FRONT COVER DOCUMENT 125: FRONT COVER DOCUMENT 125 … · in Blackpool. Please feel free to contact...

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in this issue ...Committee Report ..........................................................................................2Awards Talk .................................................................................................... 4Hospital Radio Awards Short List ............................................................ 5Meet the Judges .............................................................................................. 6Hospital Radio Awards Sponsors .............................................................. 7Hospedia Update .......................................................................................... 8Mobile Phone Guidance .............................................................................. 9Hospital Broadcasting Week .................................................................... 10Rookwood in Soap ...................................................................................... 11June’s Travels and Visits 2008 .................................................................... 12View from the Basement .......................................................................... 16Goodbye To All That .................................................................................. 17New Studio for HWD ................................................................................ 18Radio Redhill Roundup .............................................................................. 18What I’ve Learnt ............................................................................................19Countrywide – News from the Stations .............................................. 20Obituaries ...................................................................................................... 24The HBA Grants Programme .................................................................. 25HBA Grant Application Form .................................................................. 26Regional Rep Details .................................................................................. 27Who To Contact ........................................................................................ 28

FRONT COVER STORY:Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radiorecently celebrated 30 years ofbroadcasting to patients and staff atStoke Mandeville Hospital.See full story inside

The Official Journal of theHospital Broadcasting Association

Winter 2009 Issue 125

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 28th February 2009

Hi Everyone,It’s Awards time again and after the glitzy Baftas, we now

celebrate something closer to our own hearts, the HospitalRadio Awards. Inside you’ll find details of those who havebeen shortlisted and all about the judges.

The date has just been announced for SBES, this year willbe a one day event and takes place at the NEC, Birminghamon Tuesday, 3rd November between 10am and 6pm and thegood news is that beer is back in the bar and visitors’ bags areback too.

I recently received an email from Clive Chapman: ‘Hi, Ihave just had a stay in hospital and realise what a tremendousbenefit hospital radio is. The company I work for, GeorgeJames Business Systems, has asked me to reallocate the moneycurrently spent on advertising in directories and wall plannersto run a series of competitions. Best regards Clive Chapman.’How good it is to be appreciated.

In the next issue, we will run a special feature on all thewinners of the Awards but please don’t stop sending in yourown reports.

Michelle

DIARY DATES2009 CONFERENCE

Hilton Hotel, Blackpool27th-29th March, 2009

HOSPITAL BROADCASTING WEEK28th March-6th, April 2009

SBES3rd November, 20092010 CONFERENCE

Normandy Hotel, Renfrew26th-28th March 2010

2011 CONFERENCERamada Hotel, Maidstone

25th-27th March 2011

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 ©2006 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.

01 INTRO 125:01 INTRO 125 9/2/09 17:20 Page 1

Committee Report

ON AIR <http://www.hbauk.com> Page 2 Winter 2009

WelcomeOnce again I’m pleased to say I can

start by welcoming a returning member.This time it is Radio Airedale, servingAiredale General Hospital in Keighley,West Yorkshire. The station is run aspart of the League of Friends of thehospital and returned to the air lastyear, after an absence of several years. Iwas able to visit the station recently tosee the studios and hear of ambitiousplans for the future from the StationManager.

MembershipSubscriptions

Talking of membership, it’s that timeof year when I have to demand yourmembership fee. Invitations to renewwill be going out by e-mail and, tothose stations who have indicated thatthey prefer to receive communicationsin hard copy form, by post at aroundthe time that this magazine is due to bepublished. I would appreciate it if youcould renew your membership in atimely fashion; having to send reminderscosts the Association money and metime.

GoverningDocuments

The HBA’s AGM was held duringthe Autumn conference in October.Thanks to all those stations who wereeither represented in the room or whosubmitted proxy votes.

A new Memorandum and Articles ofAssociation and associated Byelaws forthe Association were adopted withoutdissent during the meeting, as a result ofwhich the governing body of theAssociation has a new name. No longeran Executive Committee, we are nowthe Trustee Board. The currentTrustees were re-elected unopposedand, at a short Trustees’ meetingafterwards, Geoff Fairbairn, long-timeTechnical Adviser and, more recently,Chairman of the Patient EntertainmentSystems committee was made the firstof the new-style ‘Appointed Trustees’,appointed by the other Trusteesbecause of the particular skills andknowledge they are able to bring to theAssociation, rather than nominated andelected by the members. Be assuredthat the Appointed Trustees will alwaysbe in the minority on the Trustee Board.The ability to appoint Trustees withvaluable skills or knowledge will,however, help ensure that the Trustee

Board has all the necessary skills.Further subtle changes mean that

Phil is now the Chair of the Associationand Iain the Vice-Chair. Both retain, forthe moment at least, their the previousroles as Chief and Deputy ChiefExecutive respectively and their contactdetails have not changed.

Annual Report &Accounts

To the great annoyance andembarrassment of the Trustees, wewere not in a position to formallypresent the Trustees’ Annual Reportand Accounts for the year ended 29thFebruary 2008 at the AGM in October.This was due to the accountantsfinding, during their preparation of the2008 accounts, errors in theirpreparation of the previous year’saccounts; a number of transactionsrelating to the 2007 Spring Conferenceand Awards were put through the 2007accounts despite the financial yearfinishing prior to the conference andawards ceremony being staged.

These issues were eventuallyresolved to the Trustees’ satisfaction(although not before Phil and myselfvisited the accountants, questionedevery line in the accounts and hadnumerous corrections made) and, atour November meeting, both therevised 2007 and the 2008 Trustees’Annual Reports and Accounts wereunanimously approved. These havenow been filed with Companies House

and the Charity Commission andcirculated to all Full Members. Theyare also available on the website (fromthe home page, click on ‘About’ andthen ‘Annual Report’).

A formal General Meeting will beheld at 2pm on Saturday 28th March,at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool, duringthe conference, to allow members toquiz the Trustees about these reportsand accounts. The Trustees havesubsequently decided to appoint newaccountants.

Restructuring of theAssociation

Whilst the adoption of the newgoverning documents has not meant animmediate change to the structure ofthe Association, you will be aware thatthe Executive Committee has beenconsidering the best structure for theAssociation for the last two years. Thenew Memorandum and Articles ofAssociation were the necessary first stepalong the road to an Association better-able to serve its members and at theTrustee board meeting in January,unanimous agreement was reachedbetween all the Trustees and RegionalReps present as to what structure webelieve offers the best way forward.

We aspire to recruit a paid ChiefExecutive of the Association, whowould be charged with themanagement of the day-to-dayoperations of the Association. Therecruit would be expected to achievethis through a combination of his/herown activities and those of volunteersreporting to him/her. The new ChiefExecutive would report to the TrusteeBoard, which would set objectives andmeasure performance. The existing adhoc responsibilities of the Trusteeswould be transferred to the new ChiefExecutive, allowing the Trustees to takea more strategic view of the Associationand its activities.

We have now started the process ofdrawing up role descriptions for theChief Executive and the Trustees,investigating the likely cost of employingan appropriately-skilled person, drawingup a budget and completing the rest ofthe ‘due diligence’ necessary before wetake any final decision.

We will be presenting our ideas andasking for comment and questions,during an informal meeting followingthe General Meeting at the conferencein Blackpool. Please feel free to contactany Trustee or your Regional Rep if youwould like further information or would

by Nigel Dallard, Secretary

02,03 Committee report 125:02,03 Committee report 125 9/2/09 15:24 Page 1

like to comment on this restructuring.The Association is here to serve itsmembers; your views are important andwill be taken into consideration by theTrustees before any final decision istaken.

For the avoidance of doubt, charitylaw effectively prevents any currentTrustee or any previous Trustee whowas in post since discussion on therestructuring started (or, indeed, anyclose relative of either of the above)from being appointed as the paid ChiefExecutive. Recruitment would be on anopen basis, with anyone from within oroutside hospital broadcasting eligible toapply. Appointment would be purely onmerit.

Autumn 2009Training Day

Subject to contract, this event will beheld on Saturday, 17th October inSutton Coldfield, to the north east ofBirmingham and close to the M5, M6and M42 motorways. The nearestrailway station is about a mile away

from the proposed venue and it is 20minutes from Birmingham New Streetand 45 minutes from BirminghamAirport.

We hope to offer training fromexternal professionals relating to theroles and responsibilities and committeemembers and on presentation andprogramming. The cost of the day,including teas/coffees and lunch will beonly £10 per delegate. For thosewishing to stay overnight on the Fridayand/or the Saturday nights, verycompetitive dates for dinner bed andbreakfast have been negotiated with thehotel. Of course, you are also free tostay elsewhere in the vicinity or simplyto come for the day.

We hope to be able to confirm thedetails and formally ‘launch’ the eventat the conference in Blackpool.

HBA Enterprises LtdThose of you with a long memory

will remember the on-going saga of theAssociation’s former trading companyHBA Enterprises Ltd, over which the


Committee Report

PPL Fees to Increase

current Trustees have no control. I havefurther good news to report; inNovember, a cheque was receivedfrom the company for £10,502.36,representing, we are told, the remainingassets within the company. Accounts,purporting to be the final accounts forthe company, have also been providedalthough at the time of writing, thecompany had not been formallywound-up and removed from theRegister of Companies. Unfortunately,recovering this amount has cost us£3,162.50 in legal fees.

The Trustees are intent of seeing thismatter through to the end: thedissolution of the company.

Conference andNational HospitalRadio Awards

Finally, congratulations to all thosenominated in this year’s NationalHospital Radio Awards Hopefully wewill see you in Blackpool for theConference and Awards ceremony.

PPL has advised the HBA that itwill be increasing its musiccopyright licence fees for hospitalradio in 2009.

The licence HBA negotiated withPPL included the right for PPL toincrease the fees annually in line withthe Retail Prices Index; PPL haspreviously chosen not to takeadvantage of this provision in the fouryears since the licensing regime wasput in place.

The 2009 PPL copyright licencefees will be:

• for stations broadcasting viainduction loop or bedsideentertainment systems:£115+VAT (increased from£100+VAT)• for stations broadcasting via

LPAM / LPFM transmitters:

£430+VAT (increased from£416+VAT)Our Secretary, Nigel Dallard, has

checked the Retail Prices Index on theOffice of National Statistics websiteand between October 2004 andOctober 2008 (these being therelevant dates according to thelicence), the RPI has increased by15%.

The increase for stationsbroadcasting via induction loop andbedside entertainment systems is,therefore, the maximum that PPLcould impose; that for LPAM/LPFMstations is significantly lower than themaximum.

The cost of the licence covering‘dubbing’ of music onto computer-based playout systems will remain at£5+VAT per 1,000 tracks, subject toa £25+VAT minimum.

