After eight years of bringing Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire the news, it is time to say goodbye.
I only ever planned to be here two years, but somehow ended up staying for just a little longer.
Now, I’m heading to New York to get married and start a new life once more.
It’s exciting and I can’t wait, but leaving is definitely sad.
For eight years I’ve written and read the news for this patch – most of that time at Mix96 and to say I miss it would be an understatement.
It was the best time of my life so far, with some of the best people I’ve ever known and when it ended… well, it left a huge void.
Going to work every day knowing, despite how you might be feeling, you WILL laugh and get to be creative, is something very special.
I have to say special thanks to Darren and Katy, Ben and Nia, Nathan, George, Andy and Wes for brightening many a day, to Claire and Gemma, Julia and Max and all those whose work made ours possible.
To my journo team – especially Charlotte, Scarlett and Lauren - thank you for your professionalism, creativity and determination to make us THE go-to place for local news – sharing in my vision as editor and my need for tea before any meeting could begin.
I also have to give a shout out to my Bauer friends made in the last year – many who I’ve never been able to meet in person, but I still treasure. Getting to work with some hugely talented, determined people has been amazing – even if we’re all reading the news at home.
Then there is Chris Maskery. Without you taking a chance on me, as a very inexperienced journalist with no idea where Aylesbury even was, I wouldn’t have had this incredible time. Your words of encouragement and critique got me through a lot. You are a life-long friend and I am so very grateful for you.
But news would be nothing without stories to tell.
So to you, the listeners, thank you for sending those stories in, engaging with us, telling us what you wanted to hear about.
I have loved challenging local leaders, meeting anti-HS2 campaigners and getting to tell the stories of people in Bucks and playing a part in changing their lives for the better. Some of those I know I will remember forever.
We might not always have agreed or got it right – and you definitely let us know! – but weirdly I even enjoyed those exchanges because it meant having a conversation with our audience and knowing what could be done better.
This job is busy, it’s stressful – but proper local radio is also a huge privilege to be a part of, it has been an honour to be a part of life in Bucks and so I leave hoping I managed to make a difference to this community.
Thank you for listening.
That’s the latest – I’m Dan Gooding.
