01 INTRO 136:01 INTRO 127 14/12/2011 18:44 Page 1
Winter 2011 Issue 136
Hi Everyone, The Official Journal of the The season of goodwill is about sharing time and laughter Hospital Broadcasting Association with friends and family and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to On Air over the last year. Your efforts are very much appreciated ... without them in this issue ... there would be no magazine. So when you’re feeling bored with the same old programmes on the tv, why not reflect on Board Report ...... 2 what your hospital radio station has achieved over the past Meet Our New Patron ...... 3 year and let me know and then we can share your adventures. National Hospital Radio Awards 2012 ...... 4 It is always interesting to hear of other stations’ ideas for National Hospital Radio Awards 2012 Entry Form ...... 5 fundraising; we really can learn from each other. European Year of Volunteering ...... 7 So enjoy your Christmas ... don’t drink and eat too much ... A Tribute t Sir Jimmy Savile ...... 8 and make your New Year’s resolution to write an article for On Air. HA Training Day ...... 10 Thank You Winchester Hospital Radio ...... 12 Anniversary Celebrations ...... 13 Michelle Radio Tyneside’s Diamond Celebrations ...... 14 News Round-up ...... 16 A View From the Other Side ...... 17 DIARY DATES Countrywide – News from the Stations ...... 18 30th March-1st April 2012: Plymouth At The Palace ...... 21 Annual Conference Broadcasting for Clatterbridge ...... 22 View from The Basement ...... 23 Park Inn, Silver Street, Northampton NN1 2TA 31st March, 2012 Who to Contact on the Executive Committee ...... 24 Annual General Meeting Regional Reps Details ...... IRC Park Inn, Silver Street, Northampton NN1 2TA 2013 Conference, Blackpool
FrONT COvEr STOrY: Radio Tyneside celebrate sixty years of broadcasting. See inside for full story.
Our Ambassadors: Dr Chris Steele, MBE; Ken Bruce and Alex Lester On Air is the Official Journal of the HBA which is the trading name of the National Association of Hospital Broadcasting Organisations, a Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 2750147. A Registered Charity No. 1015501. Registered office: Mariners House, 24 Nelsons Gardens, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2NE. On Air is distributed free of charge to all member stations of the Association plus interested parties. All material is ©2011 of HBA and may not be reproduced in any form without the written authority of the Editor. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of HBA, or the Editor but are the personal opinion of the contributor. Whilst every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the publication, all advertisements and articles appear in good faith and HBA and the Editor accept no responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies. Address for On-Air: The Editor, On Air, 2 Falkland Close, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3DD Tel: 0870 321 6011 Email: [email protected] COPY DATE NEXT ISSUE 5th January, 2012 Board Report
Membership target is met in 2012 and future years. The 2011 membership renewal • To investigate the production of process is finally complete and at the distance-learning packages time of writing, HBA has 226 member Target not met. Training committee stations and 23 individual associate tasked with meeting this target in the members. Unfortunately, three next year. stations failed to renew their • To develop best practice guidance membership and two stations notified for member stations me that they had closed. Target not met. Policies & These losses have been balanced by Guidelines committee re-formed; work Radio Lollipop (UK) deciding that all due to start shortly. its stations should be members of • To continue to act as an advocate HBA, boosting the numbers for hospital broadcasting with key somewhat, as previously only some bodies and potential partners individual Radio Lollipop stations had During the past year, HBA has met maintained HBA membership. with representatives of Attend, During the process, I sent 386 by Nigel Dallard, Secretary Hospedia, IRN, PPL and PRS for Music emails and received 163. I find this and is monitoring developments in number quite amazing. I always charity and copyright law. help regions stage their own local acknowledge receipt of payment by • To encourage greater training events (as long as they are email, so that accounts for around 220 contributions to ‘On Air’ magazine open to volunteers from any member of my outbound e-mails. A few from the membership and to review station). So if you'd like HBA to stations wanted details of our bank how the magazine can be best provide some training in your area of account, to pay by electronic transfer. developed to meet members' needs the country, please do go and hassle A few more stations had other Advertising deals offered to your Regional Rep. questions relating to the renewal companies attending the conference process but well over 100 emails were tradeshow were taken up. individual emails to stations Annual Targets Contributions are being solicited on reminding them of the need to pay (in Each year, the HBA Trustee Board an individual basis whenever an ‘HBA Announce’ email list and in this follows charity sector best practice and appropriate story/topic is spotted. The column and reminders sent via Royal sets itself targets to be achieved in the review of the magazine format was Mail. It's always a mystery to me why next 12 months. stopped due to lack of input. so many stations find it so difficult to Here's a summary of our • To progress changes to the efficiently deal with an invitation from achievement against the targets we set Association's governance and HBA to renew their membership. for our last financial year and those management structure Please, please, next year send your we've set ourselves for the current The review of the Association's cheque as soon as the invitation goes period: governance and management out in late March/early April – if Review of targets set for the year to structure was restarted from the everyone would do this, it would save 31st August 2011 beginning during the year. An initial me a huge amount of time that I could • To stage the National Hospital report is expected to be provided to better spend doing something more Radio Awards within a strictly- members at the national conference in productive. controlled budget March 2012. And here's another reminder – as Target met. reported last time, membership subs • To stage a national conference in Targets set for the year for next year (due on 1st April 2012) the spring, including the National to 31st August 2012 will be increased to £42.50. Hospital Radio Awards ceremony • To stage the National Hospital Target met. Radio Awards within a strictly- HBA Training Network • To stage a national training event controlled budget This year's national training event in the Autumn and a number of • To stage a national conference in took place on 15th October in Leeds. regional training events across the the spring, including the National Two parallel sessions covered the country Hospital Radio Awards ceremony speech and interview side of National training event staged in • To organise a national training presentation and health & safety for Leicester in October 2010 and event event in the autumn, and regional hospital radio stations. also took place in Leeds in October training events in line with perceived The slides and other materials from 2011. demand the presentation training session are Southern regional training event • To make training material from available via our website staged in Reading in February 2011. seminars and workshops at (www.hbauk.com/training – you will Wales & West regional training event conferences more readily available to need to register for an account if you staged in Bristol in August 2011. those unable to attend don't have one already). Committee formally created to co- • To investigate the production of We have received extremely positive ordinate training activities. distance-learning packages feedback from those attending both • To make training material from • To develop best practice guidance sessions and the Trustee Board has seminars and workshops at for member stations already agreed that another national conferences more readily available to • To act as an advocate for hospital training day should be arranged for those unable to attend broadcasting with key bodies and next Autumn. Target not met. Conference potential partners There's also funding available to committee asked to ensure that this • To endeavour to develop
ON AIR
Phil Moon, Chairman of HBA ... ‘I am delighted to welcome Alan Dedicoat as Patron of the HBA and am sure he will be very popular with our members. I very much hope he will f ind time in his busy radio and TV broadcasting career to participate in our events and to raise the prof ile of hospital broadcasting’ microphone would have been at the having a number of jobs during your tender age of 10 or 11, I guess. My working life, not just one. I was sister's boyfriend had an old Grundig extremely lucky. If you're determined, TK18 tape recorder and I used to have though, the chances are you will get great fun playing with it. Those were in – but be prepared to work for my formative years as I practised nothing to start with or work long and newsreading and programme unsocial hours. It's what most of us presentation ... to myself! Later, in my had to do to start with. teens (once the bug had really bitten), Sean: As a teenager I always wanted I wrote to Pebble Mill, asking if they to be a bus driver. It seems you've had any jobs or knew how I might gain taken it one step further and actually useful employment somewhere in own a London red bus, is that true? British broadcasting. They said I was Alan: With Ken Bruce and Charles far too young. Had I tried hospital Nove (both of whom did hospital radio radio? Helpfully, they gave me the in the early days), I do own a number address of BHBN at the Edgbaston of London's iconic Routemaster buses. cricket ground. Off I trotted and the For some reason, the interests of On Air is delighted to confirm that rest is history really. I had great fun in broadcasting and transport seem to go the HBA has a new Patron. Alan those early years and really got to hand-in-hand. What's that all about? I Dedicoat, best known as the National learn my trade. And as I was a shy can't remember how it all started but I Lottery's ‘Voice of the Balls’ and individual, it forced me to come out of do know it's become quite a business Strictly Come Dancing, has accepted my shell a bit. All in all, a really today. Our aim is to restore the Chairman Phil Moon's invitation to worthwhile experience - and for that I vehicles to their former glory but take on the role. am extremely grateful. should we fall on hard times, we have Of course Alan's no stranger to Sean: What advice would you give another source of income. I'm radio, as a regular newsreader on BBC to ‘Alans’ of the future, someone in extremely good at posing as a clippie. Radio 2 and he's no stranger to charity hospital radio considering making a You should see me on that platform! too, as the voice of Children in Need career out of radio or being a voice- Sean: How do you feel about being and a long-time friend of Hospital over artist? named the HBA's new Patron? Radio but did you know he also owns a Alan: If you're in the same position Alan: I feel very honoured. As I said number of the iconic London as I was back in the 1980s, poised to earlier, I owe a lot to hospital radio Routemaster buses? HBA's Sean become the next Chris Evans or Terry and this is a chance for me to put Dunderdale has chatted with our new Wogan, can I urge you to think something back in. Over the next 12 Patron to find out more: seriously about it. The queue at the months I hope to be able to attend as Sean: Alan, it's great you've door of the BBC and commercial radio many functions as I can and to fly the accepted the role of Patron of the is extremely long. It's become a very flag for what is an incredibly Hospital Broadcasting Association. competitive business. And even if you worthwhile service for those less Can you remember that first time in manage to get a place, bear in mind it fortunate than ourselves AND a front of a microphone? might not be a job for life; the brilliant training ground for the Alan: My first time behind a emphasis these days seems to be on broadcasters of the future.
