Phil Taylor: Tributes paid to long-standing BBC Radio Jersey presenter
Tributes have been paid to a former BBC radio presenter who played “music that mattered to you”.
Phil Taylor worked on a local radio station for more than 35 years before retiring 18 months ago.
Now, his death at the age of 62 has been announced.
He was best known as a the presenter of a Sunday show called By Special Request, and also helmed a Saturday morning show as well as bank holiday specials.
Matthew Price, BBC Radio Jersey executive producer, worked with Phil for 25 yearson Radio Jersey and told the BBC: “Phil developed a wonderfully warm relationship with listeners".
He said: “Phil developed a wonderfully warm relationship with listeners, first on Sunday lunchtime with an extended show called By Special Request, and then later to the time-slot with which he became synonymous - Sunday Afternoons. There he played the 'music that mattered to you'.
"Whether it was a classical track, a much-loved hymn, a country tune or a pop masterpiece, if you asked to hear it, Phil would play it."
The BBC said Phil had helped bring in record audience figures on Saturday mornings.
Taylor stepped up to support the Saturday sports team instead, offering his years of technical advice and assured radio training guidance to reporters and presenters alike.
Mr Price added: “It was his characteristic warmth and humility that shone through when he said goodbye and thanked his listeners for allowing him into their homes."
Phil was also a technical operator for Royal outside broadcasts, Liberation Day and Election nights, as well as the Saturday Sports Show. He first came to the BBC to join the rota of presenters for the regular Sunday morning request show Lions Share, which was also broadcast by hospital radio.