2009 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 2009.

Patient Feedback

Mrs Huggins

Mar 30th, 2009, Had to write to tell you all about Mrs Huggins; our 80yr old mug winner this evening.

I have never seen anyone so chuffed to receive a mug before; she was beaming from ear to ear and was very, very pleased. She'd been listening into the music to music show and had very much enjoyed Tom Jones.

Roger Elliot Ward 8

Apr 25th, Roger on ward 8 left messages on the answer machine Tuesday past asking if we have a play-list of what's playing but also asked to know what a piece of music was we played.

In addition he thanked us for the award of the mug.

I spoke with him today on ward rounds and informed him about the play-list options and also agreed to play the music which was played last Monday.

Roger likes the radio service and says thanks.

Letter From Roy Bowler Ward 8A

Apr 4th, We have today received the following letter from Roy who was recently discharged from ward 8a, he writes:-

To the Heatherwood radio station.

Having spent a short time in ward 8a I was visited by the young ladies. I was asked if I listen to your radio station. As I listen to it all the time and found it most enjoyable. It helped me to make my speedy recovery.

Thanking You Roy Bowler

Please find enclosed a cheque for £10.

Ward 8 Good Feedback

Jun 15th, On Saturday morning whilst we were going round, three lads on ward 8 in the first 6 bed ward were well up for making requests. One gentlemen on the left said he had listened throughout the night to the service and said it was the best radio he has ever heard it was excellent.

Mug Feedback

Jun 20th, On Monday night, Sam and I went onto ward 10 and met Nancy Acre. She said she had previously been in ward 4 and remembered winning the mug for 'prettiest nightie'.She was very complimentary of the radio service.

Mrs Thomas Says Thanks Ward 1

Nov 21st, Message on the answer machine today left Friday.

A note of thanks from Mrs Thomas on ward 1, she says thanks a lot Radio Heatherwood for playing such wonderful music through the night. You made my nights pass quickly.

2009 Year Thirty Three Story Unfolds

2009 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

• 2009 Year Thirty Three
• 2009 Our Stars & Backstage Information
• 2009 Archive News Stories
• Story Of the Archive
• Radio Video Archive
• History Site Map

• Roger has called it a day

  Oct 17th, Earlier this past week I took a phone call from Roger from Tuesdays. Roger who has had a number of difficulties in his private and work life can no longer attend the radio.

  Roger's last show/attendance was on a one off Saturday, back in May prior to this, his last regular attendance ended in September last year when members of his Tuesday crew retired and he was left on his own.

  Roger has had three separate times at Heatherwood first Joining in 1988 he then left in 1990 to return in 1991 until 1994. In 1995 he re-joined us and has been here since.

  Roger's combined service adds up to 19.5 years service.

  In the early days Roger's involvement with the radio included his mum and dad and they were willing helpers and ambassadors for the station. His mum Ada later went onto working on the trolley shop.

  It's always sad when a long term member decides to call it day and we will miss the contribution he has made to the stations development.

• Dave Smith 30 Years Service

  Oct 6th, On the 16th September, David completed 30 years service to the radio.

  Last night David was presented with two certificates, one from the league of friends and one from the national association of hospital broadcasters.

  As well as this, David has also been treasurer to the league for 25 years.

  It's through David's commitment, that today the radio service is still here.We should never forget the commitment that individuals make.

  I have penned an article and a picture will be forwarded to the national association for inclusion in their magazine.

  Back to Top

• On Air Article September/October 2009

  Dave Smith Station Manager 1979 to present

  On Monday 5th October Station manager Dave smith received his thirty years service certificates from the chairman of the League Mr Roy Ryman.

  David joined the radio station Radio Heatherwood in 1979 after an old school friend met him in a pub and invited him along to join on a Saturday evening. David went along to the station was bitten by the bug and became a regular contributor to the programs for a Saturday.

  In the early eighties he became a rep on the radio committee and then manager for the radio. Later on in the eighties he was appointed treasurer for the main league of friends as well as holding the post of manager for the radio service.

  Since joining the radio the station, it has undergone some radical changes in the way the service is received and developed. In the early days the station was running on a shoestring with very little money to develop the service. David oversaw the introduction of regular fundraising for all presenters, code of conduct for staff and better training for all members.

  The station has undergone many physical changes with new studio’s being built and move to new premises along with the introduction of the AM inductive loop service it’s been a roller coaster ride for David who along with his brother Peter have created a very valuable asset to the league of friends.

  David still holds his position of treasurer on the league as well as managing his role as station manager. On occasions David can still be heard on a Saturday morning on – air still doing what he loves best spinning the discs and sharing his experiences with the listening audience.

  Mr Roy Ryman Chairman, thanked on behalf of the league David for his thirty years service and dedication. Two certificates were presented one from the league and one from the National Association of Hospital Radio.

• Requests Tumble

  The changing shape of the trust this year because of financial difficulties, has decimated the wards available to collect requests.By the end of the year patients requests can now only be collected from Ward 1 - Day/surgical, ward 4 - orthopaedic, and ward 8 - rehab. On a Saturday, there is only access to ward 4 and 8, as one is closed.

Welcome to our Picture board

Some captured moments of our volunteers,during this year.

Our Stars of 2009

• And in the End

  Christmas Card To All

  Dec 12th, As the year draws to a close, fresh in our minds are the events of the last month and what it might mean for our future.

  Each of us will have memories of the past year we would all rather forget.

  I have had one of those years I would like to forget all together apart from the fun I had training our new staff and the great comments received from grateful patients and staff.

  To one and all, I hope you all get what you want for Christmas and next year will be prosperous for all of us and kind to the radio service.

Archive Gems

Just some extra's we found:-

• AM Service Renewal

  Staff Briefing

  Sep 28th, The reduction in wards and the reliance on the am service is much diminished,currently only ward 4 using radio's to tune into us.

  Every two years the equipment has to be tested and this latest test will produce a bill of over £600 for the league. Over the last 3 months we have been wrestling with whether or not we leave the am service running any more.

  The bed head system cannot be relied on to maintain it's services and I would foresee at some point either no service or limited.

  We have no idea of how things are going to develop on the hospital.

  Despite all these if's and but's we have decided to go ahead with the next service contract for the next two years.

  If we have to provide an alternative to the bed head system we will still have our am service to fall back on and the recent breakdowns, highlights something which is not going to get better.

  On Thursday 8th October the am service will be checked and re-calibrated for our continued use.

  We remain optimistic that something will change and we will be able to make better use of the system.

• Petition Heatherwood Loss of Services

  Staff briefing

  Nov 12th, Some of you may be aware that a local chap has set up a petition re the underhand way in which services are being moved to Wexham etc.

  We as volunteers of the league are not aloud to speak out about the decisions of the trust but it doesn't stop you as an individual from say signing the petition.