1997 Our Presenting Stars and Backstage Information
Radio Heatherwood Backstage 1997
Whilst there was a very public side to the promotion of the radio
service, behind the scenes a number of other events and changes were
taking place to the working practices of the radio station.
In 1996 a new ward booklet was produced. The cost of giving
these away prompted the production of a slimmed down leaflet
which details the program times and how to make requests or
help.
Eight days trips were organised through the year plus two
holidays of which the May holiday was to Ilfracoombe and the
November mini break took in the sites of Newquay.
Personal Training Record
Below words from the front page of the new training record
introduced as part of the development of new volunteers.
This training record refers to sections contained in the
operations manual.
In addition to your practical training to the required
standard of presentation the following progress report will be
completed in association with your familiarity and competence
with Radio Heatherwood’s operational procedures.
The aim of the training progress report is to evaluate your
competence and maintain the quality & good name of the
League of Friends radio service.
I was a patient in ward 1 for an operation on January 2nd on the
Friday evening two handsome pleasant young men asked if I would like a
request on Radio Heatherwood. I requested Spanish eye’s and my husband
requested Jimmy Shand for me. It was a good tonic listening to all the
requests and especially my own. Imagine my delight when later that
evening as I lay on the bed still listening to Radio Heatherwood the
above mentioned gentlemen came to tell me I had won the mug. This mug
I now use every night for my Horlicks, so as I sip I am reminded of
Radio Heatherwood.
Ross worked for the radio from February 1987 till January 1988, his
partner Ashlee worked from February 1987 till May 1987
All this meant so much to me, as some years back when my son Ross
Stirling worked in London he used to give assistance to Radio
Heatherwood and Ashlee ( He now lives in Norwich ). So the name Dave
Smith was familiar to me.
I would like to say how much Radio Heatherwood meant to me in
hospital. There is a limit to the amount one can read or chat and I
love listening to music. To lie on my bed with my earphones on and
forget where I was for a time was a treat indeed.
May I say thank you to you and all your volunteers, you work very hard
and at times it may seem a thankless task, believe me it is very much
appreciated and we are very lucky to have people like you and your
volunteers to carry on with the good work especially when you must be
tired.
With appreciation and thanks
Margaret Stirling(Mrs)
Dear Mrs Stirling
Thank you for your recent and very kind letter, I also acknowledge
receipt of your donation of £10, it is very much appreciated.
1 took over managing the radio station in the early 8O's, having
joined in 1979,as Ross left us for pastures new, major changes where
taking effect, not least the introduction of a medium wave system and
the loan radio service. In the early days^ many people did not
understand mine and a few others vision of what Radio Heatherwood
should be doing, they most probably though! that we were talking
through our hats!
Today we have a well loved and respected service, a tribute to a lot
of hard work by the volunteers, of which Ross was one, especially in
our stations formative years Your Letter and the others received, not
only remind us what this station is about, but provides us all with
that very deep and pleasant feeling in our hearts and a boost to our
spirits May I wish you and your family well and hope that you are not
in need of the hospital services again in the future, if you do, we
will be there to fill our role, thanks in no small way, to your
generous help
Each year that passes seams to go quicker and quicker; have we really
seen 1997 come and go. The highlights this year include the Valentines
Dance in February which was well organised by Roger & Ada.
David received a nomination for a Community Award for his work with
the Radio Heatherwood Supporters group.
Larger donations this year came from The Crowthorne Rotary Club and
Ascot Fire Brigade Trust along with donations from Victoria Hall Fund
who once again sponsored our Broadcast Licence.
We also this year re-enforced our signal on ward 8 with the addition
of two new aerials.
Our service to the wards by the loan radios increased substantially
this year with additional radios for ward 8.
We have had some positive feedback from patients this year as well as
some donations for new loan radios.
We have lost this year more broadcast nights than we would have liked
and the loss of Mondays doesn't do us any favours.
This years Grand draw played an essential part of our fund raising
calendar and proved once again a great money spinner.
The year produced a welcome return to the station for Alan Holder but
saw the departure of Lee Henty & Gary Butler & Rebecca Loader.
It always causes great sadness to us when long service presenters are
forced to leave because of family commitments.
The addition of the Mini-disc players sets the scene for the coming
months in we hope a new direction towards program production and
creative jingles from individuals.
We will in the new year be trying very hard to encourage new people to
the station as well as being more brutal in our approach to newcomers:
taking decisions which will be made early in their training to avoid
un-necessary elongated training which stretches into years instead of
being completed within months.
A major project for the station and the league will be to replace the
bed head amps in the studios along with the provision of full
listening facilities for the day rooms on ward 12 as well as the
re-instatement of the bed head service for ward 10. This will be a
major fund-raising exercise to be coordinated by the station.
Next year the Station celebrates 10 years on the medium wave and the
league celebrates 40 years of service to the hospital.
As this year draws to a close on behalf of the League of Friends and
all the management team we would like to say thanks for all your
efforts this year and hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and
prosperous New Year and We'll see you all in 1998.
