BBC Radio Jersey presenter Phil Taylor has died at the age of 62, the station has confirmed.
The veteran broadcaster dedicated 35 years to the Jersey airwaves before stepping away from his microphone in July 2024.
Mr Taylor became a familiar voice to islanders after joining the station in 1991, initially as part of the Sunday morning request show's presenting team.
His retirement came just 18 months before his death, bringing to a close more than three decades of service to local radio.
Phil Taylor died just 18 months after retiring from the BBC
|PHIL TAYLOR/X
The news was announced by BBC Radio Jersey's executive producer Matthew Price, who had worked alongside Taylor for a quarter of a century.
His funeral will take place today in St Helier. Mr Price paid tribute to his former colleague, describing the special bond Taylor forged with his audience over the years.
"Phil developed a wonderfully warm relationship with listeners," he said.
Mr Taylor became synonymous with Sunday afternoons on the station, where his extended programme By Special Request allowed him to play "the music that mattered to you".
Phil Taylor has died at the age of 62
|BBC
Whether listeners requested a classical piece, a beloved hymn, a country song or a pop classic, Mr Taylor would oblige.
His Saturday morning slot also proved enormously popular, with the presenter achieving record audience figures during his tenure in that time slot.
Mr Price noted that Taylor "considered it a privilege to be allowed into someone's home via the radio", a connection that resonated deeply with Jersey residents throughout his career.
Beyond his on-air presence, Mr Taylor contributed significantly to the station's technical operations throughout his career.
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Phil Taylor's death was confirmed by BBC Radio
|BBC RADIO/INSTAGRAM
He served as a technical operator for numerous high-profile broadcasts, including Royal Outside Broadcasts, Liberation Day coverage, election night programming and the Saturday Sports Show.
Mr Taylor became synonymous with Sunday afternoons on the station, where his extended programme By Special Request allowed him to play "the music that mattered to you".
Whether listeners requested a classical piece, a beloved hymn, a country song or a pop classic, Mr Taylor would oblige.
His Saturday morning slot also proved enormously popular, with the presenter achieving record audience figures during his tenure in that time slot.
Mr Price noted that Taylor "considered it a privilege to be allowed into someone's home via the radio", a connection that resonated deeply with Jersey residents throughout his career.
Beyond his on-air presence, Mr Taylor contributed significantly to the station's technical operations throughout his career.
He served as a technical operator for numerous high-profile broadcasts, including Royal Outside Broadcasts, Liberation Day coverage, election night programming and the Saturday Sports Show.
When scheduling changes following the Covid pandemic reduced the prominence of request programmes, Mr Taylor adapted by focusing more on behind-the-scenes work.
He joined the Saturday sports team in a technical capacity, applying his decades of broadcasting experience in a new role.
Mr Taylor also dedicated time to nurturing the next generation of radio talent, sharing his expertise with trainee reporters and presenters.