Meet the Team
Meet The Team of Life Care Radio!
Rosalea Atkinson
Born in 1942, Rosalea moved to Torbay with her husband over 40 years ago and ran successful businesses in the Bay. Now widowed, Rosalea lives with her daughter and two granddaughters and loves reading and painting in acrylics. She likes to do paintings for people of their favourite places and cards to give as special gifts. Rosalea loves talking to people and volunteered with Life Care Radio because she likes the idea of cheering people up and reaching out to them. A request collector and presenter, Rosalea loves knowing that people enjoy her show and particularly enjoys playing requests which she knows can mean a lot to those listening.
Sam Bastow
Sam started his radio journey at the age of 16 when he joined Soundart Radio in Dartington, originally to promote events between shows before becoming a presenter of a Thursday afternoon show. A Devon native for his whole life, Sam joined Life Care Radio at the end of 2019. Although he was unable to do his first shows in the studio due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Sam very successfully took on presenting the Wednesday morning Coffee Break show. Outside of radio, Sam’s interests include playing computer games, trains, walking and spending time with his lovely cat, Rosie.
Dave Burlace (Batman)
Music has always been a part of Dave's life and he has been on various radio stations for over 40 years, sharing music of all genres from classical to rock. Dave believes that volunteering not only allows him to give back to the community but also that it allows him to share the emotions and happiness that music can bring. Outside of radio, Dave is a paranormal investigator with Haunted Devon. A Batman enthusiast, he often brings his unique (often batman themed) costumes to our fundraising and public events.
Mark Burgess
Mark is a Hospital Radio veteran with over 40 years worth of radio broadcasting behind him. Originally based at Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells, Mark served on the committee there in various posts before moving to Devon with his wife, Cathie. Despite having an extensive engineering background, Mark never quite intended to build a radio studio from scratch but we think he's actually done rather a good job! Mark is also responsible for the station's computer system and database which takes a lot of his time. When he's not at the studio, he enjoys dabbling with photography and is a self-proclaimed foodie.
Cathie Burgess
At the age of 14, Cathie joined Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells and quickly settled into presenting a regular 'Magic Moments' show for some years before marrying Mark Burgess and moving to Devon where they both joined another local Hospital Radio station. One of the founding members of Life Care Radio, Cathie holds a Master's Degree in Education and works full time as a Lecturer in Childcare and Education at a local Further Education College. In her spare time, she loves Zumba and doing agility with her two sprocker spaniels, Crumble and Treacle. Although Cathie has an eclectic taste in music, you can usually hear a bit of Country music on her show as she's a qualified line dance instructor.
John Cavie
John, also known as 'the old one' joined broadcasting late in life and after a couple of years with another local hospital radio station, came on board with Life Care as a presenter and fundraiser. Despite being over 90 years old, John enjoys an active lifestyle and actually put together much of the carpentry in our studio, including our rather impressive CD rack in our record library. John can be heard on the radio playing request shows and enjoys a variety of music from strict tempo to musicals, classic to light rock. He loves to be able to give people a mention on air and make people smile. John enjoys cookery and watercolour painting as well as getting out and about with the Life Care Radio gang at fundraising events, including bake sales where the team have put his culinary skills to excellent use.
Jacqui & Nick Constable
Jacqui and her husband Nick, got involved with Life Care Radio right from the beginning thanks to their family connections with Cathie, Mark and John. Jacqui enjoys organising projects and fundraising as well as compiling and recording the Whats On Guide, a weekly look at what is going on in and around the bay that might be of interest. Jacqui, a learning support assistant, is looking forward to her retirement when she will spend more time crafting, painting and taking care of her elderly collie, Charley.
