2008 Our Presenting Stars and Backstage Information

Bulletin Board Patient Feedback

The introduction of the on line bulletin board for presenters pays dividends as presenters share their feedback from ward rounds in 2008.

Patient Feedback

Two Lots of Donations

Jan 13th, Whilst on ward rounds yesterday John secured £2.20 from a patient on ward 16 and then £4 from a patient on 1g This is good news or was it a case of paying him off.

No I think it's really nice when patients will donate their spare cash to us knowing the service we provide.

Brilliant feedback from Patrick, ward 10

Apr 28th, While on Ward 10 tonight, I met a really lovely man called Patrick Spiers. As I walked over to him he said to me, “I love this station!”.

After I checked that he was talking about Radio Heatherwood (I've been disappointed in the past to find that people are talking about Radio 2) he went on to say how he loved the variety, how we play anything from Country and Western, to middle of the road, to oldies, to marching music.”

He said how the music we play is much more suited to people in hospital ( “unlike the “thumping jazzy stuff they play on Radio 2”) but that we also never play two songs that are alike.

He also really likes the comedy (especially Fawlty Towers).

I don't know that it comes across so well from what I've written, but he really did say the nicest words I have ever heard from a patient during my time at Radio Heatherwood.

I know we try to please as many people as possible and you can't please all of the people all of the time but he seemed to think we had really hit the spot.

He requested “Aces High” (he's ex-RAF and had the moustache to match!) and he won the mug. Funny that.

He was happy to be mentioned on the website.

Meeting him made my night.

Re: Brilliant feedback from Patrick, ward 10

Our rhapsody service was designed around what patients have told us over the years, so I'm always pleased that we have got the mix right. Patients who give us this type of feedback are our bread and butter and it's why I'm sure we all get a buzz knowing that they are really pleased with the service we deliver

Non Believer

May 10th, Whilst collecting requests from ward 1g today a lady on the ward was telling me about her son who has been in hospital radio for over 30 years. She asked me to play a record for the staff and said you all do a marvellous job.

The lady in the next bed asked me to turn off the staff radio which I had just tuned in for the staff.

The first lady said to me there is nothing you can do about these non-believers leave it on.

Sylvia Sargeant Mug Winner

Aug 16th, In 1993 the first mug was given away an early recipient was Sylvia Sargeant who today is in ward 8. Her picture was taken at the time and featured on the patient booklet.

Spooky that this year, she is back and dishing out kisses again as I presented her today with one of the special 50 year mugs.

She dropped her original some years ago, but was over the moon we have given her a new one.

In 1993 Kevin Donaldson was the recipient of the kisses but hey I must still have my looks as it was my turn or just the lynx aftershave.

Phone Call Thanks

Aug 10th, Nice touch today Saturday Sheila & Joyce on ward 8 phoned the studio to say thanks for playing their requests and thanks to all at Radio heatherwood for brightening up their stay.

It's what makes this job so special, when they take time to say thanks.

Mug winner Catherine Ward 8

Nov 24th, Liz and I braved the cold tonight to deliver a mug to a lovely lady on ward 8. When we first saw her she was very pleasant and she said that Radio Heatherwood would help to pass the evening nicely.

When we went back she was listening intently and despite being bursting for the loo, hadn't been to the toilet for fear of missing her tune!

Definitely a worthwhile trip to the penthouse suite for the Monday crew.

2008 Year Thirty Two Story Unfolds

2008 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

• 2008 Year Thirty Two
• 2008 Our Stars & Backstage Information
• 2008 Archive News Stories
• Story Of the Archive
• Radio Video Archive
• History Site Map

• Shep Calls Time

  Mar 11th, Dear Friends, After a lot of hard thinking, and because of other directions taking more of my time, I have decided to call it a day and resign from Radio Heatherwood

  This decision was hard for me because of all the hard work PJ and Roger put in when training me and also all the friends I have made in you all, it has been a privilege to part of such a great team.

  I would like to thank Dave for giving me the chance to work at Radio Heatherwood, PJ for all the hard work in training and keeping the station running.

  Roger well what can you say about Roger.( but your great mate) ( sorry you support Chelsea) you have been a good friend (shame about the Jokes) and thanks for your support in Training and hard work too.

  Katie and Celsio thanks for being such good team members and friends I will miss you both a lot cry I still wont to know what the plan is Celsio, Katie if you find out do let me know???

  As you know things can and do change so I would like to think that may be in the future you will see me back after my old Job Voice permitting.

