Hosted on 12^th December, the sixth annual Community Radio Awards celebrate community radio and all the hard work and time that the volunteers involved in community radio put into their stations, shows and communities. Nominated in the ‘Podcast’ category and up against over 460 entrants, Terry and Primrose were crowned the winners for their show, Primrose & Terry in the Shed.

Since the first UK lockdown, Terry Lee – Senior Tutor of Radio & Audio – has been helping his daughter, Primrose, host and produce a regular podcast series (currently monthly) as part of some extra-curricular fun, which they started whilst home-schooling.

Listen to their podcast on PodBean.

Alongside her Maths, English, Science and other school homework, Primrose was keen to have a go at podcasting to develop her communication and technology skills, too. She got a taste for the microphone from her dad, Terry, who produces his own podcast – a Fantastic Noise – for radio students and budding podcasters, as part of his work at the University of Bedfordshire.

With the equipment set up in her mother’s shed, Primrose has been theming each week around her interests, hobbies and the people and things she likes. Topics covered so far have included hamsters, custard, Sports Day and The Beano, as well as interviews with family members and friends.

Discussing her win, Primrose said: “I feel really shocked and it’s still taking time to sink in. We didn’t really think this would happen – it was just meant to be some fun and something to keep us busy!”

Terry added: “It’s a real treat to have won the award. I would like to say a big thank you to the University of Bedfordshire for all the support they’ve given us on this project.”

Since being awarded ‘Gold’, Primrose and Terry have made many appearances on local and national news, including BBC 5Live, BBC Look East and BBC Three Counties Radio. They were also interviewed by the Community Radio Awards team – the interview can be heard here.

About the press attention, Primrose said: “When we started getting all these calls it was a shock – but I’m sort of getting used to it now!”

A long-standing lecturer with the School of Culture & Communications, Terry oversees the Radio & Audio undergraduate course which now includes a Podcasting segment. Terry also helps to manage Radio LaB, a community radio station based at the University of Bedfordshire’s Luton campus.

A recent graduate of the University, Laura Conder, was also successful at this month’s Community Radio Awards. The Broadcast Journalism alumni achieved ‘Silver’ in the ‘Speech & Journalism of the Year’ category for her radio audio-documentary Meet the Smugglers, which she aired earlier this year on Radio LaB as part of her final year coursework.

Follow Radio LaB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to discover different shows and to find out how to get involved.

To discover course opportunities with the School of Culture & Communications visit: www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/departments/culture-and-communications

Over the weekend at the @CommRadioAwards academic @terryleeradio & his daughter Primrose took Gold in the Podcast category and @LauraConder89 took Silver in the Speech & Journalism category to add to her @SRA award won last month! Congratulations to you & @RadioLaB971fm! 🥇🥈👏 pic.twitter.com/7CjC7eYcpz

— uniofbeds (@uniofbeds) December 15, 2020