In Memoriam — Ben Chester

Founder of Countrywide Radio

It is with deep sadness that we have to share the news that the amazing founder of Countrywide Radio, Ben, passed away at around 10pm on Thursday 18 June 2026.
Ben was with his best friend, Waron, who had been by his side throughout the last three weeks while Ben was being cared for at Wigan Hospital.
Things had started to look more positive. Ben had suffered triple organ failure, but his heart seemed to be recovering well. Only yesterday, he was his usual chatty self. However, overnight Ben’s condition took a serious turn for the worse, and the medical team made the difficult decision to stop further interventions and focus solely on keeping him comfortable.

As the lights dimmed on the ward, Ben drifted off to sleep and peacefully passed away.
As for Countywide Radio, the Chair of the Management Committee, Mark Jones, along with the rest of the committee, will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the future of the station.
Ben personally funded Countywide Radio, and Mark is not currently in a position to continue doing that himself. However, Mark is hopeful that together the team can find a solution and keep Countywide Radio on the air as a lasting tribute to everything Ben built and believed in.

XLR Radio also broadcasts our Breakfast show to Countrywide Radio and a number of our presenters have broadcast on Countrywide when it was Wigan FM. Our thoughts are with Ben’s family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched. He will be greatly missed.