Former Radio Avon staff invited to celebrate 50 year reunion

Radio Avon Announcers - Lee Hanner, Paul Duffy, Mike Lynch, Murray Inglis, Wayne Douglas and Mike Richardson

Former staff of the defunct Christchurch station Radio Avon are being encouraged to attend a 50 year reunion celebration.

Radio Avon was launched in Christchurch on 4 August 1973 .

A 1977 audience survey found Avon had over 50 percent of all Christchurch listeners aged 10 and over.

Former Sales Manager Malcolm Ballentine said he’s hoping former staff members will join him and others to celebrate the radio station.

Former Radio Avon advertisement

“We are joining with Plains FM on Saturday 5 August 10am - 12 noon and will live broadcast Radio Avon 1290's 1973 programme .

“When Radio Avon 1290 went to air, commercial radio in Christchurch was never the same again.

“It was exciting times, with great music, great formats and great staff.

The late Murray Inglis in the Radio Avon Studio (1973) The Christchurch Star Negatives

“We had fabulous on-air 'jocks', management, programmers, sales, copy, news and best of all the atmosphere.”

3ZB eventually took out the top-spot in the ratings.

Avon stayed on air until the late 1980s, but never regained the extraordinary success it enjoyed in the mid-1970s.

Reunion celebration will take place on 4th and 5th of August.

Former staff members can email avonreunion50@gmail.com for more information.