Sir Ray Tindle dies aged 95

Tindle group founder and company president, Sir Ray Tindle, has died.

He passed away peacefully on Saturday 16 April at the age of 95.

Sir Ray bought his first newspaper in London during the 1950s with a demob payment he received after serving during the Second World War.

In the years since he continued to grow his media empire. At its peak, the Tindle Group owned more than 200 local newspapers and 12 radio stations.

Sir Ray’s involvement in broadcasting dates back to the birth of commercial radio in the UK.

A founder shareholder in London’s Capital Radio, Sir Ray went on to acquire Guernsey’s Island FM in February 1998, the first building block in the Tindle Radio Group, which by 2007 had twelve stations in England, Wales and the Channel Islands and one in Ireland. 

Whilst the bulk of the UK radio group changed ownership in the 2010s, Tindle remained the proud owners and operators of Channel 103 in Jersey, Guernsey’s Island FM and Midlands 103 in Ireland – stations that enjoy huge success in their respective markets and shared Sir Ray Tindle’s ultra-local philosophy.

Sir Ray continued to serve as the Tindle Group’s Chairman until 2017, when he handed over the reins to his son, Owen.

Tindle Chief Executive, Danny Cammiade, said: “Sir Ray was a traditional local newspaper proprietor who truly believed in the importance of covering grassroots news with people and faces at the forefront of everything.

“He was a benefactor to numerous charities and a supporter of the industry and all who worked within it.

“Sir Ray’s arrangements will be confirmed in due course, but it is hoped that later in the year there will be an opportunity to celebrate his life and service to our industry.”

Will Faulkner, the Managing Director at Midlands 103, says Sir Ray’s ultra-local philosophy is one of the key reasons behind the station’s continued success:

“Midlands 103 was Sir Ray’s sole investment in Ireland and he held the station in great affection. While other broadcasters diluted their localness, especially as large corporates took over, community values remained enshrined in Tindle Radio. Being relevant is why Sir Ray’s stations command such large audiences to this day.”