Beloved radio star tragically dies in London hospital after four decades on air as colleagues pay tribute
Simon Marlow had worked for the British Forces Broadcasting Service since 2007 and sadly died in London on Friday June 27.
The presenter, who made his first break on radio as a freelance voice in 1987, had several stints at UK stations like Radio City, 2-TEN, Chiltern Radio and Classic FM.
He later became a familiar star at BFBS both on the radio and helping behind the scenes with production.
During his time with BFBS, Simon was posted across the globe including Afghanistan, Cyprus, Brunei, Germany, the Falklands and Northern Ireland.
Known for his deep love of music and his passion for bringing the armed forces community together, Simon's voice was a constant companion to troops stationed around the world.
Simon had worked for the British Forces Broadcasting Service since 2007 and sadly died in London on Friday June 27
He was described as a 'force of nature' by colleagues.
During the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, Simon was based in Gibraltar and shortly after planned to retire just across the border in Spain.
The broadcaster was most recently based in Northern Ireland working as a station manager for BFBS.
Tributes have poured in for the star including from BFBS CEO, Ben Chapman who described Simon has 'making a difference'.
He said: 'Wherever Simon was, whoever he was with, there was always laughter. He made a difference.'
The BFBS official X account also shared the news, writing: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our much-loved colleague, Simon Marlow.
Simon worked for BFBS worldwide as a radio presenter and producer, most recently as Station Manager at BFBS Northern Ireland.'
It comes after radio broadcaster Darren Scott died after a lengthy battle with stage four cancer last month.
Darren passed away aged 61 after a lengthy battle with stage 4 malignant melanoma, South African radio station HOT 102.7FM confirmed in a statement.
Malignant melanoma, also known as metastatic melanoma, is when skin cancer spreads beyond the primary site to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes and internal organs.
Darren is survived by his two sons Mark and Matthew, while his loved ones and colleagues have also flocked to pay tribute to the 'dedicated' and beloved radio star.
His former partner Sarah-Kate Accetta told East Coast Radio that she and their two sons have to learn to face life without him.
'As we make our way back home now, to not only commemorate his life, but to learn how to face life without him, I ask from the bottom of my heart: please pray for the boys,' she said.
'Their world has changed forever, and we need every bit of strength we can hold onto. I will cherish the opportunity to fill their days with laughter and love, with the many, many wild, wonderful, and unforgettable stories about their dad.'
Meanwhile, HOT 102.7FM Breakfast presenter Simon Parkinson said: 'Darren was the most dedicated radio person I've ever known.'
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