Bob is a founder director of Celtic Music Radio. It was Bob that gathered together a team of individuals during the summer of 2004 to form a group for a possible application to broadcasting regulator Ofcom for a Community Radio Licence.
His interest in Scottish traditional and singer-songwriter music goes back to the early 1970s when he was the ‘roadie’ for Clydebank folk group The Crofters, led by the late Alan McGregor who died suddenly in October 2003.
Bob was founder and launch programme director of the former Paisley based local commercial station Q96 FM in 1992 and was an advisor and later a director of Dumbarton area local commercial station Castle Rock FM 103 until January 2004 when he resigned from the station when it was taken over by new owners and renamed as Your Radio.
Bob was also indemand for research and freelance assignments for commerical radio licence application in Dundee (Discovery/Wave 102) and in Fife (Kingdom FM) plus the regional station Beat FM.
He also worked for 15 years with BBC Information providing BBC listeners and viewers with programme information and providing the BBC with viewer and listener feedback with comments, appreciations and complaints. Bob was also involved with BBC Reception Advice with advice and information on television digital switchover and DAB digital radio. For a while he worked in production and BBC Radio Helpline liason at BBC Radio 2.
Bob also had many years in the print media in circulation sales and marketing with eight years at the Scottish Daily Express when it printed and published at 195 Albion Street, Glasgow followed by 10 years at the Paisley Gazette Group of weekly local newspapers and at the Evening Times when it was printed in Albion Street. He also had a year with Radio Clyde working on their ‘Clyde Guide’ project.
Bob is a member of the Radio Academy and is secretary of the Scottish Community Broadcasting Network.
He is committed to developing Celtic Music Radio to ensure it reaches a wider audience through digital platforms like DAB digital radio and increasing the long term viability of Celtic Music Radio plus working closely with partners at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
Bob generally presents the Homeward Bound programme 4.00-6.00pm on several afternoons during the week and he pops up at other times.
Email Bob at: bob.mcwilliam@celticmusicradio.net
