For Valentine’s Day 2019, I challenged listeners of BBC Radio Lancashire to write in and tell me what they loved about the station. In return, I agreed to turn those comments into a poem, broadcast live on air during the Sally Naden show. You can listen to it below.

I love BBC Radio Lancashire
because because…

it’s from real people and real places
it uses voices to see the faces
behind the news, behind the views
behind the chat that we all choose
to wake up to on every morning,
to listen to as day is dawning
to tune in early, tune out late
to hear of how the sunny state
of Lancashire is always great—
that single rose of living red
where nothing ever goes unsaid
where nothing ever goes unmarked
where history, we know, embarked
time and time and time again
to show the world where and when
the stories that have made us—US
have made us folk without a fuss,
for we’re the sort who get things done
who aren’t afraid to have some fun
to have a laugh, or have a cry
to do much more than just get by,
we’ll have a go, we’ll have a try
and through the radio we’ll know
how folk unmet can still be friends
as through the broadcast each one sends
the message yes, you’re from round here
a listener held close held dear
by all the hosts in unity
connecting this community—
they’re up for it for charity
they’ll shine a light with clarity
upon the issues of our day
so we, together, have our say
a single heartbeat beating proud
willing to stand and turn up loud
the tunes the chat and every laugh
as helped along by friendly staff
who know that when we close the door
that we’re not lonely anymore—
we’ve got our channel on the air
a person who is waiting there
to listen, care and understand
that things don’t always go as planned
who know that every day we’ve strived,
regardless if we’ve failed or thrived,
that we can breathe, that we’ve arrived
for on our radio we’ll know
we’ll always hear ourselves on show
we’ll hear our words, we’ll hear our voice
and that’s the reason why the choice
is made for me, is sure to be
for Lancashire on the BBC.

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