Tune into 92.6FM to listen to Radio Verulam

Did you know that St Albans has its own radio station? I didn t either, not until a link to Radio Verulam 92.6FM popped up when I was snooping around a St Albans website. Keen for the chance to play DJ for the day, I offered my services as a volunteer and

Did you know that St Albans has its own radio station? I didn't either, not until a link to Radio Verulam 92.6FM popped up when I was snooping around a St Albans website. Keen for the chance to play DJ for the day, I offered my services as a volunteer and headed for the studio on Victoria Street.

DJ Phil Richards, a former Mercury 96.6FM presenter, was my tour guide for the morning and it took all of two minutes for him to show me every nook and cranny of Radio Verulam's tiny studio. Row upon row of LPs, CDs and MP3s decorated the room and I spied albums ranging from the best of Black Sabbath to the latest Now That's What I Call Music collection.

A dedicated crew of volunteers keep everything running at Radio Verulam and Phil told me that young media-enthusiasts are always welcome. The last one was sent to the city centre on a vox pop mission; compiled the local traffic report; and got to read the news bulletin live on air, so my expectations for the day were high.

The square sound booth is where it all happens and Phil showed me how easy it was to line up a playlist, record a short weather report and check the sound levels. Our conversation was interrupted by Phil's sudden realisation that he had a live interview with a local inventor to do, and I sat back to enjoy the show.

The beaming "on air" red light made the whole experience that little bit more glamorous and the massive pair of headphones I was wearing certainly made me feel the part. As for Radio Verulam's taste in music, Phil described the station as "a big melting pot of tunes" and assured me that chart-topping hits formed a big part of his show.

Aside from a good collection of music and relatively little DJ chit-chat, the best thing Radio Verulam has to offer is a friendly bunch of staff who can help you learn a bit more about work in the media. From promoting the station out on the streets to assisting the show's presenters, there's a lot of work to be done at Radio Verulam. So turn on, tune in to 92.6FM and drop into Radio Verulam - the local gateway to the wireless world.

When? Everyday

Where? Radio Verulam station, Victoria Street, St Albans

How much? Free

Contact: philrichards.w@ntlworld.com