1998 Year Twenty Two

• January to March

  The second studio receives it's mini-disc player 3/1.

  A £5 donation was received 17/1 from a D Branch no note or explanation but a nice surprise.

  Mrs Butters writes 19/1:- “ Dear DJ's I enclose a cheque for £10 in thanks for the enjoyment I got from your programme's. We always heard our requests and the music was always cheering. The mug I won is beside me now, reminding me that I am allowed to be lazy and waited on for a few days”.

  Our old friend foreign interference is back and some recent strange weather has prompted complaint's about foreign stations cutting in.

  On Saturday 31st January we opened the following letter:-

  “Dear Radio Heatherwood

  I was in ward 10 from 17.12. till 22.12.97 and found one of your radio's in the locker. There were two Glady's together I was Gladys 2 Glad 1 had her favourite request of Frank Sinatra's My Way I was lucky enough to have 4 played. When you came up with Eddie Calverts oh mein papa, I was flabbergasted My dad died in 1966 it was our favourite then and it was great to hear it again.

  The enclosed(£10) is a thank you towards another radio or what ever, if you've got to be in hospital- you can't beat Heatherwood and your radio service is the icing on the cake.

  Thanks to you all.

  Sincerely Mrs Gladys Halfacre ”

  EMI Unit Project

  1998 EMI Bed Head Amp Project

  The project is stalled as the unit drag their feet

  We have stopped all ward visits to ward 12.

  On Friday 13th February a well known Chelsea supporter along with his hot date(Ada) were involved in a fund-raising Disco held at the Royal Ascot Cricket Club. We are now £110 better off thanks to their splendid efforts.

  Whilst carrying out my usual duties on Saturday 7/2 checking loan radio's on the wards a lady on ward 5 Jo was insistent she gave me a donation of a pound for the radio: having noticed that she had already given £2 the night before I tried my best to persuade her to save her money for the batteries she may need. Result £1 donation plus a battery sold as well.

  On Saturday 14/2/98 Bert on ward 5 who has been with us for some time donated £1 and says from a grateful patient on ward 5 just a small token of thanks enclosed He was very grateful to us for all his records he was able to listen to.

  The latest round of staff recruitment has produced some enquiries from individuals who have caused un-necessary problems for David.

  We are intending to change the way we are contacted in future we will be recommending that enquiries to the studio over the phone requesting any of the management's phone no's should not be given out but take the callers name and address and we will contact them. All personal telephone no's not to be divulged to callers.

  Amanda Chivers has completed five years service on Radio Heatherwood. Amanda has been a valued member of the radio station and I'm sure you will all wish her the best and thank her for continuing commitment. A presentation will be arranged at a convenient moment in her busy schedule.

  A note from Bert on ward 5 passed to us Saturday 21/2 reads:-

  “To radio Heatherwood you are all doing a marvellous job I know you are all volunteers and it is so good of you all to put on such lovely records I listen from 7.30 till 10pm and enjoy them all. also the ones you play Saturday mornings.

  I bought one of your lovely mugs and also subscribed a pound donation to your fund. Yours from a grateful patient on ward 5 Bert Whitfield”.

  We are going to leave the camera out on the side for all presenters to tart themselves up and record the results for pictures to be entered for the radio History files.

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• April to June

  On Saturday 4/4/98 a donation was received in the post £10 from an E.LE Comte no note or explanation.

  On Thursday 9/4 a late arrival from all the letters sent out regarding Grand Draw support. A donation of £150 from Racal Charitable trusts. We last wrote to them in 1987 when they supported the radio appeal.

  Lilian Harfield a lady who has donated records in the past recently left a box of tapes at the post room for us.

  Winnie in ward 5 after winning mug said, “ I thought you said I'd won a weekend for two in Majorca”. However she was chuffed to bits with her mug.

  Saturday Morning collecting requests ”would you like a request on the radio this woman replies “ it's too early for all that nonsense ”.

  Or another patient “would you like a request ” no ” I'm listening to the radio.

  On Saturday 9/5 a phone call from the switchboard revealed a letter was waiting collection inside a donation of £5 with Just an address in Windsor. A nice surprise but shame they didn't include their name.

  EMI

  I advised that we were waiting for the hospital to respond to my earlier letters. It now transpires that the hospital is waiting for an announcement from the government on the future of mental health care in general hospitals. It is likely this will be removed from hospital sites and if this is the case Emi unit will be re-developed. An announcement is expected around September time. This being the case we have put on hold any further progress to provide the listening facilities for the Emi unit. This also means ward 10 will lose out as well.

  1998 EMI Bed Head Amp Project

  We will as stated last month concentrate on the replacement of the equipment in the studios. This is not to say that we are happy with the situation this could not be further from the truth. In the meantime patients who could benefit from our service are denied access because of bureaucratic bungling which has taken place ever since the unit was built 10 years ago.!!

