Sundays will never be quite this same from now on for listeners as legendary Felixstowe Radio broadcaster took off his headphones for the last time.

Bob Meadows signed off from his weekly show at midday today and was genuinely amazed to then be given a small but heartfelt token of appreciation by directors Steve Foley and Julie Mason on behalf of everyone at the community station.

A certificate and two bottles of something special marked the occasion at the studio in the grounds of a school just off Maidstone Road and a surprised Bob, who had hoped to quietly slip away.

Being the consummate professional, who was still volunteering at the ripe of age of 75, Bob delayed then cancelled his taxi, so he could promote the community radio station that meant so much to him after 10 years behind the microphone.

Bob told Nub News: "I have enjoyed it all especially when, on behalf of the station, presenting quizzes and the other evenings and that has been very different that doing a show, which is all about showing off, but these evenings are about the charity and getting people involved to make an evening work.

"We have not done anything for a while because a virus has got in the way and it is diffract to do these evenings when people have to wear a mask, distanced or there has to be limited numbers.

"We will be patient, and even though I'm leaving now I will be happier to do events outside this studio."

Listeners sent in heartfelt messages of thanks and sadness as Bob presented his final show and his appreciation of his audience at home and abroad has thrilled him.

"I want to thank everyone for keeping the faith over the 10 years, and also to those who may have just started listening, but thank you for listening.

When Bob started in 2010 a researcher revealed listeners were tuning in to his show from Russia, Romania and a few other places.

"I could not believe people were tuning in from other other countries," said Bob, "but I could understand Russia as it had been deprived of pop music, especially in the communist era, it was not until Paul McCartney then Wham had been there that they would have started to listen to pop. Although, they had not heard the back catalogue, so that's where I came in playing the wonders of the 50s, 60s and 70s and that is where my heart lies."

Bob has been with Felixstowe Radio since their first base at Great Eastern Square and has huge respect for the engineers that beaver away in the background and have made sure the presenters can reach their listeners, even after three moves and a recent break in.

"I just admire the people I work with, particularly the Saturday crew who technically keep us going When everything is going to Hell, then they put it all together and make it work," said Bob.

"I can do all the twiddling of knobs and all the talking but those guys are on top of the technical stuff."

Steve Foley, presenter and a station director, first met Bob and recognised his ability when they were working together on his lorry as a float with the Felixstowe Carnival and he invited him to be DJ.

Steve paid tribute to the entertainer and said: "Bob has always been pure class and will be a major loss to the Felixstowe Radio.

"He is very dedicated, has his own ways and is very good in what he does.

"One of Bobs quirks is to keep his headphones all the time so would not have a clue if something was going on outside. That said, the listeners love him and he has a very loyal following.

"He is is a lovely, incredible guy who always goes out of his way to help others. For example, he was a quiz master to raise money and was very funny, but he ket saying 'I will give you a clue'.

"Bob is an entertainer, he has seen the changes at the station but he has followed us everywhere he goes, he is an amazing chap."

Alan Winston Robin Meadows, known as Bob, was born in Saxmundham, moved to Felixstowe when he was six, but lost his Suffolk twang after moving to London to study, and in 1968 become a teacher at seven different schools from Forest Hill, to Westminster.

His love of music, and showmanship, led him to the cruise ships in the mid 1980s and he was the resident DJ and compere on SS Canberra and Sea Princess. Then came stint at Radio Basildon, where he was involved in a revolutionary experiment where the radio shows came out of the TV set as part of the package with cable TV, a forerunner of our modern smart televisions.

A heartbreaking failed pub venture knocked him and his wife Christine, as what was the Black Swan on the River Cam went bust, due to bleak winter months.

But defiant Bob said: "I lost everything, which is what can happen, but I'm proud to say I paid off very last penny. I still get Christmas cards from people who enjoyed what I did on big function nights."

Bob returned to teaching in Suffolk, where he became head of department in three local schools. He loves his home on the Felixstowe seafront, and it is clearing out more than 40,000 vinyl records, seven bookcases and a whole raft of other radio equipment, karaoke machines and other items built up over the years.

He said: "Since Christine died I needed to scale down as I don't want it just to be left teahouse clearing firm.

"At 75 you don't know how long you have to go, so my big job is to scale it down and make it easier for my relatives."

With that, the taxi driver having already gone, Bob packed up as Julie read out another message, this one from Shirley expressing her sadness at his last show but signing off with: 'Bob - thank you for the music.'