ON AIR
Entries are invited for the National entry per station allowed. The trophy will Hospital Radio Awards 2012. bear the name of the station but the Unless otherwise stated there will be name of the programme will be published trophies for Gold, Silver and Bronze for on the short / winners lists and will each category. Certificates of appear on the certificate if submitted. Nomination will be issued when the Station of the Year shortlist is announced for those You are required to submit a Station Promotion appearing on it. You can enter by two maximum 15 minute stand-alone An entry of up to 60 seconds is methods: documentary style recording featuring required and should be a station promotion or programme trailer that has Online extracts from your station output. The entry should give the judges an insight been produced ‘in house’. The judges will Please email [email protected] for a be looking for how well the message is link to an online folder where you can into your station, the hospitals you broadcast to, style of presentation and conveyed and whether they feel it will submit your files. attract the ear of the listener. To be clear Entry by this method should be in programme content. Also include material from any special programmes this must be a promotion rather than a mp3 format. Please do not leave it until "jingle" and must not have been the last day to upload your entry – I or events covered during the year. Only one entry per station allowed. produced by a third party. Only one have extended the deadline for online entry per station allowed. The trophy entry beyond that for postal to allow Presenter of the Year will bear the name of the station. extra time to try again. Your entry form (Male/Female) should be uploaded to the online folder Best Newcomer You are required to submit a 5 along with your entries. The award is open to anyone who minute entry showing the judges the joined a hospital radio station for the By post diversity of your presentation and your 1 CD either audio or data 1st time during the 2 years prior to the awareness of the listeners. Include as closing date. It should take the form of Please include a current station jingle many different on-air clips as possible, as a separate track. It is not necessary to a 5 minute compilation. The judges are not all from the same programme. looking to hear what you have achieved use special delivery/recorded delivery to Multiple entries may be made from a send your entry in. If you want to prove on air in the short time you have been station. The trophy will bear the name broadcasting. An individual may only that you sent it just get a certificate of of the presenter. posting. If it does not arrive I will let you enter this award once. Multiple entries resubmit. If you send it signed for, I have Special Event may be made from a station. The trophy to make daily trips to the sorting office! This award recognises a one off will bear the name of the presenter. Entries will be acknowledged by email programme broadcast by the station. A HBA Off-air Volunteer of the Year – if you have not received a confirmation 15 minute compilation of the This award recognises those hard then assume it has not arrived. programme is invited, please do not working individuals who do so much for All material should have been play music tracks in full. It must be a a station behind the scenes, usually broadcast on your station between the one-off event and not part of the with little recognition. They CAN dates of 1st December 2010 and 30th station's normal day to day output. e.g. appear on air, but their nomination November 2011. an outside broadcast or a hospital event. should reflect their OFF AIR Only one entry per station allowed. The You are now permitted to submit up achievements over the past 12 months. trophy will bear the name of the station to 250 words to explain the context of This award is open to all members but the name of the event will be your entry. This is not compulsory but within hospital radio and requires a published on the short/winners lists has been added due to popular request written submission of no more than and will appear on the certificate if and may help the judges better 300 words on the station's official letter submitted. understand your entry. heading, explaining why the award is Please do it in a separate document Best Speech Package justified of actions taken within the for each category and not on the entry The entry should be a maximum of 5 eligible dates. The trophy will bear the form. For online entries please upload minutes taken from a single programme name of the individual. the document to the online folder with or interview that has been broadcast on NB There is only 1 award in this the same title as your audio entry. the station. All music should be edited category. It is time now to start work on your out of the entry. The material must The John Whitney Award entries. When you are happy with them have originated from station presenters Open to anyone working in hospital please send them in to arrive by the and not from any other source. Only radio. Entries should be written (no closing dates of Friday, December one entry per station allowed. The more than 500 words) and be on the 16th 2011 for postal entries and trophy will bear the name of the station stations official letter heading. Wednesday, December 21st 2011 for but the name of the programme or The award will be made to the person online entries. interview will be published on the who has made an outstanding You can download an entry form in short/winners lists and will appear on contribution to Hospital Radio over a word format from the HBA Website for the certificate if submitted. period of years. The winner may be drawn online entries www.hbauk.com or by Best Specialist Music from broadcasting but might equally be request from [email protected]. You Programme found from a technical or administrative will also find a copy in this On Air. The entry will be 5 minutes and background. They may have worked for a Details of the categories can be found should show the judges the presenter's single station or a series of stations. The below but for now I wish everyone the knowledge of the music in question and nomination should explain why the best of luck and look forward to seeing should also include any content candidate has made a real and long you in March. If you have any applicable to the programme. E.g. an lasting impact. The trophy will bear the unanswered questions then you can e- event guide/what's on feature relating to name of the individual. mail me at [email protected] the show. Programmes could include NB There is only 1 award in this Iain Lee Jazz, Classical, Country etc. Only one category.
ON AIR
European Year of Volunteering 2011
recorded a ‘Person to Person’ programme with Chairman, Anna O’Brien, where she responded to questions on the economy, the environment and the current crisis in Europe. Speaking of her visit to WHR, Catherine Bearder said, ‘The health service is a great example of an organisation that really relies on volunteers. This of course, includes hospital radio. Hospital radio stations like the one I visited in Winchester play a genuine role in patients’ recovery. ‘Everything they do is patient- focussed and the volunteers they have, ranging from teenagers to octogenarians, are a great example of what great work can be done to help their local community.’ For any hospital radio station like ourselves at WHR, whose audience is mainly older people, it is worth noting that during 2012, the focus is ‘European Year of Active Ageing’, so a good opportunity to tie in publicity and promote any volunteering roles you have that may appeal to people looking for ways to help in their local community once they retire. Anna O’Brien MEP Catherine Bearder in WHR’s studio with WHR’s Chairman Anna O’Brien Winchester Hospital Radio
During November, one of the South-East’s Members of the European Parliament, Catherine Bearder, visited us at Winchester Hospital Radio. 2011, the ‘European Year of Volunteering’ is a chance for the continent to celebrate all things good about volunteering and for different countries to work together to share best practice. Every couple of months throughout the year, there has been a special focus on a particular area of volunteering – during November and December, the theme is volunteering within health and social care. In a visit to coincide with this theme, Catherine met with WHR volunteers, Nigel Dallard, Val Moore and Anna O’Brien to learn more about the charity’s work visiting patients and broadcasting specific programmes tailored to their needs that include patients’ music requests, comedy features, quizzes and speech-based programming. Catherine was also interested to learn that one of the ways WHR raises funds is through the release of CDs on our own record label – and she kindly bought a CD during her visit! After meeting some of the team and WHR volunteers Anna O’Brien, Nigel Dallard and Val Moore with Catherine Bearder (centre) having a tour of our studio, Catherine plus her colleague Martin Tod
ON AIR
The HBA’s Tribute to Sir Jimmy Savile comes from Hospital Radio stations all over the country... to find the audio piece when Phil interviewed Jimmy in Heaton Park Manchester. He was doing a hike in aid of a group called (P.H.A.B.) Physically Handicapped in the Able Bodied in the community where he raised a staggering £40,000. If you go to www.northernair.org.uk and click on audio, you can listen to the audio piece. Chris Finn, who at the time was a sports presenter, caught up with Jimmy at what we believe was the first marathon to take place in England, this was in 1983 at Bolton. You can click on the gallery to see this picture. Also joining us on the programme from America was Peter Gilbert, the nephew of the founder of Northern Air, Stanley Langer. He shared his memories of meeting Jimmy in 1967 in Crumpsall Hospital, now called North Manchester General Hospital. Peter was in hospital due to a motor cycle accident and the visit was arranged by uncle Stanley. The only advice from Jimmy was to sell the bike and buy a car. My personal memory was in the 1960s on missing the last bus from Manchester to Salford, Jimmy would pass us most evenings in various modes of transport, ie Rolls Royce, E- Type Jag, Bubble car or push bike; he always waved but never offered us a lift. As he looks down from St. Peter’s side surveying all the good deeds he has done for many people over the years, he can certainly say ... How’s About That. Joe Sambrook.
