Ipswich: Remembering beloved Radio Orwell DJ, Dave Brown

Many people who grew up in Ipswich will have fond memories of Dave Brown, a cornerstone of Radio Orwell back in the 1980s.  

If you were a music fan in those days, explained Carl Brown, you would be sure to tune in every Saturday night to ‘Boogie Down with Dave Brown’ for those classic soul tracks. 

Each night, Dave would welcome his listeners back with the words, “Hello to you – and a big funky hi to you!” 

Dave Brown delighted listeners with his show 'Boogie Down with Dave Brown'. Image: Family of Dave Brown (Image: Family of Dave Brown)

Dave would delight Ipswich residents with occasional appearances after the show had ended at 9pm, sometimes visiting the town’s main nightclub, the First Floor Club in Tacket Street. 

He would also act as Master of Ceremonies here, and would be asked to introduce new soul, jazz or funk acts from around the country, or even America. 

Dave finally left the BBC in October 1987, but continued to work in radio.

He died on Saturday, May 13, 2023. 

His daughter, Kelly Griffiths, paid tribute to her father on behalf of her siblings, Janine and Barry, and the rest of the family. 

“Our dad loved music, particularly soul music,” she said. “He injected that love into our lives growing up because, just like everyone else, it’s a massive backdrop to the story of our lives.  

“He was very well informed about a whole load of other stuff too and was one of the lucky people who had a vision of how things could be. To many people, he was Dave Brown, radio DJ and entertainer but to us, he was our dad.  

“A loving father and grandfather who would do anything for his family. We will miss him dearly, but he will live on through us and all your memories.  Let the music play on!” 

Dave Brown was a cornerstone of Radio Orwell. Image: Archant Archives (Image: Archant)

Dave’s former colleagues, too, have been reminiscing about the good times they shared together 

Stephen Foster said: ‘’Dave and I became good friends in the mid-80s when we both presented shows. Dave was already a well-established soul music presenter, while I was hosting the weekly heavy metal show The Headbangers’ Ball. We hit it off immediately, and for a few years helped keep the pizza restaurants and bars of Ipswich in business!  

“Given our respective radio shows, we were the odd couple but we both shared a love of broadcasting and Dave was never slow in coming forward to give me advice on how to be better on air. I loved the way he’d involve his loyal and large following on the radio and in the clubs.  

“Dave was a natural on the microphone, and lit up the airwaves with his jingles, his banter and of course his excellent choice of music. Every Saturday night, he got Suffolk ready to party. Boogie Down with Dave Brown will live long in the memories of thousands of soul fans.  

“I’m incredibly sad to hear of his death and bid him the funkiest of goodbyes.’’ 

Norman Lloyd also worked with Dave during his Radio Orwell days. 

He said: “Dave was a pioneer of soul and funk music at a time when there were very few specialist radio shows of these genres.  

“Dave was a really switched on guy, and certainly lit up the airways on Radio Orwell. However, he was not a loud, brash presenter, more a quietly confident master of his trade. At this time in my career, I was moving from Sundays presenting Backtracking to a Saturday morning show and Dave took over the mantle of playing oldies on Sunday mornings at Radio Orwell with Backtracking.  

“Radio has lost a real trailblazer.”