THE Armed Forces radio station, BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service), has officially opened its first studio in Scotland, at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.
It follows it winning a ten-year contract to deliver TV and radio to the Armed Forces, insodoing taking over six radio stations throughout the UK run by Garrison FM.
As of April 1, the Garrison station in Edinburgh was renamed BFBS Scotland, and ex-Garrison FM presenter, Mark McKenzie, was confirmed as its main presenter.
At the opening, pupils from nearby Colinton Primary School performed a musical medley for guests from the military and local communities as Edinburgh Garrison Commander, Colonel Phil Bates, cut the ribbon.
In a BFBS media statement, he is quoted, as saying: “BFBS is massively important. I think all of us have got experience of BFBS TV and radio overseas, and now bringing it into the local community just joins up all of those dots. We have two distinct areas within Edinburgh city and the Penicuik area but BFBS helps bind those elements of our community together.
“It’s our local radio station, it’s for our people, and run in the interests of our people to keep us informed of what’s going on within our communities and what’s relevant to us.”
BFBS Scotland broadcasts live on 98.5FM in Edinburgh, where the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and 3rd Battalion the Rifles are based.
Families and personnel serving with the 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland can listen to the station in Fort George and Inverness, on 87.7 FM
BFBS Scotland also broadcasts on 1287 AM in Glencorse, the home of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit is currently deployed on Op Herrick 18, so BFBS Radio is helping to connect families with their loved ones on tour in Afghanistan.
Presenter, Mark McKenzie, kick-starts each weekday with music and chat on the BFBS Scotland Breakfast Show from 6.30am until 10am. In the media release, she is quoted, as saying: “I’m delighted to be presenting on a truly unique radio station. BFBS is a big player on the world stage but the local community is never forgotten – that connection is so important. This was highlighted recently when 50 kids from 2 SCOTS recorded Father’s Day messages for their dads in Afghanistan.”
BFBS Scotland also links to programmes from across the station’s network, such as the ‘Total Ops Connection’, live from Afghanistan 10am – 1pm every weekday, and ‘Access All Areas’, the slot for live dedications and messages, on air 10am – 1pm every Sunday.