The Front cover of Edition 93 of On sadly passed away on 29th October Martin Kinch of Stoke Air shows a photograph taken by the 2011, two days before his 85th Mandeville Hospital Radio recalls Editor of Sir Jimmy Savile, past birthday. some of his many chats with Sir President Alan Grimadell, former He started his working life as a Jimmy who was a regular visitor to President Ena Montgomery and Bevin Boy during the second World Stoke Mandeville Hospital. current President June Snowden. War in a Yorkshire coal mine. He soon ‘I've been a volunteer at Stoke Jimmy Savile paid a surprise visit to discovered his talent for becoming a Mandeville Hospital Radio for almost the Scarborough Conference in 2002 DJ in the various church halls and 32 years and go to know Sir Jimmy by invitation of former President Alan clubs around Yorkshire. In 1957 he Savile quite well over the years; he Grimadell. Sir Jimmy met delegates as was offered a slot on Radio often used to be wandering around they had their coffee break following Luxembourg and was there for nine the corridors of the Hospital or sitting the AGM. The visit lasted nearly an years. People of a certain vintage will in the canteen. hour when delegates had their remember taking their transistor He wasn't actually anything to do opportunity to talk to the man who radio and listening to the likes of with the hospital radio station but invented the disco and launched ‘Top Jimmy Savile under the bed sheets. always took an interest and asked how of the Pops’. On Thursday 3rd November, it was going and later on when we Northern Air broadcast their own started to broadcast on AM, he would From Joe Sambrook of Northern tribute to Jimmy live from their often tune in when he stayed at the Air, the following memories: studio. They were joined by Phil Salter, Hospital where he had his own room. James Wilson Vincent Savile was a volunteer for the past 35 years, to He was also known to ring in for the the youngest of seven children. He reflect his encounter with the great odd request. was born on 31st October 1929 and man. They dug deep into the archives ‘One day back in the 80s, he invited
ON AIR
around the world. And, finally, from Past He was always larger than life and President, Alan Grimadell ... really gave us all a boost whenever he I first met Sir Jimmy in 1977 when visited. he was young hospital radio presenter A true son of Leeds, he will be in Derby. greatly missed. I last spoke to him three or four Andy Mason weeks ago and if he had not passed City Sound, Leeds away, I would have been wishing him a happy 85th birthday. He was my first major interview in 1977 after I joined Radio Link, Derby’s hospital broadcasting service’. That first interview led to numerous invitations from Sir Jimmy to BBC Radio, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, for which Sir Jimmy raised money and the Jim’ll Fix It Studios. He became a friend whom I could phone whenever I wanted. me to go with him to watch him record Many people knew the former DJ as his 'Old Record Club' show. He showed an eccentric loner but my knowledge me around the studios of Radio 1 and of him was of a man who was down to when it was time to start, we went earth, sharp and switched on. into the studio where he was to Jimmy once told me that the Queen present his show. It wasn't a studio nicknamed him ‘Oh Dear’. The Queen with record decks and CD players, just was always taken slightly aback by Sir a table and some microphones. He Jimmy’s clothes and eccentric started recording his links and after a mannerisms. He told me every time while said to me with a few seconds This photo was taken in the Torbay the Queen met him, which was often, notice, ‘You can do the next link’ Hospital Radio Studios in 1997 when she would say ‘oh dear, oh dear, oh which I did and from there I ended up Sir Jimmy came down to Torbay dear’. co-presenting some of the show with Hospital to open the second MRI He told me of the time he was him. All the songs were put on machine then in the country, the meeting Prince Charles at Highgrove afterwards and the show went out a million pounds to buy the machine House, Jimmy was late, he had few days later, it was quite a thrill for was raised by Torbay Hospitals League skipped breakfast and lunch and me at the time. of Friends. arrived at Highgrove famished. ‘More recently Jimmy presented me We asked Sir Jimmy if he would like ‘On meeting the Prince, he spied a with a certificate congratulating me to see the radio station and after bowlful of root vegetable crisps on a for my long service to the radio opening the MRI he made an table, grabbed a handful and started station; it ended up in all the local impromptu visit to our studios, of to eat. It then rapidly dawned on him newspapers and even the local TV which we were most honoured. he was actually eating pot pourri. news programme was there. In my interview with Sir Jimmy I A word hadn’t been spoken between ‘I used to love chatting to him, he asked him if there was anything in the the two of them since Jimmy had had some great stories to tell about world he would like, what would it be. arrived – the Prince of Wales just Top of the Pops and all the artists he He replied, ‘a telephone to heaven so I continued to look at him. Jimmy ate got to know. He helped raise millions can talk to all the guys and gals that I the pot pourri and, without any of pounds for a new spinal unit at have lost though the years’. reference to what he had just done, his Stoke Mandeville Hospital and even Donna Myers-O'Keefe meeting with Prince Charles began. paid for a couple of bits of new Trustee and Honorary Secretary On one occasion, I had lunch with equipment for the Hospital Radio Torbay Hospital Radio Sir Jimmy and the Dowager Duchess station. of Devonshire, because the Dowager ‘He will be missed by many patients, Sir Jimmy Saville was a member of was a big Elvis Presley fan and she was visitors and staff around the hospital’. the Isetta Owners’ Club of Great impressed by the fact Sir Jimmy had Britain, of which I am Chairman and met Elvis before he died. City Sound Hospital Radio is the Membership Secretary. We spoke often; he was a one off Hospital Radio station at the LGI, His bright yellow car complete with and a major part of 1960’s culture and where Jimmy was a volunteer porter. amber flashing light on the roof to opened many doors for me to the Back in the 80s when I started at improve visibility [highly illegal] was world of Paul McCartney and more the LGI Radio station, then called The on show at the National Bubblecar hospital radio interviews. Patients Broadcasting Service, Jimmy Museum near Cranwell for a while and Deep down he was just a guy who was a familiar sight around the is now in the Savile Collection at the enjoyed life and he always gave life hospital and was a regular visitor to Armouries in Leeds. The car was ‘both barrels’. the studio, just saying hello to the restored by Lee Turnham, another For Jimmy it was just a game and I volunteers and the listeners. member of the Isetta club. will miss the fact that he isn’t at the It was also quite common for him to Jeff Todd end of my calls any more. use our facilties to record taped Chair He was a great friend. messages for friends and charities Grimsby Hospital Radio
ON AIR
Along with two colleagues, Steve be given the standard 'house-keeping' Pexton and Ian Wighton, I attended rules from Jim and were officially the Seminar on Interviewing and welcomed to the event by Iain Lee. Presentation Skills at The Mercure It was then down to business with a Parkway, Leeds. group of people surrounding each of Our trainer, Andy Carter, has been the seven tables in the room all from involved in hospital radio, local and different stations working together national radio, so knew what we had under the guidance of Andy Carter. to do as presenters in hospital radio. I Although he set a reasonable pace have been to some seminars where the for the course, I felt I was able to keep trainers were very good but didn’t up and there was time for him to take relate to hospital radio – more questions as and when they arose commercial or local. which led to various discussions and The first session was on general insights into how other stations do presentation techniques. Here Andy the same things you do. This is where advised on programme planning (eg you need your pen and paper at the format clock, which we had great fun ready to jot down any ideas that working out), studio discipline, someone else has tried and seemed to appreciating the audience and have had some success with. warming up your voice and some An enjoyable hour and a half about gentle exercises. 