Tom Edwards in his Radio Caroline days(Image: Supplied)

How could I?

I sent him a special birthday card to make sure. I was a tiny schoolboy watching Pete host “Six Five Special” on the only television channel we had, now known as BBC One.

It went live, which Pete used to enjoy because he could improvise all over the place. I believe it was then that I realised I wanted to produce this kind of work and put my sights on it. Decades later, I met this broadcasting icon, and we instantly became good friends.

In the mid-1960s, I hosted one of his sponsored shows on pirate radio stations such as Radio City and Radio Caroline. The BBC fired him for it, but he didn’t have long to wait until Broadcasting House reopened its doors for him.

The pleasure of working with him and asking so many questions. He had mentioned before: “Tom, always remember you’re only as good as your last performance.” I’ve never forgotten that great advice.

A frequent guest on Juke Box Jury, which received high ratings, and on Radio 2, his weekday “Open House” featured amazing guests who were only too happy to appear and have off-the-cuff talks with the rich and famous.

In the midst of my nighttime shifts reading the news on Radios One and Two, I enjoyed going down to the basement studio where this show was transmitted live.

Pete usually greeted me with a cup of coffee and simply spoke; his experience and counsel were always beneficial to me.

Pete would issue me a gale warning on multiple occasions, always delivered in a light-hearted, deliberately chosen tone.

Pete was chairman of Pop Score, and Tony Blackburn’s squad competed against Terry Wogan’s in terms of music expertise.

Every week, the ancient Paris studio on Lower Regent Street was full.

Radio legend Pete Murray, who has just turned 100(Image: Supplied)

Pete taught me that broadcasting was enjoyable, and we had the advantage of facing an audience that we all knew would always be present.

I can’t ignore this man’s acting career. Billed at the time as Peter Murray, Pete performed a significant role in the 1948 picture “My Brother Jonathan,” which starred Michael Denison and his wife Dulcie Grey.

The film was a big success, with a captivating tale that is definitely worth watching. So Pete Murray has turned 100, and it goes without saying that I am sending him very special birthday greetings. I’m simply glad our friendship is as strong as it will ever be.

A special day for a particular someone. *To honour his 100th birthday, Pete returned to radio and hosted a special episode of The Boom Top Five at 11 a.m. on Boom Radio.

The show listed down the top tunes from his birthday week in 1963, including hits by Cliff Richard and The Beatles.

Read more on Straightwinfortoday.com