Hospital Radio
Once upon a time, in my distant past (over 30 years ago!) I was enjoying my time as a presenter on hospital radio.
Playing music, talking to patients, building rapport with them on phone-ins and knowing that, in some small way, I was helping them to feel better.
As a child, I always used to listen to music; placing records on the record player and capturing the Top40 on cassette on a Sunday evening!
When I had the opportunity to visit the local hospital radio station, in the attic of the old eye hospital (which is now a block of flats) I was instantly taken with the magic of it all.
In those days, the station broadcast over the telephone line to seven hospitals in the area. It was a large catchment area.
Eventually, when the new Royal Bournemouth Hospital was built, they donated some land to us, so that we could build a purpose-built studio complex. This was state-of-the-art, with two studios, and a full library of vinyl records (this was just as CDs were taking off).
We also had a transit-style van donated to us by Barclays Bank, which was converted to an outside broadcast unit.
Hospital Radio
Over my time, I worked at three stations;
- Hospital Radio Bedside (Bournemouth)
- Hospital Bedside Radio (Macclesfield)
- Northern Air (Manchester)
It was a really fun time and a great hobby.
Over the years on hospital radio, I broadcast a few different shows. Of course, this is all for the benefit of the patients.
I had a “Music from the Movies” show on a Tuesday evening which I followed with the “Request Show”.
You’re listening to Hospital Radio Bedside. Keeping you company at your bedside and helping you on the road to recovery”
On a Sunday, I used to have a show called “The Show with More Variety Than Heinz”! Yes. Really.
It was such a lot of fun. It was also a community. I used to go to the studio even when I didn’t have a show to present.
One year, we even did a 24-hour marathon broadcast. This was done in October, and some bright spark chose the weekend when the clocks changed!
Since that was my slot, this meant I broadcast from 1 am until 2 am, and then the clocks went back and I did 1 am til 2 am again!
The Kids Are The Star
I remember the times when I used to visit the children's ward on a Saturday morning, with my tape recorder and microphone in hand, to ‘interview’ the children and gather their requests for later in the day.
They used to treat us like celebrities! Those who could get out of bed would crowd around us.
I’d record them introducing the track they wanted to hear, and during the course of the show, I would play these intros, so that they could hear themselves before the music played.
It was very special.
Outside Broadcast
I also remember our summer outside broadcast, next to Bournemouth Pier - I got to interview Jean Boht (of Nellie Boswell fame, from the tv show “Bread”).
Here I am presenting live at Bournemouth Pier Approach
I continued doing Hospital Radio for over 10 years and only stopped when my oldest son was born.
Shame. I really did enjoy it.
Nostalgia
I still have my collection of 320 singles (45s) that have been stored for over 23 years.
I bought myself a cheap, all-in-one, turntable to listen to them again.
Watching the vinyl spin, and hearing the music play, never fails to bring a smile to my face, as nostalgia kicks in.
Originally published on Medium