PPL will, no doubt, be in touchwith individual stations in due course,inviting you to renew your licence atthe revised cost.

HBA continues to believe thathospital radio stations should beexempt from music copyright fees,and Nigel has attended a furtherconsultation meeting organised by theIntellectual Property Office as part ofits review of exemptions to musiccopyright. And will no doubt reporton any results from this in duecourse.

Phil Moon

COPY DATE FOR ISSUE 12628TH FEBRUARY 2009

02,03 Committee report 125:02,03 Committee report 125 9/2/09 15:24 Page 2

Awards Talk


Who'd be a judge? I know I saidsomething similar last year but havingtaken a sneaky listen to some of theentries for this years Awards, then I canonly say it again! It's great being giventhe chance to hear such a variedselection of programming from theworld of Hospital Radio right across theUK – stations big and small. Decidingwhich is better than the other though isa job I'm more than happy to leavesomeone else!

For the Specialist Music category wereceived nominations featuring suchdiverse programming as Country Music,Jazz, Classical, Musical Theatre,Oldies, Rock, Reggae and evenUkulele!

The Speech and Special Evententries saw programming includingspecialist documentaries on the 60thanniversary of the NHS, a heart-warming story of a woman survivingafter a stroke, Hull City's promotion tothe Premiership, a Caribbean Carnivaland the devastating fire that struckWeston super Mare's Historic Pier –among others.

Indeed, Sunshine Radio holdspossibly the National Hospital RadioAwards record of being short-listed fortwo separate pieces of programming onthe same subject, either side of adisaster – as the best Speechnomination is a piece looking at theWeston super Mare pier'srefurbishment and importance to theresort, while the nomination for theSpecial Event award focuses on the daythe Pier burnt down!

Could we have another new recordin the Newcomer nominations, as twosisters go head to head – or should thatbe mic-to-mic - to try and claim the topprize. Chelmsford's Asha and Nita

Jhummu are both short-listed (is this thefirst time this has happened in ourAwards? Someone out there will knowthe answer, I'm sure!)

We wish them, and the other eightcontenders for Newcomer well for theceremony in March.

It's been pleasing, this year, to see afew new names appearing in theshortlist – I know Grimsby HospitalRadio hasn't put in an entry in a longtime, so it's good to have you on boardand I'm sure GHR members will be

delighted at their three nominations (inthe best Specialist Music, BestPromotion and Best Newcomercategories).

It's also good to see the numbers ofentries we received also on theincrease (though, this is only oursecond year producing and organisingthe Awards, so I can only compareexact numbers to those we receivedlast year!)

For Station of the Year, I notice thatlast year’s Silver and Gold winners areback – with Plymouth and Harrogateboth short-listed once again. DianeClark and Lauren Rich are bothfeatured again in the Best FemalePresenter category, having taken goldand silver last year, while they're joinedthis year by Ellie Jackson who walkedaway with the Silver prize in last yearsBest Newcomer Award.

Elsewhere, Radio Cherwell's againin the top ten aiming to hold on to itstreasured Best Specialist MusicProgramme from last year – canUkulele Bob win it two years in a row?While Hospital Radio Perth will behoping its special documentary on theOsprey can bag it Gold once again inthe Best Speech Package category.

I must warn all of those mentionedabove, however, that they face very stiffcompetition this year – the battle reallyis on.

Good luck to all those nominatedand better luck next time to those whoentered but sadly didn't make the finalten in their category! To me, every oneof them is a winner!

Thank you to each and every stationand individual that entered the awardsthis year. Iain and I look forward toseeing you in Blackpool at the end ofMarch.

With the nominationshort-list now known,

National Hospital RadioAwards co-producer

Sean Dunderdale shareshis thoughts on this

year’s entries ...

Jon Godel returns to host this years National Hospital Radio AwardsThe former Editor of IRN (Independent Radio News) and now a core-part of ITN's Digital con-tent took control of the ceremony in Leeds last year, having previously been a guest at earlierevents – most notably appearing frilly pink boots at the Northampton Awards ceremony.Jon jumped at the chance to present the ceremony in Leeds last year and enjoyed it so much

he immediately agreed to get involved in the Blackpool event.Awards co-producer Sean Dunderdale said: ‘Jon was just brilliant last year. It was an enormous

risk taking on the role last year, given both Iain Lee and I had never attempted to produce suchan event before’.Jon had worked previously with Dave Nicholson on the Awards and knew Sean through IRN

but Sean admits, had it gone wrong last year, it could have been a very uncomfortable night forJon: ‘In one sense, once the ceremony had started in Leeds, I could relax. Well, maybe notrelax but there was very little I could do to control events on the stage – so sat up on the balcony– well out of sight. Had things not gone according to plan then Jon would have been the manupfront who everyone would have been looking at, while I would have crept out of the nearestfire exit. Thankfully, he did a fantastic job, everything worked and the fire door stayed closed!’Jon is bubbling with ideas for this years ceremony and has already been working with Sean on

parts of the event in advance of the night itself in Blackpool.

04 Awards talk:04 Awards talk 9/2/09 17:21 Page 1

Hospital Radio Awards


Station of the Year1 Basingstoke HR2 Harrogate HR3 Hillingdon HR4 HR Chelmsford5 Radio Fox (Leicester)6 Perth HR7 Plymouth HR8 Redhill9 Sunshine HR (Weston super Mare)10 Whitechapel AM

Specialist Music1 Anker Radio

Jazzbeat2 Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service

Nice & Easy3 Chorley HR

John Craven's Country Music Round–up

4 Grimsby HRHit Country

5 Radio Cherwell HRUkulele Bob

6 Radio FoxSixties Scene

7 Radio GrapevineCool Country

8 Radio Lion (Guildford)Rock Extra

9 Valley Park RadioHart & Soul and All That Jazz (it’s spelt HART cos the presenter is IanHart, by the way)

10 Whittington Radio (LondonNetwork Radio)

Reggae Rundown

Station Promotion1 Grimsby HR2 HR Barnet3 HWD Dewsbury4 Radio Cherwell5 Radio Fox (Leicester)6 Radio Glamorgan7 Radio Grapevine8 Radio Northwick Park9 Sunshine HR (Isle of Wight)10 Sunshine HR (Weston Super Mare)

Special Event1 Choice Radio

Blood, Bile, Leeches & the NHS2 HR Chelmsford

The Granny Bike Run3 Kingstown Radio

Hull City's Promotional Celebrations4 Radio Fox (Leicester)

The Leicester Caribbean Carnival5 Radio Lion (Guildford)

Guilfest 086 Radio Northwick Park

The 24 Hour Challenge7 Radio Warneford

35 hour marathon broadcast8 Radio West Suffolk

Margo Down Under9 Rookwood Sound

The Cardiff & Vale Coalition forDisabled People Conference

10 Sunshine Radio (Weston SuperMare)

the Weston Super Mare Pier Fire

Best NewComer1 Anita Hepple – HWD2 Asha Jhummu – HR Chelmsford3 Ben Richards – Whitechapel AM4 Carl Richards – Harrogate HR5 Gillian Bell – Rookwood Sound6 Helen Prowse – Grimsby HR7 Josh Andrews – Plymouth HR8 Nicola Mills – Valley Park Radio9 Nita Jhummu – HR Chelmsford10 Paul Johnston – Victoria Radio

Network

Male Presenter1 Adam Ravenscroft – HR Chelmsford2 Ben Punter – Radio Northwick Park3 Dave Bee – Northern Air4 Dave Lockyer – Valley Park Radio5 Gerard Conway – HR Hillingdon6 Jamie Stangroom – Whitechapel AM7 Jim Simpson – Grampian HR8 John Murray – Victoria Radio

Network9 Michael Roncone – Bridge FM10 Mike Binns – HWD

Female Presenter1 Alice Corp – Bath HR2 Biba Hunjan – Radio Northwick Park3 Brenda Massie – Grampian HR4 Diane Clarke – HR Tunbridge Wells5 Ellie Jackson – Harrogate HR6 Isobel King – HR Plymouth7 Julia Douglass – Kingstown Radio

(Hull)8 Lauren Rich – Radio Northwick Park9 Lesley Jennings – Rookwood Sound10 Vicky Pinder – HWD

Speech1 Addenbrookes HR

The Clown Doctors2 Harrogate HR

The 60th Anniversary of the NHS3 HR Perth

Ospreys, A Success Story4 HR Plymouth

Shirley's Story5 HWD

Interview with the Trust Chief Exec6 Radio Cherwell

Sunday Matters7 Rookwood Sound

Barry Island Discs8 Radio West Suffolk

Dad's Army's David Croft9 Sunshine HR (Weston Super Mare)

The Grand Pier10 Whitechapel AM

The Foxes of the Royal LondonHospital

... And this iswhat you’ve all

been waiting for... the 2009

Hospital RadioAwards

short list ...

05 Awards short list:05 Awards short list 9/2/09 17:22 Page 1

Meet the Judges


MICHAEL BETTONMichael is Chief Executive of the

Lincs FM Group, which has radiostations across Yorkshire, Lincolnshireand the Midlands. He's also a SONYRadio Awards judge and a member ofthe Radio Centre Board (the nationalbody that represents commercial radioin the UK.)

JEREMYBUXTONA media expertbased in NorthYorkshire. Hehas beenworking in theindustry for 20years in boththe BBC and

commercial radio. He can currently beheard on BBC Radio York. He is theBBC Big Screen Manager for Hull.

IANCAWSEYIan is ViceChairman ofthe LabourParty, havingfirst become anMP in 1997. Amember ofMP4, the

Common’s own in-house cross partyband who have recently released theirfirst ever album. Ian has performed in anumber of other bands beforebecoming an MP and has also done astint or two in hospital radio. Last yearhe spoke up for Hospital Broadcastingduring a commons debate on PRSroyalty charges.

PAUL DONOVANPaul is radio critic for the Sunday

Times Newspaper and has also been apast judge of the SONY radio awards.

PAULEASTONPaul is HBA'sProgrammingAdvisor andprovidesprogrammingconsultancy andmonitors

content analysis for licence applications,station launches and relaunches forstations. Clients over the past yearinclude Absolute Radio, Jack FMOxfordshire, Oxford's FM107.9, Town& Country Broadcasting, The LocalRadio Company and Alem FM (Turkey)

JONGODELFormer Editorof IndependentRadio Newsand now a corepart of ITN On(the digitaldivision ofITN) He

started his career in hospital radio andremains a strong supporter. Last year hetook over the main presenting role ofthe National Hospital Radio Awardsand will be back at the podium again inBlackpool this year.

