THE PRESENTERS

You have all begged to know more about our presenters, and to see photographs to connect with those wonderful voices. So (for those for whom we have been able to find photos) here you are!

Chloe Alexander / David Arscott / Norman Baker / Dilly Barlow / Dino Bishop / Mike Bonsor / Lee Brooks / Peter Chasseaud / Kevin Cramer / DJ Daddy T / Mike Easton / Peter Flanagan / Mark Johnson / Martin Leeburn / Tom Logan / Barry MacDonald / Dave Marchant / Sheridan McCoid / Tom Mugridge / Michael Munday / Ruth O'Keeffe / Iain Paxon / Steve Pilfold / Ras Ric / Andy Reeve / Lee Reynolds / Pete Sanders / Geoff Sitford / Vic Smith / Eugene Sully / Jonathan Swan / Rik Taub / Andy Thomas / Rupert Lloyd Thomas / Ian Turner / Derek Watts / Paul Watts / Hamilton Wilson

Please note that this information related to our 2007 season on-air. As soon as details of our schedule for 2008 have been finalised, this page will be updated.

Let's start with Chloe Alexander, who made her debut with Rocket FM last year. A lifelong obsession with music, mostly the more obscure side of the spectrum, has turned her into a walking compendium of Great Records! Chloe loves nothing better than to play some of this music over the air on her very own radio programme - which is Chloe's Music Room, on Sundays from 3 to 4 pm. As she decides on her playlists, you can see them here.

David Arscott has written more than 30 books about Sussex, but some listeners will remember his many years as a producer and presenter at BBC Radio Brighton / Sussex. He began in the newsroom (he had a newspaper background), but soon made magazine programmes his speciality, covering every aspect of Sussex life. He'll be inviting a fascinating selection of guests - all authors - into the Rocket FM studio for "The Book Programme" on Sunday 21st October, from 12 noon to 1pm..

Norman Baker started his working life in the music industry, and developed a wide taste in music - everything from 1920s jazz to punk! This year he will be bringing you a selection of his favourite music, and talking to some interesting guests, on the inventively-titled "Norman Baker's Music and Guests" on Saturday 3rd November from 8pm to 10pm. Tune in, and prepared to be fascinated!

(As his day job, Norman works in Westminster.)

Rocket FM considers itself very fortunate to have the services of the brilliant Dilly Barlow, well-known for her work for national radio and television. If by any chance you don't know her name (and you should, because she lives in Lewes) you will most certainly know her voice.

And when can you hear her voice? Presenting "My Rocket Records" every weekend - on Saturdays 20th and 27th October and 3rd November from 5pm to 6pm, repeated the following Sunday from 11am to 12 noon. Her intrepid guests this year will be Peter Owen-Jones (TV presenter and Vicar of Glynde, Beddingham and Firle), Marina Pepper (Wiccan, one-time Playboy model and recently Chair of Lewes District Council) and Julian Bell (highly-regarded local painter and scion of the Bloomsbury Group).

The photo shows Dilly cuddling her cat Eddie. Lucky Eddie!

This cheeky chappie is Dino Bishop. Dino started as a guest on Rocket three years ago and got hooked. He's doing two different programmes again this year - as well as presenting "Dino's Magic Box" (ooh, Matron!) on Saturdays from 9am to 11am, Dino will be presenting the weekday breakfast show with friend Ruth O'Keeffe - aptly entitled "Up with Dino and Ruth", it's on from 7am to 9am on Mondays to Fridays.

A bonzer chap is Mike Bonsor, and breezy at breakfast-time. Make sure you sit up straight and listen properly to "Sat. Up in Bed with Bonsor" on Saturday mornings from 7 to 9 am - Mike will ensure that it's the best way to wake up, and a great time to play some of the music that doesn’t always get the airing it should do!

Mike counts himself a relative newcomer to Lewes, having only lived here for 15 years, but has been broadcasting in one shape or another for around 20 years now, most recently on Uckfield FM.  One of the things he enjoys about working on Rocket is the idea of being able to walk to the studio in under 5 minutes - but he still drives!  (The CDs are a bit heavy to carry you see. Well, that's his excuse and he's sticking to it.)

Do you tend to stay in on Thursdays? Then don't worry - you can join Lee Brooks on his "Thursday Night Out"!

Lee is 30, loves good food and drink, and says his hobby is trying to sound like Tony Blackburn on the radio (don't worry, he doesn't). He is also into car racing, sports, swimming and films and loves any music with a good beat to it. His dislikes amount to telling people about himself, so that's all, folks.

