The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tributes for BBC2 radio legend
Desmond Carrington’s emotional last show
Tributes have poured in for Perthshire broadcasting legend Desmond Carrington who has lost a long battle with cancer, aged 90.
The DJ famously broadcast his hugely popular BBC Radio 2 show from a converted barn studio at his home in Dunning.
He left listeners in tears when he ended his The Music Goes Round programme at the end of October. Carrington had earlier announced his plans to retire, after a career spanning more than seven decades.
At the time, he explained he “wasn’t too well” after his 90th birthday.
The BBC announced the DJ’s death during a pre-planned tribute show on Wednesday night.
He died peacefully earlier that day following a battle with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, his producer Dave Aylott said.
Bob Shennan, director of BBC Radio, said: “Desmond was a warm, caring and generous man who was much loved by the Radio 2 audience and all those who had the pleasure of working with him during his illustrious career.”
Perth and North Perthshire MP and musician Pete Wishart said: “Desmond was a much loved broadcaster who was proud to broadcast from his home in Perthshire.”
Carrington started his final show with the traditional greeting: “Evening all, from home in Perthshire.”
He said: “So there we are, one last box of tunes and memories delivered from my place to yours. It’s something I have been doing every week for some 36 years on BBC Radio 2.
“In fact, I’ve been rabbiting away on the wireless for over 70 years so inevitably there comes a time to hang up the headphones – and for me this is it.”
He closed the show with That’s All by Mel Torme and said he was going to snuggle up with his cat, “golden paws Sam”, before ending with the usual closing remark: “Bye just now.”
I’ve been rabbiting away on the wireless for over 70 years so inevitably there comes a time to hang up the headphones