Radio Winchcombe

25/12/2025

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our listeners a very Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays if you don’t celebrate, may you have a festive day and enjoy time with your families

This time of year can be incredibly challenging for people for many different reasons. In fact, for some, far from being the most wonderful time of the year, it can be the most awful time of year

For those of you, who find this time of year difficult, grief filled or lonely may your passage through it be easy with more smiles than you expect

If you know someone is struggling, reach out, take a little extra time to show you care. Even if someone doesn't appear to be struggling, let's all show a little extra love and kindness in 2026

We are all humans doing the best we can on this crazy ride called life.
A little goes a long way and you never know the difference one gesture can make to someone's life

If this time of year is difficult for you, for whatever reason, please remember you are not alone and there are people who care and are ready to support you.

Childline: 0800 1111
Samaritans 116 123
Domestic Violence Hotline: 0808 2000 247
Mind 0300 123 3393
Age UK 0800 169 6565

Our wish for Christmas this year is that we all practice kindness and compassion for one another.
Everyone is fighting their own battles, they may not be the same as yours but it doesn't make them any less relevant or valid.

A BIG thank you to all the sponsors & advertisers for your backing this year, it’s very much appreciated and thank you for your continued support into 2026

We’ve got some great festive shows on today, why not give us a listen while you open presents, cook crimbo dinner or while you settle down after an amazing day

From each and everyone of us at Radio Winchcombe to each and every one of you, have a blessed and peaceful Christmastime

Keep listening!

Thank you & Merry Christmas

📻 106.9 | 107.1FM
🖥️ radiowinchcombe.co.uk
🔊 smart speakers everywhere!

24/12/2025

Track Santa Live here👇
https://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Did you know?

In 1958, NORAD accidentally created the tradition of tracking Santa Claus.
A Sears department store printed a Christmas ad telling kids to call Santa—but the phone number had a typo and rang directly to the U.S. military’s top command center.
Instead of hanging up, the officer on duty told the child Santa was on his way. That one kind response turned into an annual tradition where NORAD now uses satellites, radar, and fighter jets to “track” Santa’s journey around the world every Christmas Eve.

23/12/2025

this evening's vinyl show . . .
Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers – Let’s party
Marty Wilde – Bad boy
The pipes and drums & Military Band of the Royal Scot’s Dragoon Guards - Christmas Festival
Goldie – Making up again
Hazel O’Connor – Eighth day
Max Bygraves – Jingle bell rock
Mel Smith & Kim Wilde – Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree
The Jingle Belles – Christmas Spectre
Marillion – Incommunicado
The Wombles – Wombling white tie and tails
The Kiki Dee Band – I’ve got the music in me
Disco Tex and The S*x O’Lettes – Get dancin’
Lisa Stansfield – All around the world

East 17 – Stay another day (less SAD mix)
Bing Crosby – White Christmas
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Christmas song
Chris Rea – On the beach
Chris Rea – Joys of Christmas
10CC – The things we do for Love
King’s College Chapel Choir – Ding d**g merrily on high
Spike Jones and his City Slickers – All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
Jim Reeves – An old Christmas card
Cheltenham Grammar School Choral Society – Hallelujah chorus
Gloria Estefan – Oye mi canto
Chris Rea – Driving home for Christmas

Phill Bird presents this (mainly) festive edition of this weekly vinyl show. Thanks for listening and thanks to Halidon for the image.

23/12/2025

A View From The Saddle - The Trip, Stumble and Fall edition:

The Trip, Stumble & Fall edition

23/12/2025

Phill Bird has two hours of vinyl to spin this evening 8 til 10 - it won't be all festive, though there will be a fair helping - a great soundtrack for that last minute wrapping, decorating and prepping! Thanks to Halidon for the image though Phill won't be dressed as Santa - the beard would catch in the stylus!

106.9FM in north Cheltenham (Bishop’s Cleeve area), 107.1FM around Winchcombe, on smart speakers ‘play Radio Winchcombe’ and online via radiowinchcombe.co.uk (will be on listen again too).

23/12/2025

Join Steve Grant for a Christmas Day Breakfast Show 8 - 11am

Packed with feel-good festive classics and that “Christmas morning magic.”

