VOICE of the BBC’s Formula One motor racing coverage, Jonathan Legard, has talked about his time working on hospital radio in Chester.
Jonathan, who grew up in the city, started his career as a 23-year-old presenting the sports coverage for the Countess of Chester’s Radio Lion.
He started by covering Chester FC, the team he has supported since the early 1970s.
“I joined the station quite late, in about 1985-86,” said Mr Legard.
“Sport is all I did. I would go in on the Friday, set up the phone line for the football and then do the commentary on the Saturday.
“I did the whole game live, build-up and commentary.
“We were based in a sort of portable cabin building, as you came in at the main entrance, on the left past the car park. It was out in a green expanse in a field against a hedge.”
Initially training as a teacher, Jonathan worked in Hong Kong before returning to the UK and taking up the post with Radio Lion.
“I did reports first then the live commentary,” he said. “I did commentary on the last few games with Andy Holden, a former player who is now reserve team coach at Everton. I’ve got the tapes still somewhere. It was a lot of fun.”
Mr Legard, who now lives in London, went on to work for Radio Merseyside and Radio Five before securing the commentator’s job for the BBC’s F1 coverage.
What are your memories of Radio Lion? Anyone with any information can ring 01244 606414 or email paul.mannion@ cheshirenews.co.uk.
