Celebrate returns to Ilfracombe this Easter

The Celebrate Christian Holiday Conference returns to Ilfracombe this Easter, after a 2008 interruption of it's otherwise unbroken, 15-year sequence of visits since 1994. Last year's early Easter caused re-scheduling of school holidays such that Ilfracombe College, location for most of Celebrate's conference events, was unavailable.

This year, the wider Ilfracombe community can tune in to Celebrate on the 87.7 frequency to be occupied by Celebrate FM - the conference's own radio station for the Easter week. From Sunday evening, at 6pm, until the following Saturday, at 1pm, there will be continuous programmes. Mornings will feature 'Wake-Up Celebrate', from 7.00 - 9.00 am, with top-of-the-hour news from Premier Christian Radio, interviews, chat, music and David (Lord) Alton's Thought for the Day. This will be followed by broadcasts of talks and services from the main conference.

Lunchtimes, from 1 until 2.15pm, will again include Premier Christian Radio news followed by 'Our Daily Bread', featuring enjoyable chat and music from conference participants and visitors. Afternoons will see conference talks broadcast until the teatime show takes a look at 'What's on Tonight' from 5.30 - 7pm, with a daily mix of guests, news and music.

From 7 - 9pm, Celebrate FM will broadcast the evening celebration and main talk, after which 'At the Ninth Hour' will take listeners gently through to 10.30pm. Relaxing music and prayer then continue throughout the night.

Celebrate FM's Station Manager, multimedia professional, and longstanding Celebrator, Mike Walsh, says: "We hope people in Ilfracombe will tune in to the joyful message of hope our Easter celebration offers these troubled times. We'll hear from amazing speakers such as Abbot Christopher Jamison, made famous by the BBC2's Monastery series, and leading theologian Dublin's Fr Pat Collins who promises to offer us challenging words during the week."

Anchor presenter and programme controller Tom Fairman - a teacher in his day job - said: "2007 was the first year Celebrate FM went on air. Its success gave us confidence to make it the main news medium of the conference, with an enthusiastic team of young presenters." Listeners can text messages and requests to programme presenters on 07847 731 044.

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