Keith Skues medley

Keith Skues is an impressive member of the small club of broadcasters who played a part in both the adolescence and maturity of UK pop radio.

Born in 1939, his early days in the medium which became his home were in uniform at the British Forces Network in Cologne in the late fifties. Keith joined the renegade Radio Caroline in its early days, before moving onshore to Radio Luxembourg; and then hopping back onto the tender again to join the slick pirate, Radio London. Given that station was to be the key influence for the new BBC Radio One, it was not surprising that he was called on to join the large launch team at 247. Auntie wisely hedged her bets. Keith appeared on both Radio 1 and 2.

As commercial radio advanced, Keith was appointed as programme director of Radio Hallam in Sheffield in 1974. Unlike so many launch PDs, he lasted the course too. Later, as the stations 'split' frequencies, it was off to head its growing number of Yorkshire AM services . And to play Mama Cass.

Keith's life has been much more than just about radio, and his rich travels abroad have been for more than a suntan. They alone merit rather more than an audioboo credit. But, by 1991, he made time to broadcast again and returned to host afternoons on BBC Radio Sheffield. 'Cardboard Shoes' still broadcasts for BBC Local Radio to this day