Phil Dawson

Graham Philip 'Phil' Dawson

16 June 1945 to 17 January 2023

It is with great sadness that the Fantasy Radio team announces the death of our founding director, presenter, producer, engineer and head tea-boy, Phil Dawson.

Phil launched Fantasy Radio as a 50th birthday present to himself back in 1995, an experiment in radio here in Devizes on 1386kHz AM, then switching to 'Crystal-Clear FM Stereo' in the summer of 1997 on 105.8 FM. In April 2011 the group had the opportunity to apply for a full-time Community Radio licence, which we won, and we started full-time Fantasy on 29th February 2012.

His career started with Granada in Birmingham, repairing TV sets in people's homes. Phil moved on to recording bands from across The Midlands, many of whom went on to fame and fortune, at his home-built recording studio. In 1974 he landed a job as an engineer at BRMB Radio where he used his talents as self-taught musician and voice-over artist running their commercial production studio.

He joined Wiltshire Radio (GWR) in 1982 as commercial producer and engineer, then moved to Viking FM in Hull, but remained in touch with his Devizes friends and was heavily involved in Devizes Hospitals Broadcasting Service (DHBS). Phil returned to live in the town, from where continued to run his own commercial production and jingles company Ginger Music and Ginger Productions, for some 40 years.

Ginger produced countless jingles and commercials for businesses, radio stations and TV ads aired across the country, including one of the most popular radio jingles heard on the radio in Wiltshire, for Corsham Building Plastics.

Since Fantasy Radio went full-time in 2012, Phil presented the breakfast show on the station every weekday morning from the studios in The Corn Exchange, Devizes. He was still providing support and training to Fantasy Radio presenters, commercial production for the station, running live outside broadcast events and completing engineering tasks, right up until his death.

So here's to Phil, with the official un-official Fantasy Radio theme from Earth Wind and Fire...or as he liked to joke with a silly grin, Earth Live and Neutral.

If you would like to get in touch with the Fantasy Radio team, please email office@fantasyradio.co.uk