JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005 Issue 102
The Official Journal of the Hospital Broadcasting Association
in this issue ... Dear Reader, Committee Report ...... 3 I had a dream over Christmas that I would wake up Who Are Your Charity Trustees? ...... 4 to a sackful of mail from hospital radio stations all over the country, telling me of the wondrous things that their Obituaries ...... 5 station had done over the Yuletide celebrations. How Setting the Standard ...... 6 busy they had been entertaining patients, shaking tins at All Our Yesterdays by Dennis Rookard ...... 7 their local supermarket and even dreaming up some Going 24 7 ...... 8 whacky idea to raise much needed funds for their sta- tion. But then I woke up. And apart from the faithful few Marketing Country Music ` ...... 11 who always manage to find time to write an article, Countrywide ... News from the Stations ...... 12 however busy they are, I received very little else. Sound Broadcasting Equipment Show ...... 14 The whole purpose of On Air is for interaction Twenty-one Christmases at Epsom HR ...... 15 between the stations, so that we can learn and help one Radio Gosh ...... 16 another in our mutual aim to improve the service we offer to patients in hospital. One of the best ways to No Longer a Virgin ...... 17 achieve that is to throw everybody’s ideas into the melt- June’s Travels ...... 18 ing pot. Regional Rep Details ...... 19 So what are you waiting for? Please send me in an Who To Contact ...... 20 article, whether or not you think it is great, some one will find it a good read. Otherwise I will have to bore you FRONT COVER PICTURE: with developments at my own station (painting, cleaning Members of Hospital Radio Brockley busy selling raffle tickets and more painting) followed by entering thousands of for their record breaking Christmas draw records on to our computer. You have been warned! Michelle
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: Michael Letch, Bleak House, 146 High Street, Billericay, Essex CM12 9DF On Air is distributed free of charge to all member stations of the Association plus interested parties. All material is ©2004 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 Fax: 0870 321 6019 Email: [email protected] COPY DATE NEXT ISSUE 16th February 2005
Committee Report
At our last Executive Committee for the Spring Conference. In the meeting, as nobody else had volun- meantime, a discussion has taken place teered, John Watson reluctantly agreed on the ‘Onelist’ e-mail discussion forum to take on the role, on the understand- about one aspect of the proposed role ing that he did not intend to continue in – co-ordinating a library of shared pro- the role beyond the 2005 AGM. grammes. We’ve even had a couple of Those of you that have had any expressions of interest from people dealings with John will, I am sure, who may be willing to get involved! If agree that John will make an excellent you have any thoughts, please do get in Chief Executive. The rest of the EC touch. would like to thank him for agreeing to take on this new role. Ambassadors and Advisers In filling the Chief Exec’s position, We are asking members to suggest we created another vacancy – the potential new Ambassadors, perhaps Deputy Chief Executive. All members from people well-known in their area subscribed to the "announce" e-mail list but not necessarily nation-wide, in an will have seen a plea from the EC to attempt to build up a list that both HBA consider nominating yourself, or per- and our members can call upon. suade someone else to offer their ser- by Nigel Dallard, Secretary We have had a number of sugges- vices so that we could co-opt them into tions, but more would be welcome. the role at our January meeting. As I’m Please submit your ideas to June. writing this before Christmas, I have that the first two HBA Model Policies June is also drafting a role descrip- received no nominations so far. were launched by John Watson during tion for Ambassadors so that those invit- Hopefully by the time you read it, a conference seminar. A model Data ed know what we’re expecting of someone will have stepped forward Protection Policy and associated guide- them. and we will have been able to appoint lines and a model Confidentiality Policy them. for hospital broadcasting organisations Insurance are now available on the HBA website. At this point I can only hope and AGM and Once again, make sure you have your assume that all members have managed Autumn Conference member’s username and password, to find insurance, either through Access I trust that those of you that attended then go to the members home page and Underwriting, Crosbie and Jack or the Autumn Conference in Stoke-on- follow the links. We hope to add more another broker. Trent enjoyed yourselves and went model policies over the coming months, You will have seen from our recent away suitably filled with both knowl- so watch this space! letter that the EC is still trying to resolve edge and food/drink! The draft minutes our differences with the directors and of the formal AGM and the informal Programme Adviser shareholders of Enterprises. meeting that followed are now avail- Last time, I mentioned Chris As I write this in mid-December, the able on the HBA website – go to the Berezai’s idea of creating a Programme first signs of progress are becoming members home page and follow the Adviser position on the EC. The idea apparent. Watch this space! links – you’ll need your member’s user- was discussed at the informal meeting name and password. at the Autumn Conference and was And finally… well-received. It just remains for me to hope that Model Policies The EC are now tasked with devel- you’ve had a good Christmas and New Those of you who attended the oping the idea – refining the idea, firm- Year and to wish you and your station a Autumn Conference in Stoke will know ing up the role description, etc in time happy and prosperous 2005. Grief Never Grows Old Records Smashed The Tsunami charity song, ‘Grief Never Grows Old’ has been made available Over £2,500 has been raised for for free download to all HBA members. London’s longest running hospital The song, written by DJ Mike Read and sung by Cliff Richard, Bill Wyman, radio station! Russell Watson, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Steve Winwood, Brian Wilson and The figure raised in this year’s yule- the Beach Boys, Kenny Jones, Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson, Boy George, tide spectacular, beats all records set Gary Moore, Jon Christos, the National Children’s Orchestra and the Holy in previous raffles and ensures the Family Convent Choir of Colombo(Sri Lanka) is released on 24th January continuation of Radio Brockley, 2005, with all proceeds going to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for which provides the patients of the the Tsunami victims. Royal National Orthopaedic Download instructions are available at: Hospital in Stanmore with a person- http://www.hbauk.co.uk/members/exec/docs/tsunami.txt (username and pass- al radio service to their bedside. word required). Eleven volunteers gave up their Please note that the song is watermarked so if it gets out into general circulation, Christmas morning to broadcast live it will be possible to tell that it leaked via a hospital broadcaster. Please don’t let from the wards, bringing festive the side down. Thanks, Nigel Dallard, Secretary cheer to patients and staff.
