Derrick Rodwell

RAF to Radio Life

My passion for aircraft took off early, andat just 16 | left my hometown of Redcar to join the Royal Air Force in April 1978. Aftercompleting my training, I launched a 24-year career as a firefighter, serving around
the globe and experiencing places most people only dream of. It was an incredible
journey filled with unforgettable moments, and I completed my RAF service in February 2002.

My broadcasting journey began in 1997 while deployed in the Falkland Islands, volunteering with the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS.) Presenting shows and keeping that vital connection to home alive for service personnel and their families was something I instantly loved. I went on to broadcast with BFBS again in Germany, Kosovo, and Macedonia-every
time bringing music and morale to those who needed it most.

After leaving the military, I spent 15 years as a Police Officer with Humberside Police. It meant stepping away from the mic for a while, but I’m incredibly proud of that chapter and the difference I hope I made to the many people I met along the way.