'clock hours' and general presentation After lunch, we moved to news good practice was followed by lunch writing and presentation skills. which seemed to go down very well Working as small teams we were given with the assembled masses. A bit more 15 minutes to look through a networking over the sweet and after newspaper with a view to preparing a another tea, is was back into the room news bulletin, which should last no to learn a little more about interview more than one minute. (Sadly ours techniques. was 1 minute 17 secs) but there were Now I had not really done some very close to that time. We were The 2011 Training Network Committee. interviews for a few years and having advised, when writing, to check on spent some time in my formative Left to right: John Bryson, Neil Ogden copyright issues. Proof reading, script years as a hospital radio presenter in annotation: pace, tone and intonation and Nigel Dallard with Jim Simpson, the company of, and doing interviews were also spoken about. Committee Chairman seated. Phil Moon with professional footballers who by The third session was perhaps the was absent nature tend to give one word answers one I enjoyed most of all. Again, in or standard 'sick as a parrot' replies, it small teams of three, one person Hospital Radio for the best part of was good to find out how to ask interviewed, one was the interviewee thirty years, you may think that there questions of your interviewee that and the third listened and then gave is nothing new you could learn. wouldn't provoke such responses. feedback on how the interviewer had However, there is always room for Before attending the day, we were done. When preparing to do an improvement in everything you do asked to bring along a biography interview, Andy said how important it and being able to take some about ourselves as well as a list of was to do research, where you could confidence from finding out that what 'Desert Island Disc' requests. At this find out information on your guest, you already do is close to being 'the point in the day, we provided the (here some ideas came from all done thing' everywhere else is always other members on our table with the participants) welcoming your guest, good to know. biographies, etc so we could practice putting them at their ease and paying So I booked for the recent event in what we had learned about attention to their answers so you Leeds knowing that I may learn a little interviewee research, by interviewing could pick up on anything they said more about my chosen track 'Improve each other around our table. I felt this that you had not known/thought your interview and presentation skills' worked really well and it was obvious about, and involving the listeners. or at least gain some more confidence from the people on my table that the It was lovely not to have to travel so and build up my current skill level. far and I know all of us from I arrived on the Saturday morning Harrogate Hospital Radio found the to be greeted by Jim, Brenda, Neil and day informative, and enjoyable. John and quickly found myself in Thank you Andy Carter! networking mode, which is also Elle Johnson another great reason for attending such events as you get to meet and A personal view of the Training Day chat to loads of people from different from associate member Richard Smith, stations all over the country. A to Z of Pop We were shown to the room for the Since the HBA decided not to have track within the hotel which although an Autumn conference a few years ago, large enough for everyone to be in, did the idea of a National Training Day get rather hot and stuffy later during was launched and I have attended all the day, (all that hot air from the three that have been offered so far. gathering of presenters, I assume!) A Although I have been involved in cup of tea later and we assembled to The Mercure Parkway Hotel in Leeds
ON AIR
In conclusion, although some delegates did have a fair way to travel to Leeds, it was great to see they had made the effort to be part of a very worthwhile event, which was well organised and run and a very pleasant way to spend a few hours in the company of similar and like-minded people from the hospital radio community and is something that for only a few quid, in my opinion is well worth anyone involved in your station attending. I hope to see you at the next one!
Track 1, The Study Group hard at work information Andy had given us made a be satisfied with what they had great difference to those interviews. learned and would take that I felt that there was plenty of information and knowledge back to Health & Safety Training, Track 2 interaction between Andy and the their own stations to share with either delegates in the room and it was other members or their listeners or unfortunate that due to time preferably, both. constraints Andy did have to skip a There was also a feedback form to few items from his well prepared and complete where you got the chance to thorough schedule but having said have your say on the day and provide that, I didn't feel like I missed out on information for the organisers to anything in particular. make future training days better or As always with these kind of things provide specific ideas for future (if you're enjoying yourself), the end courses you'd like to see being run. of the day seems to arrive too soon Time then for a little more but I think everyone, certainly those networking in the hotel bar and then in the presentation track, seemed to off home.
Health & Safety Training, Track 2
Presentation and interview Skills, Track Presentation and Interview Skills, Track 1 1
ON AIR
sound that is appreciated but also the visits from WHR volunteers. The best testimony to the success of WHR is from former patients who then return as volunteers’. Don’t worry, be happy… A significant number of WHR’s volunteers have joined us, having experienced the service first-hand as patients. One of them, Charles Brickley, explained why he got involved, ‘I was in and out of hospital a lot during 2008. I was feeling very low and the one consistent comfort for me was the hospital radio service provided by WHR. All the volunteers I met were so friendly and kind and I was impressed by how professional they all were. So when I was well, I was keen to join and support the charity in providing patients with a welcome distraction from their Chairman of Winchester HR, Anna O’Brien with the Mayor, Cllr Barry Lipscomb and his wife worries and ailments”. together with the Vice Chairman of Winchester HR Make me smile (come up and Moving On Up… sum of money to fund both the see me)… Summer 2011 has seen Winchester purchase of a modular building to go Elizabeth Pill, another of our Hospital Radio say goodbye to the old on site in the hospital grounds and all volunteers who joined after listening Orthodontics building which has been the associated costs – legal fees, as a patient said, ‘Although my health its home for the last 20 years and planning permissions, ground works, prevents me from a regular weekly move up into a converted corridor and fitting out the studios with new afternoon commitment at WHR space on level C of Burrell Wing, equipment to replace our now 20 year nowadays, I still like to keep in touch within the main hospital building. old kit. All in all, we need to raise in and turn up and help at fundraising This will be the charity’s base for the excess of £100K over the next 18 events. Everyone here is so lovely and next 2 to 3 years before level C is months, so we’d be very keen to hear they were so thoughtful when I was in renovated, at which point, WHR will from other hospital radio stations who hospital. They really cheered me up, move again elsewhere on site. may have recently had to fund similar and took my mind off my large capital projects. We’d welcome predicament’. Money, Money, Money… hearing suggestions for some of the You’ve got a friend… This further longer-term move will best sources of funding to apply for require WHR to raise a substantial Brian Espiner, another patient turned and any fundraising event ideas that volunteer added, ‘As a patient, I felt worked well in your area that we may the hospital radio people were be able to run in Winchester. We will excellent – they really cheered be applying to the NHS Trust for everybody up. Not just me but all access to some of its charitable funds those around me listening on the and our hospital’s League of Friends ward. I felt they were friends and I but we’ll need to find other donors really appreciated that and that’s why too. I wanted to become a member.’ Happy Birthday In September, in the run-up to WHR’s 27th birthday, an official studio opening ceremony took place. The Mayor and his wife, volunteers, NHS staff including members of the NHS Board and the Voluntary Services team, supporters and some past patients attended. You are not alone… Mike Gretton, Chairman of the Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, kindly opened WHR’s temporary facility. He said, ‘The services of WHR are hugely appreciated by patients, particularly those in single rooms who are isolated Anna O’Brien with the NHS Trust Chairman from others. And it is not just the Nigel Dallard gives a studio tour
ON AIR
