1983 WD2 Children's Show

WD2

The concept and idea for the Ward 2 children's show was discussed in 1981 between PJ and Nick Westlake. Nick's outgoing and chatty character made him the obvious choice to put this together.

The idea was to take the portable cassette player down to ward 2 and interview all the children and get them to choose two records. Then return to the studio the same afternoon and broadcast the results at 5pm till 6pm.

The show was launched with Nick at the helm and received a warm welcome from the staff and the children. The show was launched as WD2 short for ward 2 which was the children's ward at that time.

In 1982 when Nick departed from the station PJ took over the reins and injected new ideas into the show and he became a regular on ward 2. New posters and an increase in time proved a winner and in 1983 the show was not to be missed.

WD2 Show Regular
Edward Sibcy pays a visit to the studio.
phil chappell in the foreground.Click to Enlarge :-

What helped to make the show more successful was the ability to encourage members of the nursing staff to be interviewed, tell jokes etc.

The staff involvement included them thinking of ways to embarrass PJ whenever he turned up on the ward.

The staff would sing songs with the children and also compile ditties which would receive laughter from all in earshot.

Saturday's WD2 Show
5 till 6.30pm

Another of those posters created by PJ and mastered with a stencil set and typewriter.

The poster carried the new program schedule for Saturdays WD2 show and was hand coloured before displaying on the wards.

WD2 Show Revised PosterClick to Enlarge :-

The new look poster heralded the increase in time from 1 hour to an hour and a half and PJ in the chair.

WD2 Program Schedule

WD2 Show playlistClick to Enlarge :-

Keeping track of who asked for what and where and when an interview would appear was down to the program sheet filled out whilst visiting the ward.

WD2 Show Blank playlistClick to Enlarge :-

This blank version was a later one used.

Without the luxury of a computer to design the form, this was hand drawn and then photocopied for use.

Stars

Letter From Grateful Father Part 1Click to Enlarge :-

The stars of the of the show were the children. and not forgetting the staff.

Their were lots of characters on both sides of the bedclothes all contributed to make the show fun for the children.

Letter From Grateful Father Part 2Click to Enlarge :-

One character was Edward Sibcy who spent eight weeks with us and became a real character. On his departure his father wrote the letter listed below.

WD2 Nurses

The nursing staff who made a difference each week.
Below regular contributors Louisa Mcilroy, Suzanne Ambrosia, Yvonne White, pay the studio a visit.

Studio Visits From the Nurses of Ward 2.

Promotion of the WD2 show also included jingles voiced by our favourite nursing staff.

Louisa Mcilroy Suzanne Ambrosia
& Yvonne White.
Visiting the studio at the end of 1983 for some on-air live therapy with PJ.Click to enlarge:-

Louisa Mcilroy Suzanne Ambrosia &
Yvonne White.
Visiting the studio at the end of 1983 for some on-air live therapy with PJ.Click to enlarge:-

WD2 Jingle Box

The opening and closing jingles changed a number of times during the shows history. The Nick Westlake versions gave way to new versions for PJ as the new host. Terrahawks was the final opening used.

Now is the time to say goodbye

This ending would normally be played with some backing music either Thunderbirds or Terrahawks.

Each shows recordings, produced new elements which could be used in further shows, whether it was rhymes constructed by the nurses or comments about the show all would find a use.

In this selection is the majority of items used during the life span of the show.

The input from the nurses and children made the show the success it was.

WD2 Jingle Jukebox

A selection of jingles, from WD2
1982 - 1984.