Two founder members of community radio station Redstone FM have been presented with an award for their work of nearly a decade.

Tess Lewsey and Steve Burge, founder members of Redstone FM, the community radio station for Redhill and Reigate, received an award from the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, David Pay, at a ceremony at Gatton Hall, Reigate, recently.

Tess has been actively involved as a volunteer since the station’s first temporary broadcast in July 2005. She has worked on-air as a presenter and producer, helped with marketing and publicity, and more recently was elected to the management board, where she has held the offices of volunteer co-ordinator and chairman. She currently presents - as a volunteer - the daily morning magazine programme, and organises the day-to-day running as programme manager.

Steve has served on the management board since its inception and has held the positions of chairman and programme director. He has also been at the forefront of ensuring that Redstone FM is accessible to visually impaired people through the use of specialist technology. His volunteer work has involved working as a presenter of both mainstream programmes and a specialist rock music show too. By profession, Steve is a musician, and is leading the development of the music format for the station. Redstone FM’s manager, Des Shepherd, said: “Both Tess and Steve are visually impaired but this has not diminished their ability to play a full part in the development of Redstone FM. “I am delighted for both of them and Redstone FM will continue to offer opportunities to those who are visually impaired, to be involved with the radio station.”

Website: www.redstone.fm