As a young man, James never thought about making a career out of radio. Originally he started as a volunteer for Truro Hospital Radio, then when he realised how he loved it, he did some voluntary work behind the scenes at the BBC He was poached by Pirate in 2004, and worked part time while he completed a degree at the University College Falmouth.
Off air, James is busy acting as the 'Station Producer'. You know the jingles and voiceover bits you hear on air? James makes all of those. While making all the audio, and brewing up the kettle for James Martin, he still manages to keep a tidy desk (unlike Neil).
Theres never a dull moment in Dundon's life. He's the kind of guy that's got a list of hobbies, he likes to take his organ out, (he owns a Dutch Street Organ) which he bought in november 2011. Before that he owned a Fairground Organ for 8 years, buying it as a wreck, and rebuilding it into an impressive musical instrument. He also has a Pianola in his living room.
It's always best to smile and nod at James's impressive range of hobbies and activities (and ladies sunglasses).
Dundon's Organ
Now the section of the Pirate FM Website that may send your virus checker spinning due to a double entendre or two!
James is famous for owning and traveling mechanical organs. He goes to all sorts of events across Cornwall and beyond in his spare time. Here is the story of James and the organs...
Why do you have a big organ?
Hmmm... good question. I've always been facinated by their mechanism. My interest in mechanical music started from a young age. I spent many long hours sat listening to the music, captivated by what I saw and heard.
I have helped out many organ owners over the years putting books through their instruments when they wanted a tea break, and after passing my driving test at the age of 17, I could wait no longer and just had to get my hands on a Fair Organ of my own, something I could restore and look after.
I got word of a organ in bits for sale in Rye, Sussex. The organ itself hadn't played for many years. The bits were mostly there, it was just a question of tinkering with the many valves and pipes to get it to play an audible noise!
Over the next 12 months the neighbors were kept well entertained. (The couple living next door to us immigrated to Spain - the reason why is still unknown...)
The organ was mounted in a trailer and spent 8 years entertaining Cornwall!

2012- time for a change
I've decided its time for a change. I've parted with the Fair Organ pictured above. It was a sad moment to deliver it to the new owners, but its time to give someone else a bit of enjoyment with it.
I haven't been without an organ for long...
My NEW aquisition- a Dutch Street Organ named "Het Blauwtje" (The Little Blue One)
I'm famous for my big organ, but its just got a whole lot bigger!
2012 is going to be quite a year I've just purchased a new instrument- from Holland. Its a Dutch Street Organ, which has a really sweet sound and capable of playing toe tapping medleys.
The organ is currently stored in a garage (see video below) and will be on the road from April at many Cornish events. I'm currently kitting out a trailer to transport it around in.
Picture: the organ as it looks now, only pictured in the 90's on the streets of Holland.

Since the 20's its entertained on the streets of Holland. The instrument has undergone a lot of changes though life. As various fashions and tastes have come and gone, the instrument has been modified and changed. Today, it is a tuneful instrument with a highly ornate carved front, painted beautifully.
I'm very lucky to own it. Its a really different thing, not often seen in the UK, so when you see it out and about, be sure to have a listen and say hello.
Right: The organ in the 'good old days' in Holland. As you can see its paintwork has been altered and side pannels have been added since then. You will also notice it is on a wooden cart instead of a trailer, and it is my ambition to remount it on a cart again in 2013.
James gets Cornwall home sooner every weekday afternoon with Realtime Travel from Ollie the Oracle (he knows everything).
We play more music, give away big money on the Secret Sound at 3:20pm, and have some fun.
No really, its excellent.
and don't forget the...
Feel Good Friday
Every Friday we let rip! We play songs loud, we do singing loud.
Also, we want to make you a millionaire giving away 50 lucky dip Lotto tickets every week.
We weekend starts at 4pm on Pirate FM- Cornwall's ONLY Friday feeling station.
The best of 2012...
Here we've posted some of the best bits... or better bits of Dundon's Drivetime.
The Wardrobe malfunction (09/01/12)
The girls in the sales office were laughing at a problem with my trousers. I got Tiff in to explain.
Its in the jeans! (3/1/12)
"Wearing jeans for three months without washing them doesn't make them smell worse" was a newspaper headline that I put to the test with Delicious Dawn from reception!
The best of 2011...
Here is a few bits we've left online for your displeasure.
The GOAT that sounds like a screaming man
The latest viral sensation. We thought it was very realistic.
O Christmas Tree
When I saw the tree going in up reception, I had to borrow a prop for a cheap gag...
Unusual instrument...
We've had the whistling Maroon 5, and accordians from The Wanted. What about a kazoo?
Frankie is OFF the X Factor
The naughty boy that got kicked off the show for breaking the ultimate rule... (I think it was wearing a wig backwards).
But you do realise Frankie has propelled sales of a certain type of trousers...
Why are we getting more listeners?
Latest audience research showed that even more people are tuning into Pirate FM? Why?
Densil from Bude had the answer!
Smurfs hanging from car bumpers?
Why? Why am I seeing more and more cars with a little smurf hanging on the back bumper swaying around. I did online research, and all I found were people asking the same question.
Densil had a thought, but you'll also hear John giving the OFFICIAL answer.
The Pianola
My mechanical music facination took a whole new level when I spotted a Pianola for sale on ebay
It was made sometime in the 1920's and having taken apart, I’ve discovered it’s never received much attention (I found mice droppings inside the mechanism!)
It does need some work, and I’m hoping to get in the shed in 2012 to restore it, but it does play quite well (if you pedal fast)
The complaints department (5/1/12)
I gave away £5,950 on the Secret Sound, but the problem is... I had to face the flack of a bunch of ranters!
Secret Sound Statement (6/1/12)
With the amount of ranty people on the Pirate FM Facebook, Beverly Warne, our managing director, came on air to read a statement.
Secret Sound Winner (11/01/12)
Andrea Hosking collects her £5,950, and tells me what she thinks about the people who say its a fix!
Nonsence! The page where nothing else fits in...
James Martin never offers to make a coffee. I soon found out why... (Secretly filmed by JM)








James Dundon





