The BBC celebrates 50 years of local radio in Brighton today (Wednesday 14 February).
Radio Brighton was one of the first local radio stations in the country and has morphed through various configurations to become BBC Sussex.
It was led for the first 14 years by the late Bob Gunnell, the original station manager a stalwart of the community as an independent councillor, magistrate and Arts Council figure.
And the experimental local station launched a number of well-known careers including Des Lynam, who went on to present Match of the Day on BBC One.
Jeremy Paxman, who went on to present Newsnight on BBC Two, Michael Fabricant MP and Kate Adie, later a war correspondent, also did early stints on Radio Brighton.
Jeremy Paxman said: “I enjoyed it very much. I learnt a lot.”
The station was based in Marlborough House, opposite the Dome and the Royal Pavilion, for many years.
The building is now home to a language school and the station is based in Queen’s Road, near Brighton railway station.
