Tushar Makwana
Encyclopedia
Tushar Makwana was an award winning British radio personality, killed in a hit-and-run
incident during a botched robbery attempt at his home in Birmingham
, England
.
, Uganda
and moved to Britain
when he was four years old with his family after they and many other Asians were forced out of Uganda under Idi Amin
's regime.
Interested in radio from a young age, Makwana ran a mobile disco as a teen and helped teach other youngsters about broadcasting. His first experience of broadcasting was as a volunteer at Walsall Hospital Radio
, where he once held the position of chairman.
in Harrow, Makwana quickly progressed and he soon left Radio Northwick Park to work for AA
Roadwatch providing travel bulletins for the BBC.
In 1997 Makwana moved to 100.7 Heart FM
to present a variety of different shows on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. In 2002 Makwana won a Silver Award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards
for a show he had presented about UB40
.
parked outside. Makwana confronted the intruders, chasing them out of the house, but was knocked down by their getaway car and suffered serious head injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Heartlands Hospital and was later transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
where his wife, Deepika, began a bedside vigil. Despite efforts to save him, Makwana's injuries proved too severe and the decision to turn off his life support
system was made on Thursday 12 February.
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
incident during a botched robbery attempt at his home in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Early life
The youngest of three children, Makwana was born in JinjaJinja, Uganda
Jinja is the largest town in Uganda, Africa. It is the second busiest commercial center in the country, after Kampala, Uganda's capital and only city. Jinja was established in 1907.-Location:...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and moved to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
when he was four years old with his family after they and many other Asians were forced out of Uganda under Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
's regime.
Interested in radio from a young age, Makwana ran a mobile disco as a teen and helped teach other youngsters about broadcasting. His first experience of broadcasting was as a volunteer at Walsall Hospital Radio
Walsall Hospital Radio
Upon joining Walsall Hospital Radio, new volunteers interested in presenting are initially placed with the station's Training Officer who teaches them the basics of operating the mixing desk. Items on the syllabus include how to properly cue tracks, how to use the computer playout system and how to...
, where he once held the position of chairman.
Radio career
Makwana became involved in professional radio whilst working at a credit analyst in London. Working first at Radio Brockley in Stanmore and then at Radio Northwick ParkRadio Northwick Park
Radio Northwick Park is a free hospital broadcasting service based inside Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, Middlesex, England.The radio station was founded in 1971 and is run by volunteers to provide a broadcast entertainment service to patients...
in Harrow, Makwana quickly progressed and he soon left Radio Northwick Park to work for AA
The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
Roadwatch providing travel bulletins for the BBC.
In 1997 Makwana moved to 100.7 Heart FM
100.7 Heart FM
Heart West Midlands is a radio station based in Birmingham, England, as part of the Heart Network, with a regional license to broadcast to the West Midlands...
to present a variety of different shows on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. In 2002 Makwana won a Silver Award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
for a show he had presented about UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
.
Murder
At approximately 4.20 AM on Monday, 9 February, 2004, a group of teenagers broke into Makwana's house in Birmingham in an effort to steal the keys to Makwana's BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
parked outside. Makwana confronted the intruders, chasing them out of the house, but was knocked down by their getaway car and suffered serious head injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Heartlands Hospital and was later transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is an NHS hospital in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, situated very close to the University of Birmingham. The hospital, which cost £545 million to construct, opened in June 2010 replacing the previous Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Selly Oak Hospital...
where his wife, Deepika, began a bedside vigil. Despite efforts to save him, Makwana's injuries proved too severe and the decision to turn off his life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
system was made on Thursday 12 February.