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Mersey poet Roger McGough has penned a special poem to mark BBC Radio Merseyside’s fortieth birthday in 2007.

The poem which lists many of the Merseyside events and news stories since 1967 was revealed at the official opening of the BBC’s new building on Thursday, 1 February, 2007.

The new Hanover Street building, which replaced the previous Paradise Street location, includes a state of the art performance space, Open Learning Centre and BBC Shop.

BBC Radio Merseyside launched on 22 November 1967 with a live broadcast from a Mersey Ferry, which included an appearance by Roger McGough as a member of The Scaffold.

"It's lovely to be asked to do something like this, being a scouser and I love Radio Merseyside," said Roger McGough. "But it's a very hard thing to write a poem about.

"I hope the audience will identify with it. With these things you have to get the tone of voice. Not to be too reverential because this is Liverpool after all and there has to be some humour in there. Yet at the same time the thing about Radio Merseyside is serious, it's an outlet for a lot of people's feelings."

BBC Radio Merseyside was the third of the BBC’s local radio stations after Leicester and Sheffield. The station’s original jingles were composed by Gerry Marsden.

Mick Ord, Editor of BBC Radio Merseyside says the new building is an important step forward, "The new Radio Merseyside building is the best purpose-built BBC station in the country - simple as that. We're accessible off as well as on-air accessible and that's what BBC local radio is all about."

Roger McGough’s poem for BBC Radio Merseyside’s 40th year

RADIO MERSEYSIDE

I am the voice that announces you are not alone
I speak your language, I am home grown

I am the gift of the gab, I am the quiet word
I am the night watch and the early bird

I am the cat's whisker, I am your favourite song
I invite you to dance and to sing along

I am on your wavelength, on your side of the street
I am with you in triumph and in defeat

I am Hillsborough, Heysel, the European Cup
The phantom caller who won't hang up

I am Bulger, I am Bigley, I am floods of tears
I am the Beatles, the Pope, the smiles and the cheers

I am the Phil, the Everyman, the Walker, the Tate
I am nineteen sixty-seven and two thousand and eight

I am the bijou apartment, the sheltered accommodation
The helping hand and the information

I am your voice, I am your ear to the ground
I am the Pool of Life and the Mersey Sound

I am the cut ribbon, the champagne popped
I am the close-down, the poem stopped.