HARRYGRATIONHarry presentsBBC LookNorth eachweekday fromLeeds and isalso a regularface to BBC

Sports fan with his weekly SuperLeague Rugby Show. Harry started hiscareer in sports commentary for BBClocal radio and previously worked ashost of South Today in Southampton

KERRI JONESKerri is Managing Director of Radio

Scilly and also the breakfast presenter ofthe station – said to be the world'ssmallest professional radio station!

RICHARDLYONRichard isStationManager ofCompass FM,the commercialradio stationbased in

Grimsby. He too started life in hospitalradio and has previously worked atradio stations in Yorkshire.

DUNCANNEWMARCHDuncan is one ofthe voices thatpops up justbeforeEastEnders onBBC1. He'sbeen a continuity

announcer for the last five years, havingpreviously work for BBC Essex, InvictaFM, Trax FM and Lincs FM. You maynot know the face but you'd recognisethe voice!

CHARLES RUNCIECharles is the Head of BBC Sport in

the English Regions and has previouslyworked in BBC Local Radio and atBBC Scotland.

DR CHRISSTEELEChris is aregularcontributor toITV's ThisMorning,appearing onthe sofaalongside Fern

and Phil. He also runs his own clinic inManchester and offers advice on hismedical website www.thefamilygp.com

CHRIS STEVENSChris is a long-term support of

Hospital Broadcasting and, with theteam at Devaweb and now TMStudios, he’s been the brains behind theHospital Broadcasting Wee jingles,promos, sweepers and idents for anumber of years now. He’s also nostranger to our conferences and says ifhe can find a direct flight from Dallas toBlackpool,, then he’ll be attending againthis year.

PAUL SYLVESTERPaul runs Absolute Radio's digital

content and Podcast service, amongother jobs. He's previously worked atLBC in a similar roles – as well bothnews reading and producing on theLondon news-based station. Paulstarted his career, many moons, ago inhospital radio in Scunthorpe.

AMANDA THOMPSONAmanda is a Senior Journalist for the

BBC in Hull, presenting and reportingon both BBC Radio Humberside andthe BBC Look North (Hull &Lincolnshire) TV programme.

KIRSTY WARDKirsty is Senior Broadcast Journalist

at BBC Radio Swindon & Wiltshire,having previously worked for BBCRadio Sheffield and Century inNottingham.

Look outfor our specialAwards issue

next time

06 Meet the judges:06 Meet the judges 9/2/09 15:30 Page 1

Hospital Radio Awards Sponsors

HBA Conference News


Some of Blackpool's biggestattractions have agreed to play a part inthis years National Hospital RadioAwards and the Spring Conference.

Blackpool Tower, Louis Tussaud’sWaxworks and the resort’s newestAdventure Golf attraction are to partsponsor the event this year, inappreciation at Hospital Broadcasting'ssupport of Blackpool at a time whenmany conferences have turned awayfrom the North West.

Leisure Parc's Marketing ManagerDavid Gore was only too pleased to beassociated with the ceremony andSpring Conference when contacted, ashe himself started his career in HospitalRadio in Chelmsford. He says, ‘I havesome affection for Hospital Radio andunderstand that the service you provide

is voluntary and offers great benefit tothe patients and staff in the variousestablishments.’

Awards co-producer SeanDunderdale told On Air he wasdelighted that they're offering theirsupport this year, along with our otherkind sponsors PPL, West CountryBroadcast and Devaweb.

Sean said, ‘West Country Broadcast,Devaweb and PPL have always beengreat supporters of HospitalBroadcasting and it's fantastic thatthey're back on board, supporting theAwards again this year. To also, thisyear, have three of Blackpool's biggestattractions offering their support is alsogreat news. We can't thank oursupporters enough, without whomwe'd struggle to have a ceremony.’

Bring Your Partnerto Blackpool

• Ever feel bad about leaving yourother half at home?

• Got a partner who would like aweekend away but isn’t interested in allthose seminars and meetings?

• And what about the kids?We might just have the answer for

you. Bring them along and takeadvantage of some very special deals.Get Bed & Breakfast at the Conferencehotel for only £25 per night for adultsand £15 for children.

How does it workYou book a single room and pay the

single room supplement. Pay £25 extraper night for you and your partner toshare a twin or double room. For anextra £15 each per night your childrencan come and share a family room.

Where’s the catchNaturally there are a few restrictions.• All rooms are subject to availability.

This is especially true of family rooms.• You need to pay the single room

supplement (don’t ask me why, that’sHilton’s rule).

• Your partner is entitled to bed andbreakfast but not dinner or lunch. Ifyour partner wants to join you forFriday dinner, Saturday lunch, theAwards dinner on Saturday or Sundaylunch we can sort this for you.

• If your partner wants to come todinner on Friday AND Saturday lunchAND the Awards dinner on SaturdayAND Sunday lunch then it’s cheaper topay for two normal delegates.

I’m interested, so show mesome figures

Two people sharing a room pay2 x £145 = £290One person in a single room+ 2 nights B & B for partner£165 + £50 = £215

I’m still interested, so whatdo I do?

For more details contact MarieHarper on 0870 321 6017 or e-mailher on [email protected]. Wewill be making a ‘partner’ booking formavailable soon.

Blackpool & BeyondPreparations for the 2009 Spring

Conference (Blackpool 27th – 29thMarch) continue apace and we hope toannounce a fairly firm list of seminarsshortly.

For those who like such things, yes –we will be organising a tram ride. Addto this all the fun of Blackpool and somespecial deals and you can see thatwe’re in for another great weekend.

But that’s not all. We can now revealthe venues for the 2010 and 2011Spring Conferences.

Scotland for 2010In 2010 we will be at the Normandy

Hotel in Renfrew. This is close toGlasgow airport and is part ofCosmopolitan Hotels, which includesthe Erskine Bridge, which hosted the2002 Spring Conference.

The hotel is close to the ErskineBridge, which we will use for overspillif necessary. If you do find yourself inthe overspill, life will be much easierthan usual as the hotels run a free 24hour shuttle bus service between thetwo venues.

There is also a free shuttle busservice to and from the airport. TheNormandy has a number of featuresnot normally seen at HBA conferencesincluding free wi-fi in public areas andsensible bar prices.

The dates are 26th – 28th March.

2011 in Kent2011 will see us at the Ramada

Hotel in Maidstone which is close tothe M20 and set in 26 acres of parklandwith tennis courts, a golf course and alake. Inside it has a top flight DavidLloyd branded leisure centre and somestate of the art seminar rooms. Again,bar prices are on the sensible side (nohotel has bar prices that can bedescribed as ‘low’).

The dates are 25th – 27th March.For further information please

contact Marie on 0870 321 6017e-mail [email protected]

07 Awards sponsors:07 Awards sponsors 9/2/09 15:23 Page 1

Hospedia Acquisition of Premier Abandoned

Ofcom Reviews 070 Numbers


Soon after the sale of Patientline UKLtd was announced, as reported in theprevious issue of On Air, the HBA wasinvited to a meeting with the newowners, Hospedia. The HBA ChiefExecutive, Phil Moon and I travelled toHospedia’s – formerly Patientline’s –headquarters in Slough to meet withthe Chairman of Hospedia, TimSherwood and with Ben Packman, theCommercial Director of PremierTelesolutions, the rival to Patientline thatHospedia planned to acquire subject toclearance by competition authorities.

We were assured that Hospedia willcontinue to be open to hospital radio.

Tim and Ben gave us an insight ofHospedia’s plans and prospects.Hospedia’s bankers had committed,subject to approval by the OFT of thetakeover of Premier, to furtherinvestment of £12m over abouteighteen months, during which time itwas planned that ‘T1’ BSUs would bereplaced at sites where the Trustscommitted to using additional services.Working T1 BSUs made redundant onthose sites could be redeployed at thesites where the Trusts were unwilling tomake such commitment. The extrainvestment would also have allowedHospedia to seek contracts at hospitalswhere there are currently no ‘patientpower’ systems and incumbent hospitalradio stations would have been offereda channel on the system.

The ‘Patientline’ branding willgradually be removed from BSUs.

Regional quarterly review meetings

with ‘stakeholders’ will be convened, atwhich hospital radio representation willbe welcome.

Hospedia might sponsor one of theHBA Hospital Radio Awards, althoughthe company emphasised that thepriority was to improve the service andsystems.

The HBA told Hospedia thatPatientline’s patient registration is abarrier to usage and therefore to

earning revenue. We suggested that thearrangement was less than optimal butTim’s opinion of it wasn’t as high asours and described it in somewhatstronger terms.

‘Self-registration’ (by patients usingkeyboard and monitor) had beenwithdrawn at 24 sites the previousweek. Hospedia is consideringintroducing ‘reverse registration’:patients wishing to register would becalled back by the call centre ratherthan waiting in a queue.

More flexible pricing arrangementsare being considered, including differenttariffs in different hospitals and even indifferent wards within same hospitals –for example, an hourly rate for TV indialysis units.

Ben Packman offered to addressdelegates after the HBA AGM inSolihull on October 11th.

On October 7th, the Office of FairTrading referred the anticipatedacquisition to the CompetitionCommission. Ben was unable to cometo Solihull because of the workloadimposed because of the referral.

Following the referral to theCompetition Commission andsubsequent discussions with thecompany’s advisors and backers,Premier concluded that the mergercould not proceed. The CompetitionCommission cancelled its investigationon 30th October after assurances hadbeen received from Hospedia andPremier that the proposed acquisitionhad been abandoned.

by Geoff FairbairnChairman

HBA Patient EntertainmentSystem Subcommittee

The deadline for responses to anOfcom consultation on 070 personalphone numbers passed on 7th January,2009.

Amongst the recommendations in itsreview of telephone numbering in2006, Ofcom stated its intention toclose the 070 range and migrate usersto the 06 range. This was because ofthe very high level of complaints in late2005 that arose from significantscamming activity on the range.

In the current review, Ofcom’sanalysis of the consumer detriment andof the costs and benefits of differentoptions to address this has lead theregulator to conclude that closing the070 number range is not aproportionate response and that thecosts associated with migration

significantly outweigh any benefitsgained from closing the range.

Ofcom’s consultation included anumber of proposed measures. Onewas removal of the requirement forpre-call announcements (PCAs).Ofcom had imposed these inSeptember 2007 but – because of theimpact of PCAs on alarm systems andassociated risks to life and property –has not enforced them since Decemberthe same year.

Another was whether providers ofspecific services using 070 numberssuch as Hospedia and Premier shouldcontinue to be permitted to use 070 orrequired to use another range. If theseproviders wished to continue earningrevenue from incoming calls, thischange would dictate the use of 09

‘Premium Rate’ ranges. Ofcom believesthat this would result in a 10-20%reduction in call volumes.

