Murphy's law says local radio makes a BIG DIFFERENCE

Let’s Talk David Clayton talks to Mark Murphy, a man with a passion for local radio, and a presenter with a host of fans on Radio Suffolk.

- David Clayton

MARK MURPHY IS UNEQUIVOCAL, “Local radio makes a difference.” Apart from a few years on its mid-morning show, Mark has been the voice at breakfast time on BBC Radio Suffolk since 2000. He can draw on so many examples of what the medium is capable of and what drives him to get up for work when most of us are fast asleep.

Back in 2003, during severe weather, there were parts of Suffolk without power for a couple of weeks. People were having difficulty getting through to the power company, so resorted to the radio station’s phone lines for help.

“I took a call on air just after 6am from a single mum in Boxford. It seems she hadn’t lived there long, didn’t know many people, but connected with the radio.

“I feel I know you,” is what Mark remembers her saying. Her young children were cold and hungry. Mark listened to her plight, as did the rest of Suffolk. She broke down in tears. “I asked if anyone in Boxford could help her. Before long someone took her in, cooked them all breakfast and let the children have warm baths.”

She called back the next morning. Two power engineers, who’d heard her on Radio Suffolk, knocked on her door and explained that they’d been working all day but were now off-shift. Even though their bosses knew nothing about it, they wanted to see if they could get her electricity restored.”