Two new voices

TWO new voices are joining BBC Radio Shetland this autumn as the station launches its season of late programmes and reschedules its lunchtime bulletins.

Local lad Daniel Lawson and Aberdeen-based Richard Forbes join the team at the Pitt Lane studio in Lerwick as trainee broadcast journalists.

Lawson, aged 21, was brought up in Cullivoe, Yell, and is about to graduate from a three year course at Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde studying journalism, creative writing and history.

“I’ve always known that I would like to return home to work if possible, and to be doing so after only three years studying in Glasgow is a better result than I could ever have expected,” he said.

Forbes comes to the BBC from Aberdeen’s commercial radio station Northsound, where he covered the ongoing investigation into helicopter safety, Donald Trump’s anti wind farm antics and royal visits to Balmoral.

Listing his pleasures as folk music, pub quizzes and walking his dog Murphy, he said he was looking forward to getting involved in island life.

“And having recently got my motorbike licence, I’m looking forward to discovering Shetland,” he added.

Both will be undergoing training over the next few weeks before they start full time on the local airwaves.

The pair will be joining the experienced team of John Johnston, Mike Grundon and Jane Moncrieff.

Rachel Massie will be leaving the Lerwick station in the middle of October to join the BBC in Aberdeen.

As of Monday 30 September lunchtime bulletins will be moving to a new slot of 12.30pm and a new season of late programmes begins.

Johnston, the station’s senior producer, said: “We’re all looking forward to having two fresh voices on the station as we start our busy season of winter broadcasts.”