Early commercial radio pioneer Stewart Francis has died

Stewart Francis, one of commercial radio’s early pioneers, has died aged 74 after a battle with cancer.

He passed away at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice on Boxing Day, where he had been receiving care, and tributes are being paid from across the radio industry and the communities he served.

Stewart was part of the original on air team at the launch of LBC and went on to become one of the defining figures of early Independent Local Radio, combining presenting, programming and senior...