Press Reports 1976

Hospital radio station goes back on the air

The internal radio station at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, went back on the air last night after a £4,500 injection from the hospital's League of Friends.

Journalist and TV personality Michael Parkinson and actress Diana Dors were interviewed live in the new studio and recorded messages from Bruce Forsyth we're delayed to patients.

Michael Parkinson, who has agreed to be president of the new streamlined Radio Heatherwood was at the hospital by special invitation. But Diana Dors, who lives in Sunninghill, just happened to be visiting a friend in the maternity block and agreed to speak to the patients over the new radio system.

Baby

After being interviewed Mr Parkinson toured a number of the wards, chatting to patients and then presented a new mother in the maternity block with a toy kangaroo on behalf of the radio station.

Mrs Valerie Smith, of Prince Andrew Way, Ascot, was the first mother to have a baby after Radio Heatherwood went on the air. Less than an hour after the birth of her son Mrs Smith met Mr Parkinson and a deputation from the League of Friends

Earlier the league officially handed over the radio station to Mrs Marion McCarthy, district nursing officer for east Berkshire. The station has been off the air for some months.

Radio Heatherwood will be broadcasting to patients for three hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. But when more volunteer disc jockeys have been found and trained it is hoped the station will be on the air for three hours every evening.

( Source Evening Post 11/6/1976 )

Radio Heatherwood
hits the airwaves

There is excitement and anticipation among staff and patients alike at Heatherwood Hospital today (Thursday) because the hospital's own radio station goes on the air for the first time at 8pm.

A team of seven disc jockeys will each have a short spot to introduce themselves during the first broadcast which will last until 10pm.

Expected to be among tonight's highlights are an interview with TV chat show star Michael Parkinson, and a special prize for a Heatherwood baby which it is hoped will be born while tonight's show is on the air.

Programmer planner Derek Robinson plans to be interviewing Michael Parkinson during his spot between 8.30 and 9.

"We're also hoping a baby will be born at Heatherwood while we're on the air and we'll be offering a prize," Derek Robinson said.

Mr Robinson, whose previous experience has been with Forces broadcasting, said that everyone deserved a pat on the back for the work they had put in and "not just the disc jockeys."

"Everyone has their own job to do. Lots of people have to put in a hell of a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make sure a programme goes out all right."

Those backroom boys, Radio Heatherwood's engineers made pilot broadcast last week and "everything came loud and clear," Mr Robinson said.

The cost of installing the radio has been, around £4,000. At first broadcasts will be for two hours three nights a week and eventually it is hoped to extend the service to every night, including Sundays.

Radio Heatherwood is still looking for more girls to help with the programme's, and any records or record tokens would be appreciated to help build up a record library. People offering help should contact Mr Robinson at Maidenhead 29342.

( Source Unknown )

Parkie shows
his bedside radio manner

Journalist and television personality Michael Parkinson, who lives in Bray, is due to officially re open the patients internal radio service at Heatherwood Hospital Ascot tomorrow.

Beryl Berry and Chris Garrood compared request shows at the hospital twice a week equipment started to show signs of wear.

The hospitals League of Friends Stepped in and re-wired all the wards and set up a studio.

Beryl and Chris are now being joined by four other disc jockeys to broadcast for three hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

A "Radio Heatherwood" spokesman said: " When we get more volunteer broadcasters we hope to run the service for three hours every night and devote Sunday mornings to a special children’s programme.

In addition to record requests and relaying messages, the new broadcasting team hope to run "quizzes competitions, and interview personalities and visitors to the hospital.

We also hope to have a story at bedtime," added the spokesman.

They are now looking for female volunteer broadcasters, "Since half the patients are male I am sure they would like to hear a female voice'," he said'.

On the first night all six disc jockeys will have a 20 minute spot to introduce themselves Beryl and Chris will be joined by Derek Robinson of Maidenhead, Andy Morton of Sunningdale, Mark McCarthy, of Bracknell and John Savage of Maidenhead.

Radio Heatherwood also sent out an appeal this week for records, two good tape recorders and a good cassette recorder.

( Source Evening Mail 9/6/1976 )

Hospital radio proves winner

Radio Heatherwood, the internal radio for patients, is to extend its coverage after its successful launch last month.

At first it was broadcasting for three evenings a week, but from August 30 it will be on the air from Monday to Friday 7-10pm and twice on Sundays, in the mornings with a special kids programme and requests, and in the evening with a religious spot and a short story as well as more requests.

Radio Heatherwood has had a tremendous response to its appeal for more DJ's, and there is now only one vacancy left. If any6ne is interested they should contact Radio Heather-wood's PRO Derek Robinson at his home at 2 Laxton Green, Cox-Green-, Maidenhead.

Derek Robinson said that requests for patients and friends; were flooding in to the radio station. "At the moment we are featuring about 25 to 30 requests an evening, but obviously when we go full time in August we'll have more scope."

He promised more interviews and other programme's in the future.

( Source Unknown )