  We intend to monitor the situation and will keep you informed.

  Our plant winner Rose “I’m 88” from ward 4. When Ada and Alan arrived about 9.30pm there was a ripple of applause from Rose’s fellow patients and she was thrilled to bits. Others commented on how much they enjoyed the programs and Jean who was in the next bed to rose helped her with her radio, said that her face lit up when her request came in. She also enjoyed listening to Gary and Roger talking about Cowes ( Isle of Wight that is !!! ).

  So a big thankyou to Shepherds the florists for providing a plant each week and to all RH presenters. The service does work!.

  Special care baby unit under renovation at present has produced one am aerial cut with a jigsaw and beyond repair and the usual lack of consultation from the hospital. On Saturday 13th June to prevent any further damage yours truly spent the morning trying to rescue the aerials and re-site them in new positions

  Radio History File The latest edition part 9 has finally been completed 1996-97.

1998 Year Twenty Two Story Unfolds

1998 was a very busy year for the station management and as the year unfolded there was much to do and organise

For further information about this year:- Follow the links

• 1998 Year Twenty Two
• 1998 Events & Promotion
• 1998 EMI Bed Head Amp Project
• 1998 LPAM at Heatherwood
• 1998 Our Stars & Backstage Information
• 1998 Point & Shoot
• 1998 Staff Newsletter
• Story Of the Archive
• Radio Video Archive
• History Site Map

• July to September

  Am Service for Hospital Radios

  The Radio Authority the body which regulates broadcasting frequencies for all transmission services in the UK; on the 14th July announced the introduction of a low power freely radiating am broadcasting system for all hospitals/radios outside the M25 corridor.

  It is expected by the Autumn the Radio Authority will be in a position to start issuing licences.

  We will be monitoring the news from the National association/ Radio Authority over the coming weeks. We will be able to clarify the path the hospital radio service intends to take. In the near future.

  This years fundraising by Crowthorne Rotary has produced a donation of £2000 towards the new equipment project.

  Bracknell bandstand

  Ticket sales raised £77.20 and records and bric-a-brac £165.80 an improvement on last year where we only raised £112 on records and £43 on tickets

  Donation

  £16 in donations from the pot on the counter in roundshill bakery.

  On Thursday 27th August Radica Broadcast systems came along to carry out the two year maintenance contract on the am transmitter. The following seven days saw the first break in transmissions to radio Heatherwood. services since the system was installed ten years ago. The loss of evening programs as well as the daytime services meant anyone switching on during that week would only find static on their radio’s.A power supply for the cable networks with a problem.

  Loan radio sponsor 230On Saturday 12/9 after a long discussion John Russell on ward 5 decided he would like to sponsor a new loan radio. John was an avid listener to the service during his stay.

  Tuesday 8/9 Ellen Oakman handed over an envelope to the Tuesday crew and this contained a £5 donation to the radio service.

  A new ward booklet is due to be printed early next year.

  Saturday 19/9 Edith Moy on ward four a mug winner from the previous Thursday hands over a cheque for £5 and says thanks for making her stay so pleasant.

  Grand Draw 1998

  Diary of a Winner

  Portable Colour Television Won by Roger’s Boss

  Teasmade. Won by the Club Steward Tom.

  Personal Stereo. Won by a friend of Roger’s from Gold Cup

  Ladies Wristwatch. Won by Lucky Lips Holder

  Wallace & Gromit Cuddlies. Won by Mrs ? of Farnham Common

  Phil Collins CD Dance into the Light. Won by Sheda Travel Pensioner

  Five Complimentary Ice Skating Tickets for John Nike Centre. Won by Punter Ex servicemen’s club

  Four Complimentary Tickets for Coral Reef Waterworld Won by Mystery Employee of Heatherwood

  Two £5 Complimentary Vouchers for A Meal at McDonalds Restaurants ( Sponsored ). Won by friends of Bruce

  Four Complimentary Tickets for a Sauna Bracknell Sports Centre. Won by pensioner from old peoples home.

  Sandwich Maker. Won by really grateful ex-patient of ward 10

  £10 Shopping Voucher Sainsbury's ( Sponsored by Sainsbury's ). Won by grateful pensioner from Priestwood

  Junior Complimentary Ticket to the Lookout Discovery Centre ( Sponsored by Lookout ). Won by ward 5

  Two £5 Complimentary Vouchers for A Meal at McDonalds Restaurants ( Sponsored ). Won by Bruce and sue

  Hand Knitted Baby Shoal. Won by 82 year old pensioner from sheda travel

  Your Cookery Questions Answered ( Book Sponsored by Readers Digest ). Won by pensioner ex-patient most grateful

  Free Hairdo ( Sponsored by Rosemary’s of New Road Ascot ). Won by yet another friend of Roger

  Four Complimentary Tickets for a Swim Bracknell Sports Centre( Sponsored by BFBDC ). Won by Hazel punter in ex servicemen's club

  Hand Knitted Shoal won by Property Corporation employee.

