Gloucester radio station which only plays music of Black origin

Gloucester FM bosses have insisted the station is for the whole community

A unique Gloucester radio station is only playing music of black origin.

Gloucester FM (GFM) is powered by a team of about 50 volunteers from The Trust Centre in Barton.

Anyone in the community can apply to have a slot on the 24/7 radio station to present their own programme, the only rule being that any music they play must be of black origin.

Carol Francis, who helped launch GFM 21 years ago, insists the radio station is for the whole community and not just those who come from a black background.

Carol, 62, (who was also the city’s first black female councillor) said: “The majority of volunteers here are from Britain, they are white. So we have one or two from black Caribbean backgrounds but the majority are white.

“This is what gets me annoyed, and how racism rears its ugly head, what we say is that the music played is of black origin – so maybe Motown, Northern Soul, R&B, slow jam, dance hall, reggae, African beat or whatever’s in the charts at the moment – anyone can play that and anybody can like them.

“So when it comes to our volunteers, as long as you have got that musical connection and you’re happy to play that, that’s it.”

Carol Francis, Community Link Co-ordinator at Gloucester FM (Image: Samuel Port)

Carol Francis, who helped launch GFM 21 years ago, insists the radio station is for the whole community and not just those who come from a black background.

“So when it comes to our volunteers, as long as you have got that musical connection and you’re happy to play that, that’s it.”

Carol goes on to say that their audience is also diverse. The GFM presenters discuss local issues affecting all Gloucester residents, and it additionally features Caribbean News and BBC News broadcast segments.

The former councillor and sheriff, who acts as GFM’s Community Link co-ordinator, described the station as a “lifesaver” to the community during the lockdown for Gloucester people self-isolating.

The upkeep of the station comes to around £2,000 a month and relies on business taking out paid adverts, listeners’ donations and funding events.

The station launched in 2000, spearheaded by Carol, her husband Derrick Francis and brother Owen Williams, also known as musician Simmy Ranks, after receiving a grant from Gloucester City Council.

Carol explained: “With music of black origin, back then [2000] it wasn’t like it is now. The BBC gave us an hour on a Saturday and Sunday, apart from that your mainstream radio stations weren’t playing music of black origin.”

It is now Gloucester’s longest running radio station.

‘We had to do this’
Carol’s other brother Derick Williams, also known as Principal Fats, 61, says they had no choice but to start the radio station.

Derick, who has worked as a machine operator for 25 years, said: “The station is community led. We serve the community.

“We had to do this because mainstream stations, do they play reggae, dancehall, gospel, jungle, drum and bass?

“No.

“So therefore they’re not catering for black community so we’ve got to cater it for ourselves. If we don’t do it, who’s going to do it for us?”

Helen Williams, also known as DJ H, 48, has been presenting a show on GFM since 2005. The part-time DJ and landlord plays soul, funk, disco and new urban music.

She said: “This is such an essential part of the community. You make so many friends here. I’ve been doing it for a long long time. The station brings people together through the love of music to the community features that we do.

“It’s a station that is so diverse, we are a station that only plays music of black origin but within that we’ve got presenters of all ages, colours and races. It’s probably for me the most equal place I have ever worked at, even though I am a volunteer.”

To apply to present a programme on Gloucester FM, you can call 01452 525 424, although there is a long-waiting list.

GFM are also looking for a sponsor for a fundraising dinner and dance they are holding in October. A raffle with prizes will also be taking place there.