"Thursday Night out" is on Thursdays (duh!) from 9pm to 11pm. And Lee's web site is at www.voicetrackers.co.uk.

Lee will also be doing a one-off show, "Saturday Night In", on Saturday 13th October, from 8pm to 10pm. We don't yet know exactly what he'll be doing on that one, but one thing we do know - it will be fun!

Peter Chasseaud is an artist, writer and publisher who has lived in Lewes for over 30 years, during which time he has met many interesting people. He will be interviewing some of them on his show "Peter Chasseaud Talks To..." on Saturdays from noon to 1pm and Sundays from 4 - 5 pm.

Kevin Cramer promises mid-morning mayhem in his "Mid-Morning Music" on his show from 9am to 11am every weekday, which will include "Two of a Kind" (two tracks from the same artist or band as requested by listeners);  "Memories are Made of This" (tracks requested by the public, and why they requested them); and "Guess the Year", with news headlines and tracks from the given year. Kevin's show is sponsored by Autoworld (LPG) Ltd. of North Street, who are also generously providing prizes - the first correct answer to every "Guess the Year" will win a winter car kit!

DJ Daddy T presents "Mumbo Jumbo" on Wednesday 31st October from 9 to 10pm, offering a great mix of music, from Reggae to Blues, and from New Orleans dancing bands to Delta.

Born in Bradford 23 years ago, Mike Easton moved to Sussex when he was three. He has been involved with various RSLs, community stations, student radio and more recently some commercial stations. He is also a mobile DJ based in Eastbourne and the surrounding area.

In the "1-2-3 Show" from (yes!) 1 - 3 pm on Monday 15th to Friday 19th October, Mike will play a range of different music, and may include a "total request lunchtime" section, followed by a 70s and 80s afternoon party mixed with a bit of the day's entertainment news.

Mike will also be encouraging you to be "Sat. up in Bed" on Saturdays 20th and 27th October.

Peter Flanagan aims to introduce your ears to something new, by dealing them a Glancing Blow (no, we don't know what he means either, and we don't want to know) and bringing out wonders new and old from across the musical board.

Wilfully genre-hopping like ... well, a grinning thing that hops genres, Peter says he will navigate uncharted territories between Regina Spektor and Jeff Beck, Miles Davis and the Easybeats, Kermit and Memphis Minnie, Modern Skirts and Camille, Eek-A- Mouse and a Tuvan throat singer. Possibly Townshend and the lovely Lucinda, too. And to think that in previous years, we could never guess what he was going to play next!

Peter is also one-half (better half? scrum half? wee hauf? Only you can know for sure...) of "Andy and Peter's Guitar Town" from 5pm to 6pm on Sundays.

Peter is also responsible (Peter is responsible? What are we thinking of?) for all of Rocket's graphic design, including of course our super new T-shirt. Buy one now, and make Peter even happier!

Mark Johnson is back, once again presenting his very own creation: "Slipstreem", now in its fifth year, goes out on Fridays between 9pm and midnight.

A three-hour explosion of fantastic worldwide beats; Soul to Soca, Bossa to Breakbeats... Open your mind, and turn your radio up, real loud... brothers and sisters are rockin?

This is Martin Leeburn, who will be telling you (well, those of you who can't read - but then you wouldn't be reading this, would you?) "What the Papers Say" on Sundays from 9am to 11am (except for the first Sunday of our run, 14th October).

Martin is pictured with a sextant in mid-Atlantic. Sources refuse to confirm whether or not he is aboard the Director-General's luxury yacht, the "Lady Ghislaine".

Barry MacDonald will present a selection of opera tunes, some well known, some less so. He has worked for a touring opera company as well as a ballet company in the past, although he spent more time in the slightly tougher world of television news. A newcomer to Lewes (8 years), he has been involved in Rocket FM for the past two years, helping Dino Bishop with his magic box (ooh, Matron!). But this year he has his own show, from 4-5pm on Sunday 22nd October.

Tom Logan and Olly Purchase present "The Tom & Olly Show" on Sunday 21st October from 10pm to midnight, which is a fun, youthful and exciting radio show with a mix of modern and old music, which ranges from local artists to stadium bands, different genres from rock to hip-hop, indie to acoustic. They will be trying to cover a large range of musical tastes, introducing the public to new songs or humming along to old classics. The show will be broken up with guests from the local area, whose songs they will be playing on the show, as well as live sets. They will have text-in competions throughout the show, and the prizes will be the Tom+Olly Fun Bag, a bag full of cool and crazy fun things!

