“We are a true community radio station.”

So says Malcolm Angel who, together with Kelly Webb, the current Mayor of Wimborne, is a Co-Founder and Director of Radio Wimborne.

Based in the heart of the Minster town, its 22-strong team of broadcasters present a wide range of programmes, from news and sport to interviews, features and specialist music programmes.

Malcolm, 72, said: “Our music covers everything from the 60s to today’s charts as well as jazz, classical and reggae.

“We have people aged 16 through to our oldest broadcaster who is in his late 70s.

“They’re all committed volunteers and we’re very fortunate to have such a fantastic team.”

Incorporated as a company in 2013, the not for profit station began broadcasting online the following year.

For six years it operated from a small room in the Allendale Centre before relocating to Allendale House.

Its current home is at Allenview Hub next to Allenview West car park where it has two studios.

In June 2016 – and thanks to £3,900 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund – Radio Wimborne broadcast live on FM for a fortnight.

The Restricted Service Licence (RSL) included live and recorded coverage of the Folk Festival.

Shows featuring interviews with past and present folk festival organisers, as well as townsfolk sharing their memories, were broadcast.

Oral histories were also collected which, together with hard copy material, including photographs, was later presented to the Priest’s House Museum (now renamed Museum of East Dorset).

Kelly, 52, said: “It was a great success and showed what could be done with an FM licence.

“As an online station it’s not always been easy for the whole community to access it.

“This gave us the best of both worlds.”

Andrew Browning, former Head of Dumpton School, presenting his Wednesday Lunchtime Live show.

In 2020 Radio Wimborne was granted a five-year FM licence by Ofcom and – on Saturday October 16, 2021 – the station began broadcasting on 94.6FM.

Malcolm, whose family business, Angel, Roberts & Angel Limited, owns Gullivers Bookshop and Square Records in Wimborne as well as Westbourne Bookshop, said: “It was a significant moment and has increased both our profile and, we think, listenership.

“We’re now a fully functioning internet and FM radio station with many more opportunities to be an even more effective community radio station for Wimborne and surrounding areas.”

A key source of revenue for Radio Wimborne is advertising.

Rates are from £75 per month covering both the station’s 24/7 digital coverage and 94.6FM.

Radio Wimborne also has business sponsors, limited to two from different sectors.

Benefits include their own adverts, social media and website mentions, promotion at outside events and the opportunity to be interviewed on-air.

Currently home improvement firm Swain & Rands is a sponsor.

Kelly, who is a regular presenter on Radio Wimborne, said: “We want to do our bit to support the local economy.

“We keep our costs as low as possible – just to cover our outgoings.”

Malcolm added: “From the Son et lumière, where we arranged the sound and light show with sponsorship from Wimborne BID and Wimborne Town Council, to interviews with charities, supporting businesses and providing round the clock entertainment.

“We’re really proud to play our part in the life of our community.

“It’s true local radio.”

• radiowimborne.co.uk