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Simon West

Hi, my name is Simon West, and I have been with Apple AM for a little over 5 years, presenting a Saturday night show from 8:00pm until 10:00pm. Over that time the program has evolved, but the aim has always been the same: to play the best music from the past 50 years, and to chat about what's going on in the world, particularly in our own little bit of it here in Taunton. Like all our shows, I love to hear from listeners with their requests, after all it's the listeners we are here for and I never want to forget that! I have an "Artist of the Week" each week, allowing me to focus on a new album from an old-timer, or an old album from someone we may have forgotten about. I have had co-presenters from time to time, but currently it's just me and the music.

I am also on the committee and responsible for the IT systems, including making sure our darling Mavis has everything she needs to keep playing the music when none of the regular presenters are there (she won't go on air, but is happy to play music all day, every day!). Over that time, like all IT systems we have seen quite a lot of change, including the bit-by-bit replacement of all the systems we run and the introduction of Internet Radio. Right now we are planning to fit out Studio Two with equipment suitable for use by people with visual impairment - quite a challenge as most of our systems are very visual, despite the fact that radio is exactly the opposite of that!

I have also been chief presenter on each year's carnival coverage, which continues to be great fun, trying to bring the carnival atmosphere into the wards for those people who would love to go but are not currently able to. My target for next year is to see if we can streamline the systems we use on outside broadcasts such as this, so we can take less kit with us - it's currently filling our engineers car until it is riding on the shock absorbers.

I also hope to take part in our drive towards getting a full Community Radio license, so we can reach out to more people across Taunton Deane who I think would really value a genuinely local service, by and for the people of or community. We have been hoping for this for a number of years, but now I really think this will be the last magazine we produce where it is still a "pipe dream", and this time next year I will be writing about it as something about to happen.

So, if you want to get involved at all, just call us - we are always glad to have extra helping hands, whether you want to present, collect requests or help out with all the other things which go towards the running of a radio station. Or if you just want to listen in, I try to provide some good company on a Saturday night!