Radio royalty Mike West marks 30 years
One of Manawatu¯ ’s most well-known voices is celebrating three decades of breakfast radio.
Mike West’s More FM co-hosts Kearsley Cranston and Gareth Pringle surprised the radio veteran on air yesterday morning for his 30th anniversary broadcast. They interrupted the normal show to announce the milestone, much to West’s confusion.
West, 58, started in 1989 when the station was known as 92.2XSFM. One of his first breakfast co-hosts was The Edge presenter Dom Harvey, who was known as Baldrick during his and West’s popular 10-year partnership.
Although West’s moniker has become well-known across the region, his real name is Blain Yarrall. West said his first producer made sure that name wouldn’t make it to air. ‘‘I was told: ‘You’re not calling yourself that.’’’
Two days later, his producer dubbed him Mike West.
Job offers from here and abroad have failed to tempt him away from his hometown.
Cranston said West was ‘‘one of Palmy’s biggest ambassadors’’.
‘‘I never set out to stay here 30 years. I’ve thought about working elsewhere, but then I say I actually quite like it here in Palmy. It’s just a great place.’’
West did his schooling at Palmerston North Boys’ High School and his wife Amanda raised their children, Jason and Sam, in the city. Both have followed in his footsteps and do radio work in New Zealand and Australia.
Building each show from scratch was one of West’s favourite things about the job and he said he loved being in the thick of current events.
One of West’s proudest achievements was hosting the most popular breakfast radio show in Manawatu¯ for most of his time working here, only dropping out of the top spot a couple of times over 30 years.
Pringle is West’s longest standing co-host, having spent 16 years on the breakfast show. Pringle said West was someone he looked up to when he started working at the station. He said the pair were like an old married couple as co-hosts.
Cranston said West became a second father figure to her when she started at the station almost two years ago, as her family lived in the South Island.
‘‘He’s someone I can always rely on.’’
West faced one of his biggest challenges in 2013, when he underwent surgery for a cyst on his vocal chords. He said it was a ‘‘very scary time’’ considering what would happen if his voice was damaged permanently.
Although he’s worked in radio for more than half his life, West said he had no plans to move on anytime soon.
‘‘I love being right in the thick of it. I want to keep working in this role for as long as I’m enjoying it.’’