ON AIR
Over the last year or so, I’ve had a people appointed by the Charity number of enquiries from people want- And what are they Trustees to hold the title to the charity’s ing to know who are their station’s responsible and property, leases or investments on Charity Trustees and/or what are their behalf of an unincorporated Charity responsibilities? liable for? because an unincorporated association The Charity Commission for is not allowed to hold these in its own England and Wales explain (in booklet name. They are not needed if your sta- CC3): tion is set up as a limited company. ‘The charity trustees are the people In the absence of any additional responsible under the charity's govern- powers or responsibilities being given to ing document for controlling the man- these people by the governing docu- agement and administration of the char- ment, they have no role in the manage- ity (s.97(1) of the 1993 [Charities] Act). ment of the charity. They must act on They may be called trustees, managing the instructions of the Charity Trustees trustees, committee members, gover- unless to do so would be a breach of nors, or directors, or they may be trust. They are only liable where they, referred to by some other title. In the themselves, breach trust. case of an unincorporated association, the members of the executive or man- What are the responsibilities agement committee are its charity of Charity Trustees? trustees; in the case of a charitable As explained above, the Charity company it is the directors.’ Trustees are responsible for controlling The position is basically the same in the management and administration of Scotland and Northern Ireland. the charity. They are the equivalent of The governing document is your sta- by Nigel Dallard, Secretary Company Directors – in fact, if the tion’s Constitution or, if the station is a charity is set up as a company, they are limited company, its Memorandum and also the Company Directors. Articles of Association. An unincorpo- Accounts, set the Executive Committee They are usually elected on a regular rated association means an organisation goals and monitor progress against these basis by the membership of the associa- with a membership but which is not a targets. The Executive Committee sim- tion. Some charities’ governing docu- company. ply take the strategic direction from the ments allow another organisation to Trustees and manage the station on a appoint an ex-officio Charity Trustee Charity Trustees versus day-to-day basis to provide the best (for example, the NHS Trust that runs Executive Committee possible service within the available your hospital may be eligible to appoint Basically, the top-most layer of man- resources and according to the overall one of your Charity Trustees). Once agement within the organisation, as policies and directions set by the elected or appointed, working together defined by its governing document, are Charity Trustees. However, this two as equals, they are entitled to make any the Charity Trustees. In most Hospital layer structure is probably overkill for a decisions they like within the bounds Radio stations, there is only one tier of small organisation such as the average set out by the governing document and management – the Executive or independent Hospital Radio station. within the law. Management Committee. In this case, it Having a single layer of management In making decisions, Charity Trustees is clear from the above that these peo- means that you don’t have to try and are legally obliged to consider only the ple are the Charity Trustees. recruit two sets of people. The down- best interests of the charity and its pre- A minority of stations have a two-tier side is that it is all too easy for them to sent and future beneficiaries. They are management structure. They have a set spend all their time dealing with the not allowed to take into account their of Charity Trustees (whatever they are minutiae of the day-to-day running of own best interests, the interests of any actually called) and a separate the station and neglect the more strate- organisation that appointed them, or the Executive or Management Committee. gic planning necessary to ensure the interests of the association’s members. This structure may be found in an inde- long-term stability and survival of an If one of your station’s Trustees if a pendent charity but is usual where the organisation effectively meeting its char- Charity Trustee or any close relative or Hospital Radio station is part of another itable objects. other organisation that they are larger charity, such as the Hospital involved with, could benefit in any way League of Friends or the Lions Club. Nominees or Holding Trustees from a decision to be made, they must There are pros and cons for both Confusion may arise if your station absent themselves from the meeting for structures: was formed prior to the 1993 Charities the duration of any debate and vote on In many regards, a two-tier structure Act, as it is not uncommon for constitu- the issue. Not doing so can invalidate is a purer management structure, as it tions before this date to refer to another the decision. clearly separates the two roles of body of people as the Trustees – those A Charity Trustee, is currently not Charity Trustee and day-to-day man- who hold title to any land, lease or allowed to be paid by the Charity, agement. The Charity Trustees may other property of the association. In either for acting as a Charity Trustee, or only need to meet only three or four modern terms, these people are for any other work they (or any close times a year to discuss the more strate- Nominees or Holding Trustees. They relative or organisation in which they gic matters, agree the annual budget, are not the Charity Trustees. have an interest) may undertake unless sign-off the Annual Report and Nominees or Holding Trustees are the governing document specifically
ON AIR
ON AIR
It has always struck me as odd that schedule helping stations to choose the we have no-one on EC to oversee the type and range of programmes to suit ‘end product’ of what every single hos- their audience. pital radio station is in existence for – To suit the role, I identified a number the programmes that are transmitted to of factors that would give the ideal per- patients. We have experts to advise on son for the job. Again, nothing hard and setting up a station, how to build a stu- fast, my suggestions only, but I came up dio, what to do with equipment, how to with the following: obtain licences, how to fundraise ... the 1. An experienced Hospital radio list is endless. But no-one to advise or broadcaster, confident and at ease with help with the flagship – broadcasting! presenting request programmes, and I therefore suggested to the EC that with at least ten years experience across we create a role of Programme Officer. a range of programming (it’s no good, This proposal was examined by the with all due respect, to put a novice EC, who decided to offer it to the into this role – they’ve got to know membership for discussion at the AGM what they’re doing and what hospital meeting in Stoke-on-Trent. Those sta- radio is all about!). tions present agreed that such a role is 2. Someone very good at training needed and charged the EC with taking techniques (because you may have to it further. do it ...) The brief I devised for the role are by Chris Berezai 3. Someone with a confident and simply suggestions – there’s nothing likeable radio manner (OK, I admit, this hard and fast in place, that will be for- Regional Manager is stating the obvious..!) mally agreed as a job description by EC 4. Someone au fait with the concept after we’ve heard opinions from the generic programmes from different sta- of good speech radio (as opposed to membership. Here’s my thoughts on tions) music-based programmes. It’s a differ- what the role should involve for a start- 4. To offer advice and help on spe- ent ball game and much more difficult ing point: cialist programming (such as classical, to fill time with) 1. To advise stations on structuring Big Bands, Country and Western, etc.) 5. A sports-orientated background station output (if you like, a Programme 5. To encourage and assist with (sorry, but it’s essential because of the Controller Controller!) sports commentary services, acting as large amount of sport output within the 2. To advise on patient-orientated liaison for stations to share commentary HBA. Remember that football commen- programming (to say ‘get up the bloody and coverage (particularly to help when taries is where the HBA started.) wards and get requests!’ – you’d be a station may want to cover a local 6. Someone who knows the world of shocked by how many don’t actually do team’s ‘away’ matches) hospital radio inside out and with a that.) 6. To set up regional training days in clear idea of what a hospital patient 3. To act as liaison between stations association with the Regional Reps. may want to hear (DJs need not for shared programming (to point sta- 7. To advise on programme standards apply!!) tions in the right directions for obtaining and help with raising broadcasting stan- So, that’s the general idea – now it’s programmes and/or operate a holding dards. over to you out there for library for HBA members to obtain 8. To create a ‘model’ programme Chris Berezai Beware the Patient Who Tells You Lies
