It all started on a sunlit afternoon in a quiet pub garden, where friends David Harber and Rob Francis leaned back with pints in hand, swapping stories about the radio they loved and the radio they wished existed. Between laughter and the occasional burst of “what if…?” an idea began to take shape – not on paper, not in a boardroom, but right there, in the middle of conversation and sunlight. That’s the kind of spark that can’t be forced, the kind that makes you suddenly see a dream as possible. By the end of that session, they weren’t just talking about radio – they were plotting it.
The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of discovery. Every technical obstacle, every late-night problem-solving session, felt like part of the adventure. How do you build a station from scratch? How do you find voices that feel local and alive, playlists that resonate, and a sound that’s more than just noise? Step by step, idea by idea, the pub garden vision began to take a tangible form: microphones in place, playlists ready, and the thrill of a first test broadcast lighting up screens and speakers alike.
Then came the big day: July 30th, 2023. Overton Radio officially went live. The first notes of music, the first voices on air, carried with them all the optimism, friendship, and determination that had begun in that garden months before. Listeners tuning in didn’t just hear a radio station—they heard a story, a dream realized, a community given a voice. From casual conversation to full-fledged broadcast, Overton Radio had leapt off the page and into the airwaves, ready to carve its own space in hearts and speakers alike.
The station launched with a party at the Red Lion in the heart of the village. Here’s how it all began…
