Roving Roella – “My Time as a Volunteer at Park Radio”

I’ve been a supporter of Park Radio since it started in 2010 so when they got their full licence I was asked if I would like to volunteer a few hours a week - of course I said yes!

I offered to do Thursday mornings on the reception but when I turned up on the first day, someone else was in the chair so I offered to walk down town to distribute car stickers to shopkeepers and members of the public - Roving Roella was born!

I then caught the bus weekly on a Wednesday to either Harleston or Eye where I would have a cuppa at their Country Markets and chat to folk there. After that, I would walk around the town and pop into the shops and libraries, and would be delighted to hear Park Radio playing in some of them. People would give me song requests which I would inform the studio of and update them of my travels! The next day, I’d be invited into the studio to talk live on air about my day out and mention all the folk I’d spoken to and give a free plug to the shops I’d been into! Once, I even gave a live running commentary on air of a professional cycling tour that came through the area as we followed it round!

I've represented Park Radio at key events in and around the town; Diss Carnival, Christmas Lights Switch-Ons, The Annual Town Meeting, Community Litterpicks, sold raffle tickets at Park Radio’s Charity Coffee Mornings and Birthday Parties, escorted Parky Bear on some of his outings and completed a sponsored charity cycle ridein lycra - and I’ve delivered 100s of On Air Magazines! It’s been a busy time!

I said I’d volunteer for five years which was up at the end of 2022.

I feel privileged and proud to have been part of the Park Radio Team - it's been a blast and I've had a ball, but most of all, I've made some lifelong friends!