Over the Christmas period we had a Incredibly embarrassed, I telephoned Whilst in hospital he had a collecting patient in the Heart Ward called the man in the hospital ward and spoke tin and he was giving away his auto- Richard Blackmore. to him at some length trying to disprove graph in exchange for a donation He claimed to be the lead guitarist of his story. He convinced me he was the towards the Tsunami appeal and I the famous Heavy Metal Group DEEP genuine person and when asked why understand it was ‘quite full’ with gen- PURPLE. he was not in a private hospital or pri- erous donations. It later transpired he I spoke to him on Sunday 2nd vate ward – he replied to say that he was a conman and he ran off with the January and he told me that he had was a private patient in an NHS hospi- collection of Tsunami funds as well. been knighted in the New Year’s hon- tal but he didn’t want to be in a small I’ve been conned and indeed all our ours so over the following week we private hospital room as he liked the ward visiting record request collection played requests for the ‘Newest Knight’ company of other people around him. team were also conned by him but all feeling honoured for the privilege. He also claimed that he had spoken we have done is given a significant Foolishly I sent off an email to the to his own doctor in Los Angeles boost to the music of Deep Purple on local press advising them of this world (which is where he now lives, he told our request programmes. famous personality, who was currently me) about his treatment and he hoped Perhaps we are wrong to take at face in our local hospital and they duly to be going back to LA fairly soon for value the stories our patients tell us but reported the item in the press, on the more tests. that is a sorry state of affairs. strength of my detailed story. He claimed that he was on the 13th I hope that the genuine Richard Two days later, the local paper called gig of a 16 gig tour of the UK and after Blackmore never ends up in a me to ask whether ‘Sir ‘Ritchie his performance at the Portsmouth Southampton Hospital – no one will Blackmore was the genuine article as Guildhall he doesn’t remember anything believe in him. they had received an anonymous email. until he woke up in the Southampton Roy Stubbs, Embarrassed Chairman claiming that he was a conman. Heart Ward. Southampton Hospital Radio
ON AIR
Time for another look through the Dennis Rookard took it in turn to host the conference, dusty archives of ON AIR, or as it was making it as a point of honour to organ- known back in 1981 – Hospital Radio looks back at past editions ise a better one then the previous News. Then as now the subject of of On-Air event. conferences was been hotly debated. Finally on the technical front, how Editor, Dave McGealy, reporting tion – do they use zappy jingles’, he many of you remember that staple tool Executive discussion, wondered why asked. Considering how both these for outside broadcasting – the Partridge only forty stations had sent representa- gentlemen’s careers have developed, I OB 100, designed and built by Alf tives to conference, leaving the other wonder what they would say today. Partridge in his Benfleet garage in 185 members of the Association at that Actually thanks have to be made to Essex, originally for his local hospital time not bothering. What, asked Dave Dave Langer – a hospital broadcaster to radio station at Basildon. The unit first in his editorial, would you like at a con- his fingertips as his was the only adver- saw the light of day in its final form and ference, how much should it cost and tisement appearing in that 1981 issue. for sale in the early seventies, enabling most important, what part of the coun- Leaping forward two years to April anyone to produce an outside broad- try should it be held? 1983, the cover featured a photograph cast by simply plugging in a microphone These days, Quentin Howard is a of new Ambassador Frankie Vaughan. and headphones for studio talk back, high flying commercial radio executive The idea of having an Ambassador had before using a pair of crocodile clips to but back in December 1981 was in hot come from the then Public Relations connect to a standard telephone line. debate with Dave Langer over that Officer Alan Grimadell, who soon In an age when arranging an outside much-vexed subject of radio jingles. became an expert at finding show biz broadcast often meant hiring in expen- Now as we all know Mr Langer has as characters to add to our list of Patrons sive broadband lines, the Partridge OB they say ‘an interest’ in these musical and Ambassadors. 100 in that age before mobile phones epics. So it was not surprising that fol- He also used to grace the pages of and ISDN or computer broadband was lowing a letter from Quentin slamming ON-AIR with his Hype Page allegedly a sensation. For now any domestic the use of jingles in hospital radio, Dave written from his office on the 75th floor quality line could be used. hit back in our letters page, saying of NAHBO Towers, said to be located It proved ideal for local football com- ‘Quentin mentioned that no old ‘biddy’ in Paddington. On a personal note mentaries and live reportage from an a derogatory term’ he said, ‘wants to here, when I took over this post, I felt event back to a studio. The one thing it hear ‘the old Rugged Cross’ zapped by that this vast office would have to go could not handle very well was music, an American jingle’. This went on Dave and so moved his mythical band of due to its restrictive bandwidth. But at agreeing ‘was purely bad programming, workers down to my garden shed. £200 plus VAT it was a bargain. unfortunately there are far too many Conference for 1983 – at that time Indeed it was not long before it was presenters who play a particular jingle we still only had one per year. And for selling in large numbers to the commer- because of what it says instead of play- that year Manchester and the Owens cial radio sector. A case again of ing the right jingle which fits the link’, Park Conference Centre had been Hospital Broadcasting engineering tech- Then wrote Dave, ‘most hospital radio selected with the redoubtable Dave nology leading the way. Some I under- stations mould themselves on the Radio McGealy running the organising com- stand are still in service today. 2 style of programming and presenta- mittee. Unlike today, back then stations More next month ... Goodbye to Standish
It is with much sadness I have to tell relocated to its final accommodation when you that Standish Hospital Radio, member a new Westrex broadcasting system was 196, closed down on Christmas Eve after installed. over 50 years of broadcasting. In 2000 the radio room was refitted by The station closed down with a special the League of Friends when the outdated 1st-3rd April 2005 farewell show to the few remaining equipment became too expensive to main- Spring Conference in Belfast patients at the hospital, finishing with the tain. song The Party’s Over after Station Always very popular with its listeners 2nd April 2005 Manager Richard White had thanked Standish broadcast a patients request show HBA Awards patients, staff and volunteers for supporting every evening between 8 and 10pm. the station. Radio equipment and over 8000 2nd-10th April 2005 The relocation of patients from Standish records and CDs has been put into storage Hospital Broadcasting Week Hospital to the Gloucester Royal Hospital awaiting the final decision on the hospital was completed on 28th December 2004. site by the Health Minister and the 14th-16th October 2005 The radio service at Standish was intro- Secretary of State. Two bids are in for the Autumn Conference, duced in 1950 when staff in the OT site, one from a Private Mental Health Portsmouth Department suggested it would be a good facility and the other from Standish Mutual idea to provide musical entertainment for Care, a co-operative venture owned by its 15th October 2005 the long stay patients on E block. Initially members to serve the community. The AGM the Rediffusion Replay equipment was dilemma for the D of H is whether to sell housed in a small room (nicknamed the the site to the highest bidder, or donate the 31st March-2nd April 2006 broom cupboard) in the Recreational Hall. site to the community for a nominal fee. Spring Conference at the The radio service was run by the Junior Standish Mutual Care would be the first Hilton Hotel, Blackpool League of Friends with their request pro- mutual trust in the UK, although they are gramme becoming a great success. well established in other countries includ- 1st April-9th April 2006 In 1958 the station became a member ing Japan, Canada and Spain. Hospital Broadcasting Week of HBA and in 1969 the radio room was Richard White, Station Manager
ON AIR
