Thousands of devoted radio fans tune in every weekday afternoon to listen to Clive Mellor present three hours of local and useful information alongside Seahaven FM’s great mix of hit music from across eight decades.
I had first-hand experience of Clive’s interviewing skills when he spoke to me about my new crime thriller Beggars Belief – Deadly Disguise and Web of Lies.
Our interview on the East Sussex-based station went so well that Clive recorded a second one, about my role as chairman of Anderida Writers and revelations from my celebrity book My Life With The Stars – Sizzling Secrets Spilled!
Seahaven FM, an Ofcom licenced radio station, is a not-for-profit company which is powered by local volunteers. Donations from listeners, plus sponsorship and advertising from local businesses, are helping the station to expand its listenership, support and volunteer team.
Clive, a regular presenter for more than seven years, says: “Being both entertaining and informing is a balancing trick. So is catering both for a listener who switches on just for their short journey home, and for those who may have their radio on all day.”
Seahaven FM, on 95.6 and 96.3, focuses along the coastal part of East Sussex in a way that no other radio station does. Local information includes East Sussex news headlines, sport, weather, regular traffic reporting and events. The station ensures regular national input in the form of headlines each hour, along with sports, entertainment and business reports.
“It’s a team effort,” explains Clive. “Each week there are local features, book reviews from local independent bookshops, a village library and the county council libraries department; while garden advice comes from an expert at one of our local garden centres and members of a local allotment society. Members of the HMRC ‘radio team’ provide tax advice.”
Seahaven FM has its own What’s On web pages. Local organisations can submit details of their own events online at: https://www.seahavenfm.radio/whats-on/submit-an-event/. Tanieth, a local writer and performer, provides weekly recommendations on what to see and reviews current localproductions.
Local listeners can use traditional radios in their vehicles or elsewhere. Everyone can listen using many radio players, including the website at https://www.seahavenfm.radio as well as via smart speaker devices, wherever you are.
Clive presents Seahaven FM Drivetime on weekdays from 4 pm to 7 pm. Information on the programme can be found at https://www.seahavenfm.radio/clive-mellor/weekday-drive-time/
The charismatic Mr Mellor says: “Some traffic issues and local information just arise during the programme. ‘Sussex Traffic Watch’ supports our travel reporting – and drivers call the studio to let us know what they’ve just seen! There’s always something you don’t expect. Sometimes it will be an announcement from a council or the local NHS. Other times it’s something amusing, an anniversary or a sudden deadline. We also fit in two light-hearted quizzes and a second go at the daily mystery tune.”
Seahaven FM, whose studios are at 3 The Courtyard, Saxon Lane, Seaford, BN25 1QL, has been broadcasting in East Sussex for 16 years, serving listeners in Eastbourne, Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Pevensey, Polegate, Seaford and surrounding villages.
Volunteer researcher and production assistant Jan told me: “The majority of our 37,000 listeners each month are aged between 35 and 75. I’ve been with Seahaven FM for about 14 months and enjoy my role so much. Seahaven FM has a wonderful team!”
My interviews with Clive Mellor can be heard at https://player.autopod.xyz/1361754 (at 2h30m) and https://player.autopod.xyz/1366906 (at 2h35m); until 25 July 2026.
Beggars Belief, which starts with a gunman, disguised as a beggar, killing financial wizard Timothy Marshall in Seaside Road, Eastbourne, can be checked out on Amazon.co.uk where it is available at £1.77 for the e-version, and £7.99 for the paperback.
Details about Anderida Writers, who welcome writers of all standards, from published authors to those writing for fun, are available from https://www.anderidawriters.co.uk/ and tflood04@yahoo.co.uk.
