The Cat FM continues to broadcast during COVID-19 crisis

South Cheshire community radio station The Cat 107.9 FM has vowed to continue broadcasting despite the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Jonathan White.

Some presenters are broadcasting programmes from home using a mic and headphones in a computer connected to the station’s playout system to put out their programming via the internet.

The Gary Johnson Breakfast Show (7-9am) and The Purfect Afternoon with Chris Cadman (2-4pm) are still broadcast live, but alone, from The Cat’s studios at Cheshire College – South & West.

The Cat broadcasts on 107.9 FM, online, on your mobile with the TuneIn app, or on your smart speaker by just asking for ‘Cat one hundred and seven point nine’.

This year The Cat celebrates five years on 107.9 FM.

The Cat has local coronavirus COVID-19 updates at half-past the hour and via http://thisisthecat.com/covid-19/

Chris Cadman, managing directorof The Cat community radio, said: “In extremely challenging times, like the one we are facing now, having a truly local Community radio station really makes a difference.

“I am so proud of the all the volunteers at The Cat 107.9FM who are getting creative, reaching out to the community and keep us on-air.

“Thanks to their efforts we remain broadcasting 24 hours a day on both FM and online in addition to leveraging our social media platforms to share critical information and enable people to get in touch.

“Our mission is to ensure people in the local community are kept informed, linking with councils, the emergency services and local organisations, to get important information and updates out there.

“It’s fantastic and it lifts our hearts that people in the community are getting in touch, sharing what they are doing, sending pictures their children have drawn and saying how much they are enjoying the station during this difficult times.

“Finally, I want to thank Dhesi and the team at Cheshire College – South & West, where our studios are based, for their help and taking extra special steps to ensure we have access to our studios.”

The Cat is the only licensed community radio station in Crewe and Nantwich and is a not for profit organisation run entirely by volunteers.

To get involved visit http://thisisthecat.com/on-air/get-involved/

Meanwhile, Nantwich Bookshop owners are continuing their business from home, despite having to close the popular High Street store.

Owners Steve and Denise Lawson can order books from publishers including Bloomsbury, DK, Hachette, HarperCollins, Hodder & Stoughton, Macmillan, Penguin, and Random House.

Their current best-selling genres are history, biography and sport.

Fiction which was never really a big seller in the shop is starting to surpass these other genres.

For further information or to order a book, email [email protected]  or phone 01270 611665.

Payments can be taken over the phone, or on delivery by Steve Lawson.

Free delivery is available within a 15 mile radius. Books can be posted further afield.

Steve & Denise Lawson said: “We thank you for your continued support and in the not too distant future we will all be back again enjoying our wonderful town.

“We stand with all the independent businesses of Nantwich and ask that you spend your money in the small shops after these closures, so that we too can recover as the multinationals will.”