Few responses to the consultationpublished to date on Ofcom’s web sitehave expressed strong views onwhether Hospedia and Premier shouldcontinue to be allowed to use 070ranges, though there is reason to believethat not all responses have beenpublished.

Ironically, the response believed tohave been submitted by FlexTel – themajor supplier of 070 numbersincluding those used by the HBA butnot of those used by Hospedia ofPremier – to the consultation includesthe opinion that Hospedia and Premiershould be required to use 09 ranges.

Geoff Fairbairn

08 Hospedia:08 Hospedia 9/2/09 15:26 Page 1

Trusts Responsible for Contingency

DH Issues New Mobile Guidance


One of Radio St Helier’s local MPstabled Ordinary Written questions tothe Secretary of State for Health andreceived the following answers.

19th June 2008Mr. Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): ‘To

ask the Secretary of State for Health …what assessment his Department hasmade of the contingency arrangementsNHS trusts have made in the event thatthe supplier of their telecommunicationsinfrastructure for patients is unable tofulfil its contractual obligations.’

Mr. Bradshaw (Health ServicesMinister): ‘The Department is not partyto the contracts made with any of thecompanies that provide the bedsidetelephone service to patients and it hasnot made an assessment of thecontingency arrangements nationalhealth service trusts have in place,should their service provider be unableto fulfil its contractual obligations.

‘It is the responsibility of the NHStrust to consider contingencyarrangements, should it wish tocontinue to provide this service to itspatients.

‘The bedside telephone is anadditional service to that which existed

in the past so alternatives already existin hospitals. It is still possible forrelatives and friends to contact ahospital via its main switchboard, andthen be transferred to the nurses’station on a ward to inquire about theirrelative’s health, as they have alwaysbeen able to do in the past.

‘Mobile phone usage is allowed inspecified areas of the hospital andpayphones also exist as an alternativefor patients.’

2nd July 2008 Mr. Burstow: ‘To ask the Secretary

of State for Health pursuant to theanswer of 19 June 2008, OfficialReport, column 1160W, on NHS:telecommunications, what assessmenthas been made of the impact on theprovision of radio and entertainment forpatients in the event of the contractorceasing to support the contracted forservice’.

Mr. Bradshaw: ‘The Department hasnot assessed the impact on the

provision of radio and entertainment forpatients in the event of the contractorceasing to support the contracted forservice. The Department is not party tothe contracts, which are made betweenthe national health service trust and itschosen provider.

‘It is the responsibility of individualNHS trusts to assess the impact of itsprovider ceasing to support the serviceand have in place a contingency planshould this happen.

‘The bedside entertainment systemsare additional to the provision ofservices that existed in the past andalternatives could be made available,such as hospital payphones and freetelevisions in day rooms.’

The advice from the HBA to everystation that relies on a bedsideentertainment system is still that youshould engage with your hospital trust.

• Does your trust have a contingencyplan in case of the bedsideentertainment service being withdrawnfor any reason?

• Can you assist the trust by advisingon a contingency plan?

• What steps would your trust taketo ensure the continued provision ofradio – at the least – to its in-patients?

by Geoff FairbairnChairman

HBA Patient EntertainmentSystem Subcommittee

On 6th January, the Department ofHealth issued new best practiceguidance on the use of mobile phonesin NHS hospitals, offering an evidencebase for each NHS Trust to use whencompiling its mobile phone policy. Itsupersedes previous guidance.

The DH says it wishes to reflect therapidly developing principles of patientchoice in the matter of mobile phoneusage and that the working presumptionshould be that patients will be allowedthe widest possible use of mobilephones in hospitals, including on wards,where the local risk assessmentindicates that such use would notrepresent a threat to patients’ ownsafety or that of others, the operation ofelectrically sensitive medical devices incritical care situations and levels ofprivacy and dignity.

Hospedia had warned the HBA thatrelaxation of the restrictions on the useof mobiles in ward areas wouldadversely affect the company’srevenues, and that its service wouldhave to be withdrawn at ‘marginal’ sites.

The DH guidance providesbackground information on legalconsiderations including patient privacyand dignity, patient confidentiality, childprotection, nuisance and health andsafety risk from unapproved devices; forthe use of NHS Trusts whenconducting their local risk assessmentand formulating their own mobilephone usage policy. Trusts are advisedto have a written policies regarding theuse of mobile and camera phones,cameras and video recording devices.

Concession agreements entered intoby patient entertainment systems

providers and hospital trusts in Englandunder the Patient Power Project requiretrusts to prohibit the use of mobilephones within their hospitals incircumstances where it is lawful andthere is proper reason to so do,including but not limited to the risk ofinterference with the functioning ofmedical equipment or the care ofpatients.

Few Trusts appear to have madeimmediate decisions about whetherpolicies will be changed. AddenbrookesHospital in Cambridge and ScunthorpeGeneral are reported to be continuingto ban mobiles in ward areas, whilstMayday Hospital in Croydon is nowallowing the use of mobiles in theentrances of wards, hospital corridors,the maternity department, receptionareas, lobbies and the hospital grounds.

Can You Help?Whipps Cross Hospital Radio desperately needs an Echo MIA Soundcard of the older design –before the Midi option. It will only have one slot on the edge connector. We need one to match

the card we have but they seem to have been phased out some years ago.Has anyone got one for sale or swap? Please contact Phil Hughes on 07740 466973

09 Trusts responsible/mobile:09 Trusts responsible/mobile 9/2/09 15:29 Page 1

Hospital Broadcasting Week


Hospital Broadcasting Week isfast approaching – and this time it'seven longer! The actual ‘week’ willbe launched with the NationalHospital Radio Awards onSaturday, March 28th and will runthrough to Monday, April 6th.

Chris Stevens and the team atDevaweb are again busily preparingsweepers, jingles and promos for theweek. TM Studios, based in Dallas, arealso supplying a couple of extra sungjingles too this year.

Devaweb and TM Studios have longbeen supporters of Hospital Radio andwe again thank them for their support.The jingles, sweepers, idents andpromos will be available soon via theDevaweb website. Keep checking theofficial HBA website and HBAAnnounce for confirmation once they'reavailable.

The aim of the week, as usual, is toraise awareness of the good work beingcarried out by volunteers right acrossthe UK. Last year, as well as plenty oflocal media coverage, the week alsoattracted national newspaper attentionand is a useful reminder of the workthat we're all doing. Many stations useit as an additional push to attract newmembers, or for fundraising or for otherspecial programming.

A Few Tips to makeHospital BroadcastingWeek work for you:

1 Some station's invite in localdignitaries (the Mayor, Hospital ChiefExec, MPs etc) to co-present theirnightly request show – if you're luckythey might even be willing to go out onthe wards with you, collecting request.

2 It's a good time to arrange a streetcollection or a display about yourstation at a local supermarket –celebrating the week and the work ofyour volunteers.

3 Contact your local newspaper tosee if they'd consider doing an articleon you, promoting your work andappealing for new members.

4 If your local football club is playingat home during the week itself, askthem to give the station a couple ofmentions through the tannoy – everylittle helps raise your profile.

5 Many stations already producemarathon broadcasts, the Easterweekend is a good opportunity to dosomething extra.

6 Organise an Easter Egg Hunt or acharity ‘pub quiz’ type night in a local

pub or the hospital club.

7 Link up with a local shop and giveaway Easter Eggs either on air or onthe Children's Ward – make sure youtell the local newspaper you're doingthis, or take your own photos and sendthem a copy afterwards.

8 Some stations produce a chart oftheir most request artists of all time –again the Easter Weekend is a goodopportunity to run the chart.

9 Why not produce a documentaryabout Hospital Radio and specificallyabout your station – running theprogramme a couple of times duringHospital Broadcasting Week itself.

10 A live OB from different parts ofyour local area always helps raise theprofile, if you have the resources andmanpower to do it.

... and there's that old favourite oflinking up with other Hospital RadioStations across the UK, highlighting thework of volunteers across the country.

Finally, don't forget as well as tellingyou local media what you're up to,remember to also let us here at On Airknow about them too. Take plenty ofphotos too and send them to us for alater edition.

CAPTION COMPETITION

Hospital Radio presenters are never lost for words, so I am sure you can comeup with a super caption for the above photo of Steve Caddy, which was takenby Alistair MacDonald at the last Autumn Conference.We will print the mostamusing caption but the Editor’s decision is final.

Thinking Pink

Jeff Kirby of Radio Calderdale ispictured with one of the patients atthe Calderdale Royal Hospital inHalifax during Think Pink Week.Jeff, by the way, is pictured on theleft!

10 Hospital Broadcasting week:10 Hospital Broadcasting week 9/2/09 15:28 Page 1

Rookwood Sound in Soap


When is a Hospital Radio Stationnot a Hospital Radio Station? Theanswer in Wales is when it is CwmFM.

For almost ten years, the popularWelsh language soap opera ‘Pobol yCwm’ has used the Rookwood SoundStudio complex at Rookwood Hospitalin Cardiff as the home of itsCommunity Radio Station ‘Cwm FM’.

Pobol y Cwm in Welsh means ‘TheValley People’. The fictional village ofCwmderi is located in the vicinity ofCwm Gwendraeth near Carmarthen inSouth Wales. The first episode wasbroadcast on BBC 1 Wales on 16October 1974, making it the BBC’slongest running television soap opera.In 1982 the programme transferred toS4C with the BBC still producing.

Originally, broadcasts went out justonce a week but from 1988 it followedthe ‘soap’ trend and went to five nightsa week. At the same time, an Englishsubtitled omnibus edition was alsointroduced. Today there are 260episodes broadcast each year.

Filming is carried at the purpose builtset situated at the rear of BBC Walesbuilding in Llandaff, Cardiff. However,location shooting, such an importantpart of the production, utilises varioussites in or around the Welsh capital.

The process from script to screenusually takes about six months. ForRookwood Sound, this usually entails

several visits by the various directors theprogramme uses to consider the cameraangles and scenarios. Usually the mainStudio 1 is used; this means that priorto filming copious instructions have tobe given to ensure our 24 hour outputis not disrupted. Recent episodes havefeatured Studio 2 and the RecordLibrary – even the corridor and Foyerareas have featured.

Many of the well-known faces inBritish drama have been involved in theprogramme through its history; perhapsthe most famous is Ioan Gruffudd whostarted his acting career on the series. Itis also little known that RookwoodSound’s Chief Executive Steve Allen

spent numerous stints as an extra onthe show.

If after reading this, your life desiresanother piece of ‘soap’ that goesbeyond Albert Square and CoronationStreet those of you with SKY digitalcan watch it Monday to Friday at 8pmon Channel 134. The English subtitledomnibus edition is broadcast everySunday from around 4.30pm.

