The Greek-speaking community in the U.K. lost a champion recently with the passing of Christos (Takis) Harmandas, the founder of London Greek Radio (LGR).
Harmandas, hailing from Acheritus, Cyprus, founded the only Greek radio station in London in 1983 to give a voice to his community — 35 years later, the independent station is still going strong.
LGR started operating from a room over a London restaurant, following a customer’s request that “the Greek community in the U.K. needs its own voice”.
The radio station started operating as pirate outlet, and soon became a favorite for Britain’s Greeks. It was licensed in 1989, after almost six years of operation as a pirate channel.
Harmandas was a widely respected personality in London’s Greek community and along with his wife Katia, he supported many charity organizations.
In a tweet, the National Federation of Cypriots in the U.K. said that Takis was a generous, loving and affectionate family man.
His family wants to establish a charity in honor of Takis to help “less fortunate families, in their hour of need”.
His funeral will take place at Wood Green in London on Saturday, March 17.
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