THE sincere condolences of everyone at Oldham RLFC go to the family, friends and work colleagues of Oldham Community Radio’s David McGealy, who has died from Alzeimer’s at the age of 74.
His passing will leave a massive void in Oldham, not only on the local community radio scene, but in Oldham life generally.
He was well known personally to thousands and known to thousands of thousands as the voice behind the mic, reporting and commenting on Oldham life in his own inimitable style.
The thousands who knew him personally included many Oldham Rugby supporters, given that Dave and his close friend and colleague Gerald Brierley together did Oldham Rugby match commentaries for OCR 99.7fm for years until ill health forced Dave to take a back seat some time ago.
Gerald said:
“Roughyeds supporters will know Dave through his match day commentaries - going back to Watersheddings for Radio Cavell (hospital radio) where he was also a director. As the main driving force to the setting up of Oldham Community Radio 99.7FM, it was inevitable that one of his first moves would be to do the same for OCR. By now this born and bred Mancunian had become a true Roughyed.
“Indeed he became Oldham through and through. He taught at Littlemoor School; played for Oldham Teachers F.C.; insisted that we broadcast the council meetings; defended Oldham with a passion against any criticism; and won the council’s Civic Appreciation Award.
“Only last week he was awarded a Special Honours Award for Services to Community Radio from the Community Radio Association which he now can’t receive personally.
“On a personal level I knew Dave for over 50 years. When my wife died I had lots of cards but just one personal visit - from Dave. That is the kind of man he was. A few moths ago he was brave enough to chat with me on air about his Alzheimers, the cruel disease which finally took him from us.
“R.I.P. Dave. We’ll miss you more than you’ll ever know!”
For many years, on a Friday morning during the station’s ‘Today in Oldham’ programme, Dave used to speak on air to the then owner and chairman Chris Hamilton on all things Roughyeds, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
As Gerald points though, Dave’s all-embracing work involved much more than rugby. He was indeed THE voice of Oldham in the modern era and the town owes him a great debt of gratitude for his lifetime’s work, first as a primary school teacher and then, for most of his working life, as a colossus figure on the local radio scene, first at Radio Cavell and, more latterly, at Oldham Community Radio 99.7 fm, which he founded in 2007.
Modest as ever, he would always tell you that the huge amount of work, knowledge and understanding involved in making OCR happen was down to a united effort, but there is no doubt who was the driving force and that was typical of the man, born in Manchester, who adopted Oldham early on and lived here most of his life, beavering away in the community for the benefits of all who were born and brought up here.
Apart from his obvious skill as a radio presenter, a reporter and an interviewer, he was not only a pro in everything he did. Perhaps more importantly, and it would be to him, he was a lovely man, who would help anyone, always greet you with a smile and a warm handshake and he would always, always, do his level best for Oldham, the town, its institutions and its peoples.
The local scene will miss him terribly, including this club. Thanks for everything Dave and sincere condolences from everyone here to Jean, his wife of many years whom he always referred to on air as “her indoors” and to his two children, Ruth and Ian. To his many, many, friends and work colleagues too. RIP Dave — and thanks for the many memories. It was, indeed, GOOD TO KNOW YOU!