Those of us in Wales havenumerous options on Freeview,Satellite and Cable to follow the eventsthat can only happen in the world of‘soap’ or that is what we like to think.As long as one day we are not involvedin a plot to blow-up the studios!

11 Rookwood in soap:11 Rookwood in soap 9/2/09 15:32 Page 1

June’s Travels and Visits 2008


Being the last On Air of the yearcombined with the first of 2009, Ithought it might be nice to do a June’stravels in pictures. I have had probablythe busiest year ever and in particularsince September, which is fantastic andimportant both for me and the HBA aswe believe that we should be out seeingyou all and hearing about what you aredoing in your communities. I apologisethat it has not been possible to includephotos of each and every station that Ihave visited but I am sure you appreciateit is difficult to fit all of them in andunfortunately I do not have photos fromall the visits.

Thank you to everyone who hasinvited me and I am sorry that in somecases it has not been possible to get toyou – purely because they have clashedwith other things going on but hopefullyI will be able to put that right in 2009.

Since the last On Air, I visited severalstations up to the end of the yearincluding Mid Downs, Valley Park Radio,Dartford, Hospital Radio Bedside,Borders Hospital Radio and StokeMandeville. Regrettably I missed out ona visit to Guildford to celebrate their40th anniversary, something I waslooking forward to but unfortunately likeso many people I managed to get thedreaded flu bug. I already have somevisits booked for 2009, so if you knowany dates you would like me to comealong then please let me know just assoon as you can.

I was delighted that I could spend afew days in what I still regard as homeand our station of York and myChristmas programme included a link upwith Barnet, Guildford, Clwyd and

Melrose – that was absolutely fantasticand I am grateful to you all for takingpart.

In the mean time, the requests forLong Service Certificates are comingthick and fast and the total for 2008 was414 – magnificent by any standards andthe years accumulated from all thosecertificates was 8,030 – a record! (In2007 I produced 278 certificates) – Ihave been asked to record thosecertificates issued in On Air by numberof years served which I think is a goodidea. I will start to do that in the NewYear when I start my new set of records.It is so important for the HBA and for meto recognise the wonderful workeveryone is doing in the name of

Hospital Radio and I will continue toaim to publish the names of all those inreceipt of an award. I would like tothank each and every one of you for allyour hard work, dedication andcommitment.

I hope you all had a very HappyChristmas and I wish you all a reallygood New Year 2009. I hope that 2009brings us all a better and moreprosperous year than 2008 has beentoo.

I look forward to seeing many of youas is possible in the coming weeks andmonths

Sincere best wishes to you allJuneJanuary 2009

Phil Moon and I visit Sir Terr y Wogan in his BBC Radio 2 studio

12,13 Junes travels:12,13 Junes travels 9/2/09 15:36 Page 1



Here are just some of the Long Service certificates I presented over the last year ...

Rookwood Sound Mike and A nn Manley w ith their 30 year cer tificates

Hospital Radio in Worcester proudly displaying their cer tifi-

Radio Isca in Exeter w ith their long ser vice cer tificates

Presentation at Hospital Radio in G rimsby

Hospital Radio Hastings pose fo r the camera

12,13 Junes travels:12,13 Junes travels 9/2/09 15:36 Page 2

Hospital Radio Barnet’s 30th anniversar y quiz

The conference visit to Radio A ire

Presentation at Borders Hospital Radio

C er tificate presentation at Radio Huddersfield



Visiting Mid Downs Hospital Radio fo r presentations Radio G lan C lwyd O pen Day

14,15 Junes travels 2:14,15 Junes travels 2 9/2/09 15:47 Page 1



Visiting Radio A ller tonA visit to Radio A ller ton from Spring conference attendees

Seaside Hospital Radio in the spotlight

Jan and A ndy man the HBA stand at the 2008 SBES Exhibition

Do ing the honours at Radio C herwell

Smiling faces at Radio Royal in Bradford

14,15 Junes travels 2:14,15 Junes travels 2 9/2/09 15:47 Page 2

View from the Basement


Scripting shows never worked for me. I found the process timeconsuming and ultimately unsatisfactory. Stuttering andspluttering my vocabulary on the road to divulging informationleft me feeling linguistically inept and the listeners devoid offeeling for my abilities behind the mic.

I now go into the studio unprepared and write down singlewords linked to current stories. ‘Madonna divorce’,‘Transvestites’, ‘Chas and Dave’ were all used last night in theingeniously titled ‘Brett Ellis Show’. Note the three are notlinked. Madonna never divorced Chas and Dave and they arenot transvestites ... to the best of my knowledge anyhow.

I find my best links are true life yarns relaying othersmisfortune. The enthusiasm of a truism told from the horse’smouth is so much funnier as it is primary, first hand information.The listener appreciates the personal touch and it can be acatalyst for further mirth making debate.

My favourite witness of misfortune took place in a Hastingsnightclub called the Crypt about 15 years ago. The Crypt doeswhat it says on the tin. Located in a sweaty basement/ cavebelow street level it is wasteland of moshers, emos and rockerswith a dance floor that can get slippery within a nanosecond of apunter jumping on board.

I was ‘dancing’ with some fellow drunkards as I glanced overto the raised floor in the centre of the club. People were slippingand sliding all over as the bouncers waded through and created ahuman cordon to allow the maintenance staff to hoist up aflooded manhole in the centre of the floor. The music wasblaring and strobes were causing fits as I watched a teenage girl,obviously in love with herself preening and dancing evocativelyto any guy who glanced her way.

Our columnist, Brett Ellis and his unique view on life ... it’s no laughing matter

The security ‘cordon’ temporarily broke and as if in slowmo, Ms. Lovemyself stepped back and one leg disappearedviolently down into the urine flavoured waste. Her other legended up by her neck as she was dragged soaking wet andin agony from her potential watery grave. The ambulancearrived shortly after and those who witnessed the eventwere still wiping tears from their eyes as she was carriedout on a stretcher. The accident didn’t kill her. The shamesure as hell did.

Only last week I floored a seven year old after punchinghim at the mighty Barnet/ Accrington Stanley (who arethey?) match. Picture the scene. It’s 1-1 with 15 minutes togo and we are awarded a penalty. Our star striker dulymisses and the Accers fans are quick to point out ourmisfortune. Then two minutes later we score a crackerfrom open play. Being the wind up merchant I purport tobe, I run along the terrace to cheer toward the away fans.A number of others join me. At the end of my celebratoryjig, I heartily punch the air in jubilation before connectingmid flow with something boney. Turns out it was a sevenyear old child’s chin. To say his father was unimpressed bymy accidental KO would be fair. Others around me found ithilarious so at least something good came of it.

My wife cleaning her car with a Brillo pad as she‘thought it would take the dirt off ’. A drunken friendsmearing half an industrial sized tube of Deep Heat (whendrunk and attempting to ‘impress’ a local Spanish girl)around his flatmates cat’s backside. The cat then attemptedto rub it off by lifting its hind legs over its head andcareering at 20mph around the front room on a marblefloor in an attempt to clean its posterior. It didn’t work butthe marble floor sparkled for weeks afterwards.

As a child in Italy, myself and my brother dug a huge holein the sand on Bologna beach then covered the cavity witha piece of newspaper and some thin sand. We thenwatched with hilarity as an Italian woman fell into said holeand sprained her ankle. I still deny it was me to this day. Mybrother took the rap due to my ability to lie with moreaplomb than he.

So we go full circle. Your listener will number manywithin their ranks those who are in hospital through suchunfortunate acts. Some self inflicted like the man whobecame impaled ‘downstairs’ on his Henri Hoover. Thatcheeky smiling face with its ‘come to bed’ eyes can bepersuasive ... so I hear.

Is it right to laugh at others misfortune? Probably not.Would others laugh at me should I ever conjoin man withmachine and become acquainted with Henri Hoover assomeone accidentally punches me and I then collapsedown a manhole? You’re damned right they would. Makethe most of it while it happens to ‘them’.

One day it will be you ...

www.brett-ellis.net [email protected]

COPY DATE FOR ISSUE 126 28th February, 2009

16 View from the basement 125:16 View from the basement 125 9/2/09 15:34 Page 1

Goodbye To All That

Glan Clwyd Open Day


‘Goodbye To All That’ is the title forthe final programme to the RoyalHospital Haslar from our studios atRadio House, which has now been putback from 22 November 2008 to 21February 2009 and there is still doubtabout our proposed opening date tostart broadcasting from our new studiosadjacent to Gosport War MemorialHospital.

We aim to commence broadcastingto the War Memorial Hospital threeweeks after closing the doors at RadioHouse but with all of the work still todo that date could slip.

Did we really think it could havebeen easy to build a new studio in anold building and everything go to plan!

When you look to having a workingparty every other Saturday it seems along time but it means you only get twodays of work a month and when youfill two rooms with all of your tools andmaterials, there is not a lot of room forthe willing volunteers to show off theirbuilding and electronic skills.

We are moving from a three storeycottage into what was three roomsbefore we started work.

We have transformed those threerooms into a racks room, two studios,an office and a CD library – at least,that is what the empty spaces are for.

At present, we have one nearlyworking studio and a room full of lotsof electronic equipment, which I amassured will allow the patients at theWar Memorial Hospital lovely andrelaxing music.

Meanwhile at Radio House, vinylhas been put onto CD and computersto save on space – it seems a shame but

that little box called a computer can dowonderful things. If only all memberscould be convinced of the convenienceof 21st century technology.

Our new studios will be leaner andmore modern than those we have beenused to and if the engineers havesoldered the right wires together thepatients should have better service withno squeaky chairs in the backgroundnor the booming voice coming from thenext studio – there is enough insulationin the new studios to sink the proverbialbattle ship.

And there are several members whowill be glad to say ‘Goodbye to all that’and have to go back to going shoppingevery other Saturday but they will missthe camaraderie and the breakfasts!

In October 2008, Radio Ysbyty GlanClwyd held an open day. The last timewe held an open day was 2006 it wasdisappointing but undeterred, ourvolunteers pulled together and workedhard to create a day that was exciting,eventful and enjoyable for all.

The purpose of the day was to raiseawareness of the hospital radio service,attract new members, invite people tovisit our newly refurbished studio andrecently installed Myriad system inaction. The climax of the day was theannual grand raffle draw, which washeld in the hospital foyer, and a recordbreaking 4000 tickets were sold!

We were live on air from 10am until8pm, with Brenda Jones startingproceedings with a special edition of her

Sunshine Hours show, followed atmidday by the ‘Loose Women of GlanClwyd’, Carol Nesbitt and Hazel Lynes.Presenter Mel Smith presented a special‘Magic of the Musicals’ programme inthe evening.

