You would be hard pressed to find anyone in Northern Ireland of a certain age who hasn’t heard of Big T, otherwise known as radio broadcaster Trevor Campbell.
Trevor was a man born to do radio. Following school at Belfast Inst, he joined the civil service, but some of his recreational time was spent spinning the turntable (and there was only one!) for discos at the Belfast Boat Club at Stranmillis.
His interest in radio had been sparked by the 1960s offshore stations, in particular Radio Caroline anchored off the Isle of Man.
Trevor became friendly with one of its stars, Canadian ‘Daffy’ Don Allen, and when Don became involved with Radio North Sea International in the early 1970s he invited Trevor to join the DJs on board.
Big T with Dolly Parton
Unfortunately, seasickness got the better of him, so it was back to dry land where independent local radio was being established throughout the UK, with Belfast due its station by 1976.
Trevor applied to Downtown and was signed up by Programme Controller Don Anderson, initially to present country shows, but prior to going on air this was extended to include the lunchtime ‘Dinner Spinner’.
On day one, March 16, 1976, the Prime Minister announced his resignation, and Daffy Don sent Trevor a telegram declaring that Harold Wilson always said that if Trevor got a full-time job in radio he’d resign.
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Trevor knew his music inside out, both popular and country. He was the king of what’s known as a ‘tight talkover’, where the presenter stops speaking just before the artist sings. It’s a precise skill and all done by intuition when live. To this he added a multitude of jingles and his own sayings and patter, presenting in a bright and breezy style which attracted a huge listenership.
He always loved wordplay, and when an outside broadcast had been arranged from the front of Belfast City Hall just before Christmas, was delighted that ‘The Big T Show’ had been renamed ‘The Big Tree Show’ in the schedule.
Big T with Charley Pride
Trevor was a pioneer in country music broadcasting, and Downtown was able to reflect the popularity it had here with both American and Irish country shows each week.
He regularly attended the annual Country Music Festival at Easter in Wembley and got to know the big artists of the time such as Dolly Parton, Charley Pride and Johnny Cash. When some came to Belfast, it was Trevor who introduced them on stage as well as interviewing on radio.
He was also a frequent visitor to Nashville, meeting and recording more stars there, and on one occasion broadcasting his show back live from the CMT (Country Music Television) studio over their satellite link. He was comfortable with the stars because he was one himself.
Countless Irish country artists received airplay on Trevor’s shows for their releases too, and they will be devastated by the sad news as we all are, listeners and colleagues alike, but so appreciative of his support and company over almost 49 years of broadcasting.
Trevor was Big in ways beyond the height that prompted his stage name; in humour and wit, his knowledge of music and love of radio. His passing leaves a big gap on the radio dial.
John Rosborough at the studios of Cool FM and Downtown. Picture: Stephen Hamilton
John Rosborough was Downtown’s head of programming from 1979 to 2000