BBC Radio Cumbria at 40: Thursday

This week BBC Radio Cumbria's Head of Programmes, Ian Timms, is documenting the station's 40th anniversary celebrations in a special series of diary entries, including a special '1973 Day' on Friday 22 November 2013.



Children in Need is over and Pudsey Bear has been waved off for his annual re-tuft and honey massage. I need to collect the "40" cake from bakers on the way into work. We need it for a photo. They've done well with the big pink and white iced numerals.



Chris Rogers, the first voice on BBC Radio Carlisle 40 years ago is here to "shadow" Mike Zeller's breakfast show ahead of tomorrow's 1973 Day. Until four years ago, Chris was a BBC Politics Editor, so it'll be great to hear him getting stuck into the big interviews tomorrow. Photographer arrives at 8.30 to take pictures of Mike, Paul Braithwaite and Chris with the birthday cake and kipper ties.

Then, it’s off to chair a producers' meeting for a final catch-up and snag-list. I actually need to explain the term "kipper tie" to a 20-something colleague. Then I get to hold court for a while reminiscing about cueing records and editing reel-to-reel tape with a razor blade. I finally conclude it was a bit like computer editing, only more reliable and possibly more bloody.

There’s an afternoon troubleshooting session next door at the Tullie House Museum, setting up equipment for Friday's business breakfast and Saturday's staff 'do'. The display of artefacts and goodies that's graced our reception since the spring has to be carefully relocated there. A little first aid needs applying to the ageing stickers, pens and key-rings that have blown off in the wind.



Ian Timms is Head of Programmes, BBC Radio Cumbria

• Read Ian's Wednesday introduction - BBC Radio Cumbria at 40
• The photograph used in this blog is from the BBC Radio Cumbria facebook page
• Submit your own photos from 1973 to Radio Cumbria's collection via share.cumbria@bbc.co.uk