administration staff and management from both the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl and Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The Pavilion Theatre donated a prize of tickets on a monthly basis throughout the year and the Venue Cymru also donated prizes. Both theatres had given special prizes for the night, based on a free raffle for everyone who attended. There were also many volunteer Brian Espiner Charles Brickley groups who attended and enjoyed Thank you! mixing with old and new members of Amongst the guests at our studio the radio service. opening, there were also some recent The wonderful buffet was provided patients who’d sent ‘thank you’ letters On 16th September, Radio Glan by the Hospital League of Friends. to us on their discharge from hospital. Clwyd celebrated the 35th anniversary The party started with an address One lady said in her letter, ‘I was of the day that the radio service had from our Hon. President Mrs Ann impressed at how regularly you all been connected to the Glan Clwyd Jones, AM for Clwyd to whom I came round the wards to visit and to Hospital. presented a lovely flower arrangement ask about any music requests I might To start the day, we had a visit from on behalf of the rest of the radio like played ... it was very special, thank our local MP, Chris Ruane and I service members. you ... may you go from strength to interviewed him on my hour long There were speeches by the Mayor strength.’ show. He had been one of the 70 of Kinmel Bay and Towyn and then invited guests for the evening but the Mayor of LLadudno. Give a little love… because he had to return to London Then the entertainment started Like a number of other hospital radio for his parliamentary duties, he was with a great organist playing some stations, we have signed up to unable to attend the party. He chatted easy listening music and Tony Mannix Vodafone’s ‘JustTextGiving’ service. So about the benefits that the Radio Glan came on next with a wonderful to donate some money to WHR, all Clwyd service gave to the patients of performance singing in a Frank people have to do is text our unique the hospital and also to the Wrexham Sinatra style, which went down very 4letters and 2digits code: UUHR24 Maelor Hospital, which was connected well with the audience. We were followed by the amount they wish to to the service six months ago. entertained with more music and then donate to 70070. For example: We played music connected to Wales there was the special theatre prize UUHR24 £5. Then text this to including Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, draw. number: 70070 Duffy and local musician Mike Peters Everyone enjoyed the whole Help! (formerly of the group The Alarm). evening and it ended by cutting the The evening party was attended by As mentioned earlier, if any stations special birthday cake for people to several local mayors and partners from have any big-money fundraising ideas take home after the close of a Rhyl and surrounding areas. From that have worked well for them in successful party shared with Glan Clwyd Hospital: medical staff their patch and they are happy to volunteers who love being involved including consultants and some senior share, be great to hear from you, with Radio Glan Clwyd. doctors. Members of the either via email or to read about your Brenda Jones fundraising successes in a future edition of ‘On Air’. Thanks. Long Service Certificates Anna O’Brien Four members of Radio Chairman Craigavon have received 30 year Winchester Hospital Radio long service certificates from the HBA. Melville Cully, Malachy Heaney, Sheila Livingston and Jim Kerr have collectively clocked up 120 years service since they joined the organisation back in 1981 following a recruitment drive by the then Chairman, Eric Ewart. Eric eventually moved on to other things but the four recipients stayed on and 30 years later are still doing their bit for the station. The certificates were presented by Davey Downes, the HBA Regional representative, who is also Chairman of Mater Hospital Radio in Belfast. Also present was Jenette Robinson, the HBA regional secretary. Presentation took place at a special dinner in Portadown Rugby Club on 17th October. Pictured are, from left to right, Sheila Livingston, Jim Kerr, Malachy Heaney and HBA regional rep, Davey Downes. The fourth recipient Melville Cully was Maria, the Hospital Chaplain with a WHR unavailable for the photograph. volunteer
ON AIR
Well here we are six months into Waitrose also gave us a collection Lord Mayor, who was doing the run our birthday year. So what has been box at the exit of their City centre and had his trainers and shorts on happening at Tyneside since the last store for a month, which raised a under his robes and chain. He did take edition of On Air? considerable amount of cash. them off before the start! (The robes We have continued with our fund Our Golf Day has yet to be held but and chain). As in previous years, there raising activities. As you may be aware we expect to raise a great deal of was a large contingency from it is our dream to raise £60,000 before money from that. Emmerdale who always come across 31st March 2012, that would be Unfortunately two events have had for a chat. £1,000 for each year we have been on to be postponed, that being our 60th This year we devoted three hours to air. In our last article we had raised birthday dinner and collection at St coverage of the event and next year we £15,000 and we are delighted that James Park. These will now take place intend to have a studio at the end of here in November the total has in the New Year. the event. reached £31,500. Also in the New Year we have a bag Our 60th birthday celebrations took So what have we done to continue pack planned at Morrison’s place on Thursday 6th October, with the fund rising? supermarket and our Tesco store are exactly the day we started. We still receive support from some in discussions with us for a fund Our breakfast show was presented Trusts but mostly it has come from raising event to organise which is to by John Morgan, who for many years staff fund raising events. happen in the spring. presented breakfast on Century Radio. We organised a Chinese banquet Once again we covered the start of Morgan in the Morning was a top with a local restaurant. Nearly 100 the Great North Run, plus we had show in the North East for many years people attended and all the profits reports from along the route and at and his one off with us attracted a lot from the meal were donated to the the finish. We thank Auckland of interest. station and along with a raffle we held Hospital Radio and South Tyneside All the shows across the day were we raised £1,280. Hospital Radio for their assistance live and many guests popped in to say The total from the 10k run that with our coverage. hello, including some who started some of our volunteers did, raised This year we built a studio outside their careers with Radio Tyneside. nearly £500, more than we expected. of our building which attracted many Tyne Tees Television covered the With all the promotion we have had of the fun runners and once again we event for their nightly news regarding our 60th birthday, we have were given access to the press area programme and many recorded received quite a lot of money from our where we got many interviews with messages were received from the likes Just Giving page, many donations some of the personalities doing the of Tony Blackburn, Jamie Cullum, Zoe from listeners and, of course, with all run, including BBC news reader Sophie Ball and Sir Terry Wogan. this fund raising, a great deal of Rayworth, Sue Barker (in between her Another event we were invited to be income from Gift Aid. presenting duties with the BBC), our involved in was the BBC Radio 3 Free
ON AIR
John Morgan presents the Breakfast Show with Dave Nicholson Dave Nicholson interviews Sophie Rayworth at the Great North Run
Steve Taylor with Paul Tom Chittenden with Joe McElderry
Thinking Weekend at the Sage in on the future of radio and took runners hitched a lift on the local bus Gateshead and included William questions from the floor. service. I can assure you it wasn’t Hague and Germaine Greer among We were out and about on bonfire Chris and he did complete the run. their speakers. night at The Newcastle Cricket Club, Dave Nicholson MBE We broadcast a programme called where we hosted a firework display for Station Director ‘What is the Future of Radio in Great nearly 2,000 people. Obviously not an Britain?’, which was well attended by event for radio but raised us a lot of You can see our birthday many from the local media, especially publicity and a donation to funds. celebrations and Morgan in the happening just after the Finally, one of our volunteers, Chris Morning on our website announcement of BBC cuts in local Eggett, did the gruelling Keilder www.radiotyneside.co.uk radio. Chief Executive of the Radio Marathon, which made headlines on Academy, John Myers, gave his views the national news when one of the
ON AIR
Royal Marines Concert participating hospital radio stations. number of presenters including Phil Ray, More specific details of timings and Nigel Vernon-Dier and Mike George who All Hospital Radio Stations have the idents will be discussed within have interviewed our regular opportunity to stream a LIVE broadcast subsequent letters. contributors, these include Graham of HM Royal Marines Band in concert to For all this to work requires your Sclater (author and publisher), Chico your listeners on Friday 27th January input as a hospital radio organisation. Francesco (Chef and food broadcaster) 2012 at 6.45pm. Please contact Hilary Currently all I require is your approval of and John Rushton (The Life Doctor). Forde on 01442 866006 or e-mail participation to the scheme. Further A selected list of the interviews our [email protected] for more detail into the project will be given presenters have had the opportunity to information. depending on your decision to speak to includes Benny and Bjorn from The Rotary Clubs of Radlett, St Albans participate. Abba, Jamie Cullum, Manfred Mann's and St Albans Verulamium in aid of Your participation will involve a Earth Band, Lady Antebellum, The charity will be presenting their annual transfer of data regarding your collected Searchers, Hermans Hermits, The Royal Marines Concert at The Alban requests throughout 2011 (with a Drifters, Jason Orange, Bananarama, Arena, St Albans. Hilary has been asked deadline on delivery of Thursday 12th Amir Khan, Kenny Thomas, Andy once again to organise an outside January 2012), details of any Mitchell (The Yardbirds) and Shakatak. broadcast to as many Hospital Radio customisation to the schedule of the Outlined below are a selection of Stations as possible. We do this by way show, and of course, your approval of hospital radio stations who broadcast of engineer Paul Andersson's OB vehicle the finalised product. Live Wire: Carillon Radio 1386 & 1431 transmitting to Watford Hospital Radio, The following timeframes will be used AM, Hospital Radio Exeter, Phoenix who will stream it on the internet. with a due response to the following: Hospital Radio and Hospital Radio If your radio station has facilities to 1. Confirmation of participation to Grimsby. feed the transmission into your the charts - due by 31st December 2011 If you would like more information on broadcasting system via the internet go 2. Handover of the raw data of Live Wire please telephone Steve to www.watfordhospitalradio.com songs/requests collected - due by Osborne on 01327 312545 during office
