COLUMN - On The Radio with 103 The Eye
When we heard that Ben Atkinson had won a Melton Times New Year Honours Award for his work with Melton Musical Theatre Company and his creative writing, we invited him as a studio guest to do an interview on our Community Focus Show.
That was in 2008 and Ben, then aged 16, became so interested in the station that he joined us and trained as a presenter.
He took on the country music show, a style of music he enjoyed, having listened to records played by his parents and grandparents while growing up.
Ben went on to gain a First Class Honours media production degree at Lincoln University.
His time there included several months in America on a student exchange - the first of many visits he has subsequently made to the United States and Nashville, the home of country music.
For the past 18 years, he has presented Ben's Country Music Show on 103 The Eye.
The weekly two-hour programme features classic and contemporary country music, news and interviews, and is now also syndicated to radio stations around the UK and abroad.
Ben is an accredited member of the Country Music Association of America and has produced documentaries about various artistes.
He is now completing his PhD having researched the impact of female country music singers in Nashville between 1990 and 2024,
Also a talented musician and composer, Ben released his second album Country Folk this month.
He is currently working with Melton Mowbray Town Estate on organising its brand new live music festival, Country On The Eye, so named because it's at Play Close Park, next to the River Eye.
The festival, on June 12 and 13, was officially launched by Dean Rees, the Town Estate's chief executive, who was a guest on Ben's show on 103 The Eye last week. Tickets are now on sale.
As well as attracting country and folk music fans, the festival will gain national media attention as managers of community radio stations from all over the UK are coming to Melton that weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 103 The Eye.
The radio event is being held in association with the Community Media Association and will also showcase Melton's tourism potential for visitors.