Alison Booker
Encyclopedia
.
Alison Chapman was a presenter and newsreader at 106 Jack FM (Oxfordshire)
and BBC Oxford
and was renowned for her quick wit and double entendres.
Alison was born in Exeter, England) and educated at Blundell's School
. She fell in love with radio at Exeter University, presenting on the uni's own station URE
http://xpression.ex.ac.uk/history.php. She claimed her entire career had been an accident (having studied French and Philosophy) as it was the DJ on URE she fancied first, not the show. Alison's first job with the BBC was with the now-defunct BBC Dorset FM
, which is now part of BBC Radio Solent
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiosolent. When her first husband moved the family to Oxfordshire
, she talked her way into BBC Radio Oxford http://bbc.co.uk/oxford.
She worked there for over ten years.
Alison has two children by her first husband, David Booker; Joanne and Douglas Booker. 20 and 19 respectively. Alison made a life and a home in Wantage, Oxfordshire where the children attended the local schools and continue to live.
Alison was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. After a double mastectomy, radio- and chemotherapy she returned to her Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Oxford. She tackled it with her usual sense of humour, once joking to a doctor who needed to examine her that she didn't take her clothes off for anything less than a couple of really good meals and a bunch of flowers. Alison's breast cancer returned in her lungs in February 2006.
Alison married her partner of five years Andrew Chapman http://www.surf4wine.co.uk in May 2006 after proposing to him on air on Children in Need
day in 2005.
Alison retired from the BBC in January 2007. After a year at home, and bored with just waiting to die, she accidentally got freelance work at the then recently launched 106 Jack FM http://www.jackfm.co.uk . She went full time in September 2008.
In 2009 Ali started documenting her life with cancer via audio diaries which were broadcast on 106 Jack FM (Oxfordshire) http://www.jackfm.co.uk
In May 2010 Ali was awarded the Silver Sony award. A few weeks later the diaries also won Ali commercial radio’s top award – a Radio Academy Gold Arqiva.
Ali's diaries were featured in The Sunday Times on 27.6.2010 and The Independent on 1.7.2010. MP Ed Vaizey also paid tribute to Ali in the House of Commons on 24.6.2010.
Her diaries are available in iTunes or via Podomatic. http://alisdiaries.podomatic.com
Alison died on July 1st 2010 due to breast cancer at Sobell House Hospice in Oxfordshire, a place very fond her her heart. She was buried In a small cemetery in Wantage overlooking the town.
On September 24 2010 Ali's Cancer Diaries was awarded the Silver World Medal at The New York Festival Radio Awards in the Social Issues/Current Events Category.
Alison Chapman was a presenter and newsreader at 106 Jack FM (Oxfordshire)
106 Jack FM (Oxfordshire)
106 Jack FM is an English language adult hits format radio station that broadcasts on 106.8 MHz FM in Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. The station is branded as Jack FM...
and BBC Oxford
BBC Oxford
BBC Oxford is the name given to the sub-opt out region serving Oxford and the surrounding areas. Its services include:*BBC Oxford News, the local news service called BBC Oxford on screen...
and was renowned for her quick wit and double entendres.
Alison was born in Exeter, England) and educated at Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
. She fell in love with radio at Exeter University, presenting on the uni's own station URE
Xpression FM
Xpression FM is an award winning campus radio station for the University of Exeter, England. Formerly known as URE , the station has been broadcasting since 1976 and is entirely run by students from the university.-History:...
http://xpression.ex.ac.uk/history.php. She claimed her entire career had been an accident (having studied French and Philosophy) as it was the DJ on URE she fancied first, not the show. Alison's first job with the BBC was with the now-defunct BBC Dorset FM
BBC Dorset FM
BBC Dorset FM was a BBC Local Radio station based in Dorchester, covering the county of Dorset in England which broadcast from 1993 to 1996. It was the last BBC Local Radio station to launch which covered a previously unserved area...
, which is now part of BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same purpose-built office block in Havelock Road as the BBC South Today news studios, and there are district offices in Portsmouth,...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiosolent. When her first husband moved the family to Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, she talked her way into BBC Radio Oxford http://bbc.co.uk/oxford.
She worked there for over ten years.
Alison has two children by her first husband, David Booker; Joanne and Douglas Booker. 20 and 19 respectively. Alison made a life and a home in Wantage, Oxfordshire where the children attended the local schools and continue to live.
Alison was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. After a double mastectomy, radio- and chemotherapy she returned to her Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Oxford. She tackled it with her usual sense of humour, once joking to a doctor who needed to examine her that she didn't take her clothes off for anything less than a couple of really good meals and a bunch of flowers. Alison's breast cancer returned in her lungs in February 2006.
Alison married her partner of five years Andrew Chapman http://www.surf4wine.co.uk in May 2006 after proposing to him on air on Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
day in 2005.
Alison retired from the BBC in January 2007. After a year at home, and bored with just waiting to die, she accidentally got freelance work at the then recently launched 106 Jack FM http://www.jackfm.co.uk . She went full time in September 2008.
In 2009 Ali started documenting her life with cancer via audio diaries which were broadcast on 106 Jack FM (Oxfordshire) http://www.jackfm.co.uk
In May 2010 Ali was awarded the Silver Sony award. A few weeks later the diaries also won Ali commercial radio’s top award – a Radio Academy Gold Arqiva.
Ali's diaries were featured in The Sunday Times on 27.6.2010 and The Independent on 1.7.2010. MP Ed Vaizey also paid tribute to Ali in the House of Commons on 24.6.2010.
Her diaries are available in iTunes or via Podomatic. http://alisdiaries.podomatic.com
Alison died on July 1st 2010 due to breast cancer at Sobell House Hospice in Oxfordshire, a place very fond her her heart. She was buried In a small cemetery in Wantage overlooking the town.
On September 24 2010 Ali's Cancer Diaries was awarded the Silver World Medal at The New York Festival Radio Awards in the Social Issues/Current Events Category.