In 1975, Tonto Tregantle won £58.50p on the Lostwithiel lotto and finally
realised his dream of owning his own radio station. Old man Ferrers, who lived
next door, had a collection of radio equipment in his garage which Tonto had
coveted since he was a teenager.
A few years earlier he had seen Mike Spence at a Clown gig in Plymouth, and
from that night he had wanted to become a DJ himself. He had been weaned on
"Listen With Mother" and "The Archers", and loved the idea of broadcasting from
behind a microphone to an invisible audience who couldn't see if he had
forgotten to put his teeth in, or had changed his shorts.
He made an offer for the equipment which was accepted. Young Rob Ferrers helped
him load it into a pram, and they set off for Rame Head. Old man Ferrers set
off for the pub. The rest is history! Tonto became a broadcasting legend, and
old man Ferrers was run over that very same night on his way back from The Ring
Of Bells!
Mike Oxlong, M.N.E. (Music News and Echo)
