1994 Room With A View

Background Story Room With A View

Radio Heatherwood's Plea For More Space

An important back ground operation taking place for the radio was the behind the scenes work to persuade the hospital to allocate more space to the radio service. As the year progressed this came to fruition and below is how the staff were kept informed through the staff newsletter:-

What future is there for the studio's

For as long as I can remember we have written, invited, blackmailed, done anything we can to persuade the hospital management to give us more space to operate in.

In 1988 our former secretary started sending letters and knocking on the door of the administration. We were able to use copies of those letters to our advantage. In 1991 at a time when I was courting this previously, the famous five through their actions, blow it out of the water and we were back to square one.

We have in the last eighteen months kept up the pressure on the hospital to acknowledge our problem and to offer more space and to review the role of the radio station at Heatherwood.

On 31st December 1993 as a passing shot for 1993 I sent a letter to the new Chief Executive Karen Caines extolling the virtues of the League of friends and the radio station at the same time voicing our displeasure at the way countless administrations have neglected our plea's.

On Tuesday 18 January 1994 for the first time we were able to hold frank discussions with Karen Caines and Chris Burke who is Director of planning and operational services. on this very issue and others which are affecting the league at present.

Invitations will be sent shortly for Karen to visit plus other members of the administration to enforce our case.

What has emerged from that meeting is the fact that a questionnaire filled out by patients on leaving asks for their comment on the radio, where loan radio's are available the members of the public will always answer with positive endorsements. This strengthens our case for the medium wave service and was one of the issue's to be discussed. We want the hospital to without question expand the service whenever new work is carried out.

In July 1994 news broke that Karen had left and a new chief exec was to be appointed subsequently Karen never did reply to the invitation to visit the radio service.

A new estates director has been appointed Frank Johnson. The hospital have recognised our problem over space and meetings with Frank are in progress and hopefully a closer working relationship on all the issue's which affect the radio service.

The continuing saga of whether or not the room next door is allocated to the radio station continues with fresh news that the room could be ours in 4-6 weeks and that access was made available for measuring and any plans we might want to make.

Prior to any hand over of the room: work has to be carried out by the hospital.

Room Allocation

In the event the room is handed to us, there is two plans to integrate this room with the rest of the studio complex.

Interim Plan:- To open the doorway with this room to studio one: improve security of the room ( windows ) move the reception into the room with the computer etc.

Long Term Plan:- To look at ideas of how to best integrate this room with the rest of the studio to improve airflow, facilitate a new library area, create a kitchenette area for drinks etc., and create a reception which offers comfortable seating. The long term plan will rely on encouraging funding from outside bodies and work on this will be an on going change which will take place, as and when funds are available.

Whatever happens we will need additional cash to implement any kind of changes and this possible addition to our facilities must be our incentive to sell a many Grand Draw tickets as possible.

Having waited since 1982 for more space we remain pessimistic at this moment in time having had so many hopes dashed in the past, we'll believe it when it happens !!!!!!.

July August Newsletter Briefing To Staff

Radio Heatherwood first began transmissions from a room adjacent to the switchboard in 1976. Over the years as the service has expanded and become very successful, the small space allocated to the radio station has become cramped and overcrowded with the expansion of the facilities, plus the record library adding to the congestion. The radio service holds 40,000 song titles on 1600 albums 530 CD's and over 4300 singles.

Since 1982 the station has actively been seeking the allocation of the old switchboard room which was vacated. This room has been used as an office by various people since 1982.

At long last the trust management have recognised our dilemma and have allocated the old switchboard room, for the development of the radio service library and offer a better reception facility for visitors and volunteers. The addition of the extra room will give us a chance to open the access to the production area from the main corridor and allow wheelchair access from that corridor.The increase in space will also make it possible to give over an area for the maintenance of the loan radio service, which is either done at home or in the corridor of the ante-natal clinic. The new room will allow adequate expansion, well into the next decade.

To integrate the room with the present facilities, major construction work is required in providing a window and adjoining door. Changes are also required to our existing layout to comply with fire recommendations. It has been decided that where possible the changes required to our premises should be kept to a minimum. All permissions have been granted to proceed with the project including Windsor & Maidenhead council approval for the provision of a door/window in the solid wall.

The cost of these improvements including decoration & furnishing will be in the region of £5500. The financial burden this places upon the station is beyond the capabilities of the volunteers who presently need to raise annually £3000 just to maintain the running costs.

We are currently looking towards outside groups for assistance or sponsorship of the project.

September October Newsletter Briefing To Staff

On Monday 3rd October at long last the room next door to us was vacated and on the Tuesday the first signs of the room being integrated with the rest of the studio took shape.

After twelve long years of badgering the hospital, we are at last able to offer a more comfortable outlook for our presenters.

The shutdown of studio one is only a temporary measure and we hope to be able to re-open this room once the dust has settled. It will of course undergo some changes later on and this will demand further closure.

November December Newsletter Briefing To Staff

At the league of friends meeting 7/11 David Smith well known sales person renowned for selling snow to the Eskimos has sold the league on the idea of the new room and our pleas for financial assistance. They have responded by contributing £2103.25 the cost of the invoice from the hospital Contractor this leaves us with the balance £3402.83 to be raised as an on going project by the radio staff.

How far is the work likely to progress ?

The present work undertaken will only proceed to a point where the money runs out and that is likely to be once the major structural changes have been completed. This means their will be no money for the soft furnishings and many other changes which will be required. It is hoped that some kind of availability to the new room will be evident early in the new year.

A Room With A View ( 1994 )

As the project unfolded during the year, changes to the layout occurred, these were imposed upon us through failure to interest outside parties sufficiently to fund our ideas.

The room once handed over, began to have the stamp of the radio studio placed on upon it.

In early December the major construction materials were purchased and the Secretary P J Davidson-smith took the first week off in December to construct the suspended ceiling and build a work top and shelf unit in the new room.