It has been a long time coming but finally the hard work of a huge number of volunteers over several years has come to fruition as Gateway 97.8Fm finally launched itself as the first dedicated community radio station for Basildon and East Thurrock since the demise of the pioneering Radio Basildon at the end of the eighties.
Broadcasting from newly appointed studios in the upper galleries of the Eastgate Centre, the station actually started on air (after many years of RSL broadcasts) on Saturday but today was the celebration of all that hard work.
You need dedication and support and Programme Controller Ros Connors and Managing Director Yvonne Williams have spent many long months and years putting their dream into place.
In the future we would love to see them alongside us at press launches, football grounds and out and about in the borough gathering community news and becoming an essential lynchpin in this area.
Give them a listen on 97.8 fm or you can listen online at www.gateway978.com
We took our cameras along to the launch