THE BIG IDEA How one station went hand, simply a splitting of costs – I think We first thought about setting up a we paid £130 over and above the lot- sustaining service around six years ago. round the clock without tery grant. We had a brave idea of buying a going round the bend! Panasonic domestic CD jukebox and ALL SYSTEMS GO recording 300 CDs worth of sequenced Our design concept was to provide a music with jingles, and then rotating by Phil Hughes central server in our apparatus room them. Clearly the drawbacks were Whipps Cross Hospital Radio that would hold the music and databas- many: repetition of material, problems es on mirrored drives of 80Gb (IDE with timing, the effort to record all RAID arrays were just becoming avail- those CDs and, of course, mechanical able cheaply). The principle was that if reliability. The idea went the same way one drive failed the other would have as the Zeppelin airliner and the Ronco an exact copy, so we would never lose button stitcher. any audio tracks. We thought that Then the computer market changed reloading music tracks manually after a – the price of machines dropped, the crash would be too much pain to bear. specifications soared (and by implica- At that time an 80Gb drive was about tion the reliability) and, really important- the biggest we could get. Nowadays ly, the cost of hard disk storage plum- 250Gb and even 300Gb can be bought meted. The possibility of an affordable reasonably cheaply. This central computer-driven system opened up. machine would spew out music 24- We spotted a playout system called hours a day and we would simply opt ‘Myriad’ from a small UK company, in and out around our live output. PSquared, who were clearly aiming at On advice from PSquared we the small commercial/RSL/hospital radio planned-in a second, simpler machine market and understood the financial onto a 100Mb Ethernet network for models such stations work to. inputting new tracks and doing the Luckily we have a strong technical housekeeping. We realised that team, my colleague Terry who is an would simply be to provide an automat- although we would have to take down IT/electronics expert and myself from a ed service to take the place of Radio 2 the server once a month for servicing BBC Radio technical and music back- when we closed of an evening and to (defragging etc.) by having a second ground. We felt that between us and leave our studios untouched. machine we could merrily schedule and with help from another member, Jon We opted for the second choice on input new tracks remotely without living Emmins (who had some experience of the basis that we felt some presenters in fear of doing something dramatic on using the Encodad system), we could would find it hard to adapt to new the server when it was on air. Good tackle the project. After talking to sever- technology, that we did not want to move! In fact we later added a third al other stations and visiting Harefield lose traditional radio operational skills machine to the network so that two Hospital Radio who were already run- and that it would be cheaper, quicker people could add tracks and edit while ning Myriad, we jumped in feet first. and easier to install. the main machine was doing its stuff. P We did not expect it to take quite as Cowards maybe, but with hindsight Squared were unsure of the system’s long as it did – almost eighteen months. it has turned out exactly as we had ability to cope with this but it seems to planned, disruption has been minimal, work. DECISIONS, DECISIONS the result is highly effective and we Each machine had to have the soft- The main reason for installing a sys- have had no on air failures. It will be ware loaded – Autotrack 3 Pro runs the tem in the first place was to get a 24- easy to upgrade the studios next time databases and scheduling, Myriad runs hour presence around the hospital – in around. the wall of audio ‘carts’ and also the the wards and in the public areas. We The more we looked at Myriad the playout system (QNXT) – that displays knew that with just three hours a night more it became obvious that it was a three virtual cart players with a vertical and Radio 2 the rest of the time, we well thought out and reliable system stack of tracks. It auto-loads the tracks would never be able to make much of that we could afford. In fact we applied you have scheduled and segues really an impact on the soon-to-arrive for an ‘Awards For All’ National Lottery rather well. The crucial thing here is Patientline. The other thought at the grant and we were successful. At that ‘crap in, crap out’ ... more on that later, back of our minds was to make any time it was a fairly simple process to we are getting ahead of ourselves. future RSLs a great a deal easier than apply for a grant for under £5,000 (it On delivery of the machines (we the first two had been! may still be) and we calculated that we bought base units from PSquared plus There were two basic options for could buy the hardware and software Win 2000 operating systems, very spe- the type of service a playout system for around that figure. Applying for the cific audio cards and the PSquared soft- might provide. The first would be an grant was a little time consuming but ware) there was still a fair amount of all-singing, all-dancing installation. This was not rocket science – all we had to setting up and configuring to do. We could provide manual playout of jingles do was demonstrate a real purpose and supplied monitors, keyboards etc. from and music from the studios and then an that we were a financially responsible our stock to keep costs down. Any sta- automated sustaining service from the organisation. We did and we are! tion would need someone with real IT server. We could modernise the stu- PSquared were able to adjust the skills to get up and running and even dios, throw out the cart machines and invoice so that we paid directly for a then some of the settings require a study probably we would only need CD play- few items and the rest were covered by of the manuals. PSquared offers a free ers as a backup. The second option the grant application. Nothing under- day’s training but we decided to go our
ON AIR
ON AIR
ON AIR
Country music is big business in goodness sake go out and recruit some- America and is growing in popularity by one who does and I don’t mean a free- leaps and bounds all over the world, lance token. Get full time staff members with the notable exception of one major who believe in country music. Because market place – Britain. if the music takes off in the way I think Although there are several signs that it’s threatening to do, then those who it might change with country music in an honest and uncompromising manner, do will recoup those salaries and listen- the future, there is still much work to so why change a name that has been ing figures in double quick time. do and most importantly a much need- perfectly acceptable for the last fifty Record companies’ staff need to be ed change in attitude is required. years. I am afraid that country music trained to sell country music as aggres- Many times in the last 20 years, I does not need to be compromised in sively as they do other styles of music. It have been asked why has country that way. seems at the moment that sales people, music not had a bigger hold in the UK, Even at the height of his career, Jim when dealing with record shops, are although several times it looked as it Reeves was proud to be known as a almost apologetic about country music, might have happened. country singer and the same goes for all ie ‘oh yes, in case you might be interest- In the early 1960s, country acts like the artists of today. They don’t hide their ed, we also have this new release by Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline music under some modern meaningless Jo Dee Messina, I am not keen on it and Hank Loddin featured extensively name (ie rap, garage, techno, etc) they myself but you might want to stock a in the charts. The latter part of the stood up proudly and justifiably called few copies’. I know, I have heard it. decade saw the first Wembley Festivals themselves country singers. Let me give That’s not the kind of attitude we need. and record breaking attendances for the you an example, not so long ago, a We need AMP. music. country artist, namely Garth Brooks, The 1970s saw a steady consolida- proved that in America you could work in a positive and aggressive way to sell Education to the Media tion for the music and by the end of Why is it that magazines like ‘Q’ and that decade, with such stars as Kenny country music to the masses. It’s not down to the guy’s talent (and he had ‘Vox’ continuously give country music Rogers, Don Williams, Crystal Gayle releases poor reviews in comparison to and Boxcar Willie all made a big plenty of that), the main reason for Garth Brooks’ amazing success was AMP. other forms of music. It’s not that coun- impact, it finally looked as if country try music is sub standard, it’s because the music was ready to be established as a And the breakthrough he had achieved, has opened the doors for staff on these and other publications do major musical force in the UK. not like country music or don’t under- But it never happened and for the many more country acts like Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunne and stand it or must not been seen to enjoy past 15 years or so its popularity has it, less it should shatter their street cred! plummeted. Shania Twain, etc, to pursue AMP. This paid off with sell out shows and This type of discrimination is wrong. million selling albums – an achievement Most country music today can and What has happened? does stand on equal terms with classic I do believe strongly that a major con- many years ago would have been noth- ing more than a pipe dream. rock, soul, jazz, R & B and any other tributory factor has been the lack of style of music and should be given simi- AMP: that is Aggressive Marketing and lar and equal treatment. If everyone Promotion. Country music has always Could it happen in Britain? involved in country music was to take a lacked this one vital and much needed The plain and simple answer is Yes. stance against this