Community

Community

Sheffield Live Presenter Proposes to Fiancee Live on Air

Sheffield Live’s own presenter, Ben Keegan, proposed to his partner, Tracey Rogers, during his live radio show: Deserted Ireland Discs.

As Tracey discussed the final track of the show, Summer Wine by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood, reminiscing about a recent road trip on the way back from France, Ben asked her one more question before the song started playing. He got down on one knee and asked “Tracey, would you do me the honour of marrying me?” whilst presenting an engagement ring.

Initially, Tracey responded with laughter and asked if he “was tying his shoelaces again”. When speaking to the couple after this event, Tracey told us that Ben had previously got down on one knee on a trip to Venice, and then proceeded to tie his shoelaces.

When Tracey realised Ben was genuinely proposing to her, she went silent for around four seconds, which she told us was “a long time to be quiet for me”. Her answer to the big question was “Yes. There was no question that I would not say yes.”

Reflecting on the lead up to the proposal, Ben said “We’ve been together for twelve years in September and I love her very much… Once I decided to ask her, I thought, how should I ask her?”

“I realised I had the perfect platform with my radio show. I’ve been asking Tracey to come on this show for a while now, so I knew she wouldn’t suspect a thing.”

On Deserted Ireland Disks, a guest is invited each week to discuss their life and play songs related to specific moments and memories. Ben used this platform to create a new core memory for himself and Tracey on Sheffield Live!

Sheffield Live! at 25 – Birthday Celebration and Fundraiser

Friday 19th September 2025
6pm – 3am
£6 on the door after 9pm

Join us for a night at Hagglers Corner to celebrate 25 years of Sheffield Live!’s community broadcasting to the city and beyond!

Featuring DJs from long-running shows on the station – past and present. DJs on the night include Deepgroove, Dubcentral, Junglist Alliance, Latino Times, Mid Afternoon Memories, Platinum Plates, Sounds Like This, Spinning Jazz, The Night Train, Two Foot Left and The Breakdown.

Come along at 6pm for a special broadcast in the intimate Grub Records focusing on the importance to you of a single record. Bring a record and a story, memory or association to talk about!

The media landscape has changed dramatically since Sheffield Live! started off in 2000 as a weekend broadcast for Sharrow Festival. It quickly moved to regular events-based broadcasting, internet radio when live-streaming was in its infancy, and podcasting, before podcasting was a thing. It gained a full-time FM community radio licence in 2007, one of the first of its kind in the UK, and joined others in forming Sheffield Live! TV in 2014. It’s now also available on DAB with broadcast coverage extending across South Yorkshire. Broadcasting continuously to Sheffield and beyond for 25 years is some achievement. Many a successful DJ and broadcaster has cut their teeth on the station and it has given voice to a multitude of artists, activists and academics.

But really the story of the station is in its original intentions: to be a place where presenters of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can share a variety of distinctive music and speech based programmes to reflect and serve the diverse communities of Sheffield. It has been sustained by the passions and enthusiasm of its volunteers, including the founders and directors of the station and the many who have passed through its doors, whether that is presenting a show, reporting and news gathering, organising, fixing, painting and decorating.

With a challenging environment for the funding of community media and the increased dominance of global media conglomerates and digital technology giants, an independent and community media space is more important than ever to reflect the often untold stories, unheard voices and unconventional music to which Sheffield Live! has given a platform.

Join us for a party at another Sheffield independent mainstay, Hagglers Corner, on 19th September to mark 25 years of Sheffield Live!

Rotherham’s Ray Matthews recalls his “Path to Success”

Pensioner, charity marathon runner and former boxer Ray Matthews of Rotherham shared his memories in the book “Path to Success”. The publication narrates his early life and introduction to boxing as a means to combat bullying and goes on to tell his account of aspirations to complete multiple challenges. Among these, Matthews famously running seventy-five marathons in seventy-five days on his seventy-fifth birthday to raise £75,000 for charity. Report by Baillor Jalloh for Sheffield Live!

From the Sheffield Live archives June 2023

Homelessness highlighted in Cathedral exhibition

An exhibition about homelessness brought new perspectives through multimedia artworks. The Black Eye Project collaborated with the Archer Project to create the event at Sheffield Cathedral. Sheffield Live! reporter, Isabelle Goodhand spoke to Jim Lobley, Creative Director of the Black Eye Project.

From the Sheffield Live! archives 2024

“Man with the Pram” on £1m fundraising goal

Sheffield’s “Man with The Pram”, John Burkhill, reached the goal of raising £1 million for charity. A familiar sight with an iconic green wig, pushing a pram with a charity bucket around the city centre streets. He has been fundraising for the Macmillan Cancer Charity since the loss of his wife, who died of cancer in 1992. Report by Isabelle Goodhand for Sheffield Live!

From the Sheffield Live! archives October 2023

Remembering the opening of Sheffield Grand Mosque

The long-awaited Islamic centre and mosque in Burngreave formally opened its doors to the public in April 2023, having been under construction for over a decade. The Sheffield Grand Mosque, on Grimesthorpe Rd, is a landmark of Islamic architecture and design. It boasts four halls that cater for community activities, Islamic study, sports such as gymnastics, football and karate training, as well as prayer halls for both men and women. Sheffield live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to volunteers and worshippers at the mosque.

From the Sheffield Live archives April 2023

Women of the World Festival returns to Rotherham

The Women of the World Festival is returning to Rotherham on 10 June for its second year running, with a packed programme of events. Organisers hope this year’s festival will be more extraordinary, captivating audiences with workshops, talks, performances, film screenings and pop-ups. The aim of the event is to celebrate women, girls, and non-binary people at a safe place. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Noor Salih, community producer for Women of the World.