Sally Boazman

Sally Boazman, known to many of her listeners as "Sally Traffic", is a British radio traffic reporter, best known for her work in the afternoons on the national BBC Radio 2, with more than eight million listeners.[1] Her reporting "revolutionised" United Kingdom traffic news with the addition of live reports from motorists on mobile phones and lorry drivers on CB radio.[2] Boazman's reporting is so up to date that the national Highways Agency uses her broadcast to update their own reports.[3] Boazman gave her last weekday traffic report for Radio 2 on Friday 8 August 2014 and now broadcasts at weekends.

Boazman was described as "bit of a superhero for motorists",[1] by Autotrader UK as the 'sexiest voice on the radio'[4] and by veteran broadcaster Steve Wright as a 'national treasure' who changed the way traffic reporting was done.[5] Her fans have named a thoroughbred race horse (which occasionally even won[6]), after her[7] as well as lorry trucks.[8]

Early career

Following a brief foray into acting, Boazman took a post in the current affairs department of London Weekend Television where she worked as a secretary for the future BBC Director General Greg Dyke.[9] After later working as a traffic news announcer for the Automobile Association she went on to present traffic reports for a number of local radio stations before moving to Classic FM.[9] Her first presenting role was for the British Forces Broadcasting Service after which she worked for the BBC World Service and commercial radio.[9] She spent some time away from broadcasting following the birth of her son, Harry, but returned later to become Chief Travel Reporter for BBC GLR.[9] She joined BBC Radio 2 as the network's first official traffic news presenter in 1998, presenting travel updates during the afternoon and early evening. She has worked alongside Johnnie Walker, Chris Evans and Simon Mayo on their respective Drivetime shows, Steve Wright during the afternoon and Jeremy Vine at lunchtime.

Books, records, and activities

In 2003, she narrated the poem Crawl of The Light Brigade for the CD recording Guide Cats for the Blind.[10] In 2007 she wrote the book The Sally Traffic Handbook and narrated a CD for the Highways Agency called Hear When the Going's Good, providing advice to lorry drivers.[11] TomTom navigation has a Sally Traffic voice available for its GPS units. Proceeds from purchase of the voice driving set go to the charity BBC Children in Need Appeal.[12]

From 10 to 19 November 2007, she cycled across 400 km of Kenya's Rift Valley to support charity Transaid.[13] In 2009 she presented the Gold level Sony Radio Academy Award for drivetime entertainment to her fellow broadcaster Chris Evans,[14] while in 2007 the Gold level Entertainment award honoured the Chris Evans Show and staff, of which Boazman was part.[15] She also won the Truck & Driver Driver's Choice award for Best Traffic Information in 2009.[16] On 29 October 2011 she presented The Road to Nowhere for BBC One in London and South East England, a documentary celebrating the 25th anniversary of the M25. The programme sees Boazman journeying around the motorway and examining its economic and environmental impact, as well as other ways it has changed Britain's society.[17]

Personal life and pastimes

She lives in Surrey with her son Harry, born 1987, who is a musician.[18] Truckfest has her as a regular participant, appearing in every event since 2002.[19] A self-professed Francophile, she occasionally takes the Channel Tunnel and subsequently drives from Calais to St-Omer.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Parker Bowles, Emma (15 November 2007), "Sally Traffic? She's T'riffic!", The Sun, London
  2. ↑ Sampson, Phil (12 September 2000), "The Right Wavelength", The Telegraph, London, p. Motoring
  3. ↑ "Honest John" (19 January 2008), "Honest John's Agony Column", The Telegraph, London, p. Car Advice, In addition, we have a constant flow of information from broadcasters such as Sally Traffic.
  4. ↑ Pattni, Vijay (4 December 2007), "Sally Traffic: "I flashed my driving examiner"", AutoTrader UK
  5. ↑ Boazman, Sally (2007), Sally Traffic Handbook, UK: Haynes, p. Foreword
  6. ↑ O'Ryan, Tom (12 April 2002), "Norton Has No Traffic Problems", Racing Post, London
  7. ↑ "Thursday's Late Details", Times, London, p. Sport, Racing, 21 June 2003, 7.45 (5f) 1, Loughlorien (F Lynch, 13-2); 2, Sir Sandrovitch (20–1); 3, Catch The Cat (66–1); 4, Rum Destiny (66–1). Sholto 9-2 fav. 17 ran. NR: Cargo, Mr Spliffy, Sally Traffic. 1, nk. K Ryan. Tote: £7.20; £2.20, £3.60, £8.20, £11.30. Exacta: £132.00. CSF: £140.60. Tricast: £7,952.20.
  8. ↑ "Book Review: Sally Traffic Handbook" (Web) (Press release). Car Pages. 2007. With the honour of having an Eddie Stobart lorry named after her, Sally has certainly captured the hearts of the nation's drivers.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "A biography". Aircheck UK. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  10. ↑ Paul Donovan, Radio Correspondent, Sunday Times (2003). Sleevenotes, Guide Cats for the Blind (Compact Disc, Sleevenotes). United Kingdom: British Computer Association of the Blind.
  11. ↑ "New Audio CD Launched to Help Lorry Drivers" (Press release). UK Government. 31 May 2007 – via M2 Presswire. The Highways Agency has developed a new audio CD which provides useful, practical advice and information to help lorry drivers with their journeys. The CD, called 'Hear when the going's good', is narrated by BBC Radio 2's Sally 'Traffic'
  12. ↑ "Radio 2 Legend Records Voice for TomTom Sat Navs to Raise Funds for BBC Children's Charity" (Press release). TomTom. 13 October 2008 – via M2 Presswire.
  13. ↑ Evans, Chris. "Sally Traffic in Kenya". BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 11 September 2009. From 10 to 19 November Sally joined 24 other participants to cycle a gruelling 400km across Kenya's Rift Valley in aid of Transaid.
  14. ↑ Radio Academy. "Sony Radio Academy Awards 2009". Sony. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  15. ↑ Radio Academy. "Sony Radio Academy Awards 2007". Sony. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  16. ↑ Will Shiers. "Sally 'Traffic' Boazman wins Driver Choice Award". Commercialmotor.com. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "The Road to Nowhere". BBC Online. BBC. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "A Dinner Date with... Sally Boazman", Sunday Mercury, Birmingham, 30 July 2000
  19. ↑ "Stars Rev Up for Truckfest Extravaganza", Evening News - Scotland, Ingliston, 17 July 2006
  20. ↑ Boyd, Carolyn (2 July 2009), "Driving in France: Oh, the Joy", Travel, France, Times, London, "If I am feeling a bit France-deprived, I will drive down to Dover, get on a boat and I will drive from Calais down to St-Omer. I will just go to the market and have lunch and come back or I will stay in a chateau for the weekend. The drive is quite lovely in places and I always have this feeling of 'Gosh, I am back here and it's so lovely'.”

External links

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