From driving the desk to Drivetime - 40 varied years at BBC Tees

This month sees a landmark in the radio career of presenter Colin Bunyan as he celebrates 40 years on air with BBC Tees’ (or BBC Radio Cleveland as it was known until 2007). Bunyan started out on board Radio 270 in 1966 and has been broadcasting ever since, joining the BBC in 1974.

Having also turned 70 this year, he is still as impassioned about radio as ever, and currently presents ‘Vintage Vinyl’ on the station on Sunday afternoons. Here he explains how important the show is to him and his listeners and looks back over his varied career with BBC Tees.

“I was 70 in July but, I find it hard to believe I've been around so long. I was born in Middlesbrough and have lived here all my life. I’ve always had a love of the technical side of radio broadcasting. It was early October 1974 when I first went on air at BBC Radio Cleveland. It was with the help of Stan Laundon who was the Country Time presenter at the time. He introduced me to the programme organiser, Jim Brady.

Initially it was driving the desk for a children's show Helter Skelter from 10am till 11am, Sports Preview 12pm till 12.30pm and Saturday Sport from 2pm till 6pm. Within a few weeks I was recording voice inserts for the Monday morning breakfast show On the Move.

A few months later I was also presenting Sunday Requests. It was a 75 minute show when I took over but it extended to 90 minutes and eventually two hours. This was one of my first presenting roles and it was during that time that we had the two-way link ups with British Forces Broadcasting Service Germany and Cyprus. I had requests from local families for their loved ones in the Forces and the presenter out there had messages from service men and women for the people back home. The Cyprus link was the most challenging because we had to both play the records simultaneously. The line was good enough for speech but not for the music. It was important that both our turntables and those in Cyprus were running at exactly the same speed or one would finish before the other. I'm pleased to say it worked every time

I was then asked to present a new Saturday Request show from 1-2pm which made Saturdays really busy for me. I was also responsible for continuity on all the pre-recorded Sunday shows; there were several 30 minute slots with taped shows in those days.

From 1980 to 1984 I used to produce and present the weekday Breakfast Show, the Mid-morning Show (as part of a team), The Afternoon Show,Drive Time and The Colin Bunyan Show weekdays from 9pm till 10pm.

I also presented Chartbound - a new release show with a guest panel commenting on new releases. The show ran for about four years from the late 70s to the early 80s. It was similar to Juke Box Jury with a panel of local DJs, musicians and on some occasions, recording artists, reviewing new releases. They included people like Helen Shapiro, Gerry Marsden and Freddie Garrity (of Freddie & The Dreamers)

I then moved onto Vintage Vinyl which began in the Autumn of 1994. It was originally a two hour show that replaced Dad's Music when presenter Ian Charlton decided to retire. I will have been presenting the show for 20 years in November.

I feel so lucky to have had a career with so many interesting moments. Vintage Vinyl is such an enjoyable show to present because there's so much wonderful music available to play. I've even received letters from partners of dementia sufferers who tell me how their wife or husband has sparked into life on hearing familiar songs and tunes from happier days. It is so gratifying to get such a warm response from listeners and the feeling that I have helped rekindle memories of long ago.”

Colin Bunyan is a presenter on BBC Tees.

• Colin presents Vintage Vinyl on Sundays at 2pm on BBC Tees (95FM and Digital).