Kerry Devitt
Kerry was born in Plymouth and, when she left school worked in retail and care. Sadly, due to ill health, Kerry has been unable to work for the past 12 years. Kerry loves to watch movies and to read. She is very creative and loves baking and making things. Kerry met her partner Jill 19 years ago and moved to Newton Abbot. She says that it is thanks to Jill and the children that she learned the importance of family and you will definitely be able to tell that from their shows. Kerry loves all types of music and will listen to pretty much anything depending on her mood. She and Jill have a passion for musicals and have been lucky enough to see many of them live after taking their daughter to see her first musical on her 8th birthday. Kerry started volunteering for Life Care Radio after she and Jill cared for Jill's mother and saw the difference it could make first hand.
Kev Fiford
Kev was born in 1957 and comes from Portsmouth where he presented a 1940s-1960s programme on Angel Radio. He moved to Brixham about 4 years ago and has continued producing a Classic Rock show for The Flash. Kev enjoys playing the drums, photography and meals out with his other half (who apparently gave him a tenner to add that bit to his bio!).
Andrew Gabbott
Andrew was born in Manchester in 1964 but spent his childhood in mid-Wales after moving there in 1968 in a house so old that the house next door had fallen down. Andrew spent his childhood building tree houses and Mid Wales was a fantastic place to be a child building tree houses etc. In 1978, Andrew moved to Torbay and has lived here ever since except for a brief spell when he lived just outside New York City US. Living in America was an awesome experience for Andrew and he met several people that he is still in touch with now. It was the complete opposite of Wales, going from possibly the quietest place in the world to the busiest. Back in Torbay, Andrew is married to Sally and has two bulldogs named Twig and RayDog.
Carol Grubbe
Profile coming soon
Mark Grubbe
Profile coming soon
Jo Heagarty
Jo was born in Summer, 1969 in Welling, SE London. She attended school in Sidcup but never really liked it. Leaving home at just 16 years old, Jo rented a room in a house in Bexley Heath and develoed her independence supported by lovely Grand-parents and her friends. She worked in various office jobs before moving to Hayling Island at the age of 22. In 1999 she moved to South Devon and fell in love with everything about the area. Her daughter, born in 2003, works for the NHS and accompanying her to a recruitment event, she was inspired to join Life Care Radio as a volunteer. She wasn't actually looking for a voluntary role as Jo works full time in Fostering, but she quickly became part of the team. Husband Shaun supports Jo behind the scenes and they share a gorgeous little dog called Benji who often sleeps by her feet whilst she's working at home (the dog - not the husband). Jo lost her Father in 2019 to vascular dementia. He was a teddy boy, a real cockney wide boy throughout his life, always singing in pubs and dancing in his earlier life so she often feels he is with her when she is playing her songs in the studio.
Sue Masters
Born in the North East of England, Sue went on to study Biology at the University of Bath in the late 1960's and it is there she met her husband. They married and moved to Devon in 1971, settling in Brixham. Even when her children were very young, Sue has always been interested in volunteering. In the very early days of commercial radio she did broadcasts for the local CAB on Devonair. Throughout her life Sue has always loved music and her taste is very eclectic, she had the opportunity during her teenage years to see the Beatles and most of the artists of that time. Now as a trustee of a local charitable run Residential Home, Sue has seen at first hand the impact music has on the elderly, giving joy and helping to bring back memories. It is for this reason Sue wished to become involved with Life Care Radio as a presenter and has called her programme Musical Memories.
Sam Murray
Torquay-born Graphic Designer Samuel is one of Life Care's newest members looking to provide Life Care Radio with his creative spin on things. Sam understands the importance of music and radio as it fuels his artistic side, in both hobby and profession. When Sam isn't designing, painting or drawing, he can often be found at Torquay United watching football, or in a local cafe, pretending to be a coffee connoisseur.
Alan Rustad
Alan's profile is coming soon
Phil Spicer
Phil has only recently officially joined Life Care Radio but has supported the station since it's beginning in one way or another. Phil has a range of technical skills which he is hoping to use to help the station to continue thriving.