discrimination, then ingredient. All we need to do is change our atti- we might start to win the battle, be it a I have seen it from the major labels, tude and in doing so, change the atti- big one. the smaller independents, the hard tude of others in the music, entertain- I firmly believe that if we can get the working bands, singers and musicians, ment and media business. We in Britain American country music of today accept- the agents and promoters, the dedicated have many talented country music ed in the same was as American soul enthusiastic amateurs who run the club singers, musicians and entertainers but music was in the 60s and 70s, then the scene and dare I say it from you, who- what do they lack – that vital ingredient doors will start opening for the British ever reads this, and yes, at times I am as AMP. The starting point was getting the country acts, of which there are many guilty as the rest. American music accepted, which has good ones around. It happened for soul We all seem to be content to allow slowly happened but we still need a music and other types of music. Why country music to be treated as a second massive change from the media, record shouldn’t it happen to country music? class act. What we need to do is to get companies, radio broadcasters and tele- The more the aggressive market and out and meet the public, stand up and vision companies in this country. promotion, not only by record compa- promote country music. Ignore the long Record companies cannot sell coun- nies but by the media and broadcasting held prejudices and concentrate on the try music in Britain if they do not services, will ensure a better chance of musical strengths. believe in the music. You cannot be success to country music. We all need For several years, close friends and aggressive and believable about a prod- to do our best and attract the vast associates have suggested that the way uct if you don’t like it. Broadcasters untapped audience of 18-30 years to for country music to make a bigger (there are a few who believe in country country music. They are the ones who impression in Britain is to give it another music) need to be aggressive and pro- will carry the music long into the next name – why? Whatever the label you mote country music and new acts and century and beyond. It is is the respon- decide to tag the music with, I love it names in order to get people to realise sibility of anyone into country music to and dare I say you love it as well but that country music is up and coming. make it happen, just as it has happened are afraid to say so, it still remains coun- If record companies, radio stations, over the water in America. try music. televisions companies don’t have any- Phil Keast Country music for me reflects every one working for them who enjoys and Country music presenter day life, good times and bad times – in believes in country music, then for Hospital Radio Plymouth
ON AIR
Rossendale, June Forshaw and the local M.P. Janet Anderson. Station Chairman, Stuart Haines, paid tribute to founder members Arthur, EPSOM HOSPITAL Vera and David Foster, who are still RADIO AIMS TO very active in the station. Arthur Foster (founding chairman) was presented BOOGIE 24/7 with a crystal decanter and David Epsom Hospital Radio held a Foster (secretary) with a silver tankard. fundraising event at the Boogie Lounge Publicity Officer and organiser nightclub, Epsom, in an attempt to Pauline Haines said,’Although Hospital boost income for their 24 hour project. Radio Rossendale is a small station, we Currently broadcasting 30 hours a were all proud to be able to celebrate week (8-10pm weekdays and 10am- our first 25 years with a great party. 8pm weekends), Epsom Hospital Radio We would like to thank everyone who aims to increase their output and be on- attended or sent their good wishes.’ air 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of our many ways of marking With the PatientLine system now the anniversary was the creation of a installed in many of the wards at celebrity cook book. Epsom General Hospital, patients are We were overwhelmed with the able to hear the range of programmes help we received from local, national in the clarity of stereo. It is now hoped and international celebrities. Recipes to purchase the Myriad automation sys- range from Sir Michael Caine’s carrot tem, enabling EHR to broadcast around cake to Tony Blair’s pasta Celebrity the clock. chefs contributed including Ainsley Unfortunately, this does not come Harriot and Rick Stein, Radio 2 presen- cheap. The event at the Boogie Lounge ters helped including Steve Wright, raised approximately £700 for the pro- Terry Wogan and Jeremy Vine , ject. ‘It was a great success. People had GMTV presenters Eamon Holmes and a lot of fun and a lot of money was Fiona Phillips contributed, as did soap raised’ proclaims Serena Smyth, stars from Coronation Street and Fundraising Co-ordinator. ‘Our thanks EastEnders. go to the owner Neil and manager Ish The cook book totals 66 A4 pages at the Boogie Lounge for providing the and is available for £5 plus £1 postage venue and staff; Lee from ice- and package from Pauline Haines, Pictured, top: Stan Boardman on our re- agency.com for donating a superb Publicity Officer, Hospital Radio vodka luge ice sculpture; Sainsbury’s for launch; below David Foster, Secretary o Rossendale, Haslingden Road, HRR receiving his 25 year long service supplying items for our prize draw and Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, certificate the Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom & BB4 6NE. Cheques to be made ing we were told permission had been Ewell for supporting the event’. The payable to Rossendale Hospital Radio Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and granted and go ahead and purchase the Ewell later visited the studios for an machine. interview and showed support for the ARROWED Paul Head, one of our presenters, station and its value within the commu- used money donated to him by his nity. MOVE FORWARD employer, Lloyds Trustees Bank, to buy During the past 12 months Arrowed Autoplus software, which is capable of Sound Hospital Radio based in Wirral running a 24-hour broadcasting station 25 YEARS FOR Merseyside has undergone considerable unattended if required and can be pro- ROSSENDALE change. We thought as the hospital had grammed even by a station manager! Hospital Radio Rossendale celebrat- to install the new Patientline bedside We then approached Wirral ed their 25th Anniversary on 17th station we could lose our radio to a Hospital Lottery for money to buy new December 2004 with a great party at commercial concern. microphones to compliment the new St. Mary’s Chamber’s Rawtenstall. It It was decided to install a computer, system. Again this was granted to us was an opportunity to say a big thank software, update the mixer and pur- and we were ready to give our patients you to members past and present. chase new microphones. music and chat for different moods 24 Although a small station, Radio As funds were very low we hours seven days each week manned or Rossendale looks after a number of vol- approached our League of Friends. We on automatic. untary functions at the hospital and has asked for a grant of just over £3000 to The studio looked dirty. It was decid- more than 60 volunteers. purchase a new mixer to replace our ed to contact the works department for The party got underway with great old and forever breaking down one. any spare paint. Not only did they pro- live music provided by the band, One We received, after a presentation vide the paint and painter to paint the Nite Stand, which includes an ex HRR explaining why we needed a new studio and entrance, they even cut and member! A local DJ provided a disco mixer, the total amount required. moved work surfaces to the new layout with games. The supper was hot and The station then decided to send a we had planned. tasty and led in to the presentations representative to meet the Chairman of A re-launch was planned for early with a number of members receiving the hospital trust to ask if they would December for our Christmas schedule. 25 Year certificates. The presentations fund a computer capable of running an Local celebratory Stan Boardman, the were performed by the Mayor of unmanned radio station. After the meet- comedian, consented to do the honours
ON AIR
ON AIR
