Hospital Radio Plymouth

Hospital Radio Plymouth

Broadcast area	Derriford Hospital and The Royal Eye Infirmary (Plymouth)
Frequency	FM: 87.7 MHz
Programming
Format	Hospital
Ownership
Owner	-
History
First air date	1969
Links
Website	[1]

Hospital Radio Plymouth is a hospital radio station based in Plymouth, England. It provides entertainment to the patients of Derriford Hospital and The Royal Eye Infirmary, broadcasting via Patientline and on 87.7fm.

The station is run as a charity staffed by volunteers (registered charity number 260238).

History

During the 1950s, Plymouth Argyle commentary was broadcast to the patients of Plymouth hospitals by the Toc H Organisation, via the telephone network. In 1967, requests began to be collected from Mount Gould Hospital by the Plymouth Lions Club, forming the basis of the first weekly music programme, Disc Date.

On the 2nd October 1969, the station secured its first permanent premises on the Barbican and was officially opened as Hospital Radio Plymouth by Alderman George Creber, the then Lord Mayor.

Since 1969, the station has been housed at the Ladies' Hospital on Lockyer Street; Nelson Gardens; Greenbank Hospital and Freedom Fields Hospital. In 1998 it moved to Derriford Hospital, where it remains broadcasting to this day.

Present Day

File:Connal and Andrew Plymouth.jpg

Connal Cather is presented with The John Whitney Award at the HBA Awards 2008.

Hospital Radio Plymouth now broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with over 60 hours of live programming every week. This consists of a mix of specialist music programmes; request shows live from the hospital wards; news programmes; speech based shows; classic comedy and sport. Patients can make requests directly to the studio, by calling star 800 free from their Patientline bedside sets.

The station still broadcasts commentary from Plymouth Argyle home matches in the form of Argyle Live, a programme which is sponsored by First Devon and Cornwall Bus Group. Another notable sponsor is Toshiba, who support the weekly programme Requestline.

The station also interacts with the wider community in the form of its mobile Showstage. This provides live entertainment and music at various local events throughout the year, such as Plymouth Hoe Bonfire Night, Music of The Night and The Lord Mayor's Day Parade.

On 29th March 2008, the station was announced as Station Of The Year at the Hospital Broadcasting Association's award ceremony. The John Whitney Award, equivalent to lifetime achievement, was presented to Connal Cather for his dedication to the station since 1970.

Executive Committee

Station Manager: Andrew Hill

Assistant Station Manager / Programme Manager: Keith Jolley

Treasurer: Nicola White

Membership Secretary: Adrian Rickard

Fundraising Officer: Andy Greenaway

Public Relations Officer: Emma Tyler

Head of Audience Liaison: Richard Hilbourne

Technical Facilities Manager: James Sanders

Current Presenters

Adrian Rickard; Andrew Hill; Bill Aitken; Camille Dalais; Carleigh Wordsworth; Chris Stone; Connal Cather; David Price; Dawn Cawley; Frank Mears; Ian Shannon; Isobel King; James Sanders; Jane Atwill; Jill Bright; Jodie Clamp; John Garry; Josh Andrews; Josie Scobling; Keith Thompson; Lilian Andrews; Louise Smith; Mark Hewes; Mia Rees; Michael Worden; Neil Ellis; Neil Farley; Neil Gray; Oliver Ings; Richard Bailey; Richard Hilbourne; Roger Bulpitt; Roger Williams; Sally Box; Sammy Browne; Steve Glanville; Sue Bennett; Trev Jackett

External links

http://www.hospitalradioplymouth.org.uk