Richard Hamilton

Banbury has been my home since 1990.  I’m proud to tell everyone that’s where I’m (now) from.   I was, in fact, born in Rome: I spent the first ten years of my life in that captivating ‘Eternal City’, where my Dad worked for British European Airways (now BA).

When he was posted to Paris, I had to go too (under extreme protest!).   Paris quickly became a great gig too. But I was 18 by the time I could call England (Berkshire) my home: lots of catching up to do… roots to plant, new friends to make.

One of my first acquaintances persuaded me to join him at Hospital Radio Reading where, until 1998, I presented a Saturday Sports show and commentated occasionally on Reading FC’s weekday evening home matches. While I was there, I met and interviewed Ollie Kearns, whom Reading had signed from…Banbury United!

Since 2004, I have been the finishing-line commentator at Brighton Racecourse for the Brigade of Gurkhas’ annual open-to-everyone endurance event Trailwalker UK — a 100km hike along the South Downs Way within 30 hours (“Good game, good game!”).

In September 2018, I met Puritans Radio’s founder Stewart Green. He persuaded me to return to a radio studio. After such a long hiatus, it took three nano seconds for me to say “yes”!   And in 2022, Stewart invited me to deputise for him as Banbury United’s stadium announcer. Which is how I can be spotted at home matches. Please come and say hello!