‘It’s good to be back in web-site at: www.sbes.com/ Birmingham’, that was the For the first time the SBES general consensus of those organisers Point Promotions visiting this year's busy Sound Limited offered prizes for Broadcasting Equipment three categories of stand: Best Show, held at the end of Space Only stand, Best Shell November at the National Scheme stand and Best use of Exhibition Centre. With Colour and/or Graphics. another successful show out There were three indepen- of the way, organisers Point dent judges, all with a great Promotions, are already mak- deal of experience in exhibi- ing preparations for the 30th tions and marketing, and their SBES which will take place at decisions were unanimous. the same Pavilion NEC Wood & Douglas Limited venue in November. won the prize for the Best Well over 100 companies Space Only stand for their took part in November 2004, innovative stand featuring a including a number of new golf course! Chris Young of exhibitors experiencing SBES Wood and Douglas comment- for the first time. Companies ed: ‘It was a great pleasure to such as Saras Technology, be awarded the best ‘open CTP Systems, SSQ space’ stand at SBES, espe- Software, Advanced Studio cially as it was the first one. Projects, First Sense and This was a great credit to our Wohler Technologies, all Stand Designers, Adlab became part of what is Creative Design.’ undoubtedly the most impor- The category of best shell tant domestic exhibition each scheme stand was won by year for the UK sound broad- IPE Systems. IPE had missed casting industry. 2003’s SBES but had By any standards, the 2004 returned for 2004. They said event was a tremendous suc- of their win: ‘IPE is delighted cess. Despite expanding by to have won a Best of' award some 25% compared to SBES for our stand at SBES. The 2003, all available stand credit must go to Anna space had sold out weeks before the exhibits on show at next year's SBES. Halfpenny of Coldsoba, who listened event. This success was emphasised Commenting after the event, Dave to what we wanted, designed the once the event opened, with the McVittie of Point Promotions Limited, stand, prepared all the graphics and put crowds around the various exhibitors’ organisers of the SBES, said: ‘We knew it all together for us.’ stands, not just looking, but obviously we had a successful event when we The stand voted by the judges to be doing some serious business as well. sold out of stand space early. Visitor the Best use of Colour and/or Graphics Another indicator of success was that numbers were well up on 2003’s atten- was Sound Network. The judges were predictions of increased attendance fig- dance in London. The show was very impressed in the way the graphics on ures compared to 2003 certainly busy and, to me, there seemed to be this stand grabbed visitors’ attention. proved correct! For example, BBC more people engaged in serious discus- They said it was noticeable that when Wales, having missed the SBES 2003 sions on the stands rather than just visitors turned into the aisle with the event in London, bussed in a crowd on walking up and down the aisles’. Sound Network stand they made the first day. Even this wasn't enough Asked about the reactions of straight for that stand. and the day-trip proved so successful exhibitors in particular Dave McVittie Dave & Paula McVittie of Point that one of those involved dragged his replied: ‘All the exhibitors seemed very Promotions both agreed the competi- departmental boss to the show the fol- happy with the show and the atten- tion, whilst meant as a bit of fun, had lowing day! dance. It just goes to show that after 29 encouraged some exhibitors to think A first for SBES this year was the years of SBES we seem to be getting it carefully about their stand design and presence of two vehicles, displayed on right.’ As if to emphasise the point, soon layouts. ‘It is amazing how many the forecourt of The Pavilion. after the show, Point Promotions Limited exhibitors think that just booking a stand GlobeCast, who also sponsored the announced that exhibitors have already and attending an exhibition will bring lounge area with free internet connec- re-booked some 53% of the available results. Not many exhibitors consider tions within the SBES, were showing stand space for the SBES next year. how their stands look from the visitor’s their control vehicle, whilst SSL had The 30th Sound Broadcast point of view. A stand space is a show- also brought along a mobile control Equipment Show takes place in The case and exhibitors must take more care room. Both vehicles were popular with Pavilion at the NEC, Birmingham on to present themselves and their prod- visitors and as a result of their success, Wednesday and Thursday the 16th ucts effectively. Hopefully The Best of other exhibitors are already making and 17th of November 2005. More SBES competition will encourage them plans to increase the number of outside information can be found on the SBES all in future years.’
ON AIR
Christmas 2004 will (hopefully) be by Trevor Leonard as I have been allowed back every year the 21st consecutive year I have seen in since. If the truth were known, I’d be Christmas live on Epsom Hospital breaking the door down if they didn’t! Radio. It’s firmly established as part of my Those 21 Christmases have seen us Christmas ritual now. broadcast from three different studios Like all programmes, some have and have nine different station gone better than others. I recall 1988 controllers during ever-changing and being an extremely hard programme to progressive times. It’s only at moments present with a major rail disaster and like this, when you actually take time to the Lockerbie atrocity occurring a look back and make comparisons, that couple of days beforehand. Even the you realise how life around us has Queen had to make some last minute changed too. changes to her Christmas address to the Monday the 24th December 1984 nation that year to reflect the prevailing was the very first time that Epsom rather sad and sombre mood of the Hospital Radio extended its normal nation. weekday broadcasting hours. Back 1996 was an interesting year as I then, weekday programmes would was also presenting a regular evening finish at 10:00pm. The decision was programme for a local ILR station at the made to continue for an extra three time. That finished at 10:00pm, the hours until 1:00am that day, which same time as my show for Epsom hardly seems like a big deal nowadays. Hospital Radio was due to start. However, what people don’t realise, or I think I’m safe in confessing now may simply have forgotten, is just how find it hard to sleep at night anyway. that while I was presenting the ILR much this country has changed On this night in particular it would be show live, I was also using an adjoining culturally over the relatively short time close to impossible. Nobody wants to studio to pre-record the last forty span of the last twenty years. Christmas spend time in hospital anyway, being minutes of the programme. A colleague seemed much more sacred to people away from family and friends on then played in the recording while I got then, more of a special occasion and a Christmas Eve night must be the worst in the car and shot round the M25 – cause for celebration than it seems to night of all. It was hoped that having keeping to the speed limit officer, be now. the option of a live programme honest! – in time to get to Epsom Back in 1984, the decision to presented by somebody actually inside Hospital with a full eight minutes to broadcast until 1:00am was met with the hospital with them and talking to spare. scepticism by some with arguments that them exclusively, might have some Things have certainly changed in the nobody would want to listen at that appeal compared to the other stations studio over the twenty years. For that time. Twenty years ago, there was no who were probably being held together first show, and for many years satellite TV and the terrestrial channels over Christmas by a technical operator afterwards, everything was played off would close down around playing out an abundance of pre- vinyl. We had one huge, chunky 11:30pm.BBC 2 being the exception, as recorded programmes at designated Plessey Cart machine for the playing of they stayed on air until ten minutes into jingles. The novelty of the show, (I Christmas Day to cover a Midnight hesitate to call it ‘humour’) were the Mass. It always felt ‘drops’ used, which were just my It always felt as though the whole attempts at interacting with excerpts of country closed down for Christmas. By as though the hit songs. All these had to be played in the time that first programme went to live, making a reasonable sense of air, the last trains had already left whole country timing essential. Epsom Station. The local busses had That’s all gone now of course. long since got back safely to the Bus closed down Modern day broadcast studios Garage and all the shops had closed complete with digital editing make some six hours earlier, not to be open for Christmas everything that bit easier – or at least it again until at least Boxing Day. Even will be when I begin to understand it the one all-night garage had turned off times. When we received two requests all! its pumps and shut up shop as I drove telephoned in from patients in the first I’ve honestly not thought about by on the way in, hardly passing ten minutes of the show, that decision whether I’d like to still be doing this in another car en route. A few pubs had already been fully justified. another twenty years. I’d be happy if seemed active enough though but even This was also the first ever occasion I’m still physically able to do it! they would call time at the usual hour that Epsom Hospital Radio had For starters it would mean the local with extended licences not being broadcast after 11 o’clock at night and authorities hadn’t made the potentially granted on Christmas Eve. most of the management committee, as catastrophic error of closing Epsom In hospital it was different. Sadly, well as other presenters, were present General Hospital! But it would also people do not stop needing medical to hear the chimes of Big Ben marking mean that I hadn’t yet been carted off treatment just because it’s Christmas. the birth of Christmas Day 1984. They, to the home for mentally bewildered – The feeling was that in a general and subsequent management thus proving many who’ve known me hospital environment like ours, patients committees, must have liked the show completely wrong!