  Last but not least I will miss you all You’re all a credit to Hospital Radio.

  Thanks, Will be thinking of you all.

  Shep

  David has replied with the following:-

  Good luck shep, Radio Heatherwood survives today because of the hard work of many that have gone before, those today and tomorrow. As you enter into the realms of the gone before's, your time with us becomes part of our well documented history, the valued contribution you gave whilst you were with is something to be proud of. If you get a moment do pay us a visit or give a call, it is always nice to hear from former staff and how they are.

  No remarks from Star Trek,just We all wish you luck in all that you wish to achieve in the Future.

  Beam Me up Scotty !!! whoop's

  Dave

• Sylvia Dungate Says Goodbye

  Sep 19th, We have received the following from Sylvia:-

  After a lot of soul searching I am sorry but after 12 years I have decided to resign from Radio Heatherwood. Now that Terry has retired unfortunately I cannot have the necessary level of commitment needed to be a Radio Heatherwood volunteer.

  I have thoroughly enjoyed being a radio presenter and to have met such lovely people willing to help others. You both do a fantastic job if it wasn't for you two there wouldn't be a hospital radio.

  I shall miss you all but who knows I might pop in one Saturday morning to see you and scrounge a cuppa and a biscuit.

  Once again thanks for a great 12 years, say goodbye to everyone for me

  love Sylv xx

  David has replied with the following:-

  Dear Sylv,

  Thank you for your note, I have to say on everyone's behalf, we are sad to see you go, you to have been one of those special people that have helped to put the station where we are today, without people like yourself and the support you have given Peter and I, there certainly would have been an up hill struggle for us.

  We all certainly hope you will drop in and say Hi from time to time, so that we know how our sylv is.

  You may not be with us in the future but you leave behind a history that will be acknowledged for all to see, not forgetting the lives you brightened up along the way, not only staff but the thousands of patients along the way. We wish you all that you wish for yourself in the future.

  David

  Back to Top

• Alan Holder Bows Out

  Oct 7th, Last night I received a call from Alan

  It is with much sadness I have to report that Alan who has been on long leave since February has decided to call it a day.

  Alan's health issues have played their part in Alan deciding his future

  It was not un expected as my previous phone call had made me think that things would never be the same.

  Alan has been one of those special people who have crossed our threshold and been a real diamond. Alan joined Radio Heatherwood in May 1989, In October 1996 he left after a family bereavement. He re-joined in October 1997 and last year he was presented with a ten year certificate. Alan has received two five year certificates and a three year certificate.

  Alan's musical knowledge is endless and his good deeds for the radio over the years has been immense. In the early days he sponsored a number of the first loan radio's, played an active part of the grand draw ticket selling and could be found most summer's in the high street selling those tickets. Also legendary in the early days was Alan's range of Tee shirts he use to wear

  He has in the past also made contributions which made a difference for the station.

  Over the years I did a number of shows with Alan and he was a natural broadcaster and I will miss his sense of humour and support.

  Alan gained some new skills when we introduced rhapsody yet is preference was always to revert to the vinyl.

  I wish Alan & Carol his wife all the best for the future and will never forget the Vinyl man who enriched our lives.

  Alan didn't have a computer at home so was not part of the bulletin board.

  I will be penning a letter to Alan shortly if you wish to add your good wishes you may do so here.

  Cheers Big Al, Keep On Rocking

  PJ

  Re: Alan Holder Bows Out

  Oct 9th, It has been the greatest privilege imaginable to meet and present both alongside and with Alan or Big Al as he is so affectionately known to us all. From the early days when he was known for his then famous loud tee shirts - he had quiet a collection trust me just take a look in the archive folders! - to his more sober dressed latter years Al has to me always been the epitome of what Hospital Radio is about.

  Al does not have a big ego but has over the years that he has served us made the patients comfort and pleasure his no.1 priority - if he had a fault it was that he would occasionally spend too long having a chat with a patient on ward rounds - but this was his style as a man who always had time for everybody and patience beyond compare when talking with some of Heatherwood's more senior inhabitants. His colleagues on his night forgave him when he eventually emerged armed with a story to make that patient feel so special when presenting their request on air! Al gave people time, dignity and respect three very important things to people especially as they get older and feel the world is ignoring them.