ON AIR
enough about being a part of the leaderboard for Hangman! What I HBA's Event Committee and back to wanted though was soothing music, a my hospital story... friendly voice who I might even have For those of you who've experienced met earlier that day on the ward, to it, your first night in hospital is all hear other patients requests – those things I've said to potential new knowing we're all ‘in this together.’ I volunteers at Scunthorpe Hospital know our research in Scunthorpe has Radio – and more! It's the reason shown that some of the most popular Hospital Radio exists, to be that friend programmes are the non-stop music at the bedside, some company when ones, shows without chat and now I you need it most. Imagine then, my fully understand why. It offers disappointment at being admitted to something to drift to sleep to, rather Lincoln County Hospital. Yes, the staff than hearing the noise that's were fantastic, from the moment the associated with your average hospital paramedic turned up at my home, ward. I tried to listen to the other through the A and E Department and stations but it's difficult to totally It proved to be far from a busman's to the two wards I eventually came to relax when someone starts talking in (or should that ‘volunteers’) holiday know as home for a fortnight! your ear every three minutes (there's a for HBA's Sean Dunderdale when he I had regular visits from friends and reason when at a spa having a massage found himself in hospital recently. colleagues – even some people I hadn't that they don't have Five Live on!) Having been suddenly taken ill, seen in years but.. and it's a big but ... My fortnight at Lincoln County left Sean found himself in one of the few Lincoln doesn't have a Hospital Radio me in no doubt that hospital radio is city-based hospital's in the UK NOT to station. No-one popping around up there with the most valuable have a Hospital Radio station. asking if I wanted a request, no services you can have in hospital – Here, he tells On Air about his programming I could dip into at those well, apart from the tea trolley! experience: ‘I've been involved, in one moments when all I wanted was a Some people have claimed there's way or another, with hospital radio for friendly voice in my ear, someone who no need for Hospital Radio any more, the last 25 years (obviously, I started understood what life is like in that Community Radio or the Ipod at the tender age of 3!!) but until now hospital. I realised, even more than can replace what we do. I know, from I've never experience what it's like ever, just how vital a service my short time in hospital, that the from the other side, laying in that Hospital Radio is. need for such a service is as great as it hospital bed. I always knew it would Yes, there were other radio stations ever was. be an odd, indeed frightening, available via the Hospedia service. Yes, I've also already started chatting experience being thrown into a I could watch TV or films, I could even with a few people in Lincoln about the strange environment surrounded by play games on the system though I possibility of starting up a new some very strange people – but failed to take the top spot on the Hospital Radio station for the city. Balloon’s Amazing Journey
Zwycięzca wyścigu balon – that's Polish for balloon race winner, because that's where a charity balloon ended its amazing 1,152 mile journey. The balloon was one of 850 released from Dewsbury town centre earlier this year to raise money for Dewsbury District Hospital's radio station HWD Hospital Radio. Each balloon had a ticket attached to it and 45 tickets were returned by their finders. The farthest travelled balloon ended up in Trzcianka, near Gdańsk in Poland. Staff at Dewbury's Café on the Market bought the winning balloon and win the first prize of a £200 Co- operative Travel holiday voucher. Other prizes went to the owners of tickets returned from Ganarp in Sweden (853 miles), Imbsen in Germany (766 miles) and Holland. HWD Hospital Radio Chairman Mike Binns said, ‘We've been running the balloon race for a few years now and I think this is probably the Balloon success: Cafe on the Market's Jude Popplewell collects her travel voucher prize from farthest away we've ever had a ticket Leanne Swithenbank from Co-operative Travel, Heckmondwike and HWD Hospital Radio returned from.’ Chairman Mike Binns. (Photo Steve Gray)
ON AIR
ON AIR
Irwyn Wins Mayor’s 1977, has been presented with The Basingstoke’s Half Duke of York’s Community Initiative Volunteer Award Award for the great work it does Marathon within Harrogate District Hospital. HRB was out in force covering the The award – which focuses on very first Basingstoke Half Marathon encouraging the development of around the roads and hills of north community spirit, individual Hampshire on 2 October. leadership and initiative in Yorkshire The two big obstacles on the day and the Humber – is only awarded to were the steep hills and the community schemes of outstanding unseasonably high temperatures – merit as a recognition of excellence. over 29 degrees Celsius. 2000 people took part though, among them HRB's own Dave Warren raising money for the station. He completed the course despite an injured knee. The people of north Hampshire came out in force to support the event as well, making for a brilliant atmosphere throughout. Radio Redhill’s Irwyn Davies (right) and the Chris Fox and Laura Emery were on Mayor of Reigate & Banstead Cllr Brian air in the studio with the rest of the Stead team gathering interviews and reporting live from the start and finish Radio Redhill’s Irwyn Davies has at the Basingstoke War Memorial received a Volunteer Award from the Park. Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Christine Rowley and Steph Brian Stead, at a ceremony held in Ferguson took over later to round up The Duke of York with (from left to right) Reigate Town Hall on October 18th the day's events and play more 2011. Harrogate Hospital radio committee interviews recorded earlier. Irwyn has been a member of Radio members Bill Caw and Eddie Tatterton All in all a very successful day and Redhill for 25 years, concentrating on Prince Andrew, who presented the we look forward to next year. making high-quality programmes, award personally at a ceremony at the both music and speech-based. His Army Foundation College, in particular interest has been his weekly Harrogate, said: ‘Some years ago I ‘Out & About’ programme, which aims visited a housing estate in York and to bring a flavour of the outside world saw what a real difference could be to the listeners in hospital with achieved by the community working features about interesting local events together, identifying their own needs and personalities, and has now been and deciding for themselves the running for over ten years. actions needed to find the answers to Not only has ‘Out & About’ won such needs. national recognition by twice winning ‘Today, the Community Initiative a Hospital Broadcasting Association which bears my name, is a great award, but features included in the success story throughout the whole of programme have won awards on no Yorkshire.’ fewer than six occasions over the last Mark Bexley, Chairman of few years. In addition, Irwyn himself Harrogate Hospital Radio, said ‘We are won an award in the Presenter of the very proud to be recognised by the Year category in the 2002 National Duke of York’s Community Initiative Awards. for our work. It means a great deal to Irwyn is a very familiar figure all our members as it gives us a Royal around the East Surrey Hospital and seal of approval. the local area and Radio Redhill is ‘Having this accreditation will delighted that his voluntary work has hopefully open doors for us when we been recognised in the local are seeking funding opportunities.’ community. In addition to presenting the Award, The Duke spoke with Harrogate Hospital Harrogate Hospital Radio members about the work it does and recorded a Radio Broadcasting message for patients and staff. With Royal Approval Kevin Sharp, Chairman of the Duke Harrogate Hospital Radio is of York Community Award scheme, broadcasting its shows with Royal said: ‘On behalf of myself and the approval after being awarded a Assessment Panel, I would like to offer prestigious regional community award. our congratulations in what is a great The station, which was started in achievement.’
