Keith Community Radio show presenter wins prestigious Scots Language Award

A PRESENTER for Keith Community Radio (KCR) has emerged victorious at a prestigious national awards ceremony.

Natalie Chalmers, originally from Fraserburgh, was crowned Scots Performer of the Year at the 2023 Scots Language Awards in Renfrew on Saturday.

Natalie's show "Trad Time wi TMSA", which she hosts alongside Allan Taylor from Alford, seeks to keep the bothy ballad traditions of the north east alive.

The programme is broadcast on alternate Tuesdays at 9pm and again the following day at 1pm.

Hands Up for Trad, Scotland's traditional culture, music and arts organisation, founded the annual awards.

Simon Thoumire, the organisation's director, paid a fitting Scots tribute to all those recognised at this year's event.

He said: "It wis jist grand tae be giein richtfu recognition tae the mony fowk, businesses, scuils an ithers wha ower years lang syne an forrit intae oor ain time gie thir aa tae makin shair the Scots leid steys in guid hert. This is the fowk keepin oor guid leid tae the fore in cultur, music an wirds as weel as speikin it wi pride in ilka pairt o thir day tae day livin.”

Now in its 26th year, KCR broadcasts across the whole of Moray on 107.7FM and worldwide on the internet at www.kcr.fm.

James Wiseman, Keith Community Radio chairman, added: "We have a terrific variety of traditional and Scottish music and song shows on KCR 107.7FM – encompassing folk, piping, Scottish dance music, doric poetry and song.

"This is a fantastic accolade for one of our presenters and we’re chuffed to bits for Natalie."

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