  Al was also tremendously encouraging to new members of Radio Heatherwood and always ready to enhance their musical knowledge from his vast record collection! Al and Sylv will leave a big hole in the staff of Radio Heatherwood particularly the “senior section” which I guess now I must be in - if I wasn't there already! We will soldier on and hope that we can recruit or nurture our current staff to achieve the length of service and dedication that Al and Sylv showed Radio Heatherwood.

  Keep the faith Roge

  Back to Top

Welcome to our Picture board

Some captured moments of our volunteers,during this year.

Our Stars of 2008

And in the End

Extract Xmas Message From PJ 2008:-

Dec 9th, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some highs and lows of this year and reflect on our achievements. In addition what has 2009 in store for the radio service?

I’ll start with the positive news of the donations secured from our sponsors of the broadcast licenses Victoria Hall Fund. There support for the last twenty years has ensured we are still here today and they continue to be our saviours'. In more recent days the £250 donation from the round table for Roge & Josh helping out at the fireworks display.

Some important milestones this year with 50 years of the league 20 years of the am service and 5 years of rhapsody on-air plus Radio Heatherwood’s 32nd birthday.

The station renewed it’s five year lease with the trust in January.

The staff recruitment still poses major problems for us as we are still unable to attract the right sort of applicant. We have taken on 4 new trainee’s this year with the arrival of Liz Lisa Sam & Jenny. A total of 14 further applicants were refused

• Applications Refused 11
• Application sent not returned 1
• Failed to turn up 1
• Failed to turn up after interview 1

This year saw the departure of Shep from Mondays Sylvia and Terry and Alan from Tuesdays. Long term presenters of standing, who will be dearly missed.

We also saw the departure of a trainee who used and abused our good nature for her own ends and in her wake, caused grief for a number of staff. Having applied to us twice we gave her the benefit of the doubt and took her on. Lied on her application form to deceive us( we like honesty ) and then claiming she had never worked on radio then went onto work for community radio and in a local press article claimed she was a presenter at Radio Heatherwood when in reality she was still a trainee and had not passed out and also divulged she had worked on another radio station.

It still remains a tough task in encouraging the right sort of recruit to our teams.

In the back ground we have made a fail safe for rhapsody with a new back up machine in addition a new improved library program allows for the look up across both vinyl and mp3 libraries when searching. This now means a combined option to look at over 71,000 titles.

The satellite news service which has been disrupted on a number of occasions has been repaired.

A new recording option has been set up to allow mp3’s to be available for any new trainee undergoing the silver training.

The rhapsody service is just as important as actual broadcast nights and staff contributions to this service is still lower, than one would expect. The content of rhapsody continues to grow and we are now at 20,500 items to choose from, which is excellent for us and for meeting patient’s requests.

The bulletin board has really come into its own now and has proved that it’s a great way to brief out information as well as keep in contact with other members of staff. The feedback that you get from the wards provides a great boost to us all, when we read your comments from the patients, keep it up.

The web site front page was changed this year to show Katie delivering the first of the 50 year mugs for the league. An important part of an evenings broadcast the mug generates a lot of goodwill. The radio web site has gained 14 years of the stations history. Many pages of text and photo’s have been added.

The web shop promotion has not been as successful as we would have hoped. We will continue to promote this, as any extra money coming into us is always a bonus.

Two presenters this year gained long service certificates and they can be rightly proud of their achievements. Well done Katie & Celsio, and whilst mentioning these two shining stars. A big thank you for their help in maintaining Mondays and the mentoring of the new trainee’s this year.

It’s been a tough year for the station and staff with departure of some good friends and the bed head problems, these have made it difficult for maintaining the service.

In the coming year we will be looking at adding more of the history to the web site, Tuesdays opening by late spring, More personal content from presenters to be added to rhapsody removing some of the old intro’s from former presenters. We will also continue to look at new technologies which might help our service. The staff recruitment will continue with two more presenters being taken on, sometime in the spring.

Our radio service relies on all our staff pitching in and making a contribution. Radio Heatherwood is not one person it’s a team effort. And what a great team we have.

Well done everybody, Merry Christmas to you and all your families.

Many thanks and see you all in 2009.

Archive Gems

Just some extra's we found:-

• Trainee Monitoring

  Installed this year was a monitor unit which listened in on each studio showing levels and also the option to record their trial programs onto the production computer.

  Trainee's were given a USB stick to take with them after each nights training to listen to during the week.

  Each program would be reviewed by the station engineer and feedback would be given to the trainee via the private message board on the bulletin board.

  Training Companion

  In December this year version 4 of the training companion is released.