ON AIR
ON AIR
Hospital Radio Plymouth to help raise money for the charity. Receives Queen’s Award This also proved an opportune time for people to try out their photography skills as many took to the top deck to take some truly mesmerizing shots of the displays. Station Manager Andrew Hill said, ‘This was the second year we have organised a boat trip to coincide with the fireworks and we received several Front L to R: Station Manager Andrew Hill, repeat enquiries from last year. The Lord Lt of Devon Eric Dancer, Assistant The trip raised over £400 and Station Manager Keith Jolley and Chair of guests had memories of some great The Queen’s Voluntary Service Awards fireworks and an enjoyable night out judging panel Martyn Lewis with other on the waves. We hope to stage Keith Thompson, Nicola White, Andrew Hill members of the HRP team behind another trip next year. and Keith Jolley at Buckingham Palace for The station received a Fete Nets £500 the Royal Garden Party in June commemorative crystal trophy with a HR Plymouth was among six Hospital Radio Plymouth (HRP) was hologram of the QAFVS logo and a beneficiaries of this year’s Albaston awarded the Queen’s Award for certificate signed by Her Majesty, Fete receiving a £500 share of the Voluntary Service. The news was which is on display in the reception profits from the event. officially announced on 2nd June and area at the station. HRP are one of just five voluntary Anniversary Marked organisations in Devon to receive the Blind Presenter Rocks During the weekend of 13th/14th award this year. the Airwaves August the RAF Harrowbeer HRP was nominated for the award HR Plymouth has a new rock show anniversary was held to commemorate by former patient and listener Paul hosted by Andrew Quest. Andrew, who the 70th anniversary of the airfield Cotter and had to undergo a rigorous is blind, has wittily entitled the show from World War 2. assessment process to gauge its ‘The Matron Wouldn’t Like it’, Volunteers were present all suitability for the national honour. recognising it may not be everyone’s weekend and provided PA coverage of Letters of support were written by cup of tea. the event as well as entertainment. former Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Programme Manager Keith Jolley This included a live programme from Chairman, Professor John Bull, CBE said ‘Rock is not a not a genre we had Plymouth’s longest serving member and former Lord Mayor of Plymouth specifically catered for before but Connal Cather. Cllr David James. The award has been there is certainly a place for something A lot of the audio from the event awarded in recognition of the work like this in our schedule.’ has been recorded and will be made volunteers at the station have done The show can currently be heard on into several programmes to be over more than forty years providing a Saturday nights between 9pm and 10pm. broadcast over the coming months to diverse mix of programmes for show the great spirit of the event. hospital patients. HRP Gets Into the Mix There was a tombola and other The station currently has around 60 During August, HR Plymouth, in fundraising for the charity, including volunteers ranging from teenagers to association with Radio Plymouth, took the sale of an audio tour of the area on octogenarians and provides round the part in the city’s Summer Mix project. CD that is still for available for £5. To clock entertainment 365 days a year. This project provided free summer purchase a CD call us on 01752 763441. Station Manager Andrew Hill said, courses to 11-25 year olds in We would like to thank the ‘This is a proud moment in our Plymouth in a whole variety of fields, Knightstone Tearooms and RAF history. It is a wonderful climax to the from sports to business. Harrowbeer for the opportunity to be efforts of many hundreds of HR Plymouth held two week-long a part of the weekend. volunteers who over the past four courses in radio production and Thanks also go to Louise Smith, our decades have built the charity into presentation. Students put together a Showstage manager, for organising what it now is.’ number of shows which were our part of the event and to Zak Volunteer Dawn Cawley who has broadcast to our listeners. Davies for the technical set up over been a member at the station for many the weekend. years described the award as a ‘terrific Boat Trip Goes off with achievement’ and added ‘I feel it will encourage others to offer their time a Bang Airing Pain to Broadcast and services in a voluntary capacity.’ When the first night of the annual Airing Pain is a show produced by Trustee, Richard Hilborne, said he was British Fireworks Championships was the charity Pain Concern. The overwhelmed by the award. held over the Sound in Plymouth, HR programmes bring together the top A delegation from the station was Plymouth organised the best view for pain specialists in the country to talk invited to a garden party at Buckingham volunteers and the public on their about the issues that matter. By Palace. A presentation ceremony was annual boat trip during the broadcasting this programme we hope held at County Hall in Exeter in June competition. Throughout August in to inform and assist the patients of and was attended by a group of HRP the run up to the championships, Derriford to cope with pain issues. members including Jill Bright, Connal volunteers were selling tickets to The programmes are broadcast on Cather and Steve Glanville. friends, family and the general public Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm.
ON AIR
A Wirral radio station finally hit the airwaves this week, 7th November – ... After 60 Years! 60 years after it was established. Radio Clatterbridge originally formed in 1951 when young members of the Port Sunlight Boys’ Club first took a pile of 78rpm records around Pensby Ward at Clatterbridge Hospital. Since then the station has grown to provide programmes 24 hours a day, although it has been available only to listeners with bedside headphones cabled to the studio. The team of volunteer presenters wanted to reach other parts of Clatterbridge Health Park including Claire House and St John’s Hospice. A new transmitter and aerial mean they can do just that. Programmes will now be broadcast on 1386AM (Medium Wave) to anyone with a normal radio on the Clatterbridge site. Wirral’s Cultural Ambassador, Mike McCartney, switched on the new service at exactly 1pm in front of a number of guests from various organisations based at Clatterbridge. Mike McCartney puts Radio Clatterbridge on air with the help of Chairman Steve Lord He also read the out first request on the new service for a patient at the many others will be able to enjoy the Centre for Oncology with help from oncology centre. great service we already offer to some the Clatterbridge Hospitals League of Former Scaffold singer said, patients at Clatterbridge.’ Friends. ‘Thank You Very Much for Radio Programme Controller Paul A number of local businesses have Clatterbridge being sixty years old! I Johnston added, donated prizes for the first week of am over the Moon to be pressing a ‘As well as playing requests and broadcasting. Winners have been rather big red button to turn on Radio entertaining patients and staff, we will selected out of a hat from patients Clatterbridge 1386AM!’ also be giving a voice to the different who have requested songs on the Chairman Steve Lord said, organisations at the Health Park by station. ‘Radio Clatterbridge 1386AM is all promoting and celebrating their work. about the listeners and music is often ‘Every single day staff are making a • Radio Clatterbridge is a registered the best therapy. In these days of the massive difference to people's lives charity. It has provided music, internet and iPods, patients still and we want to reflect this as much as entertainment and information to appreciate hearing their name and possible in our programmes. If patients and staff at Clatterbridge favourite song on the radio. something is happening at the Health Hospital since April 9th 1951. ‘We can help relieve their boredom Park, you'll hear about it on Radio and take their minds off their stay. We Clatterbridge 1386AM.’ • For more information about Radio are delighted that, for the first time, Funding for the new system has Clatterbridge, contact Andy Bonner on the young people at Claire House, been provided by Wirral University 07767 654101 or email those staying at St John’s Hospice and Teaching Hospital and Clatterbridge [email protected] Host of Radio Presenters Attend Birthday Event
Suffolk’s oldest radio station also used to reunite Suffolk Orwell and BFBS. marked its 40th birthday on 7th broadcasters past and present, HRI is proud to have been Suffolk’s October with a Celebration Evening including ex Radio Orwell/Saxon, SGR, first radio station and welcomed with a line-up of well-known BBC Suffolk, Town and, of course, ex- members past and present and others broadcasting names past and present. HRI. with an interest in radio to the special Hospital Radio Ipswich (HRI) Over the years a number of event. started life at the Anglesea Road members of HRI have gone on to Hospital in 1971, moving later to its professional radio careers, including Proceeds from the evening were current base at Heath Road Hospital. Radio Suffolk’s Stephen Foster and donated to the following charities: Although the evening celebrated Mark Murphy, Jonathan Murphy at Children in Need, SSAFA and Hospital HRI’s 40th birthday, the event was Dream100 and Patrick Eade Radio Radio Ipswich.
