Tributes paid to 'inspiring' Fred
Tributes have been paid to an “inspiring” and “larger than life” former university lecturer and radio station boss after his death at the age of 55.
Fred Marden played a pivotal role in establishing Spark Sunderland, the University of Sunderland’s radio station, in 2009.
He was also the station’s manager and the university’s head of radio during his time on Wearside before leaving around five years ago.
His death was announced earlier this week by Radio Biscuit, a digital station serving Aldershot and Woking, where he was recently hosting shows.
Richard Berry, a senior lecturer in radio at the University of Sunderland, worked with Mr Marden and said: “It has come as a big shock. The last time I spoke to him was before Christmas and he seemed fine.”
He added: “He was the kind of person who everyone will remember.
"He was larger than life and would bound into the room.
"He had a big personality that people would connect to and the students found him very inspiring.
"He knew lots of things about lots of places and was always full of stories.
"Students would come out of the room buzzing, full of stories, anecdotes and advice, although not necessarily about what they expected to hear when they walked in.”
Mr Marden, who was believed to be living in Ireland at the time of his death, enjoyed a lengthy career in radio for stations such as County
Sound, BBC Southern Counties and Eagle Radio.
As well as sharing his love of radio with Sunderland students, other roles in education included as head of the school of media at Farnborough College of Technology and as a visiting tutor at the City of Westminster College.
Former University of Sunderland students have also paid tribute to him on social media.
Ames Pywell wrote: "Really sad news.
"You'd find it difficult to find many more people as passionate about radio as Fred was. He was always throwing nuggets of advice at me when we passed in the corridors."
Rebecca Charlotte Broad added: "Such sad news. He was such an inspiration. You would see him walking over from the Media Centre and you knew your day was about to get better.”
Members of the public are being urged to have their say on a new £9million road scheme for Sunderland.
Plans for the link, which will provide a vital connection between Ryhope and Doxford Park, have been shared ahead of a planning application to be submitted this spring.
The route that will run between a roundabout at Highclere Drive, Rushford, to the Cherry Knowles area of Ryhope.
The project, which is expected to commence in the autumn and take just over a year to complete, is part of a range of works to ensure the right infrastructure is in place as more homes are developed in the area as part of the South Sunderland Growth Area (SSGA).
It is being partly funded by the developers of SSGA as well as using part of a £25million grant the council secured from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Housing Infrastructure Fund.
City council leader Cllr Graeme Miller said the work would ensure Sunderland South was able to handle the growing number of people living there.
“SSGA is a key strategic priority for the council and is part of a wider plan to build thousands of high-quality new homes and sustainable new communities across the city,” he said.
“Ensuring that we have the right infrastructure in place to meet future needs is
critical. This project will ensure that the city’s road network is capable of serving the traffic volumes we are likely to see moving between Doxford Park and Ryhope over the coming years.”
The Ryhope Doxford Link Road (RDLR) will run along the southern boundary of the built-up area of Tunstall and Ryhope, linking Ryhope to the A19, Tunstall, and Doxford Park in the west, and Doxford Park to the Southern Radial Route in the south, and replacing the current
route via Burdon Lane.
Cllr Miller added: “We’re taking steps now that prepare for the future.
"Establishing new connections between communities, and ensuring people can travel safely through the city is critical as we grow and develop.”
Further details on the completion of the RDLR proposals can be found using the following link: www.sunderland.gov.uk/RDLR and comments can be submitted to RDLR@sunderland.gov.uk