Leslie Sullivan

Upon completing his military service, Sullivan returned to South Africa, and worked selling commercial properties for businessman J. H. Isaacs.[1] He then worked as a salesman selling Gestetner photocopiers.[1] Though he was a successful salesman, he wished for a career change.[1] In March 1952, he started work at Lourenço Marques (LM) Radio as an announcer.[1] He soon became one of the most popular LM Radio announcers.[1]

In 1958, after six years at LM Radio, Sullivan was offered a position as an announcer and producer at the Federal Broadcasting Corporation (later the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation and today the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation).[1][2] The FBC was based in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (then part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland).[1][2] Commercial radio was just being introduced in Rhodesia at that time, and Sullivan was hired as the first morning announcer on the new commercial service when it started on 6 April 1958.[1][2]

Sullivan would arrive at the studio about 45 minutes before Radio Rhodesia went on air each morning, and would have a "power sleep," waking just before the show started.[3][4] At about five minutes before 6:00, he would present his "thought for the day," usually an inspiration message.[3][4] Between 6:00 and 6:30, news and the weather forecast were reported, then some music would play, and then Sullivan would go back on air.[3][4] He greeted the audience with "Six-thirty, get up up up up up!" to wake up the listeners.[3][4] That was usually followed by a children's song,[3] though his audience included many adults as well.[4] Hennie Bekker was the show's resident pianist. The program also included a segment in which Sullivan would welcome new Rhodesian immigrants by name.[5] He would also commonly tell jokes, many of which had a radio quality (for example: "What do you call an African terrorist financed by Rowntrees Trust? ... A chocolate soldier.")[6]

Sullivan was, for most of the Rhodesia's history, the most popular radio personality in the country.[1][7] The Prime Minister Roy Welensky said that after himself, Sullivan was the most popular person in Rhodesia.[1] With his catchphrase "Your little ray of sunshine," he was the best known media broadcaster.[1] He remained with the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation until his retirement from radio in 1976, and was succeeded by Leslie McKenzie.[7] He died in 1978.[1]