ON AIR
Our columnist, Brett Ellis, is in pensive mood hospital in Hastings. On reflection, this man was my hero. No, he didn’t climb Everest or break a world record but he lived a decent and honest life, fought for his country in the Far East during which time he was injured and brought up two children whilst holding down a happy and fulfilled marriage. Only last week I thought long and hard about my grandfather, after seeing the pain endured by my wife and her family after the sad passing away of her father in Cornwall. I visited him in hospital in Truro shortly before his death and it struck me at one particular moment as to who the real heroes of life are. As well as the men, and women, who live honest and decent lives centred around family, it sounds clichéd to say it but I cannot think of a more selfless, underpaid and less glamorous profession than that of nurses. The Angels on the Truro respiratory ward were not only caring (under extreme pressure), kind and humble but they dealt with situations that mere mortals could only bear to deal with and be able to handle once in a lifetime. The care afforded gave my father-in-law valuable time, in dignity and privacy, to say his goodbyes and precious moments to get to know my beautiful six week old daughter, Millie. The ward was predominantly made up of those with smoking related illnesses who were unable to breath unaided and in the later stages of cancer. Bodies were emancipated, eyes sunken and in some cases spirits broken. The nurses however, managed to It was in 1986 when my grandfather enquired as to who was deal with all of this and the inevitability of imminent death by my hero. I remember it as clear as day. I stood after school in his being professional and dare I say, angelic. In the face of this, the sawdusty, cobwebby but cosy workshop at the back of his house sporadic sound of laughter could be heard. Which is a humbling in Hastings as he, with eminent pride, demonstrated his recently and a welcome sound when in the harrowing situations that the unboxed and much cherished Citizens Band radio. Not only that patients present faced. but he also led me to the garden to unveil his 15 foot aerial he The same attributes can certainly be attributed to those had knocked up which stood proud in his back garden next to his nurses in 1989 when my grandfather died and also by nurses in Anderson shelter, that had since found a second life as a potting all manner of wards across the country, such as my mother, shed. After an initial inspection and fascinating CB Olive, who is an A and E nurse in a close knit and dedicated team demonstration, I was asked what I would like my handle to be. in the Conquest in Hastings. I see myself as a rough and tough This was, in retrospect, my first foray into young manhood. To kind of fella but I know, in my heart, if faced by the extreme be given a handle was akin to my being in Africa and having angst of pain and death of youngsters and the raw emotions of battle ceremony scars ingrained on my chest, only this initiation parents and children who have just lost a loved one, I would bawl involved my speaking to random strangers on a radio,the pre- my eyes out on a daily basis. cursor to social messaging nowadays. So, Dalglish, much as I admire your silky skills, your ability to I went home and thought long and hard about who I wanted hold up play and fire in a volley from 20 yards, age has brought a to be and lacking some teen inspiration I plumped for my one new bunch of heroes for me, those who deserve the platitudes and only hero of the day. In due course, my grandfather duly that come their way on a daily basis: the nurses. presented me with my ‘you have eyeballed Dalglish’ badge. My message is simple. Instead of the Beckhams and Brucies of Maybe I didn’t have the silky skills of the great man or any of his this world having honours bestowed on them for, although other attributes come to that but on CB I could be the inspiring, but generally selfish career achievements, why not put diminutive Scottish striker who plied his trade in Liverpool at forward a nurse or two who has dispelled humility and kindness? that time. Ask your listeners to nominate and right a wrong. To help you on My grandfather was ‘Singapore’ after a country he loved very your way call the Honours Secretariat at the Cabinet Office on 020 much and visited on numerous occasions. His friends had bizarre 7276 2766 and ask for a nomination form. A little bit of time on monikers such as ‘hangdog’, ‘wolfie’ and ‘the big one’. A more your part could result in an honour that is vastly deserved and motley group of people you could not meet. His best friends on earned daily but not generally recognised as it should be, by CB (and subsequently in real life) were a couple called ‘Brian and thousands of selfless men and women. Babs’. Brian was completely blind and Babs had endured a As Truman Capote once said, ‘Life is a moderately good play serious stroke which left her unable to move the left side of her with a badly written third act’. The nurses are in effect the stage body. They, foolishly or otherwise, decided that these afflictions hands who ensure that the actors and crowd leave as happy as is would not diminish their ability to drive around town in a car possible in situations that are often beyond desperate and and I can say in all honesty, watching them trying to park a Lada frequently heartbreaking, numbing and sickening. It’s time, in (with Brian grabbing the wheel and turning on Babs’ instruction) small part, to pay them back. and her undertaking all of the right turns left me with my heart That is my less than jovial column for this month complete. in mouth and diving for cover frequently behind my Mother’s Apologies for the lack of humour but I feel the message is one DAF. that needs to be put across in such a way. Normal service will be The CB fad died down within a few years once everyone resumed next time out of the trap. All that is left my HR chums realised how dull it was listening to strangers informing other is for me to bid you 10-10 on the side as I take my ears off. strangers in detail about their corns and the problems with the Dalglish over and out. bin man and then, in 1989, my grandfather died from cancer in [email protected]
COPY DATE FOR ISSUE 137 5th January, 2012
ON AIR
Chairman Phil Moon Deputy Chairman Iain Lee 82 Greenleaf Gardens, Polegate, Hospital Broadcasting Association, E Sussex BN26 6PH PO Box 341, Messingham, Tel: 0870 321 6000 Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Tel: 0870 321 6014 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Main contact with statutory bodies. Sub committee chairman. Ambassadors Special projects
Treasurer Julie Cox General Secretary Hospital Broadcasting Association, Nigel Dallard PO Box 341, Messingham, 54 St. Annes Close, Badger Farm, Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Winchester, Hampshire SO22 4LQ Tel: 0870 321 6004 Tel: 0870 321 6003 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Financial matters (other than General correspondence, Company subscriptions) Secretary, annual review
President June Snowden Regional Manager Dave Lockyer Hospital Broadcasting Association, P.O. Box 76, Ely, CB6 3WH PO Box 341, Messingham, Tel: 0870 321 6009 Scunthorpe DN15 5EG e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0870 321 6005 Station visits, represent HBA e-mail: [email protected] publicly, print and present long Regional meetings, contacts, setting service certificates up a region etc.
Sales & Advertising Executive Editor Paul Sysum Michelle Newstead Hospital Broadcasting Association, Hospital Broadcasting Association, PO Box 341, Messingham, PO Box 341, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Tel: 0870 321 6026 Tel: 0870 321 6011 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] All Corporate sales for HBA On Air magazine
Technical Adviser Webmaster Mark Venus Geoff Fairbairn Hospital Broadcasting Association, Hospital Broadcasting Association, PO Box 341, Messingham, PO Box 341, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Tel: 0870 321 6012 Tel: 0870 321 6018 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Technical matters Maintenance of HBA website
Acting Public Relations Conference Bookings Emma Sysum Manager Tel: 0870 321 6017 Sean Dunderdale Hospital Broadcasting Association, e-mail: [email protected] PO Box 341, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN15 5EG Tel: 0870 321 6008 Training Bookings John Bryson e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0870 765 9615 Press & public relations, charity profile e-mail: [email protected]
General Enquiries Membership Enquiries Tel: 0870 321 6019 Tel: 0870 321 6003 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Regional Reps details Region Rep AddRess phone e-mAil
Regional Dave Lockyer 54 School Lane 0870 321 6005 [email protected] Manager Higham Rochester Kent ME3 7JF
Anglia Mike Sarre 0870 765 9601 [email protected]
Home Luke Osborne 0870 765 9602 [email protected]
London Ben Hart 0870 765 9603 [email protected]
midlands Tony Wilding 0870 765 9604 [email protected]
North David Nicholson 0870 765 9605 [email protected]
Northern Davey Downes 0870 765 9606 [email protected] Ireland
North West David McGealy 0870 765 9607 [email protected]
Scotland Jim Simpson 0870 765 9608 [email protected]
South Neil Ogden 0870 765 9609 [email protected]
South East Jason Cook 0870 765 9611 [email protected]
Wales & West Darran Huish 0870 765 9613 [email protected]
Yorkshire Iain Lee 0870 765 9614 [email protected]
Please address correspondence to the Regional Reps at: Hospital Broadcasting Association, PO Box 341, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN15 5EG
All members of the EC and Regional Reps are volunteers and will respond to any contact as quickly as possible. Please understand however, that work or family commitments mean that availability may not always be immediate and may be limited to evenings and weekends.