Ian Alexander Fraser (broadcaster & sportsman)

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Ian Fraser BA (Hons), (1963-) is currently a regular presenter on Market Harborough's 102.3 HFM and involved with the station's community radio training programme.

Prior to his move into community broadcasting he had been a talented local sportsman (together with two younger brothers Neil and Alistair), particularly Rugby Union, in and around the Market Harborough area.

[edit] Biography

He was born Ian Alexander, in December 1963 in Otford,Kent to Sonya & Cameron Fraser, the second of four sons (Stuart, Ian, Neil and Alistair).

He attended Byfield (Northamptonshire) and Otford (Kent) Primary schools, and at secondary level Guilsborough County School (Northamptonshire).

Between 1982 and 1985, he studied as an under graduate for a joint BA (Honours) degree in Sports Studies and Geography at Whitelands College - part of the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education.

[edit] Student Life

At school Ian showed a natural flair for all team ball sports (football, rugby, basketball, cricket) and despite a competence for track and field events (evidenced by the annual captaincy of the house athletics team), revelled in the competitive environment of the school leagues of the team sports.

Whilst a frequent on field captain, and possessing significant individual talent, Ian's real strengths came to the fore in harnessing the combined talents within the team groups.

A shrewd tactical awareness was apparent in planning unpredictable strategies as a means to counter traditionally stronger opponents. His enjoyment and satisfaction in upsetting conventional thinking was apparent as a "key player" who was happy to lead by example.

Rugby Union became the major outlet for the spacial awareness of field positions and ball handling skills practised in the other sports - Ian first represented his local town Rugby and Cricket Clubs in Market Harborough at the age of sixteen.

Academic learning was a chore rather than a pleasure. Competent sets of examination results saw Ian having to choose further education, but in an area that enabled him to explore his wide interest and understanding of sport.

A Sports Studies/Science & Geography degree course at Whitelands College in South West London was to follow.

The only "ever present" in the RIHE RFC team of 1982-83, Ian posted a record number of points scored by an individual in one game (30 points - one try, four penalties, seven conversions), a record number of consecutive successful kicks at goal (27), and the record number of points score by an individual in one season.

His form from full back that year attracted the attention of Bev Risman who ran the British Counties Colleges representative set up for the SE Counties.

Unfortunately two skull fractures suffered in consecutive games (together with the statutory "stand down" period between and after each injury) ultimately stalled that opportunity before it started.

Undeterred, Ian became fixture secretary, team coach and club treasurer over the following two years continuing to accumulate points with regularity and accuracy, as well as generating adequate funds to support the Inter Collegiate Rugby Society's activities (and provide a comprehensive "kit supply").

He also continued playing Basketball regularly and football (when unable to play rugby!), and was encouraged by a Yorkshire "post grad" to link up with Fulham Rugby League based (at the time) nearby in Chiswick.

Ian's involvement with the Rugby Society consequently saw him nominated for many Student Union posts as a result of his recognised integrity and determination to fulfill commitments made.

Despite a reluctance to be drawn into "politics" he was instrumental in introducing improved income and expenditure controls for the social and events budgets (overturning a sizeable deficit into profit).

[edit] Post College

From 1986 Ian moved into employment - Retail Financial Services - in West London. Upon starting work with a national organisation he made the statement that he would always do his best, but would never compromise what he believed in.

Over the years that followed this created some conflict with his bosses!

Staying in London allowed Ian to marry his girlfriend, Sarah Richards, who he knew to be the love of his life from the moment they met late in 1983. They married in St Mary's Church, Finchley in October 1987 and have a daughter, Anna Louise (born 2001).

Ian played Rugby for Ealing RFC on the Greenford playing fields just up from the A40 flyover. Again his consistency at all levels saw him playing in many different positions in the back line.

His technically excellent "offensive" tackling became an ingrained tactical ploy in the teams that he played for long before professional Rugby Union.

[edit] The Move to Market Harborough

In 1989 Ian's job moved to the Midlands. As his grandfather Fred Vening had died earlier that year, Ian wanted to ensure that he was closer to his grandmother (his mother's mother). Market Harborough was an ideal location, retaining easy access by road or train to North London (where Sarah's family were based), and allowing reasonable commuting times to many locations in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.

The other great incentive was to have the chance to appear alongside his brothers in the Kibworth Rugby Club (now Market Harborough RUFC) 1st XV.