ON AIR
A reply to the letter from Mike Smith of Radio Skerne, regarding the demise of Radio Gosh CHASE Thanks for your letter to On Air, as vice to the children at Great Ormond The Charities & Associations Exhibition you correctly point out Radio Gosh no Street, however, HBA is not in a posi- Now in its 13th year, The Exhibition will longer broadcasts to the Great Ormond tion to force Great Ormond Street to be held on 15/16 February 2005 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, N1 and Street Hospital; this is due to the hospi- change its mind on this matter as this is will be sponsored by top 20 chartered tal trust stating they wanted to provide a an internal policy decision by the hospi- accountants Kingston Smith for an eighth play based service to the children at the tal. What we are doing for the mem- consecutive year. hospital and have been talking to Radio bers of Radio Gosh is to provide them The event is the leading business-to-busi- Lollipop about providing this service. with access to as much information as ness forum for the non-profit sector and As soon as the HBA committee possible on alternative hospital radio expects to attract about 70 exhibitors. became award of the situation facing stations in the London Area (view my Organisations booked to date include the European Parliament, Endsleigh Insurance, the members of Radio Gosh, we started letter On Air 101, p23). I very much The Guardian, Unity Trust Bank and a dialogue between the Chairman of hope Peter and his team will take up Charity Logistics. IT is well represented Gosh (Peter Losch), the contact at opportunities with other stations and I by ASI Europe, Ascent Technology, Great Ormond Street (Pattie Hogan) have no doubt that the experience that Consensus, ESiT and Care Business and Radio Lollipop (Hedley Finn). they will bring to these institutions will Solutions. After discussions with Great Ormond be highly valued. For the first time, the popular free semi- Street, it became apparent that they had As for your other comment about the nar programme will be extended to include a stream dedicated to Events Management made a decision about the continuation possibility of the Patient Power within the non-profit sector. This has of the Radio Gosh service that they providers starting network stations to be attracted Conference Aston, Thistle Hotels, were not going to back down on. broadcast through the hospitals that VRG, University of Manchester and The Despite much rumour and speculation, they serve, I would find this highly Association Gateway to exhibit. it appears on the face of if that Great unlikely to occur. It is simply not in the The full programme will include sessions Ormond Street have initiated proceed- remit for these providers to do such a on fundraising, HR, finance, IT and gener- ings with Radio Lollipop and that thing and it would be questionable as to al management plus the Kingston Smith Charity Lecture and Charity Question Lollipop has not made a hostile whether they would be able to turn a Time. Registration for the exhibition and takeover bid for Radio Gosh. profit on such a venture. seminars is FREE to visitors. Visit the web- I feel a great deal of sympathy with Regards site for full details and registration: Peter and his members about the loss of Ben Hart http://nfptechno.netxtra.net/265.article the ability to provide a broadcasting ser- London Rep
ON AIR
I was all alone in a crowd. No one top. Without more ado I stretched out and a pencil and absorbed all kinds of to talk to. And that was just the Virgin on the bed and found that it put me low information I did not know I needed. train. This was my first time, so, smiling down enough to be able to miss the The seminars were most efficiently in what I hoped the young man would buildings and gaze right across to the far organised and perfectly timed with believe was a friendly manner I distant hills. It was quiet up there and I space and food in between to help us squeezed apologetically onto one of found myself smiling into the tranquillity assimilate what we had heard. By now I those modern seats designed to fit of a warm and still afternoon on my was relaxed and talking with men to ‘Everyman’, well, every man as long as own. I could go swimming, or not. I whom I had not been introduced, how he is in the last stages of anorexia ner- could look at all the paperwork and daring, it was enough to peer at each vosa and listened to the Billy Connolly timetables I had been given, or not. I others name badges and and just talk. tapes kindly lent to me by another mem- could doze off but I thought I had better The sense of unity and belonging was ber of Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells. not. Better look enthusiastic instead, El tangible and I experienced nothing but It was all Billy's fault but suddenly bark- Presidente June had given me a very kind and thoughtful hospitality so that ing out loud with laughter seemed to warm welcome and a very heavy carrier when the evening came and with it the scare the young man, so I proudly bag in which I was dismayed to find a Gala Dinner, it really was like dining explained that I was a sometime hospital list of attendees showing that most peo- with friends. radio presenter on my way to an impor- ple had come in groups and that I really On Sunday we were invited to what tant conference and that, as performers was going to be on my own. was advertised as ‘A Lunch to ourselves, we are sometimes inclined to But it started well when I went for a Remember.’ And so it was. Those of steal professional material in order to swim and, as we cruised companionably the H.B.A. executive committee who brighten the lives of poorly people. to and fro, this man and I, (in the pool, had worked so hard already had gone I was met at the station by a friendly Stoke is not very near the sea,) found it the full nine yards and surprised us with man who said he knew Tunbridge was Mike Skinner from Uckfield, a mere a marvellous Hallow'een lunch party for Wells and sometimes went shopping 15 miles from Tunbridge Wells. He which they had really let their imagina- there, which I thought was a little even threatened to come and admire the tions fly. eccentric for a taxi driver who lived in new carpet in our studio! Later, at din- Belfast in the Spring and another ‘Bit Stoke-on-Trent! I found out later he was ner, after an excellent carvery, I had an of a Do?’ I should say so. I feel proud a member of the H.B.A. and lived in awful job to avoid eating puddings pre- to have given up my conferential virgini- Southampton but has friends in tending to be ordinary cakes but that ty in Stoke-on-Trent with a rather special Tunbridge Wells. exuded thick, shiny, slicks of chocolate set of people doing a fine job. The Quality Hotel was a delight and cream which pooled slowly at their from the start. One of those elderly base when a slice had been cut. Diane Clarke buildings with musical floorboards in Saturday, and we are down to seri- Secretary every room and mine was right at the ous business now. I sharpened my wits, Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells LINK & OB EQUIPMENT New 215MHz 25W erp OB and speech talkback system. 5W transmitter NBFM on 12.5KHz channels, 13.5V DC operation, £20.00. Economy crystal controlled NBFM receiver, 12V operation, with signal meter, £254.00. 5 element Yagi antenna £75.00.