Andy Silcox
Andy is from Brixham and enjoys singing and writing music. A wheelchair user because of a muscle condition, Andy is able to drive and get about and likes interviewing people and preparing audio bytes for use on Life Care Radio. Andy enjoys volunteering as he gets to meet new people and learn more about working at the radio station. As he's been performing music for many years and studied at degree level, he has a variety of technical and practical skills that we put to good use here at Life Care Radio
Stephen Sweeting
Stephen brought a passion for film and music from Bedfordshire to Devon in 2018 for a Film and Television course, Stephen has been working on Life Care Radio's social media presence and is hoping to do more. Outside of Life Care Stephen enjoys playing the guitar, listing to music, creating videos, photography and exploring history.
Claire Turner
Claire's wonderful Father had Alzhiemers, and, whilst it was certainly a rollercoaster ride and there were tough times, she and her family were still able to have fun and make memories. When he had to go into a care home, Claire met Life Care Radio. One of our youngest request collectors with her mum came in to pick up requests. It's hard for people with dementia sometimes to remember what they used to love but Claire and her Dad had fun deciding together what song to pick and noticed that, with each song there were memories. At an Easter fete Claire met the Life Care Family. Claire says that Life Care Radio really is a family - fun and supportive and she felt so at ease that she quickly became a member of the team. At over 50, Claire has 3 wonderful boys, Matt, James and Ben and a husband who her dad adored. Claire works for the NHS but in her Life Care role can now be found doing request rounds at her local care home and is keen to get behind a microphone. She says that visiting residents and talking to them really gives her time to refocus in a busy and hectic life.
Bill Walsh
Bill was born on 15 December 1937 and playing football quickly became his passion. On leaving school, he worked in the construction industry before joining the Military Police. He was married in 1960 and has two children but divorced 2002. Bill served in the London Ambulance Service as a paramedic for 22 years before moving to Devon in 2004. Bill started working in community radio for 7 years before joining Life Care Radio where he is keen to give something back to the community. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf. Country music is in his blood, having followed it since 1955 - he hopes you will enjoy his shows.
Jill Whitefoot
Jill is originally a Lancashire lass but has been living in Newton Abbot since her folks bought a Hardware store and retired there in 1981. Jill's first job was in their shop and she fell in love with it. She learned from the best as her Mum and Pops had a cheery greeting and a kind word for everyone who range the shop door ball. Kerry has been Jill's partner for almost 19 years and although their children have grown and left, you will hear them talking about their family on their show as they both firmly believe that family is everything. Jill's music taste is random and she loves anything that makes her smile or that she can tap her feet to. She will usually sing along too although confesses that she might not always use the right words. Jill was drawn to Life Care Radio whilst caring for her Mum who suffered from loneliness. Jill was able to get it on her tablet for her to listen to and her Mum actually received our first on air dedication. Jill and Kerry's show is basically reminiscing, having a chuckle and playing uplifting songs that will hopefully put a smile on everyone's faces.
Colin Wiltshire
Colin, like his wife Celia, makes contact with nursing and residential homes, installing units and collecting requests for Life Care Radio. He feels that the work of Life Care is important in helping to entertain people in care homes, especially those with age related illness and dementia, providing music and interests, for example, comedy shows from their earlier years and trips down memory lane. Colin brings to the role a wealth of experience from a number of managerial roles, setting up retail outlets for a major catalogue company, working as a Facilities Manager for a computing company. Both Colin and Celia visit car boot sales, selling bric-a-brac to raise funds for Life Care Radio and can normally be found supporting various fundraising events. He enjoys going to auctions and the theatre.
Celia Wiltshire
Celia has, in the past, worked for Barnet Council as a craft instructor and keyworker, running a carer's group in their day centre and she has also worked in the Public Health Department. Celia goes with husband Colin to visit care homes where they speak to managers, install radio units and take requests from clients. She feels that it is important, as a volunteer, to put something back into the community. Having worked with the elderly disabled and visually impaired, Celia realises how important music is to these groups and has seen, in her previous jobs, how it can lift people's moods. Celia is a busy lady and enjoys a variety of hobbies including craft work, knitting, jewellery making and card making and she loves decoupage, parchment craft, iris folding and stamping. She also enjoys reading, gardening and cookery.