Name:
Matthew Roberts
Time as a presenter:
1995 – 2018 (23 years!)
Hobbies/interests:
Failed folk musician, lover of football & cricket, Frodsham’s preeminent Toblerone eater (pre diet).
What sparked your interest in community radio?
My friend at school was presenting the breakfast show on a Saturday morning and I managed to get involved with her show doing “Sports News”. I’d been one of those nerdy 80’s children who sat at home and made my own radio shows on a boom box with a built in mic.
How did you feel about speaking on the radio prior to the first time you were live on air?
I was an extremely shy teenager, so I was pretty terrified that I’d be awful or that I’d ruin my friend’s show.
How did you feel afterwards?
Pretty euphoric! It was a real rush. I loved it and very soon afterwards I started writing bits for my own show.
What positive impacts upon your life did your HCR experience have?
Presenting on HCR had a huge impact on my life. My confidence and communication skills improved greatly. I couldn’t believe I’d found something that my peers thought I was good at. It gave me something to talk about on my university applications and the confidence to move away from home. It’s given me a joyous hobby when I’ve had terrible jobs and a career I love in the local VCSE sector. My life would be completely different if I hadn’t gotten involved.