What can we tell you about Dave Marchant? He's the manager of Seymours' in Fisher Street, that's who he is - and he's going to be presenting his own show, "Seymours' Selection", every Sunday from 1 to 3 pm. We hope he's going to send us some more information - and, of course, a photo, because all those of you who shop at Seymours' will know his face, there might be one or two people in Australia who don't.

"The Little Shed Show" will run from 3pm til 5pm from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th October and will be presented by Sheridan McCoid. She tells us it will involve plenty of great music, lots of conversation - mostly about food - and that she may even revive the "So you think you know everything about Lewes" quiz, being as though it's pretty pointless and doesn't even include any prizes.

We know that her show will be thoroughly entertaining - last year she was half of the very enjoyable "Mick and Shed" show.

Merlin Milner, well-known local anagram, erstwhile Mayor of Lewes and Presidential Candidate for the Free Cliffe (failed) will be presenting a show on Saturday 3rd November from 1pm to 3pm. More details are eagerly awaited!

This is what Tom Mugridge sent us as his presenter's photo and bio:

'"Saturdays October 20th and 27th, 10pm-midnight. Following the success of the first Lewes Arts Lab entertainment-experiment at Market Lane Garage in June 2007, Lab technician Tom Mugridge conducts further tests of Rocket listeners' states of mind by means of esoteric, beatific, and discombobulating sonic stimuli. Guest luminaries include Dirk Campbell, expert in the field of "radical folk", and Under Mother Bungalow, whose procedures promise "a delicate balance between music and open brain surgery."

Well, er, um. All we can say is that we've met Tom, and he doesn't look the least bit like that (although he does perhaps look slightly more like this picture than the nun he provided us with last year); and we're quite sure that the music he will be playing will be very much more enjoyable than he makes it sound! Still, all you can do is listen and hear what happens, eh?

OK, which Michael Munday is this, then? Is it Michael Munday the graphic designer? Or is it Michael Munday who plays with the Hofners? Or is it Michael Munday who plays with Ska Toons? Or is it Michael Munday who was half of "The Mick & Shed Show" last year? The answer is, it's all of them - all rolled into one. (You'd expect him to be a bit larger than he is, wouldn't you?).

Michael presents "Munday at Nine" on (appropriately!) Mondays from 9pm to 10pm.

Mornings wouldn't be the same without Ruth O'Keeffe, once again co-presenting the breakfast show "Up with Dino and Ruth" with Dino Bishop, from 7am to 9am on Mondays to Fridays.

Ruth has been in Lewes since 1987 and past musical endeavours have mostly been as a Primary and Secondary school music teacher. In her present day job she is used to talking to a lot of people, but confesses she has tended to be interviewed rather than be the interviewer in the past. Dino sees her as the serious foil to his banter.

This picture of Ruth was cropped from a larger one showing her with loads of aluminium cans - we suspect that she was about to recycle them, having read about how to use them in radio.

Iain Paxon has been making experimental acoustic and electronic music for the past ten years; he plays in an acoustic free folk group called Hamilton Yarns, as well as other improvised music projects including The Mark, the Vitamin B12 and Prince Volume. His Tall Stories show (on Tuesdays, from 11pm to midnight) will combine this with some odd-ball narrative observations and reflection, like a surrealist bed-time story. Iain also writes musicals (Birdboy and Prince Volume) and works for the Lewes youth music project, Starfish (whose music is featured on Rocket every weekend). We hope that Iain will be sending us a photo...

For years and years, we've had a really seriously unflattering photo of Steve Pilfold on this page. But since he got on his bike, he now looks a wee bit different, so we've replaced the picture.

Despite Steve being his new slim-line self, the name of his lunchtime show hasn't changed. "Steve Pilfold's Into Lunch" is on every weekday from 11am to 1pm. And of course the show includes his ever-popular "Where in Sussex?" quiz. Steve's own web site is at www.whereinsussex.org.uk.

Ras Ric has been selecting Roots music since 1999 as a regular upon the Brighton scene, playing at nights such as Strictly Reggae and Roots Garden along with European slots in Spain and Germany. He has played alongside with the likes of Wayne McCarthur, Kenny Knots and Basque Dub Foundation. You can see him throughout the year also in Lewes at guest events and as a regular at "Ital and Vital" sessions at The Lansdown Arms with guest Mc's.

