Radio Orwell, one of the pioneering Independent Local Radio (ILR) stations in the United Kingdom, began broadcasting on 28^th October 1975, from Electric House in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Established under the Suffolk Group Radio, it was among the first 19 ILR stations authorised by the Independent Broadcasting Authority following the relaxation of broadcasting regulations in Britain. This marked a significant shift, allowing commercial radio to challenge the BBC’s dominance. Radio Orwell joined contemporaries like LBC and Capital Radio, bringing local content to Suffolk’s airwaves.

The station launched at 6 a.m. with Commander John Jacobs, the first chairman, introducing the broadcast, followed by Managing Director Donald Brooks and newsreader Tim Ewart.

Keith Rogers hosted the inaugural program, playing Gladys Knight and the Pips’ The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me as the first record. The initial commercial was for the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and Shipping.

Faces Behind the Voices

The DJs became local celebrities and attended an array of community and charity events. Listen to Phil Archer's memory of attending Capel St Mary's Fun Day

David remembers his favourite DJs at Radio Orwell

The Station provided a wide range of programmes to cater for all audiences. As you can see below, all musical tastes were catered for with news, sport, traffic and travel, farming, gardening and children's entertainment.

Listen to DJ Nick Coady's memories to the Rock music scheduling.

One service that was an essential part of the Radio Station was Snowline. Every parent and child would listen avidly to see if the bad weather had closed their school. Listen to Wendy's memories of Snowline below.

Wendy also shares her memories of the amazing charity work undertaken by the team, to support underprivileged children and families during the Christmas season by collecting donations of toys, gifts, food, and money.

The campaign often featured on-air appeals, listener phone-ins, and community events to raise funds for local causes, such as children's hospices, food banks, and toy drives. It became a beloved holiday tradition in Ipswich, helping distribute thousands of presents annually and fostering community spirit through the station's broadcasts.

Listener, Richard recalls coming second in a slogan competition.

The News Room

Sports Reporting

Sports coverage was always linked to Ipswich Town Football Club, providing live commentary of the games. Commentator, Pete Barraclough followed the Town around Europe under the helm of Sir Bobby Robson and a particular highlight was delivering the two day outside broadcast during Ipswich's 1978 FA Cup final win at Wembley.

Charles Runcie recalls his football memories of the 1980/81 season when Ipswich Town won the UEFA Cup.

Ivan Ball recalls how the Radio Orwell changed the way the people of Ipswich heard the match store.

The Sports Team also covered Ipswich Witches Speedway, tennis, athletics, rugby and greyhound racing.

Engineering Team

Radio Orwell's engineering team, spearheaded by Chief Engineer Nigel Hunt, installed and maintained the 1170 kHz AM transmitter on 257m medium wave and 97.1 MHz FM stereo, ensuring reliable coverage across Ipswich and beyond. Engineers like Simon Foster supported outside broadcasts, from community events to sporting events.

Advertising Team

The Advertising team created the iconic jingle "When you're alone, we're together," which became a staple of station branding. The team ran community contests, sponsored events like Ipswich Town FC shirt logos, and produced humorous skits and announcements to promote local businesses.

Their efforts emphasised relatable, feel-good messaging and this was important as advertising revenue was the primary source of funding for the operation of the station.

This film was commissioned by Radio Orwell in 1980. It was never completed and the sound recordings lost. Narrated by Bernard Mulhern, it shows all activities at Radio Orwell including news, sports, engineering and outside broadcasts. Courtesy of Phil Fothergilll/Youtube.

Saxon Radio

In 1982, Suffolk Group Radio expanded with Saxon Radio in Bury St Edmunds, serving western Suffolk. The two stations shared programming, with networked shows from Ipswich’s Electric House and some from Bury’s Long Brackland studios.

A legacy of nostalgia and memories

The 1990s brought significant changes. In 1990, Norwich-based Radio Broadland acquired Radio Orwell and Saxon Radio, forming East Anglian Radio. In 1992, the stations merged into SGR FM, relocating to new studios on Ipswich’s outskirts. The Bury St Edmunds studios closed, and in 1993, SGR Colchester launched as a sister station. In 1996, GWR Group (later GCap Media, then Global Radio) acquired East Anglian Radio, integrating SGR FM into larger networks, eventually becoming part of the Heart network.

Taking its name from the 1970s advertising jingle for the station, this project, made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, invited Ipswich residents to share their recollections, stories and memorabilia relating to Radio Orwell.

We’ve heard from schoolboy listeners, pop quiz competition contestants, audio technicians, DJs, reluctant fancy dress competition judges, and more. Together, their stories capture the innovation, excitement and community spirit of Radio Orwell.

Stories and memorabilia have kindly been deposited at Suffolk Archives and has allowed us to curate this display.