Nobby Martin

Getting to know Nobby Martin.

1 Where were you born?
In a Galaxy Far Far Away... known by its more familiar name,  Partick in the west end of Glasgow, Scotland  (The acronym for Glasgow is Granny Likes A Small Glass Of Whisky, but I'm sure you already knew that)


2 What was the first record you bought?
I bought two records at the same time, with money I was given for my birthday in October.  The only problem was that I had nothing to play them on.... as I was waiting on Santa to provide a record player.

They were (The Night the Lights Went Out in) Massachusetts by the Bee Gees, and the Last Waltz by Englebert Humperdink.  These were vinyl 45rpm singles, and I can still sing the B sides, - Mr Barker, by the Brothers Gibb and the Promise by Mr Dorsey.

3 Who is your favourite group/artist?
My favourite group has to be the mighty Queen, and every time I hear Radio Ga Ga, it conjures up the visual image of Freddie and the Boys at Live Aid...utterly, utterly brilliant!

4 What made you want to be a radio presenter?
My wife read an article in the JEP that Radio Lions based at the General Hospital were looking for volunteers, and persuaded me to pop along to their Open Day and hey presto, they took me under their wing.  I started out by collecting requests from the various wards, and then finding the music from their library, which was on vinyl singles, albums CD's or mini disc.  They have even a larger collection of tunes than me!.  Eventually a slot became available and they let me loose on the airwaves to a captive audience.

5 When did you join 103?
I was thrown in at the deep end on Mothers Day 22^nd March 2009, filling in for Spencer!

6 What is your favourite 103 moment (on or off air)?
My favourite moment was when I was a mere 103 listener, and my idea to name the Jersey Telecoms Live Concert was chosen.  I got VIP tickets for my family, and myself to the Summer Sizzler, what a day that was!

7 What is the best concert you have ever been to?
I ‘ve been to loads of great concerts by the likes of Emerson Lake and Palmer, Deep Purple, Lindisfarne and Genesis, but the one that takes the biscuit is Queen, they were only a support act to the headliners, Mott the Hoople!   They played a half hour set and received an encore, which Freddie came out and sang the Shirley Bassey number, Hey Big Spender with high kicks.  Another standing ovation at the end and that's when I knew they were going to be massive if they could get three and a half thousand Glaswegians going nuts over a group that sang the line "I don't pop my cork for any man..."

8 What is your all-time favourite record?
How long have you got? So, so many classics to choose from and the list gets longer every year, but if I had to be pinned down, I would say this week it's Vincent by Don McClean

9 If you hadn't been a radio presenter what would you have been?
I've been in a few jobs, some good, some not so good, but I would have to liked to work or own a record shop, but wife says I wouldn't have been able to part with stock, and would probably end up sounding like Harry Endfield... "You don't want to buy that...You want to buy this"