The "Ras Ric" Reggae Show, from 4pm to 5pm on Sunday 4th November, will be a "More Fire" special with all tracks related to fire and burning, in tune with BONFIRE NIGHT, and ranging from Studio One roots to Jamican release 2007. Essential listening!

Andy Reeve is a cheery chappie, who loves his music, and plays music that you will love too.

We have had a special microphone stand made for Andy, because he is 6 foot 7 inches tall. This will assist him in presenting "Andy Reeve's Manor", from 6pm to 8pm every Saturday.

("Forget about the six foot...": Mae West in 'Myra Breckenridge')

If you are an aficionado of Lewes Operatic Society (and more fool you if you aren't), you will have seen Lee Reynolds on stage (this year with extra added plaster cast on his leg, for no additional cost), and you will also recall that he has been Musical Director of some recent shows - and will be again for the next show, "The King and I".

A highly talented musician, Lee spends his musical life performing and recording as conductor, cellist and bass-baritone; composing (choral, orchestral and opera) and arranging; studio production and music coaching, as well as drinking too much beer. All that, at his young age!

So who could be a better person to present "A Touch of Culture" - a fresh, vibrant look at the not-so-staid world of classical music - from 11am to 1pm every Saturday? If you think that classical music isn't for you, give Lee's show a try anyway - you'll be surprised how much you'll enjoy it.

Pete Sanders has been involved with radio for a long time (no, he's not going to tell you exactly how long!) It has always been a passion of his. He has done programmes for Radio Hammersmith, Coastway Hospital Radio in Brighton and even broadcast in Chicago.

He likes all kinds of music and has a huge CD collection - everything from Gracie Fields to Grace Jones, Buddy Holly to Buddha Bar, Jerry Springer the Opera to Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, and everything in between. He'd need at least a year to decide on only eight Desert Island Discs, because new favourites come up all the time. One of his hopes, as he presents "Sunday Brunch" from 11 am to 1pm on Sunday 14th October, and "Sunday Noon" from 12 noon to 1pm every other Sunday, is to introduce audiences to some new people that they may not have heard of until now, but who will become firm favourites.

One of the features is the Birthday Breakdown - not a nervous reaction when you realise you old you are, but a chance to find out things that have happened throughout history on the date you were born, and some of the people who share your birthday. Just email Pete at studio@rocketfm.org.uk to ask for your special date to be included!

Geoff Sitford (or Geoffrey John as he is known by his friends) is a renowned world traveller. He has agreed to settle for a few weeks in order to bring you more Almond Rock in is very own unique relaxed style.

He will be presenting "The Almond Rock Show" on Mondays from 10pm to midnight . Apparently Almond Rock is Cockney rhyming slang for a sock. Anyway, we're sure he'll rock your socks off.

Vic Smith is really Mr Sussex Folk. With his wife Tina he runs the very successful folk club at the Royal Oak, and has produced the Sussex Folk Diary for over 30 years. Who better, then, to present the folk and world music programmes on Rocket?

Vic is currently busy on a national tour with Gambian kora virtuoso Jali Sherrifo Konteh (on Rocket FM on Sunday 14th October from 6 to 8pm), but he is still taking time out to present his "Folk and World Music" show on Sunday 14th October and Sunday 4th November from 8pm to 10pm. Don't miss it!

Eugene Sully writes: "You may know of me from Big Brother 6, or perhaps as a regular attendee of the Lewes Bonfire Celebrations. I am Eugene Sully, known for reading the bonfire prayers on Steve's show, and now I have got my own show in which I will play some great classic hits (I'll even blow the virtual dust of some of them)."

His show is the "One to Three Show", which is on from ... er ... 1pm to 3pm from Monday 29th October to Friday 2nd November. Eugene has all kinds of unusual interests and quite a few anecdotes for you. If you feel you are a bit of a whizz on cars, then the "Car of Carisma" will keep your brain active, when Eugene describes the car, and you have to guess what it is!

Eugene's favourite drink is tea, his favourite pub food is steak & ale pie, and his favourite trendy food is blue cheese burger - served in an American diner. No wonder he describes his weight as "too heavy"! (There's another photo of Eugene in the Photo Gallery.)

Jonathan Swan says: "I've spent too many happy years making jewels in the Workshop on the High Street. What you might not know is that I've pestered anyone who will listen about the music which I listen to 12 hours a day.The people who work here have suffered for long enough, and now it's your turn. I'm going to spend an hour playing you some of my favourites and the rest of the year saying "Damn! I should have played them that!" What sort of music? Quirky, that's what!