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• October to December

  On Saturday 10/10/98 the post bag revealed a £10 donation from Harold Barringer on ward 1 no details.

  Thursday 22/10 Young Amanda sex kitten of Radio Heatherwood. accepted a £5 donation from Mr Donachie, his wife Lydia was a patient on ward 4. She was also a mug winner.

  Mark Gibson through his contacts at work was able to secure a nice looking Grey 19” cabinet which will be used to house the Bed head amps which will be installed.

  After another £70 has been spent advertising for volunteers we are still finding it hard to attract new recruits. Like other charities it has become hard to attract people mainly due to the social change in peoples lives outside where employment has made a big change to peoples quality time.

  On the notice board you will see some nice young men singing the virtues of being recognised all the aid of new id badges to be issued.

  A new video to come into the studio to replace the existing one. New ways to operate this video will make life easier for presenters. Automatic record of programs will commence the moment the studio on air key is operated. ( to be installed during Christmas break).

  100 volt Amps for Bed-head system.

  A new cabinet which is in the reception will replace the old unit in the library. Just as soon as time will allow new amps will be purchased and the change made.

  Low Power Am for Hospital Radio’s.

  A letter to the hospital in July was finally responded to recently when a meeting was held with the hospital and they have agreed in principle to the development of the idea and to assist where they can.

  Not known until December 1999, it was also at this meeting that the hospital asked what if we were to move the radio?

  1998 LPAM at Heatherwood

  This was a very busy year for our station Engineer. As well as the day to to day running he was busy on the bed head project and also investigating the possibility of bringing LPAM to Heatherwood.

  Betty Edey writes:- Just a thankyou I was in ward 5 from 3rd November for 12 days it was so nice I won a white rose and it was brought to my bedside. To all of you at Radio Heatherwood. Best wishes.( Christmas card received and £10 donation ).

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  Post-Bag Georgina Dougal writes:-

  18/11 Dear Roger and Alan and Team

  I would like to thank you all so much for allowing me the privilege of coming into your superb studio to photograph you all in action. I didn’t expect to receive such a warm friendly hospitality.I am extremely impressed with the way in which the station is run. Thanks Roger for your interesting tour and explanations regarding all the equipment-so that’s how it’s all done.

  The atmosphere at the station was very relaxed and it was great finding such a lovely friendly team willing to be photographed. Alan was a natural- broadcasting and being photographed at the same time and staying so cool with it.

  The records that you played to greet me left me chuckling for the rest of the evening. I didn’t realise what was going on until Tommy’ steel’s chorus of what a picture came in. I found that highly amusing, what a great sense of humour you all have.

  Please find enclosed donation as a thankyou for your trouble visiting Radio Heatherwood. was a most memorable experience-the one thing that was noticeable was the teamwork and the friendship between all the station members. Keep up the good work- the world needs people like you I will send on any photographs that come out well. Thanks again.

  £10 Donation received.

  The Grand Draw Raised Gross £1481.83 Nett £1201.27

  Staff Joining This Year 7 Staff Leaving 7

Archive Gems

Just some extra's we found:-

• Inductive Loop

  Am Repairs

  This year proved costly for the service when alterations taking place on the hospital site devastated one of the major listening areas.

  Radica were asked to come in and repair the damage.

• Reg Has His Say

  Ada came across a real character in Ward 5 who was a deserving winner of a radio Heatherwood mug. Not being too sure whether he was with it or not Ada approached Reg who apparently is 90 Well he asked for the new version of Jerusalem or if not Rubinstein's piano concerto something or other. Thinking I might be up on these things Ada asked me to have a word with him.

  Well we sorted out Jerusalem by harry Secombe so that was OK. Reg then launched into an attack on the rubbish on television, “all that sex and violence” which brought a few comments from his fellow patients who to their detriment were preferring Tv to a request.

  All this banter I have to say was in the best possible spirit. Reg then asked me what I thought the best programme on Tv was. But thankfully before I could answer he said the Teletubbies!! closely followed by the wombles and Popeye well that evening Reg heard Jerusalem by Sir harry followed by Orinoco and Co and he said who said there was no variety in our request programme's! beat that Commercial Radio!!.

  When Ada and I delivered Reg's prize he was still at it winding up his mates, having apparently given them a rousing rendition of Jerusalem.

  Ps He's promised to send us a donation of £5 is all he can afford“ If I say I'll send it then I will”

  A pleasure to have met you Reg

  Ada & Alan