Visitors were met by our OB vehicleoutside the hospital entrance anddisplays with photographs andinformation filled the hospital foyer.Guests included our local assemblymember Ann Jones, Councillor JeanetteChamberlain Jones (Mayor of Rhyl),Richard Smith (A to Z of Pop), localsinger Mick Edwards and JuneSnowden who was interviewed on airby Andy Hayes, who asked her why shebecame involved with hospital radio ona national level. June then chose someof her favourite records to be played.

It was a great event and much moresuccessful than I was expecting – it issurprising what you can do with anenthusiastic committee and some verydedicated members!

17 Haslar/Glan Clwyd:17 Haslar/Glan Clwyd 9/2/09 15:45 Page 1

New Studio at HWD

Radio Redhill Round-up


For the past 25 years, Nigel Gray hasbeen Radio Redhill’s Chairman andunder his leadership it has become one ofthe UK’s leading hospital radio stations.

Nigel was recently presented with anaward for his long service to RadioRedhill by station co-founder, AndrewFowler. In an entertaining speech in frontof the station’s members, Andyremembered that when Nigel first tookover Chairmanship of Radio Redhill,Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister,Ronald Reagan was US President, thefamous racehorse Shegar had just beenkidnapped and BBC Breakfast Televisionhad only recently been introduced,swiftly followed by ITV’s TV-am. Andypraised Nigel’s total commitment to

Radio Redhill as a trainer, programmer,broadcaster and as Chairman over aperiod of a quarter of a century.

A collection organised by stationSecretary, Sue Mason-Brown, whothrough the auspices of the ExecutiveCommittee, managed to collect aconsiderable sum whilst keeping Nigelout of the picture and with Nigel knownfor keeping an eye on everything thatgoes on at the Radio Redhill, that was noeasy task!

• • • • • • •A record number of Radio Redhill

Long Service Awards were announcedrecently and members were presentedwith the certificates during a ceremony atthe East Surrey Hospital.

Vice Chairman, Alan Stidder andSecretary, Sue Mason-Brown, werepresented with 30 year certificates.Station Engineer, Ian Wilson, receivedhis award for 15 year’s service whileHead of Fundraising, Dave Francis, waspresented with his five year certificate.

Nicky Quantick, who takes on thearduous task of the charity station’smailout every month, will be presentedwith her 20 year certificate andbroadcasters Colin Hastings and CarolynHowie will be given their 10 yearcertificates later. Last, but certainly notleast, Madeleine Goumas will also

receive five year award shortly.

BBC Newsreader, Nicholas Owen,was the special guest in HolmwoodWard at the East Surrey Hospitalrecently. He presented gifts to patientMrs Freda Smith who had passed amusical milestone when she selected the200,000th musical item to be played onRadio Redhill’s patients’ requestprogramme.

Freda from Warlingham chose theDaniel O’Donnell number ‘Footsteps’ andreceived a special certificate and giftvouchers from Nicholas and discoveredthat she had much in common with thepopular broadcaster. They both love theclassical music of Rachmaninov.

HWD in West Yorkshire, opened their newly refurbished studio at the end of last year. Pictured (left) Steven Webb cuts the ribbonto officially open the new studio at HWD Hospital Radio in Dewsbury, which has been named in honour of his late father, Stan. Heis assisted by HWD Chairman, Mike Binns and Chief Nurse, Tracey McErlain-Burns. Pictured (right) Steven Webb and volunteerstoast the success of the new studio at HWD Hospital Radio

18 HWD/REDHILL:18 HWD/REDHILL 9/2/09 15:48 Page 1

Make Good Use of YourLocal Newspaper

I remember exactly when I first saw the by-line 'ByMathew Hulbert' on an article. It was December 1995, Iwas a mere slip of a lad aged 15 and it was in my localchurch magazine 'Parish News' in Barwell, Leicestershire.I'd not long come back from a visit to see my sister at hernew home in Bahrain (she now lives in the wonderful cityof Dubai, also in the United Arab Emirates) and I'd writtena short article about the trip and the Christian lessons I'dlearnt on it. On seeing that article published in thatmagazine I decided, on the spot, that I wanted to have acareer in journalism. I'd always thought the idea wasromantic.

I think it's due to me being a big fan of Superman as akid ... OK and now as well. Not so much all of the flyingaround and wearing figure-hugging tights you understandbut rather, his being a reporter at the gloriously titled 'DailyPlanet.' He and Lois Lane were the star reporters, alwayschasing a story, always where the action was, alwayscompeting for the front-page by-line.

The road to a career in journalism isn't and I believe,should never be, an easy one. You have to earn yourstripes (oh my goodness I sound just like my dad – how didthat happen?)

In 1997, aged 17, I joined Hinckley's own hospital radiostation, Castle Mead Radio.

At my Further Education college in Hinckley I wrotearticles for its magazine (including an interview with thelibrarian; yes, this was truly Pulitzer Prize winning stuff)and later, at Nottingham Trent University, where I wasstudying Broadcast Journalism, I wrote a weekly columnfor the student newspaper and read the news on thestudent radio station. Somewhere in between all of this Ialso fitted in two work placements at my local weeklynewspaper The Hinckley Times.

Not only was this an eye opener (to see the great workdone by a small team in getting loads of great local storiesand putting together something that was always worthreading) but it also set me up well for when I became


What I’ve LearntMatthew HulbertVice Chairman of Castle Mead Radio

Castle Mead Radio's Publicity Officer. I got us in the paper on anumber of occasions because I knew how to write a good pressrelease and I had good relations with the staff on the paper.

About four months ago I received an e-mail from the Editor ofThe Hinckley Times, a great guy called Simon Holden, asking meif I'd like to write a monthly column for the free weekly paper theyalso produce, called The Hinckley Herald and Journal – which isdelivered to more than 30,000 homes in South WestLeicestershire. Of course, I jumped at the chance! What afantastic way of promoting the great work of all of our wonderfulvolunteers at Castle Mead Radio and of Hospital Radio in general.

I look forward to writing it each and every month.Imagine how surprised I was when, a month or so later, I

received another e-mail from Simon telling me they wererevamping The Hinckley Times website and would I considerwriting a regular blog for it? Is The Pope a Catholic? My answerto Simon was Yes, Yes, Yes. Well, not literally as I would'vesounded like a bit of a prat saying that but you get my drift.

(You can read my blog here: www.hinckleytimes.net) The fact that all of this, as well as a career as a Broadcast

Journalist in Commercial Radio, sprung out of a small article Iwrote as a 15 year old is a testament not to any extra special talentbut rather to hard work, perseverance and, yes, luck.

Over and above that I believe all of us involved in HospitalRadio should get to know the editorial staff at our localnewspapers. More often than not they are decent, hard-workingpeople who, given the chance and the right material, would loveto promote Hospital Radio within the pages of their publication.Go on, give them a call.

19 Matt 125:19 Matt 125 9/2/09 15:59 Page 1


Wycombe HR Celebrate

It was on a Monday evening, 2ndOctober 1967 to be precise, that agroup of friends gathered in the radioroom at Wycombe Hospital to launchthe first programme. It was to go out at8pm and they called it ‘Monday DateAt Eight’ borrowing the title from anold BBC Home Service programme ofthe 1960s.

In 2007, Wycombe Hospital Radiocelebrated their 40th anniversarybroadcasting from the same room asthey did all those years ago but thesystem by which they distribute theprogrammes has undergone a radicalchange from those early days.

It is 40 years on from the very firstprogramme on Wycombe HospitalRadio but some of the original memberscan still be heard on the airwaves atWycombe today! Dave Rimellbroadcasts a Sunday morning show,whilst Ray Wingrove still presents'Monday Date at Eight' and finally KeithBowden can be heard every morningfrom 7am to 10am. To mark theoccasion, Keith presented a 40thanniversary show on 30th November.Congratulations go to all three DJs fortheir commitment to the station!

Over the past year WycombeHospital Radio has had a flurry of newmembers joining and hope to soon beable to fill the whole week withpresenter-led shows!

Patients Didn’t MissOut On Christmas

Patients in Warrington Hospitaldidn’t miss out on Christmas events.Radio General, Warrington Hospital’sradio station, were out and about overthe Christmas period broadcasting liveevents back to the patients.

On Friday, 19th December patientswere able to listen live from the ParrHall, to the Christmas Concert by theWarrington Male Voice Choir withtheir guests the Bactiguard Wire Brass.On the following Saturday, JimJefferies’ People & Places programmecame live from the WinterWonderland at Walton Hall Gardens.

On Sunday 21st, they were back atthe Parr Hall for the Warrington LightOpera’s Christmas Gala Concert.

On Christmas Eve ‘The Glory ofChristmas’, a concert of seasonal carolsand music was broadcast live fromBethesda Evangelical Church StocktonHeath.

Special programmes were broadcaston Christmas Day and Boxing Day andon the following Sunday rugby fansdidn’t miss out when they had livecoverage of the Warrington Wolves vWigan Warriors.

Keith Inman, Secretary, said‘Christmas is a difficult time if peopleare in hospital. By presenting theseOutside Broadcasts and extraprogrammes over Christmas we hopethat the patients can feel be part ofwhat’s going on around the town.

If you wish to pass on your bestwished to a patient in the WarringtonHospital the Radio General’s Requestline is 01925 662122’.

Two Shows, TwoStations

Have you ever broadcast twodifferent radio programmes on twodifferent radio stations at the sametime? Well on 4th April, localcommercial radio station presenter IanDore did just that; he broadcast the lasttwo hours of his Bath FM breakfastshow from the studios of Bath Hospital

Radio and presented a separate showto the hospital at the same time. Thetwo stations simulcast links so listenerson the FM station heard the same aslisteners in the Royal United Hospitalfor Hospital Broadcasting Week. IanDore said this is ‘a technical nightmare,I've never seen this many microphones,it's like a press conference’. His co-presenter and Bath FM ProgrammeController Tim Lewis said ‘ It was fun’.They played an interview of JackDouglas from the Carry On film seriesespecially for the patients in hospital,spoke to Alice Corp from theWednesday Request team about hersuccess at the National Hospital RadioAwards where she was commended inthe Newcomer category. In the picturefrom left, Tim Lewis, Ian Dore, AliceCorp and Chairman Ray James

Darran HuishBath Hospital Radio

20th BirthdayCelebrations

Spire Hospital Radio were 20 yearsold last August so old and newmembers met up to exchange tales.

