Vale Clyde Simpson and Ian Lane: Funeral arrangements

Radio has lost two high profile past General Managers.  This story is now updated with funeral details: Clyde Simpson’s funeral in Melbourne this Thursday and Ian Lane’s funeral in Sydney on Friday. Click to read more details.

3AW and Magic Sales exec Clyde Simpson (pictured) passed away on Saturday night in Hospital. He was previously manager at several stations, although he will likely be best remembered as the first General Manager of Australia’s first FM station, EON-FM.

220pxeonfmlogo_220The station, the forerunner of Triple M, was then owned by a consortium which included Glenn Wheatley. It first went to air on July 11, 1980 two weeks before FOX.

Shane Healy tells us the the funeral will be on Thursday. Further details were not yet known.

 

Ian Lane also passed away on Saturday after a long illness. He was General Manager of 2UW (which later became MIX 106.5) in the mid 1980’s.

David Rogerson informed us that Ian’s funeral will be held at 11.30 am next Friday, 24 August, at the Macquarie Park Cemetery, cnr of Delhi Road and Plassey Road, Macquarie Park.
The family has invited anyone who would like to attend.  There will be refreshments in the Terrace Room from 1pm.

The station’s all conquering breakfast host of the era, Malcolm T. Elliot who knew him well contacted us to help put us straight about that part of his career.

Ian Lane was my station manager at 5KA Adelaide when Peter Shanahan and myself were recruited from 2UW in Sydney following the “take-over” by the magician George Chapman.

Ian later managed 2UW with Breakfast boys Baz & Pilko in the 1980’s when the station was called Magic 11 (nicknamed Tragic 11) later reverting to 2UW. Malcolm t. Elliott was Breakfast announcer under Frank Jeffcoat, Funtastic was well gone by the time Ian got there.

Ian, IRL, “irel” as I affectionately called him, also managed 2KY for a while and worked in Management at AAP and enjoyed a frothy at the Neutral Bay Pub.

Ian was a good man who was greatly undervalued within the industry.

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Ian Wright from the 5MU/Power combo at Murray Bridge wrote: I have just learned from an interstate radio friend of the passing of Ian Lane last night.

Ian employed me as a young sales recruit at 5KA Adelaide in 1974. At that stage he was Sales Manager of the South Australian Broadcasting Network (5KA/5AU/5RM) and later went on to become Manager of 5KA.

He & his wife, Pam, were very kind to this new kid in town who knew nobody and took me under their wing until I settled down and got to know the people and the radio station.

Ian was later GM at 2UW/Magic11 in Sydney. I don’t have any details on his passing, however he always treated me well. The last time I saw him was a 5KA reunion some years ago. Ian, thanks & Rest In Peace.