Woking broadcaster Lance England dies after cancer battle

LOCAL radio broadcaster Lance England has died aged 52 after a long battle with cancer.

Lance, who lived in Woodham, was technical director and a popular presenter on Weybridge-based internet community station Brooklands Radio. 

In 2011 he broadcast for 24 hours non-stop to raise money for Woking and Sam Beare Weybridge Hospices.

Lance, who was born in Woking and grew up in Addlestone, first experience broadcasting aged 11 when he joined Hospital Radio Wey.

The married dad-of-two stayed there for 19 years and was chairman from 1987 to 1990.

He also ran his own successful TV sound-recording business, Gemini Audio, mixing soundtracks and recording voices for the BBC, ITV and other broadcasters.

He worked on programmes that included Ground Force, Horizon, Equinox, Dispatches, The South Bank Show and children's cartoon series Chuggington, and with many leading actors including Sir John Gielgud and Robert Powell. 

Lance was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in his early forties when, after treatment, it went into remission. 

The illness returned early in 2012 and Lance endured intensive, gruelling treatment at St Peter's Hospital and latterly at University College Hospital, while remaining always cheerful and positive about the future.

One colleague said that even his final months he put in many extra hours of work at the Brooklands Radio studios.

Brooklands Radio chairman Celia Jones said: "All of us at Brooklands Radio are very saddened by Lance's death. He was dedicated to broadcasting and to the local community and is a huge loss to the station. 

"He not only kept everything working but also helped keep us all motivated with his enthusiasm and infectious sense of humour. He will be greatly missed."

Lance is survived by his wife Liz, whom he married in 1988, and their children Emily and Matthew.