Jim Jeffer ies inter view ing Santa whilstbroadcasting his ‘People and Places’programme live from Walton HallG ardens Winter Wonderland

Past and present members o f SpireHospital Radio meet up

Pictured, from left, T im Lewis, Ian Dore,A lice C orp and C hairman, Ray James

Jenny and Em

Countrywide ... news from the stations

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Murder Mystery NightRaises Funds for GHR

NHS Grampian Sports Committeeorganised a Murder Mystery eveningon 22nd November 2008 which wasattended by 104 would be detectives –the proceeds of which were to bedonated to Grampian Hospital Radio(GHR)

The venue for the event was theHealth Service Social and RecreationalClub in Aberdeen. Participants ate atwo-course meal before settling downto the detective work.

The theatre group, Murder MostFowl, led by Anne Douglas, brought thestory to life. A man had been stabbedand the perpetrator had to be found.There were a number of suspects eachof whom had their own motive forkilling the victim and as the eveningwent on the motives multiplied asmoney, sex, property deals and wickedrituals began to link all of the suspects,all of them of course protesting theirinnocence. The ‘police’ led by DCIHelen Moron and her two fecklesshelpers questioned each suspect thusproviding the assembled teams withmany red herrings and the vitalinformation needed to solve the crime.

Once the teams had deliberated andmade their choice of who done it, therewas a short intermission while thewinning team was identified and thenthe explanations given to the assembledamateur detectives.

The interval provided an idealopportunity for the raffle. The ticketsales squad, made up of GHRmembers, quickly set to work to ensurethe evening’s participants parted withtheir hard earned cash, which they verygenerously did and whilst the ticketswere being prepared for the granddraw our very own treasurer weighedin with a last minute sales pitch whichraised another £30.

Following the raffle draw, DCIHelen Moron (Anne Douglas) returnedto reveal the culprit and announced thewinning team. ‘I have a cunning plan’,the team led by Gerry McEneny andRichard Morrison were declared thewinners having identified both themurderer and the motive.

The evening was then rounded offwith music until midnight supplied byGrampian Hospital Radio.

Over the course of the evening inexcess of £400 was raised forGrampian Hospital Radio. A big thankyou to the teams and Nigel Firth, chairNHS Grampian Sports Committee for

their kind and valued support.Brenda MassieSecretary, Grampian Hospital Radio

Barclays Bank DoublesMoney

The annual carol concert took placeat the St Leonard's Social Club,Stafford on Wednesday 17 December.The Alstom Singers, with their musicaldirector Cathy Garside and StaffordOrchestral Society, leader Peter Norrisand conductor Paul Nevins providedthe festive entertainment.

As with previous years HospitalRadio Stafford was invited to record theconcert and conduct a raffle.

The amount raised was £219 andthis amount has been matched byBarclays Bank, Stafford through their‘Pound for Pound’ charity awardscheme, thereby increasing the totalraised to £438.

The recording of the concert wasplayed to the patients in Stafford andCannock Hospitals on Christmas Eveand repeated throughout the festiveperiod.

Update from MDRMid Downs Hospital Radio, which

provides musical entertainment andinformation to patients and visitors atthe Princess Royal Hospital complex,has a new website www.mdr.org.uk

The website tells you all about thestation, its programmes and the activitiesthat the Station is involved in aroundMid Sussex and within the hospital

Sarah Melhuish, MDR Secretary inlaunching the new website said ‘As acharity involved in entertainingmembers of the public using thehospital it is important that we providea facility where people in thecommunity can find out who we areand what we do’. She added, ‘Thewebsite will also facilitate recruitmentof new volunteers as the station isgrowing and we still want more people

to join us not only to play music butalso to be part of the team which weneed to run the Station’.

• • • • • • A special party was held to celebrate

the commitment that many MDRsupporters have given to the station.One of the highlights of the night wasthe long service awards presented byJune Snowden to MDR Presenters AnnBird and Mavis McLaren for 30 yearsof service. Peter Towner also received a20 years service award. Long serviceawards for periods ranging from 5 to 20years were also given to 26 otherpresenters and supporters of the station,all of whom received certificates.

In addition to the presentations, thiscelebratory event held at the St FrancisSocial and Sports Club involved raffles,music and dancing and games(including Pass the Parcel). Guestsincluded Tim French from Its MagicPromotions.

June Snowden presents Peter Townerw ith his 20 year long ser vice cer tificate

Pictured, left to r ight, Julie Mewes w ithA nn Bird and Mavis McLaren receivingtheir 30 year cer tificates from June

The HRS raffle team, from left to r ight:Jo hn Po r tman, C elia Po r tman, BobSeaton, A lan Morrall and Richard Ellison



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Celebrating 30 YearsStoke Mandeville Hospital Radio

recently celebrated 30 years ofbroadcasting to patients and staff atStoke Mandeville Hospital.

To mark the huge milestone in thestation's history, current and formermembers gathered for a specialcelebration and presentation of awardsat 7.30pm on December 4th, exactlythe time and date that the radio stationstarted broadcasting to the patients ofthe hospital back in 1978.

Former members Cllr Dave Ralphand Cllr Denise Summers were presentas was Mayor of Aylesbury, PenniThorne and members of the HospitalTrust and the voluntary servicesdepartment.

Members took a trip down memorylane as they shared some fondmemories of their time at the stationand some received long service awardsfrom June Snowden.

June presented a 30 year certificateto the station as well as to Cllr FredaRoberts who was instrumental ingetting the station on air.

Also receiving 30 year long servicecertificates were Dez Kay and MartinKinch.

Mark Withey and current ChairmanMatthew Nash received certificates for20 years, Nick Sievewright for 15 yearsand Steve Andrews, Roy Mcnabb,Ralph Chadwick and Dave Gamagereceived 10 year certificates.

Presenters Faye and Mark Granthampresented a special request showduring the evening and also interviewedsome of our guests including JuneSnowden, Graham Ellis, Chairman ofThe Bucks Hospitals Trust, IanGarlington, Director of Facilities andestates and former SMHR ChairmenChris Long and Terry Meades.

Martin Kinch, who joined the stationin January 1979, said ‘It was a great tomeet up again with some formermembers and members of the HospitalTrust. It was good to see June againand we are grateful to her for comingand presenting the long service awards.It was a lovely surprise to see DLT atthe event. Dave gave a speech in whichhe pointed out how important hethought hospital radio was, he alsoremembered me interviewing him inour studio back in 1980 during a 50hour sponsored programme.

‘He reminisced about myself andMark Withey going to Radio 1 back in1993 to sit in with him while hepresented his weekend show just a few

weeks before he resigned from thestation.’

DLT came as a guest of AylesburyVale District Councillor Janet Blake,who recently donated £10,000 fromthe Community Chest fund towards thecost of the new studios.

Since 1978, many thousands ofrequests have been played not only forpatients but also staff at the hospital.

It has attracted some high profilenames into the studio along the wayincluding the likes of Sir Jimmy Savile,Noel Edmonds and Conservative MPNorman Tebbit, who was interviewedby Martin in 1985 during which timehis wife was receiving treatment at thehospital after being left disabled andwheelchair-bound for life following theIRA bombing of the 1984 ConservativeParty conference in Brighton.

With the station set to move to itsnew studio in the near future, SMHRPresident Cllr Freda Roberts said itseemed a fitting time to celebrate such anoteworthy anniversary.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radiobroadcasts 24 hours a day seven days aweek to patients and staff of theHospital on 1575 am.

The radio station has its ownwebsite www.smhr.co.uk and in theearly part of the year will be movinginto new studios due to theredevelopment of the Hospital.

During the past 12 months nearly£40,000 has been raised to build thenew studios. Chief fundraiser StellaWithey said that the money raised willgo towards providing furniture andequipment for the new radio stationpremises and to help maintain theround the clock radio broadcastingfacility for the benefit of the patientsand staff of the hospital.

Valentine CelebrationsA Broughton man who has devoted

over 25 years of his life to supportinghospital radio was presented with acertificate to thank him for his longservice and continued support by theLord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.

Wally Valentine, 57, fromBroughton, received the award to markhis achievement from the LordLieutenant of Northamptonshire, LadyJuliet Townsend, in October, in thehospital’s staff restaurant.

Mr Valentine, who is married toJane, is the fifth person to achieve the25 year service landmark in KetteringHospital Broadcasting Association’s 31year history.

Mr Valentine first became involvedwith hospital radio because he wasinterested in music and wanted to dosomething to help the local community.

Soon after joining the station in July1983, Wally was invited to join themanagement committee and over theyears he has played out most rolesincluding Treasurer, Public RelationsOfficer, Vice Chairman and Chairman,the position he currently holds.

He has presented a wide variety ofprogrammes, assisted with the verypopular two-way request programmewith BBC Radio Northampton andprovided commentary from KetteringTown Football Club games. Wally alsolaunched Radio Diamonds at Rushdenand Diamonds Football Club in 1995which ran until 2004 with himself as itsmain presenter.

Throughout his time with hospitalradio, he has motivated and supporteda variety of fund raising ventures; be itseeking donations, organising raffles,running a tombola at a carnival stall,rattling a collecting tin in the rain orsimply lying back in a hospital bed beingpushed around the town collectingmoney in a bucket.

Kettering General Hospital’s Directorof Estates, James Hayward, said thatWally had been the driving forcebehind hospital radio for 25 years andhis work has benefited countlessthousands of patients.

Wally Valentine is presented w ith his 25year long ser vice cer tificate from theLord Lieutenant o f Nor thamptonshire,Lady Juliet Townsend





New Studio for 2HRAfter a hectic weekend of activity,

Huddersfield Hospital Radio 2HR havea newly fitted studio using Sonifex S2mixer and S2 solutions furniture to givea more open feel to the studio.

The equipment comprises of twoCD players, two grams, two minidisk,Myriad plus four new AKG C3000Bmicrophones. We now have adedicated mix/minus fader for our linkto the Glapham stadium for football andrugby commentary using an ISDN line.

• • • • • •Huddersfield Hospital Radio, based

at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary,held a Presentation Event to recogniseLong Service by its Volunteers when 18members received certificates boasting ashared total of 370 years' service!Certificates were presented by JuneSnowden, who also presented toChairman Ken Rafferty a plaque tomark 55 Years' Service by 2HR to theHospitals of Huddersfield. 2HRcurrently broadcasts seven days a weekto patients of the Royal Infirmary andprovides a service to visually impairedmatchgoers at the Glapham Stadium.

HRB’s Annual QuizNight

Thursday 19th February is the datefor Hospital Radio Bedside's 2009 QuizNight, hosted by Radio 2's AlanDedicoat. It's at the Wessex Hotel inBournemouth, with all proceeds goingto support Hospital Radio Bedside, thelocal station which broadcasts to fivehospitals in the East Dorset area.

