Chaine FM in tune as a winter warmer

Gary Andrews, chairman of the volunteer-run Chaine FM, said the station “really came into its own” in 2010, partly due to the sub-zero temperatures that gripped the borough over the festive period.

He added: “Due to the exceptionally cold winter we endured, people were in dire need of local information, such as school closures and bin collections. They turned to us for this, and it was great to be able to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

“This was our fourth year on the airwaves and I think people in Larne have become accustomed to us now. When we first arrived we were something of a novelty to people, but I think the station has now taken on a new level of maturity and the listeners recognise that.

“The moment I realised how popular the station had become was during one of our competitions. I asked people to send in photographs of their dogs to our Facebook page in order to win a prize, and we were quickly inundated with entries. I was quite taken aback with that level of interest and it shows we have come along by leaps and bounds.”

Gary told the Times that the station was more focused on community involvement in 2010 than it had been in previous years, with an average of four local guests each day. “We feel very strongly about giving local community groups a voice and letting people know that these groups exist,” he added. “A lot of them doing great work in the borough and Chaine FM is a fantastic vehicle for these groups to get their message across.”

Last week, Larne Mayor, Councillor Andy Wilson invited some of the Chaine FM team to his parlour to show his appreciation for their efforts over the past four years. “The mayor is an avid listener to the station and has been very supportive of us,” Gary said.

“About 30 volunteers played a role in the running of the station this year, and I want to thank each of them – not just the people on the air but those behind the scenes as well. I also want to say a big thank you to our listeners for their support. I remember the night before our first broadcast back in Decembe,r 2007, I was worried that no one would tune in. I never for a moment thought that we would get this far.”