Plus a stocking stuffed with pop star guests dropping by with stories behind their Christmas hits.

Steve also chats to Anita Dobson about that Eastenders Christmas Day episode back in 1986 which had over 30 million viewers!

From sneaky elves to dodgy Christmas jumpers…
Steves’ got the perfect soundtrack for your Christmas morning ! 🎄🎅🎁🦌🥂☃️🎶

📻 106.9 | 107.1 FM
🖥️ radiowinchcombe.co.uk
🔊 smart speakers everywhere!

22/12/2025

Chris Rea, known for his song Driving Home for Christmas, has died at the age of 74, his family has confirmed.

A statement - provided on behalf of Rea's wife and two children - said: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris.
"He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family."

We are sending thoughts to his family and his friends ❤️

On tonight’s K!CK up the EIGHTIES
Chris tells the story behind ‘Driving Home for Christmas’🚗🎄
This iconic song has made a reappearance on the UK Singles Chart every year since 2007.🇬🇧

21/12/2025

this evening's 'something a little bit different' . . .
Amii Stewart – Knock on wood
Melanie C – On the horizon
The Mc Coys – Hang on sloopy
Rufus and Chaka Khan – Ain’t nobody
Benson Boone – Sorry I’m here for someone else
Kirsty MacColl – There’s a guy down the chip shop swears he’s Elvis
Eddy Grant- Gimme Hope Jo'anna
Greg Lake- I believe In Father Christmas
Rita Coolidge- Keep the candle burning
Shirley Bassey – Burn my candle
Kim Wilde – Chaos at the airport
Cotswold Male Voice Choir – Pictures of Christmastime

Lee Garrett – You’re my everything
Life in 3D – Little drummer boy
Skeeter Davis – The end of the world
Lucy Rose – Merry Christmas everyone
Jethro Tull- Holly Herald
Ruby Turner – I’d rather go blind
Perpetuum Jazzile – Let it snow let it snow
U2 – I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
Gigliola Cinquetti- To the Door Of The Sun
Asleep At The Wheel- Boogie Back To Texas
Singing Dogs – Jingle bells

Phill Bird presents this weekly live show. Thanks for listening and Happy Christmas (or Season's Greetings if it's more appropriate).

21/12/2025

Phill is live in the studio with 'something a little bit different' from 8 this evening for a couple of hours. Chat, fab hand-picked tunes (some festive) and requests too. Hope you can join him.
106.9FM in north Cheltenham (Bishop’s Cleeve area), 107.1FM around Winchcombe, on smart speakers ‘play Radio Winchcombe’ and online via radiowinchcombe.co.uk (will be on listen again too).

21/12/2025

this afternoon's organ-music show . ..
Mike Hill at the Hammond – The first noel/Once in Royal/ Follow the star to Bethlehem/ The holly and the ivy/ Hark the herald
Carol Williams – Christmas is here
John Jenkins and choir & orchestra of Bristol Cathedral – One in Royal David’s city
Mike Reed – C Jammin’ Solstice
Justin Stahl – Rockin around the Christmas tree
Clifford Harker – Vom Himmel hoch, Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schaar/Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich
Kenneth Abbott - The holly and the ivy
William Davies & The Westminster Brass Ensemble - Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light
Booker T and The MGs – Santa Claus is comin’ to town
John Jenkins and choir & orchestra of Bristol Cathedral – Christians, awake

Local organist Phill Bird presents this festive edition of Radio Winchcombe's monthly organ music show (third Sunday of the month). Happy Christmas! Thanks to pipedreams for the image

21/12/2025

Phill is live with the December, festive, edition of ‘pedals, pipes and pistons’ 3 til 4 this afternoon. If you’re not already then you can get into the Christmas mood by singing along/listening to the “playing of the merry org-an” later on. We’ve already had “the rising of the (solstice) sun” and there will be some “sweet singing in the choir” in the show too - (watch out for “the running of the deer” as well if you’re on the roads!). Image thanks to pipedreams.

106.9FM in north Cheltenham (Bishop’s Cleeve area), 107.1FM around Winchcombe, on smart speakers ‘play Radio Winchcombe’ and online via radiowinchcombe.co.uk (will be on listen again too).