"Don't Mind Me" with Jonathan Swan is from 2pm to 3pm on Sundays 21st and 28th October and 4th November.

Rik Taub should be not only a familiar voice to you by now, but a familiar face as well if you tend to shop (as you should) at Rik's Disks. It is a little-known fact that Rocket presenters tend to play music from their own collections; well, Rik has an entire shop to pick from!

He will be presenting Blues from 9pm to 11pm on Tuesday 16th October; Jazz from 8pm to 10pm on Sunday 21st October; Rock'n'Roll from 9pm to 11pm on Tuesday 23rd October; and Soul from 8pm to 10pm on Sunday 28th October. There's gotta be something in that lot you'll want to listen to!

Andy Thomas will be teaming up with Peter Flanagan for "Andy and Peter's Guitar Town" from 5pm to 6pm on Sundays - an hour of finger-plucking, pick-dropping, string-bending plank-spanking. This is the show for people who like guitar music, with a little extra for those who try to play it! Both mesmerised by the stretched cat-gut and resonating wood since their youth, Andy and Peter present, and chat in a marginally informed way about, some of their favourite moments of twang. Listen for a veritable heterogeneity of styles and the occasional "au contraire, mon ami..."

When not playing with his box, Andy is of course Director-General of Rocket FM. Oh, and he also presents "The Sunday Papers" on Sunday (of course!) 14th October.

Rupert Lloyd Thomas is a stalwart of Rocket, and has been for years. He has farther to travel to work than any of the rest of us, because he actually lives in Toronto. But he can't keep away from Rocket FM and Lewes Bonfire - and so we are lucky enough to have him presenting the drive-time show, "Get Smart!", from 5pm to 7pm on weekdays and, of course, anchoring the Bonfire Special from 4pm to midnight on Monday 5th November.

The "Get Smart!" (and Rupert knows all about Smart driving - as well as this year's photo, see this page) show will feature riveting interviews with local folk, with the odd international interloper to boot. Rupert's been busy ripping some more obscure oldies from the vaults, plus there will also be some featured artists who may sound as if they are playing country music but really are not!

Read more about Rupert here - and read his blog at http://punchbuggy.blogspot.com/.

Ian Turner started broadcasting at the tender age of 16 on hospital radio, and then got involved with presenting / producing on local radio before joining Rocket last year. You can hear Ian on Sunday mornings from 7am to 9am when he'll be presenting "Take Off With Turner".

We are reliably assured that this is not another Rocket attempt at Nude Radio. Sorry to disappoint those of you who are into that sort of thing. On the other hand, you can take a good look at Ian's naked left shoulder in this photo - feel better now?

Derek Watts is a very sporting chap, and game for anything. Not only will be be once again presenting the top-rated Saturday afternoon sports programmes (appropriately entitled "On The Game") from 2pm to 5pm every Saturday, but he also asks you to help him figure out "What's it All About?" from 3pm to 5pm from Monday 15th to Friday 19th October, and Monday 29th October to 2nd November. In addition to this, from 11pm to midnight every Thursday, Derek will be "Extra Special".

Got all that? We hope so - there will be a short quiz later.

You may have noticed that some of our presenters this year appear to be positively camera-shy, providing photos which we are not 100% sure represent themselves. Hamilton Wilson has provided a photo which is undoubtedly of himself - it's from his student travel pass. Trouble is, that travel pass is dated 1977 - rather later than Hamilton's taste in music. He returns for another Psychedelic Supper after last year's debut on Rocket FM. A chance to dig out your old lava lamps and bean bags to enjoy the delights of Fruminous Bandersnatch, Ultimate Spinach and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy to name but a few! A double helping of Sixties psychedelia from around the world is served on Wednesdays from 10 pm to midnight.

And here at the tail-end of the page ... you thought that Paul Watts (for whom also see the Colour Supplement) wouldn't actually be broadcasting on Rocket FM this year? Well, don't get too confident! You may well hear the dulcet tones of The Incredible Re-appearing Paul Watts on the airwaves during this year's run. Of course, that's if you don't send plenty of bribes, in a plain brown paper bag, to the Director-General and his scurvey crew...

Too late! No bribes have been received, and so your Paul will be taking over the 1-2-3 show from 1pm to 3pm from Monday 22nd to Friday 27th October.

Anyway, you do at least have a brand-new photo of young Paul to moon over. Mean, moody and magnificent, he wonders whether he can get to the pub before the rain starts to tip down, and why the photographer is prostrate on the ground at his feet.