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Tributes after death of broadcaster Tony Currie, the first voice of Radio Clyde

News imageFacebook Tony Currie, seated in a radio studio. Currie, wearing headphones around the neck and with dark hair, holds up two vinyl records toward the camera while sitting at a desk surrounded by audio equipment and laughing.Facebook
Tony Currie worked for Radio Clyde, STV and the BBC

Tributes have been paid to broadcaster Tony Currie, who has died from cancer at the age of 74.

Currie was the first voice of Radio Clyde, when it went on air in 1973, and later worked for STV and BBC Scotland.

He also owned and ran Radio Six International - a not-for-profit station which championed unsigned and independent artists - and helped set up Glasgow's hospital broadcasting service.

The BBC said it was saddened by the news and added Currie had made a significant contribution to broadcasting in Scotland.

Born in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Currie had a love of broadcasting from a young age and said he wanted to pursue a career in the field from the age of five.

He set up Radio Six while still a teenager and operated it for 63 years.

In the early 70s he hosted a monthly rock show for Los Angeles radio station KPFK.

Currie moved to Radio Clyde for the station's launch.

The broadcaster later recalled he was given just two weeks' notice that he would be the first voice on air when it went live on 31 December 1973.

"Nobody told me what to say or what the first record had to be," he told BBC Scotland News.

"Basically, I was told that I go on the air at 22:30 and finish at 02:00."

The first record played was the Song of the Clyde, sung by Kenneth McKellar.

News imageTony Currie, Maggie Cockburn and Dave Marshall pose closely together in a studio setting and laugh as they face the camera. Currie wears a checked jacket and holds a handheld microphone, Cockburn wears a dark turtleneck sweater, with one arm resting across the shoulders of the others and Marshall wears a light-colored sweater over a collared shirt and also holds a microphone
Tony Currie, Maggie Cockburn and Dave Marshall were the original daytime team at Radio Clyde

Three years later Currie moved to STV, where he spent 11 years as a continuity announcer and then chief announcer, before leaving for a spell in management roles with various companies.

He returned to the airwaves with BBC Scotland in 1997, working as a continuity announcer until retiring in 2020.

Currie also served as chairman of the Royal Television Society in Scotland.

Earlier this month he posted on Facebook that he had tonsil cancer and only had weeks to live.

In a statement Radio Six International said: "Tony Currie, who, for the last 63 years has owned and operated Radio Six International sadly passed away on the 26th of September at his home on the Isle of Lismore.

"His family are very grateful to the support they have received from his many friends and colleagues in the broadcasting industry and beyond."

Luke McCullough, director of corporate affairs with BBC Scotland, said: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Currie.

"He had a distinguished career at the BBC and made a significant contribution to broadcasting in Scotland, becoming a familiar and respected voice for audiences across the country.

"I first met Tony through the Radio Academy in Scotland, where he was always generous with his time and support.

"Our thoughts are with Tony's family, friends and former colleagues at this difficult time."