Early commercial radio pioneer Stewart Francis has died

Stewart Francis, one of commercial radio’s early pioneers, has died aged 74 after a battle with cancer.

He passed away at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice on Boxing Day, where he had been receiving care, and tributes are being paid from across the radio industry and the communities he served.

Stewart was part of the original on air team at the launch of LBC and went on to become one of the defining figures of early Independent Local Radio, combining presenting, programming and senior management at a time when the sector was still finding its shape.

In the mid 1970s he was among the first presenters on Pennine Radio, where he also produced a ground breaking documentary series exploring the history of music, before moving on to help launch Hereward Radio in 1980.

Former GWR chief executive Ralph Bernard worked closely with Stewart at Hereward and later at Mid Anglia Radio. Ralph told RadioToday they shared an office for two years as joint programme controllers, reporting to managing director Cecilia Garnett, and later reunited when Stewart became managing director of Mid Anglia Radio.

“He fought off an unwelcome bid from Chiltern and backed the acquisition by GWR when I was CEO,” Ralph said. “He was a passionate radio man with many interests beyond broadcasting.”

Stewart went on to work with several stations and groups, including Mid Anglia Radio, Lite FM in Peterborough, Cambridge Red Radio, Jack FM Oxford and WGMS, where he named the 1332 AM gold service. He was widely respected as a presenter who rose through the ranks to take his place at the top table of commercial radio during a critical period in its development.

Alongside broadcasting, Stewart was deeply involved in football refereeing and was president of the Peterborough Referee Association, as well as chairman of Vivacity, and an active campaigner for rail passengers’ interests.

He leaves a legacy that spans the formative years of UK commercial radio and a reputation as a thoughtful, committed and influential figure in the industry.