Verwood-based radio station Forest FM is celebrating two decades of broadcasting this weekend, as the team covers the Verwood Carnival for the 20th time.

Forest FM started life in 1999 as Verwood FM, broadcasting on a temporary licence from the Radio Academy. It was many years later when it was granted a permanent licence that it changed its name to Forest FM to reflect a slightly larger coverage area.

The station will once again be in the procession and providing music and entertainment from its outside broadcast unit at the Carnival.

Station founder Steve Saville told VerwoodToday.co.uk: “I never imagined we’d still be doing this twenty years later – but it certainly hasn’t lost the buzz and excitement and we love doing live broadcasts from local community events. A few beers may be consumed!”

Plans are underway to improve the FM signal of the service, and a £7,000 donation has been granted from the National Lottery Awards for All fund. The changes are subject to approval from the radio regulator Ofcom.

Here’s a flashback to ’99: