Cornwall’s Rewind Radio marks five years on air

The first song ever broadcast on the station was “Greatest Day” by Take That. Five years on, the people behind Cornwall’s Rewind Radio reckon the title turned out to be a fair prediction.

The station is marking five years since it was formed. It started life as Rewind Radio before rebranding to become Cornwall’s Rewind Radio, and it began with just three people. Richard Woods, Jamie Reed and Shaun Ford came together with a shared determination to keep local radio going in Cornwall.

From three people to almost 40

That original trio has grown into a team of almost 40 staff members and volunteers, working both on-air and behind the scenes to keep Cornwall entertained, informed and connected.

Sally and Nicola now serve as Programming and Brand Directors, working alongside fellow Director Chris. The station describes itself as Cornwall’s only independent and local commercial radio station covering the Duchy.

Out and about across the Duchy

Over the past five years the station says it has attended more than 200 events. Those include the Royal Cornwall Show, the Boconnoc Steam Fair and the relaunch carnival in St Newlyn East.

It has also put time into fundraising. The station has run Radiothon events and the Banger Rally Challenge, and has helped charities and organisations with auctions, raffles and other fundraising events to raise both money and awareness for local causes.

“The last five years have certainly tested us”

Richard Woods, the station’s managing director, said launching a radio station had never been easy.

“From building a brand from scratch, earning the trust and support of communities across Cornwall, navigating industry challenges, and ultimately rebranding to become Cornwall’s Rewind Radio, every step has required determination, resilience, and belief in what we were trying to achieve,” he said.

“What makes me most proud is that we’ve remained true to our purpose throughout. We are proudly local, we support local, and everything we do is centred around Cornwall and the people who live here.”

Richard also thanked the team, the listeners and the businesses that have advertised with the station.

“None of this would have been possible without the incredible team that has supported the station from the very beginning, the listeners who tune in every day, and the many businesses who have chosen to advertise and grow with us over the past five years,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said the values would stay the same.

“As we look ahead, our values remain unchanged: grit, fun, unconventional thinking and integrity. These principles have helped shape who we are and will continue to guide us as we grow. Our focus will always be on Cornwall, the county we love and live in, and on supporting our communities, charities and local businesses.”

Two birthdays and a party

There is a slight quirk to the timing. While the anniversary being marked is the date the company was formed, the station’s on-air birthday falls on 7th October, the date of that first broadcast and that opening Take That song.

To mark the milestone, Cornwall’s Rewind Radio has announced a special fifth birthday celebration on Friday 5th December 2026. The station says more details about the party will be revealed in the coming months.