TRIBUTES are being paid to a pioneering local radio DJ who has died.

Those who remember Hospital Radio Notley are leading tributes to radio enthusiast Don Allen.

Mr Allen sadly died on September 4, aged 80.

The radio DJ was heavily involved with Hospital Radio Notley, a dedicated radio station for patients and staff at the former Black Notley Hospital, both as an engineer and presenter of a very popular Sixties show.

The hospital station opened in April 1983 but had its final broadcast in February 1998.

As well as 30 years in radio, Mr Allen also worked as a bus driver.

Those who worked with the station and remember its broadcasts have their own special social media group.

Don, a long-term Witham resident, was also the mastermind behind the town’s own radio station.

Witham FM was Don’s brainchild and broadcast for 28 days from December 27, 1991, until January 23, 1992, using a special licence issued by the radio authority.

The show was broadcast on 100.6 FM from a temporary studio above a pizza bar on the high street opposite the George public house.

A team of volunteer DJs and support staff played music and broadcast local information and commercials advertising local businesses.

Friend and former BBC Kent radio DJ Ian McGregor said: “Don was one of the nicest most easy-going people, always willing to pitch in when needed.

“He assisted then vice-chair Gavin Wood in rewiring the radio service in St Michael's and William Julian Courtauld hospitals when the radio station moved after Notley Hospital closed.

“One of my favourite stories was of the day he spotted the station's late chairman, Max Melbourne, at the White Hart corner in Braintree town centre whilst driving his school bus and pulled up for a chat completely oblivious to the car horns from the drivers stuck behind - that was so Don."

Hospital Radio Notley's vice-chair at the time, Gavin Wood, added: "Don was a most amazing and thoroughly decent person and a first-class broadcast engineer. He will be fondly remembered."

Nr Allen leaves wife June, three children and five grandchildren