Weekends

Bill Rennells

Bill Rennells

1. How did you get into radio?
Applied for job on Radio Oxford as a refugee from print journalism. Became a news producer.  Sounds like a Sun newspaper job description? I was a founder member in July 1970.

2. What was your first broadcast? 
Piece on the plight of small farmers on BBC Radio Nottingham on a short attachment to them in August 1970.

3. What other jobs have you done besides broadcasting? 
I was a journalist for 25 years (starting at age 14) on the Kentish Gazette, Kentish Observer, North East Kent Times, Eastbourne Gazette and Oxford Mail.

4. What would you like to be if you weren’t a radio presenter? 
I’d like to be a percussionist in a string quartet.

5. What would listeners be surprised to learn about you?  
That I once drove a flock of sheep three miles to market in Canterbury (I lost one of them).

6. Which person would you most enjoy being stuck in a lift with?
Gary Sobers.

7.  If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Make sure my nearest and dearest were OK and re-float Canterbury City Football Club.

8.  What is your worst habit?
Standing on a chair at a jazz club and shouting "play that thing."

9. Tell us about your 1st:
Car: "Sit up and beg Ford Popular which set me back £165.
Job: £1 a week junior reporter on the Kentish Gazette.         
Kiss: About 30 of them in Postman's Knock game at teen-age party. Life changing.
Record: Harry James Band with singer Kitty Kallen and something called 11.60 p.m.

10. What is your favourite?
Food: Liver and bacon.
Sandwich: Tuna and sweetcorn.
Place in Oxfordshire: Glympton.
Item of clothing: Most socks. I've got a bit of a thing about them.
Song: Small Hotel.
Singer: Blossom Dearie.
Film: An Officer and a Gentleman.
TV Show: Springwatch.