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A man who never hankered after a job in radio, but was to be recognised as the driving force behind one of the most successful early small local radio stations \\u2013 Moray Firth Radio based in Inverness.
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In this hour of \\u2018Radio Moments Conversations\\u2019, Thomas Prag confesses to an easy upbringing and his laziness, before falling into the BBC. He recalls his early training days \\u2013 in Bush House and pushing the buttons for Alan Freeman on the legendary Pick of the Pops before moving to BBC Radio Oxford at launch. He tells of helping to establish and then manage the BBC Radio Highland opt-out as the Corporation wrestled with quite how to deal with radio across Scotland.
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When Moray Firth won the area\\u2019s commercial radio licence, Thomas tells he was tempted into joining the team to run what was judged a highly risky venture at a time when other even larger commercial stations were failing and stations of this scale were rare. Thus began his lengthy tenure which took the station into profitability; and its success recognised by regulators, awards judges \\u2013 and its many listeners - as something quite special. Thomas opens-up about his proud legacy in \\u2018community radio\\u2019 - alongside the challenges of the job \\u2013 and the impact of its personal pressures.
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After leaving the station, he tells of how he how was appointed to both the Radio Authority and, later, Ofcom \\u2013 and how he felt about the role of a regulator and about the demands of the licence application process. Then \\u2013 his rich and busy life since and how his learnings from life in radio continue to be put to use in the community he loves.
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In his own words, this is the Thomas Prag story.
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\\nHear the whole \\u2018Radio Moments Conversations\\u2019 series\\xa0 here \\u2013 and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant.
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