with perseverance from their most prominent fundraiser, Anna Baghari, they were awarded a grant from the lottery’s Awards For All scheme. However, it was the substantial donation of equipment from King’s College Hospital that really got the show on the road. This enabled SCR to function as an online radio station and air its first show at last summer’s arts festival.


Don’t expect cringy Smashie and Nicey characters, the presenters here are an enthusiastic bunch hailing from marketing, journalism, and local radio backgrounds. Currently there’s a team of around 40 fundraisers, technical staff and presenters, but they are keen to expand and Peter promises that, “whether you’ve been on the radio for 25 years or 25 minutes, there’s a place for you at SCR”.


Gareth Harries, programme planner and presenter of the Blues and Soul show, has been involved from the beginning. With experience in hospital radio plus stints at Big Chill FM and at an English radio station in Barcelona, Gareth brings plenty of broadcasting experience to SCR.


There are more than a dozen scheduled programmes, including Peter’s weekly Hectic & Eclectic show, and Clare Coyne’s Culture Shot, which plays classical music and promotes local poetry. Friday nights see the remix show Bangers and Mash, which professes to be “more accessible than most dance shows”.


Last year, SCR set up a youth training scheme to offer the young people of Sydenham a chance to gain some hands-on experience in local radio. They offer a six or 10-week course covering the basics of broadcasting, technical, presenting and content, and it’s proving really popular.


As for the future, will Sydenham radio be featuring at the Sony’s? Who knows, Simon is currently applying for a five-year medium-wave licence that will enable the station to broadcast to the 20,000 residents of Sydenham. “Our dream is to have a long licence and broadcast full-time,” says Peter, with clear dedication, “and eventually we’d like to do more fundraising to enable SCR to support other local projects.”

Local radio brings a community together. So whether it’s popular music, poetry or lively debate you’re after, support Sydenham Community Radio – it’s poptastic, mate. 

SCR is currently looking for local voices in sport, finance and health to contribute to their current schedule. Contact the team at info@sydenhamradio.co.uk. Listen live at www.sydenhamradio.co.uk

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