Tickets cost £5 per person with amaximum of six people per team. Formore information or to order tickets,please contact Juli Brown, via ourwebsite www.hospitalradiobedside.co.uk.

Zip Over the ClydeLooking for a summer’s day out with

a bit of a thrill? Why not take part in acourageous event for charity. RadioLollipop (Glasgow) is looking for bravepeople to join in the fun and Zip Slideover the River Clyde and raise moneyfor children in hospital. The event willtake place on 21st June next to SECCand will run from 10am until the lastperson does the slide. There will be alive road show with our regularpresenters and live performances froma local dance group. For moreinformation or to take part please email[[email protected]] or phone07824612732.

Emma Wins Val BrownAward

Radio St Helier presenter EmmaHaran is this year’s winner of thehospital radio station's Val BrownAward, in recognition of her dedicatedwork for the charity.

Emma, who lives in Mitcham, wasnominated for her work as secretary toRadio St Helier’s executive committeeover the past two years and forsupporting the hospital station as arequest collector, programme presenterand fundraiser. Emma has presentedSmile, the station's programme foryounger listeners, since 2006.

The Val Brown Award is presentedeach year in memory of a dedicatedlistener to the station. It is awarded,after a vote at the station's annualgeneral meeting, to the member whohas contributed the most to the stationover the past 12 months.

Emma said, ‘I was so surprised anddelighted when they announced that Ihad won the award. I have been amember of Radio St. Helier for fouryears and it is such a rewardingexperience. I joined to meet newpeople and help make a difference tothe community while boosting my selfconfidence with a new hobby. I havenever regretted it. There is a wonderfulteam of people here who help andsupport you and make it fun. I lovemeeting the patients when requestcollecting and knowing that in a smallway you can make their day.

‘Music is a great way to cheersomeone up and make them feel better,which is why hospital radio is soimportant. It is an honour to berecognised for my work, especially as

the award is voted for by fellowmembers of the station.’

Station Manager Kevin Horkan said,‘Emma has been a dedicated memberof the Radio St Helier team. Shestepped in as secretary when weneeded someone to fill the role and hascontinued to be part of the ward visitingand programme presenting team aswell.’

Radio St Helier broadcasts to thepatients in St Helier Hospital. Listenersto the station enjoy a range ofprogrammes, from request shows tospecialist music.

New members are always welcome,and can contact the station on 0208296 2259 or visit the website atwww.radiosthelier.org.uk for moreinformation. Minimum age formembership is 17 years old.

Pupils take to theNorwich airwaves

A city radio staffed by school studentsand youth organisations was back on airfor a fifth spell. Exchange Radio87.7FM, based at Hospital RadioNorwich, was on air from November 3to November 6, between 9am and7pm. It is broadcast 20 miles aroundNorwich but the radio station can beheard throughout Norfolk online atwww.exchangeradio.co.uk. 28 schoolsand youth organisations from aroundthe county took part. Each school oryouth organisation had an hour-longslot. The students plan and producetheir own programmes and have thechance to broadcast live as well as usesome pre-recorded material.

Avenue Junior School, Norwichproduced an Exchange Radio show forthe first time on November 5. Thetheme for the hour was a tribute tohead teacher Juris Zarin who is retiringsoon after 20 years at the helm. DebbieRidgeon, the teacher co-ordinating theAvenue show said that the childrenwere really excited about beinginvolved. Around 150 students,comprising half the school helpedrecord items. We had a very difficulttask choosing the 12 who went to thestudio to do the live links.’

Avenue items include spoof AgonyAunts who help Mr Zarin face life afterschool and a spoof conker matchbetween Mr Zarin and deputy head,Debbie Dinmore. The school's stringand woodwind ensembles recordedmusical items and two choirs sangSomewhere over the Rainbow andTomorrow from Annie.



Martha Muir

One of our star presenters at Ayr Hospital Radio, Martha Muir,has died suddenly in Ayr Hospital on 12th December 2008.

Martha was the sister of Radio Manager Mike Manley andpresented two programmes every week: a three hour programmeon a Thursday and a two hour show on a Sundays. She was alsoour main Trainer for new volunteers.

Martha, at the age of 73, would go round wards and clinicstalking to patients and collect requests, even though she was badlyaffected by arthritis and would sometimes have to use a wheelchair.But she was so keen on helping others and enjoyed entertainingthem with music.

She went into hospital for a routine hernia operation but duringthe operation, surgeons found more than they bargained for and thefamily was sent for. Her brother Mike was with her till the end.

Most presenters gave a tribute to Martha in their programmes andmany lovely words were spoken about her but one quote fromAssistant Radio Manager Chris Berry was, ‘Auntie Martha is alegend’.

Martha's Grandson, Jake Muir, has taken over her Sunday slotand said it's something he just had to do to keep her memory in thestudio.

Mike Manley, Ayr Hospitals Radio

Reginald Mansfield

Reginald, a dedicated member of HR Maidstone for 15 years,passed away in Maidstone Hospital on 9th December, 2008. Duringhis time at HRM he achieved three posts on the committee. Firstly,as a request collector co-ordinator where he went on to the wardscollecting in his wheelchair. He spent hours talking to each andeveryone trying to make their stay in hospital more bearable and wasfinally nicknamed ‘Rolling Reggie’.

As Secretary, he was always bringing new members into theservice. His attitude may have been a little strict but his intentionswere good and always giving his time to new members, showingthem what was expected of every member including theChairman.

He finally obtained the position of Support Services, supporting,encouraging and introducing many new members. His fundraisingwas second to none; despite his many illnesses and was regularlyshaking tins, terrorising members of the public to part with theirmoney.

Reggie presented a Friday night show with his colleague JoyceFrancis, playing a wide selection of music from Harry Seccombe’sOld Rugged Cross to Dick Emery’s Willy. His show alwaysseemed to have unofficial sponsored silences where the CD wasblamed or the computer failing to work; probably despite havingpressed the wrong button.

Reggie will always be a member of Hospital Radio Maidstonesure in the fact that as we continue to broadcast, he will be lookingdown to make sure we are behaving ourselves and putting thepatients of the Maidstone Hospital first.

Phil Still, Chairman Hospital Radio Maidstone

Obituaries


Clive BerridgeRadio Forest Community Broadcasting in Epping is sad to report the untimely death of one of theirlong time presenters, Clive Berridge, just before Christmas at the age of 52. Clive was the first presenter on our classic hits service, Forest Gold, placing the groundwork for ahighly popular request show which is still running today. Clive was a published author, writing theAlmshouses of London and the Layers guide to walking London. He illustrated his works, also beinga highly skilled photographer. It was after his brother John, another long term Radio Forest member,passed away in 2004 that Clive's health began to suffer. He spent his last years in BUPA Care Homes.He will be remembered as an excellent presenter and a good friend.Fellow Classic Hits and Forest Gold presenter Judy Hughes writes, ‘I remember Clive for his friendly,gentle personality, his wonderfully relaxing voice and his self-effacing manner which, to some extent,belied the extent of his knowledge on many subjects, including music which he enjoyed so much.When I first joined Radio Forest, Clive presented the programme immediately before min, and he wasalways willing, when necessary, to stay around to untangle the mysteries of the computer system forme. I miss his chats about music and broadcasting in general and his quiet sense of humour.’ Clive willbe missed by everyone at Radio Forest but remembered for many years to come.

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Regional Reps detailsREGION REP ADDRESS PHONE E-MAIL

Regional Dave Lockyer 54 School Lane 0870 321 6005 [email protected] Higham

RochesterKent ME3 7JF

Anglia Julie Cox 37 Alford Street 0870 765 9601 [email protected] 8BX

Home Donald McFarlane 99 Hughenden Road 0870 765 9602 [email protected] WycombeBucksHP13 5HT

London Ben Hart 0870 765 9603 [email protected]

Midlands David Tysoe 51 Woodway 0870 765 9604 [email protected] OAH

North Elliot Kennedy 9 Dipton Road 0870 765 9605 [email protected] EstateStockton on TeesTS19 8JW

Northern Davey Downes 19 Collingbridge Drive 0870 765 9606 [email protected] Glengormley

NewtonabbeyBT36 7SX

North West David McGealy 40 Saffron Drive 0870 765 9607 [email protected] 2PU

Scotland Jim Simpson 91 Braehead Way 0870 765 9608 [email protected] of DonAberdeen AB22 8SD

South Neil Ogden 63 Franklin Avenue 0870 765 9609 [email protected] 4EZ

South East Dave Abrey 14 Park Drive 0870 765 9611 [email protected] 9DT

Wales & West Steve Allen 12 Heol Poyston 0870 765 9613 [email protected] CaerauCardiff CF5 5LKX

Yorkshire Iain Lee 37 The Meadows 0870 765 9614 [email protected] DN17 3UD

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Who to Contact on the Executive Committee

President June SnowdenP.O. Box 76, Ely, CB6 3WH

Tel: 0870 321 6009e-mail: [email protected] visits, represent HBApublicly, print and present longservice certificates

Chief Executive Phil Moon82 Greenleaf Gardens, Polegate,E Sussex BN26 6PH

Tel: 0870 321 6000e-mail: [email protected] contact with statutory bodies.Ambassadors

Treasurer Julie CoxHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6004e-mail: [email protected] matters (other thansubscriptions)

Conference BookingsMarie HarperHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6017e-mail: [email protected]

Technical AdviserGeoff FairbairnHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6012e-mail: [email protected] matters

Deputy Chief Executive Iain LeeHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EGTel: 0870 321 6014e-mail: [email protected] committee chairman.Special projects

General SecretaryNigel Dallard54 St. Annes Close, Badger Farm,Winchester, Hampshire SO22 4LQ

Tel: 0870 321 6003e-mail: [email protected] correspondence, CompanySecretary, annual review

Acting Public Relations ManagerSean DunderdaleHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EGTel: 0870 321 6008e-mail: [email protected] and public relations,charity profile

Regional Manager Dave LockyerHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6005e-mail: [email protected] meetings, contacts, settingup a region etc.

EditorMichelle NewsteadHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6011e-mail: [email protected] Air magazine

Sales & Advertising ExecutiveMike SkinnerHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6026e-mail: [email protected] Corporate sales for HBA

Webmaster Mark VenusHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EG

Tel: 0870 321 6018e-mail: [email protected] of HBA website

General EnquiriesTel: 0870 321 6019e-mail: [email protected]

Programming AdviserPaul EastonHospital Broadcasting Association,PO Box 341, Messingham,Scunthorpe DN15 5EGTel: 0870 321 6002e-mail: [email protected] on programme content

Membership EnquiriesTel: 0870 321 6003e-mail: [email protected]

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