HRH
The Princess Royal opens the new ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ HQ in Stoke-on-Trent... Greg
Dyke welcomes new beginning for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Stoke
HRH
The Princess Royal today launches ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Stoke on its way to
providing a new and expanded public service at the heart of the
communities of Staffordshire and South Cheshire.
Princess
Anne is to be welcomed by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director-General Greg Dyke as she
officially opens the new ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ broadcast centre and the new ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ learning
facilities in Hanley.
The
£2 million new HQ for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Stoke - just a short walk
from their old premises in Cheapside - is considered by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Property
to be one of their most prestigious sites.
It
offers state-of-the-art broadcast facilities for local radio, television
and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Where I Live Stoke, Staffordshire and South Cheshire
on-line site.
In
addition, its brand-new, free and open-to-all learning centre fulfills
the vision of Greg Dyke to put the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ at the heart of local communities,
offering much more than just broadcast services.
Mr
Dyke will inform the Princess Royal that in the first six weeks
since the learning centre was opened to the public, more than 600
people have used the facilities, with more than 200 of them going
on to sign up for part-time computer-related learning courses.
The
Director-General is also fulfilling another pledge - to take ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Radio Stoke and its staff out of its old and inadequate premises,
"the worst ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ building in Britain" - into purpose-designed
premises.
During
her tour of the new facilities, Princess Anne will meet many of
the 40-strong staff and will be interviewed by presenter Stuart
George.
Meanwhile,
Greg Dyke is scheduled to be interviewed by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Stoke presenter
Den Siegertsz in the new glass-fronted studio, which allows the
visiting public to watch as programmes go out live on air.
And
after unveiling the official plaque, Princess Anne is due to be
introduced to six-year-old Rosie Dodd, from Crewe, who won the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Radio Stoke children's drawing competition.
Rosie
will present her picture and a posie of flowers to the Princess
Royal.
She
will then sign the visitors' book and the Lord Mayor Mr Ellis Bevan
will invite her to sign the City Of Stoke on Trent visitors' book.
Among
the distinguished visitors attending the event are the Lord Lieutenant
of Staffordshire Mr James Hawley; the High Sheriff of Staffordshire
Mr Michael Hurdle; the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Mr Ellis Bevan;
the Chief Executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council Dr Ita O'Donovan;
Assistant Chief Constable of Staffordshire Mr Huw Jones.
The
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director-General is to be accompanied by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Governors Sir Anthony
Young and Professor Fabian Monds.
The
party will be welcomed by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Stoke's former Managing Editor
Mark Hurrell, who has overseen the move and the changes; his successor
Sue Owen, who takes over in September; and Mary Fox, Acting Managing
Editor of the station.
Notes
to Editors
Pictures
available electronically for press use only - contact the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Press
Office.
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