Andy Green had decided to explore the opportunities to bring a truly local radio station to his home town.   Just a few months earlier in a completely separate move Andy Craig had written to the then regulator The Radio Authority expressing an interest in bringing local radio to a number of areas, including Banbury.   A mutual friend, Ian Downs (then working for Andy Craig), suggested to Andy Green he contact Andy Craig and see if they could work together.

Andy Craig met Andy Green in April 2001, and Banbury FM was born.

Plans then began for a trial broadcast.   This was announced thanks to Julian Dancer at the Banbury Cake with a front page news item in August 2001.   Andy, together with Milestone's Daniel Cass, sought to recruit a team for the trial.   Local personality John Craven agreed to join the team, alongside ex-Fox FM presenters Phil Angell and Ian Downs.   They were joined by a number of talented local individuals who gave up a month to broadcast to their town.

Banbury FM 1 went on-air on 23rd September 2001 for four weeks, based in mobile studios outside Tesco.

Watch a video of the first day's broadcast here.

The broadcast was a huge success.   Independent research showed that in just four weeks 54% of residents listened to Banbury FM, making it the most listened to radio station in the area.   Awareness of the station in Banbury stood at an amazing 93%.

In addition an unprecedented 6,364 letters and signatures on petitions were received urging the Radio Authority to make available a permanent radio licence for a community based radio station in the North Oxfordshire area.

Motions in support Banbury FM were passed unanimously by both Cherwell District Council and Banbury Town Council.

Shaun Jardine was one supportive leading local businessman who got involved with the trial broadcast.   Shaun was very excited at the prospect of Banbury having its own radio station and was invited to join Andy Green and Andy Craig on the Banbury FM Board.   A few months later Shaun became Banbury FM's Chairman.

Banbury FM submitted a report to The Radio Authority demonstrating the level of support for local radio in Banbury.

Over the coming months work continued behind the scenes with broadcaster John Craven and local business people David Walley and Adrienne Lawler joining the Board.

The on-air team were joined by Bob Dainty - a well known listener and supporter from the first trial, and Simeon Courtie, the TV presenter who lived locally.   One highlight from the trial was the collection of  22,000 stamps to raise funds for the Neuroblastoma Society after Banbury FM's listeners heard about eighteen-month old Molly Bird's fight with this childhood cancer.  Another highlight was Dave Boxer's live commentary on a crucial Banbury United match.

Again the station was an unprecedented success and a report was submitted to The Radio Authority.

With it now guaranteed that a licence would be awarded in the town, in the spring of 2003 the first sign of any competition for the licence appeared.   BLR (Banbury Local Radio) was backed by Laser Broadcasting and a group of local business people, and they broadcast their first trial.   ImpactLive, who had previously broadcast via the internet, then completed their own trial, before BLR returned for a second trial.

The government appointment of Ofcom as the new radio regulator delayed the advertisement of Banbury licence until November 2004.

Banbury FM submitted its application in February 2005, alongside one from BLR, and a third application from CN Radio, who ran the Bear in Stratford and offered "The Bear for Banbury".   Most local people dismissed this latter application as a rank outsider.

However, in a moved that shocked lots of local people, in May 2005 Ofcom awarded the licence to CN Radio.

The Banbury FM dream died on Monday 9th May 2005.

After the licence was awarded the CN Group renamed The Bear in Stratford as Touch FM and launched Touch FM in Banbury in February 2006.