Val Armstrong is an English radio presenter, broadcast journalist and head of presentation at

CRFM CRFM is a local radio station serving the people of Carlisle and broadcasts worldwide online. History CRFM launched on 15 April 2024 at 8am. The studios are named after the late broadcaster John Myers. The station is not to be confused with CF ...

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its pro ...

. She is best known for her work on

BBC Radio Cumbria BBC Radio Cumbria is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Cumbria. It broadcasts on FM, AM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios in Carlisle. According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 80,000 liste ...

Career

Val Armstrong began working in radio at the age of 17. In 1982, she joined BBC Radio Carlisle - now

. She has worked as a journalist, producer, and presenter. She is experienced in presenting a wide range or programmes. Prior to her broadcasting career, Val had a Saturday job in a jeans shop and a worked part time in a cotton wool factory. She regularly raises funds and awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support, after battling cancer twice. Armstrong kept a diary of her cancer journey for the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

news website. She has raised thousands of pounds for a whole variety of charities - both local and national - across the years. She is the current Chairman of Cumbria Women of the Year Committee and is a Girl Guide Ambassador. She has recently taken on the role as Ambassador for Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw. Armstrong is also a Patron of Blood Bikes, Cumbria. She is the former Chairwoman of Carlisle Breast Care Support, former President of Carlisle Musical Society and former Trustee of the Oaktree Animal Charity. In September 2023, Armstrong announced on air that she was to leave the BBC after 41 years of broadcasting, latterly having hosted a daily show on Radio Cumbria, citing the changes that were to take place to the local radio network. She broadcast her last show on 22 September 2023. She announced on her last show she was training to become a celebrant. In April 2024 it was announced that Val would return to radio. She joined the team at Carlisle's brand new community radio station CRFM - a non for profit station based in the city. She now presents the mid-morning show Monday to Thursday for the station and is also their Head of Presentation.

Personal life

Armstrong has previously battled breast cancer in both 2006 and 2010 and underwent a double mastectomy. She lives in

, England. She revealed in 2019 she had been suffering from depression triggered by her anti-cancer medication.

Awards

In 2011, Armstrong was announced as ‘Cumbrian Woman Of The Year’. In 2023, Armstrong was honoured by being given ‘The Freedom Of The City of Carlisle’ by Carlisle City Council - only the third woman in the city's history to be honoured with this title, and the only living female recipient.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Armstrong, Val Living people 21st-century English women BBC radio presenters BBC radio producers English radio personalities People from Carlisle, Cumbria 1964 births