Ian's job varied in terms of location, security and content over the next ten years, but all the while the shared and enjoyed home environment with Sarah and two dogs provided much needed stability. In 1998 a move of house saw the "family" a further eight doors along the road - testament to the benefits of the area!

In February 2001, Sarah gave birth to Anna Louise Fraser, a first grandchild for Sonya & Cameron Fraser.

[edit] Rugby in Market Harborough

Ian's Rugby ambition was achieved in November 1990 when all three Fraser boys appeared together for the first time (previously two brothers had played in all three of the different combinations). It featured on the back page of the Harborough Mail newspaper as the lead sports story of that week.

The final time the brothers played together (in 1993) all three scored tries against Oakham RFC. Unfortunately Alistair, the youngest, a few games later suffered a severe knee injury that cut short his Rugby career just as he had broken through into the County side.

Ian and Neil continued to be regular team mates as the club fortunes fluctuated over the next few years. An individual high point for Ian was a winning drop goal with the final kick of the game (1996) against a Stamford RFC XV who had at one point led 0-15. What continued to be admired by team mates was the consistency of performance and Ian's forceful tackling technique from a relatively lightweight frame.

From the club perspective, Ian shared in the 2000/2001 season promotion winning side, returning to a regular position of full back for the first time in several years.

When Alistair took up the coaching reins a couple of years after, Ian originally offered his support as a regular "reserve" but ended with more game starts than appearances as a replacement.

Without consciously "retiring" from Rugby in April 2005, Ian did not play again, finishing whilst he was still able to perform to the level he felt was of benefit to the team.

[edit] Radio

As a teenager, Ian had three main interests, Sport, Animals, Radio. He introduced Sarah to dogs as pets from 1989.

A career as a vet was never an option because Ian would have been too upset to see animals suffer.

Radio was seen as harmless interest by Ian's parents (school teachers), but the suggestion that he might attend a "DJ School" rather than go to College/University had been fairly swiftly rejected - limited prospects, not a "proper" job!

Hence the Sports Studies degree.

Early in 2005, Ian saw advertised an introductory course for Radio Broadcasting at the South Leicestershire Learning Centre.

A chance meeting with Barry Badger (now 102.3 HFM's Station Manager) some years earlier, had reminded Ian of his interest in radio and opened his eyes to the potential opportunites in Market Harborough. Imagine Ian's surprise when he realised that Barry, and Chris Jones, were running the course to support an application for a full time radio licence for a station in Market Harborough.

Once the course had finished and HFM's licence application had been successful, Ian had decided Radio was going to be the thing that would fill the void left by giving up sport. He got in touch with his friend Mark Shannon who ran (up to early 2008) a Low Power Broadcasting Part 15 Radio Station in Omaha, Nebraska, USA (WOQ 99.1 FM) to see if there would be an opportunity to hone his presentation technique for Radio.

Mark said "yes" and from September 2005, Ian Fraser's SRD Rock Radio Show started a regular Sunday evening broadcast.

Tom Lathom (left) and Ian Fraser, co-presenters' of the SRD Rock Radio Show
Tom Lathom (left) and Ian Fraser, co-presenters' of the SRD Rock Radio Show

In the summer of 2006, Radio Lutterworth produced it's first 28 day RSL broadcast, and Ian (together with a co presenter - Tom Lathom) introduced his brand of Rock and humour to South Leicestershire for the first time.

As Ian and Tom got on so well from the start, they decided that a pitch for a regular slot on Harborough FM the following spring was the next step.

Since mid February 2007, Ian and Tom have been Rocking South Leicestershire's airwaves on 102.3 HFM every Thursday evening from 10 pm.

Ian also did a brief stint on Saturday mornings (Dec07 to Feb08) assisting Soozie Max.


Between October and December 2007, and then again between January and March 2008, Ian co-ordinated (in conjunction with the HFM Management team and the South Leicestershire Learning Centre) a Community Radio course run to provide access and knowledge of operations to potential volunteers in and around the Market Harborough area. Over 40 people attended at various times over the two programmes.

[edit] The Future?

Ian remains with the same employer he joined in September 1985.

He retains the same integrity that has marked him out as an honest and trustworthy friend, colleague, husband, son and father since his school days.

He has never chased advancement to the detriment of anyone else, preferring to ensure that greater talent should prevail and that everyone should be given equal opportunity.

He continues to work on behalf of elderly and mentally ill people, and raises money for his favoured charity the Motor Neuron Disease Association.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links