DJ leaves Park Radio to set up rival station in Harleston

After leaving Park Radio last month, a renowned Harleston DJ has set up his own community radio service to rival his former station.

David Huxtable-Smith, who has been broadcasting across East Anglia for more than three decades under the air name David Hoffman, launched Harleston Breakfast after feeling that Park Radio had become too ‘Diss-centric’.

The station has picked up more than 2,000 listeners a week since taking to the airwaves on June 22.

Mr Huxtable-Smith resigned from his role at Park Radio in early June, having served as breakfast host and head of training.

“I left because I didn’t think Park Radio was going in the right direction – it was very Diss-centric, as opposed to addressing an audience in Harleston,” said the 63-year-old.

“Within a couple weeks of leaving, I asked on Facebook if people were interested in having a radio station in Harleston. I expected 200 people to say yes, but it turned out to be a lot more than that.”

Since setting up Breakfast Harleston, the station has attracted a growing fan base.

“Without a doubt, this is a service to rival any other local radio station online or on FM,” said Mr Huxtable-Smith.

He hosts the morning show on the station from 7am to 10am on weekdays – recorded from his home in Wilderness Lane, Harleston – while other pre-recorded shows are supplemented by fellow community radio station Radio Stradbroke.

“It has personally cost me almost £500 in new equipment to ensure excellent sound quality and for the obligatory PRS and PPL licences,” added the father-of-four, who has previously worked for Classic Gold and Planet Rock.

“Any hobby costs money and, after almost 35 years as a radio professional, this is a real labour of love – I do it because I enjoy it, not because I need to.”

To tune in, go online to harlestonbreakfast.co.uk.