Radio Cayman will celebrate 50 years of broadcasting with a building rededication and renaming ceremony to honour the contribution and legacy of former Director of Broadcasting, Loxley Banks. The event, which marks an important milestone in the station’s history, will be held at 111 Elgin Avenue, George Town on Friday, 26 June, starting at 9:00 a.m.
The building will be named the Loxley Banks Broadcasting Centre, recognising Mr. Banks’ pivotal role in the station’s establishment, development and growth over the past five decades. Last year, he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to broadcasting in the Cayman Islands and is also the recipient of the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour.
Radio Cayman aired its first test broadcast on 12 April 1976, operating with three studios and a team of twelve. Roy Dunlap served as the first Director of Broadcasting, while Loxley Banks joined as Programme Controller and later went on to serve as Director, playing an integral role in shaping the station’s growth and national relevance. Over the years, Mr Banks produced and hosted a number of music, documentary and talk shows on Radio Cayman. Since his retirement, he remains a familiar voice to listeners with programmes such as CI Retro on Radio Cayman and Yesteryear Musicale on its sister station, Breeze 105.3 FM.
Radio Cayman has long been one of the Cayman Islands’ most trusted sources of news, information and live coverage of national events. Many prominent Caymanians were instrumental in the development of the station.
Director of Radio Cayman, Norma McField has invited the community to attend the event noting, “Radio Cayman belongs to the people of these Islands. We warmly invite everyone to join us as we celebrate our journey and this special milestone together.”