Mike Ahern – Nostalgia Central

Born in Liverpool on 30 September 1942, Mike Ahern was educated at St Bede’s Secondary Modern School until he was 15.

His first job was in a menswear store where, after three months, he had a serious mishap with an expensive suit and left.

Work as a clerk, barman and factory hand preceded his decision to take his undoubted (to Mike) talents to France.

Here he remained for two years as a grape-picker and learnt to speak French, Greek, Spanish, German and Italian.

On his return to Liverpool, he and a friend opened a club, “The Teen-Beat Club”, which had moderate success until the local council declared the floor to be unsafe.

He joined Radio Caroline North and later transferred to the South ship.

He departed Caroline in 1967 for Radio 1, though it was a short-lived affair – just one programme, Top Gear on 8 October.

Ahern later departed for Australia to work for a slew of stations there.

He returned to the UK in 1988 and was heard on Essex Radio, Radio Aire, Piccadilly Radio, Capital Gold, Country-1035, North Norfolk Radio and others.

Mike Ahern passed away as a result of lung cancer on 5 October 2009, aged 67.