Story of Radio Heatherwood
Preface
In 1990 after 10 years with the radio station I decided to put together a series of scrapbooks which collated all the pictures posters and stories about the radio service which had taken place.
The scrap books were designed to show all newcomers to the radio, how the station had developed. The scrapbooks or the memories contained therein could not fully portray the story of Radio Heatherwood but did show, who, what and how things have developed and who walked through our doors and made a contribution to it's well being. Each year was documented with stories and memorabilia.
The first 10 years were housed in one blue binder subsequent years ran to a blue folder each, as activity by the station produced more materials to store. In the early 90's due to commitments to other projects I was not able to keep up the scrapbooks.
The time has come to embark on a project to bring all those early scrapbooks to the web site. In addition we hope in time to produce those missing books. As time has marched on, we have learnt more details about those early days which previously we were unaware of. Those additional snippets of info have now been included in this on-line scrapbook.
We hope you find the history scrapbook interesting and informative. We apologize for any omissions of events or deeds that have taken place which have been lost and or were not documented. I was not here at the start, but having joined in 1980 I have tried to ensure all deeds and involvement by individuals is recorded and attributed to our unsung heroes.
Secretary P Davidson-Smith Summer 2008
In January 2011 the last of those original blue folders was published on this web site.
February 2011
We have now embarked on filling in those missing years.
1998 makes it's appearance with five web pages and over 50 pictures previously unseen.
March 2011
1999 makes it's appearance with six web pages plus pictures previously unseen.
A review of the files and materials held in storage has found new items and photo's which have been added to some of those early years.
April 2011
Revised pages and additions for the years 1984,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96 added with additional pictures & pages.
May 2011
Revised pages and additions for the years 1997,98,99 added with additional pictures & pages.
June 2011
Revised pages and additions for the year 2000 added with additional pictures & pages and video.
Revised pages for 2001 with additional three pages added.
2002 Two new pages added.
July 2011
2003 Three new pages added
2004 Three new pages added
2005 Four new pages added
2006 Three new pages added
August 2011
2007 Three new pages added
2008 Two new pages added
2009 Two new pages added
October 2011
Video's added to Facebook page showing the start of radio heatherwood and also the years 1992 and 1994 are also featured
November 2011 And in the end
One page is added to show pre 1976 and pages for 1976 are revised and this concludes the compilation of the scrapbook of Radio Heatherwood. Over 1890 pictures and over 145 pages capture the past of a dearly loved radio station.
1969-1976
The Birth Of A Hospital Radio Station.
The early beginnings of radio Heatherwood can be traced back to 1969 when one man decided to play records to the patients of Heatherwood. Bill Berry the then works foreman at Heatherwood used his own records and with a turntable and mike would play requests to patients from a room in the old admin block. Bill was providing a record request program to the general wards on a Tuesday evening for two hours.
The league had agreed to fund the rental of records at £50 a year so that the programs could go out. Bill used some of his own 78's along with those of family and friends.
This early service was plagued by faulty equipment on the wards. The service was very much a one man band operation.
It was a request to the league of friends that prompted the investment in new equipment and the launch of Radio Heatherwood.
The exact start of the service is unclear as Bill passed away some years ago and we were not able to obtain that information. What is clear records of the league of friends minutes from 1969 shows entries detailing the work of Bill and the service referred to at that time as “Patient Request Programme ”.
A press article from a local paper featured a story on Bill and the service and the need for records and volunteers.
When the station celebrated 30 years in 2006 Mrs. Berry, Bill's wife passed us some pictures and the press article listed here.
Letters to the League
Recently discovered a number of letters to the league which showed as far back as 1972 they were trying to get the radio system updated on the wards.
Thank you for your letter of the 26-9-72. With regards to the record request programme.
I am sorry to have to report that it seems just as far away from any solution as it did when I reported to you on Jan I2th. 72.
I personally think these people need exposing for withholding the information required with a view that someone gives in and accepts their fantastic figure they quote.
I believe the Hospital Engineer has written and phoned on quite a number of times but can still get no satisfaction.
Mr. W.Pack and Mrs.T. Pack have been wonderful in the way they have helped with the records,“both in supplying and delivering,and any accounts to be paid for these will he given to you by Mrs Pack at your meeting.
I did the commercials for you on the Xmas Bazaar, wish you luck.
Berkshire Area Health Authority
Further to my letter of the 20th January 1975 and our recent telephone conversation, I am now able to advise you more positively on the scheme to replace the existing radio system at Heatherwood Hospital. As you know, the lowest tender — Messrs. T.J. Richardson of Ascot - amounts to £3,494.88 (exclusive of VAT - £280), and I am pleased to be able to confirm that the District Management Team are prepared to contribute £1,000.00 to the scheme.
I understand that you will be calling a further meeting to consider the project and I look forward to receiving written confirmation that the League will find the balance of cost, whereupon an order will be placed immediately.
I understand that the delivery period for the specialized equipment is from 12-14 weeks, but the associated re-wiring and new wiring can be accommodated within this period.
R.L. Gosney / General Administrator Mr. J. Knight, District Works Officer, would be more than pleased to attend your meeting to explain fully the details of the scheme, and if you feel this would be helpful, perhaps you would contact him direct-at Old Windsor Hospital, telephone number WINDSOR 62121.
Letter to the league in January 1975. It would be another 15 months before the work was completed and the radio service could be used.
Fast Forward to 1976
and the radio service gets underway on a more regular basis.
