I’ve been a bit off the radar of late with the very good folk of Radio Wivenhoe. Work projects have tipped the work / life balance over into the black. But hey - whilst you’re playing at being a wage slave, then there’s always the work at home lovely company of the Voice of the Colne, which in past months has been making some amazing moves in the long term aim of applying for a community licence to broadcast to Colchester and the surrounds.

If I’ve been bemoaning the work / life imbalance, then I hate to think what it must be like for Radio Wivenhoe Head Honcho Jerry Davis. Along with playing a key role with Wivenhoe First, Jerry’s vision to provide a hyperlocal broadcasting platform for our patch is now a reality, with many new presenters on board, as well as a permanent studio base down at the Wivenhoe Business Centre.

Operational for just over two months now, the studio is rather conveniently situated behind a rather large boat. It gives the Voice of the Colne some nice synergy with the spirit of the pirates from back in the day, but this is no underhand semi-legal operation. Radio Wivenhoe is playing it by the book, training presenters and undertaking all that is required to be in a position to apply for a community licence.

What has been wonderful to watch / listen from ever so slightly afar has been the tremendous local talent that has stepped forward to take on the role of presenting. There are some absolute broadcast gems out there, which would most certainly be worthy of slot on professional radio.

We all know about the many talents of Mr Mule. It is no surprise that his Over the River Thursday evening show has seen the same seamless transition into broadcasting that Martin’s music and writing has slipped into over the years. Oh - and Mr Mule continues to produce some ACE jingles for the station.

A companion listening piece to Over the River is the wonderful, wonderful Strange Brew with Wivenhoe local MWBewick. This is a gem of a find to slowly ease into the weekend on a Friday evening. The mysterious MW (and I rather like it that way…) is a man that clearly knows his music.

Esoteric is an adjective that is often used as a lazy way for journos to pigeon hole something that they don’t quite understand. I don’t quite understand *all* of the esotericism taking place here, but I’m certainly hooked. There is a tangible understanding for the feel and spirit of Wivenhoe that comes across each Friday night. No mean feat, and the perfect Wivenhoe weekend opener.

Elsewhere and May Fair top man Mike Freeman continues to impress with Ears Wide Open, a show that started off as a bedroom podcast, and is now rightfully receiving broadcast attention on a semi-serious level. Likewise for the Roots and Reggae Regatta with Laurence Hammond.

The studio itself is opening up all sorts of new opportunities for the station. As well as the webcam (blimey) then there is now a permanent base for presenters to invite guests in to explore their local activities. Philippe Palmer and the Leftfield Retro Rock Show has been using this to great effect, with recent guests include the fine folk of the Colchester Circle magazine, and my current Sunny Colch personal fave, Mr Snippet.

So yeah - Radio Wivenhoe is starting to sound incredibly professional, but with still a hint of the hyperlocal that separates it from the broadcast twaddle that the big boys keep on churning out. This was always part of the plan, right from those early Upstairs at The Greyhound formation meetings. You give it try, learn and then take it forward.

Sticking with The Greyhound and there is another Radio Wivenhoe fundraiser quiz taking place on 19th February. All questions are muso based - which in a muso-obsessed town, makes the competition slightly competitive, albeit friendly. A 7pm start, prizes ahoy from some very kind local supporters.

And so from being out of the loop, to being able to appreciate Radio Wivenhoe from a hyperlocal slightly afar perspective. Hyperlocal online audio presents many new opportunities for a community. How wonderful to find that here in Wivenhoe, many folk are rallying around to make the most of these.