Victory FM

Was set up during early 1994 by Mark Samways and Kevin Huffer with the encouragement and help of the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth councilor Alex Bentley. His interest and motivation as was driven by the city's 800th birthday in May, and because the city would also host the world's commemoration of the 50th anivesary of D-Day in early June, the cross channel invasion of France by a fleet of small boats which could be said, to have changed the course of World War 2.
Overview
Mark and Kevin gathered a team of volunteers who broadcast for just 28 days across dates in May and June, utilising a licence from the Radio Authority known as an RSL (Restricted Service Licence). Premisis for studios and offices were found by the city's council in a un-occupied part of the ground floor of the Civic Offices in Guildhall Square. This was one of the practical ways the Lord Mayor was able to asist, he also created a climate of interest within several departments within the council which helped with locating tranmission and link equipment and formal links to the PR offices for the forthcomming events.
The management team for the project, lead by Mark, agonised over the decission to use the Victory name for the project. Only after many meetings, legal adivice, public soundings and a meeting with former Radio Victory Managing Director Bruce Jenkins was the name Victory FM adopted. The team feeling that Victory was truly at the heart of the area and showed what the service would aspire to achive (all-be-it for a smaller area than the original Radio Victory).
Mike O'Neil and Mark Blore, former employees of the local daily paper, offered to assit the project and offer marketing advice. It was Mike's passion that convinced Mark that the strap line 'from the heart of the city' should be used, given the location of the studios.
That line also apeared on tee-shirts and marketing material for the station. It is most remembered from the stations jingle package (sung marketing material used on-air) which were recorded and produced by Alfasound. Mark attended the recording session in Manchester to ensure all sung pronunciation was right for the Greater Portsmouth area. The team at Alfasound responsible for the package production were Tony Zak, Steve England and musical aranger on the day Alan Fawkes. An additional male bass was brought in to suppliment the session singers on the day, some whom were backing singers for Cliff Richard. The jingles themselves were from a JAM package (Alfasound were UK agents and resingers) used by WCBS FM in New York called Do it again.
A special jingle was produced for station jingle called 'Reunion Round-up'. The station element, featured in several of the daily programmes and focused on D-Day veterans requests with the aim of meeting commrades from D-Day and their WW2 service at a special meeting point on Southsea Common. It provided many happy tales and tear jerking moments. A real service to visitors and locals alike.
The original station was very fondly remembered in the hearts of local people who did not understand why it had closed. Thus the management team included a Radio Victory Day in the May bank holiday weekend.
Many of the team from the original Radio Victory appeared on-air and presented programmes during Radio Victory Day. Names such as, Bill Padley, Dave Christian, Nicky Jackson, Howard Pearce, Chris Carnegey, Chrissy Pollard and Chris Rider reading the news.
The 28 days of broadcasts were very succesfull in terms of public reaction. Listeners demanded that the service continue but all that could be promised was an ongoing effort to bring a full time station back to the air-waves of Great Portsmouth.
December 1994
It returned six months later, based in Anchour House, Kingston Crescent, North End for the Christmas and New Period. The new studios were located on the first floor, with views north, through North End towards Portsdown Hill. This builing, the former HQ of the Hampshire Building Society, was provided by the owners at the time, Bradford & Bingley Building Society.
The roadside frontage on the corner of Kingsston Crescent displayed in large blue letters, VICTORY FM on a white perspecs board by Eberhard signs. The windows of the building were used to show on-air dates and frequency. "It gave us incredible arterial route visibility, or great publicity" commented Mark Samways at the time.
This second outing for Victory FM supported the Lord Mayor's appeal, collecting hundred of toys.
==VE-Day + 50 1995==
Once again at Anchor House the team assembled, with the addition of a single decker bus to mark this anniversary.
Broadcasters on Victory FM include
Matt Allwright,
John Brocks,
Colin Burgess,
Gary Burnett (Hospital Radio 08-09 Express FM 09)
Geoff Peters (2008-2009 Express FM),
Gary Champion,
Dave Christian,
Maggie Coals,
Brian Cook,
Nicky Crag,
Kenny Everett (vintage programming from 1970s),
Kevin Huffer (co-founder 1994),
Dave Lennard,
Andy Martindale,
Hugh Miller,
James Montgomery (Southern Television),
Chrisy Pollard,
Geoff Peters,
Tony Power,
Phil Reed,
Glenn Richards (opening programme in May 94, later known as CJ),
Kim Robson (96.4 Eagle Radio),
Mark Samways (founded Victory FM in 1994),
Stuart Shave,
Phil Skerman,
Old Spice,
John Terrett,
Jim Ware,
Stephen Winslade,
Malcom Young,
Mike Underdown
Its first catchphrases were:
Enjoy the moment, From the heart of the City (with sometimes) to Greater Portsmouth
After Victory FM, Radio Victory (Cable) 1995 - 1998
After the 3rd RSL a formal arangement was made with the local cable TV distribution company (NYNEX) for broadcast of an ongoing radio service on their network which covered South and East Hampshire. Pete Crew was producer of local content for NYNEX's cable TV services in this area and Brighton. He had already managed to re-transmit 2 of the RSLs to the South and East Hampshire area and had held meetings with Mark for a permanent service. These discussions continued during the 3rd RSL and agreement was reached between Peter and Head of programmes for Vicotry FM (CJ) for the a commencement of a new service in September of 1995.
Thus it was that a company called Radio Victory was again in excistance with directors CJ, Mark Samways and Tony Power. CJ was now Managing Director, her higher profile was thought to be better for the business. In reality, little changed from an operational point of view, CJ and Mark sharing an office in the early days. Tony Power was appointed Head of Programmes. Premisis were to be found, advertisers sought and connection from the studio to the NYNEX 'Head-End' established.
After all those 'Victorys' (FM, Cable and Radio)
Most of the Victory team eventually went their separate ways once TLRC took over the station in 2000.
CJ
Moved to Devon, spending increasing amounts of time in Spain. She was on-air at Palm FM in Torquay for nearly two years retiring in 2007 and returning to Spain.
Kevin Huffer
Worked at BBC Radio Solent and Express FM in Portsmouth before moving to the US where he is still involved in radio.
Tony Power
Continued on-air for the longest. He then joined the community station, in Havant. Tony died in 2008.
Mark Samways
Joined a local TV station where he presented programmes, reported and occasionally read the news. He worked on all the RSLs, licence application, set-up and launch marketing of Palm FM in Torquay. He was heard on BBC Southern Counties Radio and now occasionally on European Klassik Rock.

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