Meet Chris Medhurst : From Luxembourg to London

SOUL STORIES: CHRIS MEDHURST
From Radio Luxembourg to Love Soul Radio London: A Life of Music, Memories and a Few Aching Muscles

Some people discover soul music. Others find that soul music discovers them. For Chris Medhurst, it was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with vinyl, radio and the irresistible sound of a great groove.

Born in March 1969, just a few months before man first walked on the moon, Chris Medhurst arrived in a world where pounds, shillings and pence were still legal tender, cassette tapes were the future, and nobody had ever heard of Spotify. Those were simpler times, although Chris would probably argue that the music was better too.

School, by his own admission, wasn't exactly his favourite pastime. Unless PE appeared on the timetable, his enthusiasm for education was somewhat limited. Sport, however, was another matter entirely.

A lifelong Bromley FC supporter since the tender age of five, Chris developed a passion for cricket that eventually saw him qualify as both a coach and an umpire. Remarkably, he continued playing league cricket until 2024, when he made the sensible discovery that aching muscles no longer recovered quite as quickly as they once did.

As Chris might put it, the spirit was willing, but the knees had submitted their retirement papers.

The Early Days: Cassettes, Clubs and a Soul Boy in the Making
Chris's musical journey began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His father was a keen Glenn Miller listener, but young Chris soon developed an appetite for something with a rather different rhythm.

Armed with a cassette recorder, he began taping his favourite songs from the radio, mastering that familiar art of trying to stop the recording before the DJ started talking over the ending.

Then came Radio Luxembourg, a station that opened his ears to a whole new world of music.

Before long, the local teenage discos beckoned, followed rather enthusiastically by nightclubs, despite Chris being a little younger than the official entry requirements. Fortunately, this was an era when door staff apparently weren't quite so enthusiastic about checking identification.

The discovery of pirate radio, Radio London and the early days of the newly licensed Kiss FM proved transformational.

The soul boy had officially arrived.

Chris became an enthusiastic vinyl collector, buying Street Sounds compilations and spending countless hours rummaging through the racks at legendary record shops such as Bluebird Records, searching for those elusive 12-inch singles.

Working as a plasterer meant he had enough money to indulge his growing obsession with records. Some people spent their wages on sensible things. Chris spent his on large black plastic discs with grooves in them.

And quite right too.

From Making the Tea to Making the Radio
Chris's broadcasting adventure began in 1991 when he became involved with Radio Cracker, a 28-day restricted-service radio project.

It was there that he met Eric, a gentleman who would become his mentor and help shape his future behind the microphone.

Like many broadcasters of his generation, Chris learned the trade from the bottom up. Making tea, answering telephones and generally doing whatever needed doing were all part of his early radio education.

There were no shortcuts, no instant celebrity status and certainly no algorithms telling him what to play.

Eventually, an opportunity arose to work alongside Eric on an overnight shift at a satellite radio station based in Camberley, Surrey.

It was the beginning of a broadcasting career that would take Chris through a fascinating variety of stations and musical formats, from country music to classic rock.

But despite his versatility, one particular musical passion was never far from his heart.

Soul music.

2011: The Rewind Is Born
everything finally fell into place.

Chris joined a community radio station in Caterham, Surrey, and at last had the opportunity to create a show built around the music he genuinely loved.

The Rewind was born.

It was a chance to revisit the records, artists and sounds that had accompanied him through his teenage years and beyond.

The grooves that filled the dance floors, the forgotten gems, the soulful classics and those wonderful records that make you stop whatever you're doing and say, "Blimey, I haven't heard this in years!"

For Chris, radio was never simply about playing one record after another. It was about sharing his enthusiasm, introducing listeners to great music and occasionally rediscovering something special himself.

His broadcasting adventures subsequently took him beyond the UK, with shows presented in Slovakia and Spain.

In 2018, he joined a specialist soul station, opening another exciting chapter in his musical journey. This also gave him the opportunity to spin a few tunes at the Margate Soul Festival.

And, of course, there were the legendary Caister Soul Weekends, where Chris was a regular attendee, surrounded by like-minded people who understood that a great bassline, a packed dance floor and a proper soul record are among life's greatest pleasures.

Finding a Home at Love Soul Radio London
After decades of collecting records, presenting radio shows and sharing his passion for music, Chris eventually found himself at Love Soul Radio London.

And this time, it felt like coming home.

Here was an independent station that embraced everything he loved about radio. Real presenters, genuine musical knowledge, freedom of choice and, most importantly, the opportunity to play music because it's good, not simply because somebody in an office has decided it fits a playlist.

For a broadcaster who grew up discovering music through pirate radio, specialist DJs and record shops, that freedom means everything.

At Love Soul Radio London, Chris is part of a team of passionate music enthusiasts who believe that great radio should have personality, character and the occasional surprise.

No predictable conveyor belt of the same old hits. Just great music, lovingly selected and presented by people who genuinely care about what they're playing.

And Chris brings decades of experience, musical knowledge and a healthy sense of humour to the party.

Don't Ask Him for His Top Ten!
There is, however, one question you should never ask Chris Medhurst.

What's your favourite record?

Or your favourite artist?

Or, heaven forbid, your all-time top ten?

Forget it.

After a lifetime of discovering, collecting and enjoying music, narrowing everything down to a handful of favourites is practically impossible.

And perhaps that's the beauty of being a true music lover.

There's always another record to discover, another forgotten classic to revisit and another wonderful piece of music waiting around the corner.

For Chris Medhurst, the journey through soul music is far from over. And thankfully, neither is the radio show.

 
Catch Chris Medhurst on Love Soul Radio London
Join Chris every Wednesday at 8 PM (UK time) for the Wednesday night Wiggle , bringing you a wonderful selection of soulful memories, timeless grooves and the records that deserve another spin.

Whether you grew up with vinyl, remember the glory days of soul radio or simply enjoy discovering fantastic music, Chris is always ready to take you on another musical journey.

Love Soul Radio London

From London to the World.

www.lovesoulradiolondon.org