Matt MacKay is currently the Drivetime presenter for Heart in Essex, although he has worked across the United Kingdom on various radio stations and even starred in the BBC Docusoap ‘Lakesiders’

We asked Matt to share some of his memories from his time with Hospital Radio Chelmsford. 

HRC! I remember my time there like it was yesterday.

I joined in 1995 when I was 16. I was lucky enough to get 2 weeks work experience at Essex FM and decided I wanted to become a presenter, but needed somewhere to learn the skills involved as Essex FM weren’t going to put someone with no experience straight on air. I heard some good reports about HRC from some friends so decided to join.

The team were really friendly and welcoming from day one and couldn’t do enough for you. I still remember my first presenting demo in a little news studio, sat next to Steve Hanning doing a Top 20 countdown! The team at HRC not only taught me how to present a good quality radio show but were very professional in every aspect of broadcasting. In fact, HRC are more professional than some of the commercial radio stations I’ve worked at over the last 15 years! With the help and experience of being at HRC (and a few demos sent on cassette to the programme director) I managed to get my first overnight shift on Essex FM in 1996. This eventually led to getting a full time show on the station.

A few years later, and after a steep learning curve, I joined Atlantic 252 in Dublin to present the mid-morning show. From there I went to Hallam FM in Sheffield to do mid-mornings where I stayed for almost 5 years. After Sheffield I worked at Galaxy 105 in Yorkshire (now Capital), Real Radio, Magic, Radio Aire, Rock FM, The Hits, Key 103 in Manchester and presented the Bauer networked shows full time across 10 stations on FM and DAB. I returned to Essex in June 2009 when Heart launched, as the new Drivetime presenter.

I owe a lot to the team at HRC. Whether you want a career in broadcasting or just a great way to spend your spare time I can’t recommend joining enough. Professional, friendly and welcoming!

Steve – I hope you don’t still have that tape of my first demo!

If you are interested to know more about getting involved with Hospital Radio Chelmsford, click here, complete the form and we will be in contact you to answer any questions you may have.