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ON AIR
I hope you all had a good Christmas; I’m visit Brian’s family. However, that’s life and I sure many of you had a busy time with hope when we get there, December 05 will Christmas/New Year programmes – Happy be a bit better! I am happy to say I am back New Year to you all. in the swing of things now. The Stoke conference seems such a long 24th January saw me in Stoke Mandeville time ago now and preparations for Belfast are for the presentation of a long service certifi- in full swing. cate to Martin Kinch; the station held a party In November I visited Radio Bedside, with many former members attending too. Bournemouth for their AGM. Alan Dedicoat, Next day I drove to West Bromwich as, at the station’s President, was present. A couple SBES, Sandwell HR in West Bromwich had of days later I was back in the area to visit invited me to attend their 20th anniversary Lymington, for my first visit to their station, celebrations. To my surprise just before the for their Executive committee meeting. I event I learned there were to be some very stayed over so I could return to the studios on special visitors – HRH Prince Edward, Earl the Thursday for lunch and ensure my punc- of Wessex and his wife, the Countess of tured tyre was repaired before setting off for Wessex, Sophie. They were a pleasure to home. meet and were absolutely lovely, making sure The Anglia regional meeting was held in they spoke to everyone in attendance. The Norwich; it was good to see the new hospi- other special event was Ed Doolan, a tal. It was Norwich member, Mike Sarre’s founder member of the station, who is at birthday – but no cake Mike? The following BBC Radio in Birmingham; he brought his weekend was the EC meeting in Northwick programme that day from the Sandwell HR Park so on the Friday I met up with an old studio. I was invited to speak to him on air. work colleague. After the meeting I met Peter Coming up – I will be talking to a group in Losch – founder of Radio GOSH, which Cambridge about hospital radio; we have a sadly closed last year. Pictured, top: Stoke Mandeville HR line up conference team meeting and I am hoping to Great to see so many members at SBES – for the camera; middle: HRH Prince get to some of the regional meetings shortly. back in Birmingham again after the brief Edward, Earl of Wessex visits Sandwell HR Have you booked your flights to Belfast move to EXCEL in 2003. It was certainly yet? It is a good time to book and I hope to good to be back there and you will read else- December was to have been busy too but see many of you there. In the meantime, to where in On Air that it will be in Birmingham I regret it was not possible – several of the stations who have invited me, thank you all again in 2005 – our stand is already booked, various bugs going around caught up with for your wonderful hospitality. so hope to see many of you there, again. me! My only visit was the annual Christmas Congratulations to stations who have spe- Excellent also to see some who were for- dinner with Radio Addenbrooke’s and, as cial anniversaries coming up. I look forward merly involved in hospital radio and who always, it was great to be with them. I could to seeing some of you soon. have moved on. not even get to York for their get together or Best wishes, June CAN YOU HELP? This message has been received from Keely. If any station wishes to contact her, please do so direct. I cannot see that we can help with sponsorship but maybe the stations in Hampshire would give here some air time. Mike Skinner, Public Relations Manager Hi! My name is Kelly Turner and I am17 years old and studying music at South Downs College. A few years back, I lost my friend to cancer and a few weeks ago I lost my Grandad. Now my other Grandad has an untreatable type of liver cancer. I have been in touch with Marie Curie Cancer Care and we have decided on an idea to raise money for the charity to help those in need. We are going to make a CD with myself singing and sell it for a few pounds and we hope to raise a fair bit. However, it is going to cost around £800 to make. We are currently trying to find some sponsors to help raise the money. Do you have any ideas on how I might be able to raise the money and would there be any chance of appearing on hos- pital radio to promote it to patients and their families that may be suffering with cancer? Thank you for any help you can give. Kelly x My e-mail address is [email protected] My address and phone numbers are as follows:- 21 Minstead Road, Eastney, Southsea, Hants, PO49JP 023 9236 3627 07799637212 If you would rather contact directly to Marie Curie then here is contact: info on Kat Butterworth the fundraising manager. E-mail: [email protected] Or phone: 02380263123
ON AIR
Anglia Julie Cox 37 Alford Street 0870 765 9601 [email protected] Grantham NG31 8BX
Home Gary Lakin 29 Hardwicke Place 0870 765 9602 [email protected] London Colney St Alban s AL2 1PX
London Ben Hart 20 Church Avenue 0870 765 9603 [email protected] Pinner Middx HA5 5JQ
Midlands Trevor Walters 17 Byford Court 0870 765 9604 [email protected] Byford Street Nuneaton CV10 8DT
North Tony Swinhoe 48 Brenkley Avenue 0870 765 9605 [email protected] Park Estate Shiremoor Tyne & Wear NE27 OPR
Northern Davey Downes 19 Collingbridge Drive 0870 765 9606 [email protected] Ireland Glengormley Newtonabbey BT36 7SX
North West David McGealy 40 Saffron Drive 0870 765 9607 [email protected] Moorside Oldham OL4 2PU
Scotland Charles McVey 120 Crosslet Road 0870 765 9608 [email protected] Silverton Dumbarton G82 2LH
South Phil Moon 82 Greenleaf Gardens 0870 765 9609 [email protected] Polegate East Sussex BN26 6PH
South East Dave Lockyer 54 School Lane 0870 765 9611 [email protected] Higham, Rochester Kent ME3 7JF
Wales & West Paul Sysum 7 Queens Square 0870 765 9613 [email protected] Chippenham Wiltshire SN15 3BL
Yorkshire Ashley Williams 60 Ravenstone Dr 0870 765 9614 [email protected] Greetland Halifax HX1 8DU
All HBA Regional Reps now have national rate (0870) telephone numbers. The majority of Reps have now routed the number to their home phone number and thus are able to receive calls made to the new number. Hopefully the remainder will set up their numbers within the next few days. As with the existing 0870 numbers for other members of the Executive Committee, the HBA gets a very small commission on all calls made to these numbers. We would ask, therefore, that if your Regional Rep is not a local call for you, please use the 0870 number. It should cost you no more but the HBA will recover a small percentage of the cost from your telecoms provider. Who to Contact on the Executive Committee
Chief Executive Deputy Chief Executive John Watson Phil Moon 13 Trinafour, Perth, Perthshire PH1 2SS 82 Greenleaf Gardens, Polegate, E Tel: 0870 321 6000 Sussex BN26 6PH e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0870 321 6014 Main contact with statutory e-mail: [email protected] bodies. Ambassadors Sub committee chairman. Special projects
Treasurer John Harper General Secretary 50 Neale St, Fulwell, Sunderland, Nigel Dallard SR6 9EZ 54 St. Annes Close, Badger Farm, Tel: 0870 321 6004 Winchester, Hampshire SO22 4LQ Fax: 01268 565759 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 Vice President P.O. Box 76, Ely, CB6 3WH David Nicholson, MBE East Cottage, Milbourne Hall, Milbourne, Tel: 0870 321 6009 Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 OEB e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0870 321 6016 Station visits, represent HBA e-mail: [email protected] publicly, print and present long Station visits, represent HBA publicly Awards sub committee chairman, service certificates present long service certificates
Technical Adviser Public Relations Manager Geoff Fairbairn Mike Skinner 6 Batchelor Way, Uckfield, East Sussex Flat 6, 4 Blunt Rd, South Croydon CR2 7PA TN22 2DD Tel: 0870 321 6012 Tel: 0870 321 6008 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Technical matters Press & public relations, charity profile
Administrator/Membership Regional Manager Chris Berezai Marie Harper 1 Bryn Rhosyn, Forest View, Morriston, 50 Neale St, Fulwell, Sunderland, SR6 9EZ Tel: 0870 321 6017 Swansea, SA6 6DB e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0870 321 6005 Point of contact for outside bodies e-mail: [email protected] on all HBA matters. HBA EC diary. Regional meetings, contacts, Membership records, address changes setting up a region etc. and all subscriptions
Sales & Advertising Editor Michelle Newstead Executive Gary King 2 Falkland Close, Boreham, Chelmsford, 62 Chanctonbury Road, Burgess Hill, Essex CM3 3DD West Sussex RH15 9EY Tel: 0870 321 6011 Tel: 0870 321 6026 Fax: 0870 321 6019 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] All Corporate sales for HBA On Air magazine
Webmaster Terry Savage IT Co-ordinator Chris Hughes PO Box 421, Uxbridge UB10 8SP 21 Mattaysens Way, St Mellons, Cardiff CF3 OPL Tel: 0870 321 6018 Tel: 0870 765 9616 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]