A look back at 1994 at Radio Heatherwood and all the events of the
year.
January to March
Saturday 1/1 and the New Year gets off to a good start as ward rounds
turn into a marathon everyone pleased to see us and chat endlessly and
that's just the manager. One lady on ward 10 Eleanore celebrates her
100th birthday and receives our birthday present; a time to put your
feet up mug.
On Saturday 8/1 our first sponsor of the new year paid ten pounds for
a loan radio Babs Willoughby on ward 4. Babs is the wife of one of the
trustee's of the Victoria hall fund who paid for this years licence.
On Saturday 15/1 Aubrey Ellis on ward one was the second sponsor of a
loan radio for this year, donating £10.
It is with regret I have to announce that in early January the station
lost an avid supporter Fred Henniker who was in ward three over
Christmas passed away. Fred who became a supporter over two years ago
became a familiar face on the wards and took great pride in supporting
the radio service.
Sweethearts Ball 2 Week ending 21/1/94 and the ball is announced in
the Ascot Express and Observer.
The increase in the price of batteries from our supplier leaves us
with no choice but to raise the cost to £1.10 from the first of
February.
In early January I wrote to the Radio Authority asking why a member of
our governing body of the League of Friends could not be a more
suitable licensee. At the same time informing them of our difficulties
with the hospital. I am pleased to announce on Tuesday 25th January
1994 the licence was transferred to Dave Smith Treasurer of the League
of Friends. The destiny of the radio station is once again fully
within the hands of the people who actually know what is best for the
service. The subject of all the new rules and regulations which we
must abide to are slowly being implemented.
The code of conduct which we have operated is under re-write at the
moment and in future a Radio Heatherwood operations manual will be in
the studio which will contain:- Engineering Guide:- All equipment
operating instructions, Inc. computer training. Code of Conduct:-
Revised Radio Heatherwood Code. Radio Authority Code 2:- Programming
guidelines. Radio Authority Advertising Code:- Advertising guidelines.
A new batch of mobile televisions have been made available to patients
on the wards this puts a challenge to our service and will no doubt
take away some of our listeners. The patients have now got a choice of
renting a tv for the duration of their stay it costs £11:80 a week
according to the leaflets left by the company in the lockers.
Sweethearts Ball 2 The final result of the ball net's a profit of
£1400 for the station, a splendid achievement by all those concerned.
17/2 £10 for a Radio In Memory of Cyril Ellis received from his
daughter. Cyril was a patient who avidly listened to the service.
Requesting the Welsh choirs.
The supporters group run by Dave has had it's finances separated from
the radio stations accounts, this will give a clearer indication of
how much it actually costs to maintain the station each year. In
future the supporters group will donate gifts to the station. The
planned gifts for this year is the sponsorship of the broadcasters cue
sheet, and the replacement of the library computer at some stage.
Tony Gardner of the Tuesday team has donated £10 for a loan radio to
be put out in his name.
The new look code of conduct is now available with all the new areas
of legislation and operating procedures which every presenter must
become familiar with. Each year on the 1st April presenters will be
asked to sign the declaration stating they have re-read the manual
especially the Radio Authority sections.
On Tuesday 15th March Wireless Workshop returned to carry out the
third maintenance on the medium wave transmitter. Every two years
essential maintenance offers us fault free transmission. A charge of
£468.83 works out at just under 65p per day.
The league of friends has sponsored the mugs for another year and 500
were recently delivered to the dismay of our trolley shop manager who
had fourteen boxes placed in her store.
Charity Stall 26/3/94 This years long awaited impersonations of street
traders by members of the staff took place on 26/3. Dave, PJ, Colin,
Amanda, Rebecca, Alan, Lance, Jo and not forgetting Kevin all gave up
part of their Saturday to prove they to could star in EastEnders. The
day was a great wheeze and a lot of one liners were had during the
day. £217.58 was raised, the total down on last year but still a great
result.
Departures 20/4 Carla Davis who joined us in January 1992 has decided
to leave due to outside commitments. Carla was the first woman
Team-leader since the station started on the medium wave.
During the Saturdays in April the station engineer gave up his
programs to enable faulty radio's to be repaired. Last years sponsors
of radio's also finally had radio's allocated and this has raised the
total on the wards to 150; thirty per ward.
The station log completely revised in an effort to make it easier for
presenters to fill out and also easier in collating information about
batteries, mugs etc.
On Monday 16/5 the man( Dave the Rave ) and his band of cut-throat
pensioners set off for the wilds of the north for a week. Karaoke and
other devious games were all part of the week of fun.
Victoria Hall Fund Visit On Saturday 30/4 Chairman of the Victoria
Hall fund and secretary along with their wives paid the studio a visit
and were treated to the full PR bit by the secretary. The Victoria
hall fund paid for this years licence fee.
