Phil Easton was with Orchard FM from it's lauch in 1989. He presented the mid-morning into afternoon show which included such famous features as "The Coffee Break" and all the latest gossip about his favourite football team, Liverpool!

Phil was popular with just about everyone due to his dry wit and sharp musical knowledge.

As well as being a very popular presenter on Orchard FM, Phil was also Programme Controller / Head of Music. New bands always had a chance of some airplay at Orchard FM. Phil was in charge of the playlist and he listened to every release that was sent to him by record companies. If he thought it was a good song, he would play it. Indeed, Phil picked up on many acts long before they were famous. For example, The Lighthouse Family performed live from the studios of Orchard and were playlisted quite some time before anyone had ever heard of them. Some songs Phil playlisted never made it into the charts but Phil played them because they were great songs! A couple of examples, Big Blue "Fire in the Soul" and Ké "Strange World." Phil also helped lauch the careers of several presenters who later went onto become big stars.

I have to say that I am not a big sports fan! Phil Easton was a very big supporter of Liverpool Football Club. I assume he still is! There was always a discreet selection of sport on Phil's shows. If you wanted the sport, it was there to listen to, if you didn't then it just seemed to blend in quietly!

Phil had many a great hand-over chat with breakfast show host Bob McCreadie. These were so funny! I am sure a lot of them were ad-libbed. They must have done hundreds of these! Phil also ran the brilliant "Three in a Row" competition which took place at 12:30 each weekday afternoon.

When it was announced that Phil Easton was leaving Orchard FM many of the listeners were understandably dismayed, myself included. This guy gas a genius at running Orchard FM. There was a lot of secrecy when Phil left Orchard FM. No one seemed to know where he was going to next. Even some of his closest friends and colleagues seemed to be in the dark! It later transpired that he was involved in an application to run a regional radio station for the south coast of England, and was promised the job of Programme Controller in the event that the application was successful. Sadly, it was not.

Phil only intended staying with Orchard FM for about 18 months, to help get things underway, Instead, he stayed with the station for over seven years! Without a doubt, Phil was a key player in the success of Orchard FM.

Phil's final record on Orchard FM was: Moody Blues "I Know Your're Out There Somewhere"

As far as I am aware, Phil is still on Magic 1548 up in Liverpool....not sure if he is still doing "Three in a Row" !!

When the sad news broke about the death of ex-Beatle George Harrison, Phil was interviewed by Sky News Television.