Beloved radio DJ and lifelong music fan Dave Llewellyn has died with his daughter and colleagues paying loving tribute
BBC Radio Tees presenter Dave Llewellyn has died aged 57 following a short illness.
The larger-than-life DJ, who had distinctive, dyed bright red hair, was famed for being the voice of traffic and travel in the region for over two decades, having kicked off his career as the “eye in the sky” in a small plane above Teesside.
Hailing from Fishburn in County Durham, he later moved to Yarm with his wife Ange and their daughter, Amy. Llewellyn was passionate about music, and both performed and produced. His devastated daughter Amy called her dad an “incredibly modest and generous” man who always found time for “friends and strangers alike”.
She said: “Outside of his work he loved his family and his music. His true talent shone through while he was playing his keyboards, synthesisers and bass,” she said.
“He was the most loving father and husband, always going out of his way to make us happy. He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him, especially our beloved dog Cupid who always saw a taste of his generosity, usually in the form of a shared sausage sandwich.”
The radio presenter, as well as being a regular on the local music scene, worked most recently in a producer role on BBC Radio Tees, a role he had held for the past six years, working most recently on Gary Philipson’s daytime programme.
In his role as travel presenter, listeners would hear Llewellyn’s familiar voice do 12 traffic bulletins an hour on radio stations across the north from the BBC’s studio in Middlesbrough.
The dad-of-one also presented a gardening show on Sunday mornings with co-host Brigid Press. One colleague to pay a moving tribute was breakfast show presenter Amy Oakden, who during Friday’s show said the team would “never ever forget his iconic voice.”, adding, “I always remember Dave because he was just so kind and lovely. He was a legend.”
Producer Sarah Robinson, speaking through tears, also paid tribute to her late friend and colleague, saying, “What do I say about Dave? Worst taste in shirts I have ever seen, he wore terrible shirts, made bad coffee, the worst coffee I had ever tasted in my whole life, but Dave was relentlessly cheerful and positive and never came into the office without having a smile on his face.”
Devastated listeners also contacted the programme in their droves to extend their own tributes to Llewellyn, many admitting they were shocked and saddened at the news, remembering the presenter as “kind and friendly”.
One wrote: “I’ll be thinking about him. Every time you rang in he was great craic – what a lovely guy.”
Bloodrun EVS, a volunteer group that transfers blood between hospitals, said Llewellyn had been a “comforting voice to many”. They said: “Thank you for your service. RIP Dave, our condolences and thoughts are with Dave’s family and colleagues at this difficult time.”
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