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2016 Year Forty March

2016 Summary of Events Part 2

The months of March and April see the publishing of the radio history for 2015,some old stories from the radio's early days and the first indication of problems ahead with lease and also the chapel to be swept away.

Stories and snippets of information taken from the staff newsletter and from behind the scenes.

It's March 2016, the story unfolds:-

March 2016

March

  1. 1stStudio lease expires.
    No word from the trust at all about renewal at this stage in the year. In the past the lease has never been renewed on time, but has been months or even a year after expiration date. This in mind we didn’t think their would be a problem.
  2. 6th1st months stats from stream shows listeners from Brazil.
    The stream hosting company produces monthly stats for PPL, our first months stats show a range of listeners from around the world.
  3. 14thAutomated systems using the same album art.
    Radio DJ is software used by presenters during live sessions(Live Assist). Simian software, used by the Rhapsody 24hr playout system.
  4. Each system was previously selecting different pictures for the web page as music played. The work was complete on combining both systems to select the same image to appear. Every sound file on each system, over 20,000 on each system had to be edited.
  5. ©RadioHeritage
    Rhapsody album-art.
    This example image shows the rhapsody playlist complete with album art.
    Click to Enlarge:-
  6.  
  7. 15thFay Beazer daughter of our founder posts article on facebook with a number of responses.Facebook post on Ascot and Sunninghill group generates a number of responses and new information about the start of the radio station. Bill Berry’s daughter sends us details of the launch of Radio Heatherwood.
  8. 16thMore information is received from our founder’s daughter.
    “My wife Denise has just shown me these comments.
  9. I am Robert Ellison and I was part of the original team that first broadcast on Radio Heatherwood 40 years ago. There were about 6 of us, it was great fun ,very nerve racking and a bit Heath Robinson. I had been working in CSSD at the hospital after leaving school . We were a complete cross section of ages and tastes . This reflected in the music we chose”.Heather Hendry ,a lady called Grace was one of the originals but memory fails for the rest.
  10. 18thWeb page links and flyers completed.
    The final web page for listening is completed along with flyers for wards and pdf documents for web site.
  11. The web page for the web site is completed and tested on mobile devices to ensure it displays properly and carries the updated info from the studios.
  12. ©RadioHeritage
    The front page of the user guide. The full version with twenty pages,carried useful info for all users.
    Click to Enlarge:-
  13.  
  14. PDF Downloads
  15. 22ndBT Broadband
    A request to renew our contract with BT for broadband is lost and weeks are lost waiting for an upgrade.
  16. Internet Listen Full Version
  17. 23rdRadio history of 2015.
    The radio history for 2015 is posted on the web along with facebook posts. “That Was The Year That Was 2015”
  18. Internet Listen Online
  19. We have today posted two new web pages which details the history of the radio for 2015. It has been a year of incredible lows but has ended with positive news for the future of the hospital site and the radio. Some enormous work has been carried out by the station engineer, in preparation for the radio to provide an internet radio service sometime in 2016.
  20. Internet Listen Ward
  21. This was the first indication to the public,what the radio service was planning for later in the year.
  22. Rhapsody Radio Times
  23. 31stListen to Radio Heatherwood.
    In an attempt to limit the listeners on the internet to UK listeners only,restrictions are put in place to stop listeners from other countries.Why would a hospital radio need listeners in Brazil ?.

As part of the promotion of the new internet service,our radio times was updated in mid March. It would show readers how to make requests using facebook and twitter accounts. This was due to be printed in black n white and then would be handed out on the wards, Sadly not to be.

©RadioHeritage
Radio Times
Front page of radio times.
Click to Enlarge:-

Key “PPL”= Phonographic performance Licence required for all music played on the airwaves internet etc.

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April 2016

April

  1. EarlyTrust Phone Call.
    In early April whilst the treasurer was recovering from illness a phone call was received from a trust representative enquiring whether or not we had moved out, as the lease on the radio premises has expired.“Our first indication of trouble ahead”
  2. 6thPress article about rebuild of hospital.
    Local papers carry article about the re-build of the hospital.
  3. 12thNo broadband, waiting on router for update.
    Existing broadband is ceased and new router hasn’t arrived leaving the Wi-Fi down, from 12th April till 19th April.
  4. ©RadioHeritage
    Twitter feed updating from studio to shoutcast server and then automatically. Initially set to update after every record.
    Click to Enlarge:-
  5. 12thNow playing info posting on twitter feed.
    Our new twitter music request feed starts updating with records being played throughout the day.
  6. 15thTrust phone call.
    Second call to trust to arrange meeting about lease. Email sent detailing availability.
  7. 19thNew jingles are received over 200.
    A new station image is ordered for the radio service to be launched on the 10th June. After years of using Greg Marston a woman’s voice will be heard, Emma Clarke.
  8. 20thPower supplies arrive for internet radio’s.
    The internet radio’s provided on ward 4 originally had lost their power supplies or were damaged. After a number of months a new supplier was found enabling us to return the radios to the ward.
  9. 28thTrust presentation at Ascot racecourse.
    Chairman of the league asks of the trust what arrangements for the future of the chapel and radio.“Chapel will have to go and we may be able to accommodate Radio” No further discussions.
  10. 29thHospital development plans displayed in local press.
    All news services carry detailed plans for the re-development.
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2016 Year Forty Diary

2016 Year Forty Story Unfolds

For further information:- Follow the links

2016 Year Forty Stories

2016 March - April

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