1980 Year Four

1980

In January the station paid insurance on it's equipment at a valuation of £8000.

Donations of £100 and £50 were received in January.

A discussion took place at a league meeting in January which raised the idea of an intercom between all the wards and the radio station.
Never followed up.

In February the first magazine of the work of the League of Friends radio service was produced. A quantity of booklets were printed along with a cheque of £100 for Radio Heatherwood was received. In fact two versions of the booklet were published this year with the second edition being released in September.

Over the years this magazine was produced by a professional publishing company with, the costs taken from advertising revenue. The magazine was produced until 1988.

Extra help was offered this year and this was taken up to help with the bingo on Thursday nights. It was hoped to extend it to other wards not just a selected few.

The stall at the ascot carnival raised £22.

A rocking donkey was top prize in a toy raffle in May this year, raising £250.

A regular occurrence for the station was the breakdown of the main lOO volt line amps for the stethoscope headsets. The power transistors, would only last about 9 months. When these failed listeners could not listen to the radio service.

At a league meeting with the hospital this year, it was asked if the hospital could provide more space to expand the premises of the radio.

The radio service raised funds this year to repair the nurses swimming pool.

Every night of the week was by now being sponsored by a shop who gave some kind of prize to give away. All of the sponsors were local businesses from Ascot High Street.

The station investigated the possibility of carrying advertising as away to generate income. The option was shelved after it was decided it would be an administrative nightmare.

Only 4 hospitals were taking part in the 210 broadcasting link on a Sunday afternoon.

The present secretary/engineer joined the presenting staff this year. PJ was producing Jingles for the Saturday Team, by August this year he was a permanent member of the Saturday team ( Instrumental in putting Radio Heatherwood on the Medium Wave ). P.J.Davidson-Smith

Staff Joining This Year 5 Staff Leaving 7

A New Jingle Producer

My journey into producing trailers and promotions was learnt over a number of years playing with two cassette machines and a reel to reel player.

All the early jingles and promotions were produced in this way. Once constructed they would be provided on cassette tapes of short duration.

All jingles were also given three cue bleeps at the start.

During the summer month's of 1980 thirty three jingles were constucted promoting the presenters on a saturday night.

As time went on, I would be producing promotions and trailers for other nights on the radio.

What started as a hobby, became a sort after skill by the radio.

PJ Davidson-Smith

Jingle Jukebox 1980

A selection of those early PJ jingles, from 1980.

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Taken from Issue 1: Page
5 of first magazine

In the initial months some 15 members were involved in running the radio station and the record library the record library comprised some 500 singles and 50LP's together with several hundred 78's. There are now about 30 members and the record library has increased to over 4000 singles and 500LP's

The station now broadcasts seven evenings a week.

Radio Heatherwood has won the support of many people and since Easter 1979 several local traders have donated gifts to Radio Heatherwood on a particular evening of each week, these gifts being given as prizes to patients in the hospital.

Radio Magazines Issue's 1 & 2

The radio magazines were given freely to patients to promote the work of the radio station and the leagues trolley shop.

Issue 1 contained twenty four pages with information about the hospital and how the radio service was set-up. The booklet also carried an article about the trolley shop. Chairman Ron Mason welcomed readers to this edition.

Issue 2 contained twenty eight pages with stories from Grace Browning Wednesdays, Alan Willis Tuesdays, Mike Flarry Tuesdays and an article about the Durning library. The booklet also carried pictures and an article about the trolley shop. Chairman Ron Mason welcomed readers to this new edition.