Peel honoured

Top radio award for DJ legend

01 May 07 - John Peel has been awarded a prestigious honour at the annual Sony Radio Academy awards.

The legendary Radio 1 presenter, who joined the station when it launched in 1967, won the Broadcasters' Broadcaster Award, voted for by fellow DJs and industry bosses. Other nominees included Terry Wogan and the late Alistair Cooke.

Peel's award was accepted by his widow, Sheila Ravenscroft, at the Grosvenor House hotel in London.

"I feel very emotional," she said. "I'm just really, really touched that everybody is still remembering him. It's amazing, it's really wonderful."

"I'm just really, really touched"
Sheila Ravenscroft

Peel's championing of acts including the Sex Pistols, the White Stripes, The Undertones and The Fall earned him a loyal following.

This was not Peel's first posthumous award, though. He also received a special Lifelong Service to Music gong at the 2005 NME awards, and his name is attached to the magazine's award for musical innovation. The Sony award marked the 25th anniversary of the ceremony.

Andre Paine