Gary Hopkins

Gary presents 'Blast from the 80s' every Sunday 3pm-4pm and 'Blast from the 90s' every Tuesday 1pm-2pm.

Brief background summary
My real background is with customer service away from Radio dealing with customers in a face to face format, and over the phone and internet and I wouldn’t say I have any interesting jobs in the past or expected to in the future, but you never know. I could be here all day and tell you some of the complaints and issues I dealt with but I’d be writing for hours, all I can say is these people roam our streets... 

What was your first job? Do you have a funny story about it?
My first real job was working in Bingo in 1993, And from there on I moved with promotions into the SW of the UK and South Wales, I was roving assistant manager by the time I’d finished with the leisure industry. Probably best job was when I worked for a sports memorabilia store, and so I could talk about famous people who we had in store autograph wise. The funny story here was when the shopping centre manager asked me as a manager to remove a £250,000 silver medal as it invalidated the shopping centres insurance (it was too costly!) So I had to hide the medal somewhere where it couldn’t be stolen, amazing what you can put into the top of a toilet 

What are you happiest doing when you’re not working and why?
This will sound Corny, but when not working I am happy producing my radio shows. Apart from that just being outside looking at nice views on top of hills or beaches with my family is the other way of making me happy in life.

What’s your absolute favourite song and why?
Can’t answer that, far too many….If I had to say one I’d say Queen's seminal "Bohemian Rhapsody".

What’s your favourite album and why?
Probably Tears for Fears – "Songs From the Big Chair", my brother played it all the time and I never got bored with it either and there are some quality tracks on this album. I was starting to get into the music vibe thanks to this song and my brother's other musical tastes

What song do you hate most and why?
Again too many, but "Crazy Frog", does my head in and basically anything copied by modern artists that ruin the original song!

Which artist/ musician alive or dead would you most like to get a coffee (whiskey etc.) with?
I’ve been fortunate enough to talk to some artists in the past, but I would say if I could talk to somebody, I would actually say the whole of ABBA together would be my dream. Don’t drink coffee but if this happened I would drink anything with them

Tell us something no one knows about you?
Keeping secret causes problems, so I have none that I can think of but know many about others :)

What’s your most useless talent?
Cooking and DIY probably, I try, but normally it's a disaster...

What will finally break the internet?
Not me, but surely somebody will and the world will go mad - if Facebook goes down it's like what do we do?

If we went to Happy Hour what would you order?
Hot and Spicy pizza with a glass or two of Cider.

Finally - is there anything specific you want the listeners to know about you...
Nothing really springs to mind (sorry.. I'm not that dull really!) 
 

 

 

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    Noon - 2:00pm

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    2:00pm - 4:00pm

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Community

  • Trevor Simpson was born and raised in Kebroyd, Triangle and spent most of his working life in Halifax. After joining the legal firm of Bearder and Son, solicitors from school, he spent thirty-two years working for them as the agency manager for Abbey National Building Society. When the Abbey decided to open a full branch office in 1990, they offered Trevor the job of Branch Manager, where he worked for several years, before taking early retirement in 1995. 

    A keen sportsman, Trevor played as a goalkeeper in local football and was an avid Halifax Town supporter from the age of seven. An injury in 1966 enforced his change of direction and he became a football referee after learning his craft locally. He progressed through to the Football League where he spent seven seasons (1984-1991) officiating at the highest domestic level (all top clubs except West Ham Utd!). He also had two appearances in Wembley F.A. finals, various European and International matches and as a linesman at a World Cup qualifier. He retained his activity in football working for The Professional Game Match Official Ltd. as a referee coach and later a referee assessor on the F.A. Premier League. Trevor also completed 30 consecutive years as a referee and ambassador at the Dallas Cup International Youth Tournament in Texas. 

    His greatest interest outside sport has always been popular music. An avid record collector since his teenage years, Trevor possessed every No.1 record since the British charts began in 1952. He was viewed by many as a worldwide authority on Elvis, wrote numerous articles about him in various worldwide magazines and visited Graceland several times. Trevor published five comprehensive volumes charting Elvis’s early career which have now sold-out. He researched and wrote two local volumes of ‘Small Town, Saturday Night’ chronicling the 1960s music scene around Halifax. He was also part of the Halifax Music Heritage Trails.

    Trevor was the founder of Radio Calderdale in 1981, the hospital radio service in Halifax. During his time there he did regular shows and helped raise funds for the station. Each year until 2020, Trevor broadcast on Christmas Day morning and took great delight in announcing the babies that had been born that day. He also assisted with live commentary of FC Halifax Town’s matches from the Shay for several years. For the past two years, he volunteered as a presenter at the online community radio station, Calder Valley Radio, where his weekly music show was adored by many listeners all over the world. He cared passionately about the station, helping out with grants and fund-raising initiatives, such as the hugely successful Elvis night in September 2023.

    Following the sad news of Trevor's passing in January, his family have decided that any donations made in Trevor's memory should go to Calder Valley Radio as Trevor really enjoyed the two years he spent with the station and did so much to raise our profile.

    If you would like to donate, here is the link:

    https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/in-memory-of-trevor-simpson

     

     

     

                      

     

     

  • Welcome to Calder Valley Radio.

    Welcome to Calder Valley Radio. Established in 2020 with Dave, Guy, Fiona, Tony and Val and the help of Hebden Royd Town Council and comedian, Jon Richardson, we launched in the middle of a pandemic. All our Planning in 2019, could never have prepared us for what happened in 2020, but this was our best training. We didn't miss a broadcast and even through our own health issues and sad times, we carried on. Radio became our support too, in our times of need. We know, from your messages to us, that Calder Valley Radio helped you through too and music truly is a great healer.

    As we venture forth, with Tim Morsley as our Programme Manger and a great team behind the scenes, we are so excited to be supported by Calderdale Council. We are looking forward to delivering a wonderful programme of events and shows in the coming seasons ahead.

  • One Night with Elvis - Proudly Presents Colin Paul.

    Elvis Week" at Graceland in Memphis is happening here in the valley!! Tickets are available from the reception at Mytholmroyd Community and Leisure Centre. Colin Paul will be performing songs by Elvis, doors open at 7pm on Saturday 30th of September Mytholmroyd Community & Leisure Centre

    The ticket price includes pie & peas (meat and potato or cheese and onion) and a disco afterwards. Full bar. Tickets £10. Perfect for groups who like a good night out with friends. If people want to pay by bank transfer they can email eventscvr@outlook.com

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