A former presenter has reignited his passion for radio and is creating a new podcast thanks to Lavender Hills Care Home and Together with Music.
Alan Sykes was the first radio presenter at BBC Radio Manchester back in September 1971. He travelled all around Europe when broadcasting for the BBC interviewing the likes of ABBA and Bing Crosby.
Now a resident at Lavender Hills Care Home in Ramsbottom, part of the Millennium Care group, they have teamed up alongside Together with Music to produce ‘An Hour with Alan’.
Together with Music is a Manchester-based intergenerational music programme, a partnership between IMM and Care England, that builds connections between care homes, residents, older people and their local schools and youth groups.
Recording at The Yard, Manchester, Alan’s first session showcased his wealth of knowledge with some hilarious anecdotes.
His son, Jonathon Sykes, was present in the session after a long-awaited visit from Australia. He said: “He’s had a long career on the radio. As soon as the mic comes on, he just comes alive. It’s wonderful. His mood lifts and he’s got so many stories and lessons to teach us.
“I would have never have thought that this could happen, and I want to thank Lavender Hills Care Home and Together with Music for just giving my dad an opportunity to be himself and to speak his truth to the world.”
Chris Durkin, Project Facilitator and Connector at Together with Music said: “It was great to meet Alan. All of his stories are just very interesting and I’m very much looking forward to future podcasts with ‘an Hour with Alan’.
“It’s incredible to get that insight into what it was like to work at BBC Radio Manchester.”
Millennium Care is a family-run care provider operating seven homes across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, person-centered care is at the heart of its ethos as the team delivers bespoke care to promote individuality and create positive outcomes.
For more information, please contact Aaron Greaves on 07938489056 or e-mail: aaron@millennium-care.co.uk.