Room with a view
In May this year a letter was sent to the hospital enquiring on the
availability of the old switchboard room adjacent to the studio's
which had been used as a consulting room for awhile but had laid empty
for some time. The proposal from Radio Heatherwood to use the room as
new reception and tea room.
A favourable response was received in June
Wilma Griffiths wife of the secretary of the Victoria hall trust, was
so impressed by the service we provide: during her visit she promptly
handed over ten pound for a radio.
On Saturday 21/5 the start time for Saturdays was changed to 18:25
through till 22:00. This will be the new broadcast hours of Saturdays
until further notice.
Loan Radio Sponsor ( 152 ) On Tuesday 10/5 Dorinda on ward 5 handed
over ten pounds for a sponsored radio and £1.10 for a battery for a
fellow patient.
Alan Holder receives his 5 year service certificate.
During the month of April, Berkshire Health Council published a
document detailing the health strategy for Berkshire. In these
proposals for hospital services Heatherwood hospital would have it's
services drastically cut and moved to other hospitals. This document
is only in the discussion stage but should the proposals be
implemented, our service on the hospital would not be as it is today.
The hospital would not have an EMI unit, Maternity unit and a lot of
the long term orthopaedic operations would not be performed at this
hospital.
The service we would have to provide should this take place would be
one of music to the older generation and music from the 80/90's would
not be as popular as it today. The average age of patients would rise
to 65. We are watching this very closely and hope that the plans will
not get off the ground as it's not just program output which will be
affected, it will have repercussions on recruitment, fund-raising, and
our own ability to survive..
This years charity buzz on Sunday 29/5 was reminiscent of the heady
days of the sixties when mods & rockers descended on Southend for
the annual punch up on the sea front.
In late July a letter was received from the hospital confirming that
the room would be available as soon as the construction work changes
had been carried out and funded by the radio.
Ticket selling at Waitrose this year raised a total of £175.20 which
is one of the top figures achieved on outside venues. Ward ticket
selling is unfortunately low compared with previous years.
Bracknell bandstand ticket sales at this years venue was £90.50 and
sales of records and books raised a total of £192.20. In 1993 the
totals were £88.60 ( Tickets ) & £116.64 (Records). A small
increase on the sale of tickets but a major improvement in the sale of
books and records.
14/10 Roger Hawkes who has been with us over six years he has now
moved to a new area with his new wife Christine. Christine was
formerly a presenter on the radio as well.
Lee Henty our Monday night team leader has just completed five years
service to the radio station. Our thanks go out to Lee for his
splendid efforts over the last five years. Lee was awarded a
certificate and a £10 argos voucher at the charity night.
Local papers carried stories of major changes to the hospital with
threatened closure of various department's and wards.
On 16 September Dave completed 15 years service to the radio, starting
in 1979 Dave has seen the station develop through many different
changes. I'm sure you will all thank Dave for his continued commitment
to the station.
The overall maintenance of the loan radio service has now been taken
over by the station secretary PJ.
The charity stall at Bracknell market for 1995 has been booked for
Saturday 8th April.
Grand Draw Prizes 1994 Every year at the end of January I send out
letters to local businesses etc. to sponsor our prizes. A letter
arrived this week 4/11 from the Lakeside country club at Frimley with
guess what a prize for our draw!!!!!!!: to be used on January 21 1995.
In early October the room was vacated and the preliminary building
work by the hospital was completed.
The death of Channel 4. The bed head system served by the main amp in
our studio's is 19 years old and is now beyond repair as components
used in it's construction are no longer available.
Colin on Fridays has secured a second hand computer for the station
from his work.
As from January 1st 1995 a new station id promoted by the new jingles
created by Kevin & Co will be in place. All others will be removed
from the studio.
A record donation has come in from Mr & Mrs Bennett who picked up
one of our booklets outside Waitrose earlier in the year and
remembered us when clearing out.
It is with regret that we have to announce the departure of one of
female contingent Sarah Loader. Wednesday 14/12 was Sarah's last
Programme. One of our ace reporters to the newsletter, Sarah Joined
Radio Heatherwood in April 1993 and quickly became a committed
volunteer. Sarah was Joint Team leader on Wednesdays.
The Grand Draw Raised Gross £1568.80 Nett £1314.32
This years charity buzz on Sunday 29/5 was reminiscent of the
heady days of the sixties when mods & rockers descended on
Southend for the annual punch up on the sea front.
Due to maintenance problems with their bikes: two coach loads
of ageing mod's and rockers ( RHSG ) suitable dressed,
descended on the Shangri-La tea rooms. Tea coffee buns and
cakes were plentiful and thoughts turned to their youth.
The weather was kind and a great day out was had by all.
The cause for this unruly behaviour: £500 was raised by the
RHSG, in aid of Radio Heatherwood, down on previous years but
still a princely sum.
