A MEMBER of the Observer team who also writes and records songs has been given valuable 'air time' by a Welsh radio station after one of the presenters bought his music on the auction website ebay.

Patrick Ovenden was delighted to be special guest on Oystermouth Radio's 'Welsh Connections', which was broadcast live on Monday evening and repeated twice during the week, reaching approximately 8,000 homes.

Based in Mumbles, near Swansea, Oystermouth Radio is a project of the Mumbles Development Trust and broadcasts over the internet from its home at the Oriel Bach gallery. 'The Welsh Connection', a two-hour informal chat show interspersed with music chosen by the special guest, is presented by Mike Kennedy.

Patrick's style of music is influenced by various groups and singer-songwriters, but his latest CD, 'Returning with the Tide', although composed of his own original songs, is a tribute in style to The Moody Blues, a band who recently played at the St. David's Hall, Cardiff. The cover artwork is an imaginative take on a typical Tenby scene.

Mike, who found the CD on ebay while searching for Moody Blues albums, expressed great enthusiasm for 'Returning with the Tide', promptly adding two more of Patrick's albums to his collection and inviting him to take part in the show.

Topics discussed included achieving that 'Moody Blues' sound, religious belief in music and 'an Englishman in Wales'. And Patrick explained why he rarely plays live, other than in a church service, describing an early experience of playing live as being like Marcus's performance in the film 'About a Boy'. He also mentioned some of the technology and instruments he uses in his home recordings.

Patrick, who puts together the Tenby Times and our Summer Guide, chose his song 'Tourist Town' (2010) to open the show and referred to his role at the Observer. During the show, two tracks from 'Songs for a Traveller' (2011) and several from 'Returning with the Tide' (2013) were played on Oystermouth Radio.

Other music chosen for the show included songs by Leonard Cohen, The Beatles and Justin Hayward, cover versions of Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor, as well as a song from Les Miserables.

Mentioning his devotional collaboration with Jackie Rodda, of Manorbier, Patrick expressed their intention to work together on a new album in the near future. He also gave Narberth's own Jodie Marie the highest accolades, including her song 'Single Blank Canvas' in the show.

"It was a huge encouragement to be invited onto Mike's radio show; especially as he was full of praise for my recordings," said Patrick, who lives in Pembroke Dock and took the train and a long, sunny walk to attend the show.

"The two-hour-long programme gave me plenty of opportunity to share some favourite songs and help promote other artists, some much more accomplished than me, who deserve greater recognition.

"I'm very grateful to Oystermouth Radio for their coverage and support, and look forward to further correspondance with this friendly radio station."

You can find out more about Oystermouth Radio on http://www.oystermouthradio.com">www.oystermouthradio.com

The already reasonably priced 'Returning with the Tide' CD is half-price on ebay during the month of June. Patrick's albums can be listened to on his website http://www.moodymusic.co.uk">www.moodymusic.co.uk which includes links to other recommended artists.