User:BARRY WILSON

Wear FM The station now known as SUN FM was launched in 1990 as Wear FM (Sunderland Community Radio Association) was initially led by maverick Australian Pieta O'Shaughessey.

The station gained international acclaim for its community programming and social inclusion. It's finest hour came with the winning of the Sony Award for UK Radio Station of the Year in 1992. Covering Durham and Sunderland, the station faced competition for its license when it reapplied for it in February of 1994, with Competition from the Wearside Broadcasting Company. Although the license was retained, times were not good at the station - tension between management and staff reached boiling point, and this led to a walkout in early March of that year, as protests raged about how the station was being run. They felt that, due to their base being at the University of Sunderland, a takeover by the same was imminent. The University made various attempts to save the station but legislation prevented a public body owning the station and a commercial buyer was sought.

Wear FM ceased transmissions in 1995 when it was taken over by the Minster Sound Group, who relaunched the station as Sun City FM. Wear FM's Studios in the Foster Building were taken over by the University of Sunderland, and finally demolished in 2003.

WEAR FM PRESENTERS - "THE GOD SQUAD"

Among the team that was committed to Presenting and producing from its birth to closure was Barry Wilson from Peterlee and Neville Whitehead from Shiney Row. Their main contribution was to the Sunday Breakfast Show Which was faith and Values. Their aim was to appeal to a wide section of population by not been showing the varied style of religious music available and Interview various people from all walks of life. Barry was noted in the station for getting celebrities such as Cliff Richards and Harry Secombe.

After the station closed Barry Wilson went into the Christian publishing industry. Joining New Life Publishing Co in Nottingham. He can also be heard doing programmes for BBC Radio Nottingham on their mid week breakfast show and Sunday morning slot and does much more with New Life Publishing Co also in Nottingham. Where he is part of a team that produces Christian publications. Neville has since retired in the Oldham area.