My Personal View 1979 – 2016
Dave Smith Writes:-
1n 1979 when I joined the radio, it had been going 3 years and still
slowly making it's mark on hospital life. Plenty of enthusiasm to go
round, visiting patients, fundraising and new friendships.
Advance 15 years, the station and staff are firmly part of hospital
life, no introductions required on entering wards to visit patients,
our radio service and fundraising is well known, our service being
freely available on the inductive Loop service around the hospital.
Radio Heatherwood Supporters group was in full flow and providing
daytrips and holidays and a lot of good will towards the hospital and
everyone there.
15 years further on in 2009, the future of Heatherwood is in doubt and
the Radio enters into limbo, the station for the next 7 years just
ticks over, waiting to see it's future unwrapped.
With general fundraising and staff recruitment suspended, broadcasting
and developments in the radio service continue, so as to meet the new
challenges ahead.
The year of 2016 arrives and brings with it devastating news for the
Radio Station and the remaining staff, despite various emails and
meetings, the station is to close by the end of December. We are also
informed that there is no provision for the radio in the new planned
hospital.
To mark the last of Radio Heatherwood's time at the hospital, the
station broadcast on the internet for the last three months, enforcing
what would have been in an ever evolving service.
This is very much a "potted" history, it's hard to put into words the
thousands of hours put in by volunteers, the thousands of patients who
enjoyed our service, the hundreds of companies and local charities who
supported us, not forgetting local councils as well.
In the Depths of time it is all too easy to forget the hard work and
support of many. Thankfully through the talents of our station
engineer, the whole exacting story can be read, the high's and lows,
it's all there to be read.
The hard work would pale into insignificance the moment you enter the
wards, the smile from the patients and staff as they choose their
favourite record.
We were offered other possible ways of carrying on, which really would
put the station at arms length from the hospital, or even a few miles.
We had at Radio Heatherwood stayed true to hospital radio "ideal", A
friend at the bedside.
Our demise as we look back, cannot be placed at any one persons door,
in the end a whole set of circumstances came together to close the
door on the station. In my eyes some questions remain unanswered over
the exact handling of the closure of the radio, I also think a golden
opportunity has been missed for the future within the new Heatherwood
hospital.
During a meeting with the trust, they mentioned that all third parties
were being cleared from the site, including ourselves. All these had
occupied land through lease, whose services were not part of the
hospital.
Radio Heatherwood never considered itself a third party, we were a
very active part of hospital life, without fear of contradiction, We
were family.
PJ has in his personal views letter, said much that I concur with and
support, I would like to turn the clock back for both of us to 1987
and Radio appeal year, there was one local man who believed strongly
in the aims of these two local men, he did everything he could to help
and support us, he helped to launch the platform from which the radio
would develop to further success for the next 30 years. Our thanks to
this man, local reporter with the Windsor and Eton Express, the late
Alun Jones, when at times it was hard to convince people of our aims,
Alun was not, he believed and supported our work.
Whatever your part in our history has been, patient, hospital staff,
charity, company or council, or you brought raffle tickets or sent
donations, on behalf of Radio Heatherwood and it's parent body The
League of Friends, we thank you.
On a personal note, I thank all those who have for 38 years walked
beside me, crossed my path or just supported me, on this path known as
Radio Heatherwood, I Thank You.
David Smith Station Manager.
My Personal View 1980 – 2016
PJ Davidson-Smith Writes:-
When I started the radio history files in the 1980’s, it never entered
my head, 36 years later I would be writing the final pages in the
history of the radio. It would be wrong of me to paint a rosy picture
of the radio and last forty years, this is not the truth and just like
any organization we have had some incredible highs and some lows which
all played their part in our history.
I’m incredibly disappointed in the manner of our closure, especially
as I know how many thousands of voluntary hours have been given not
only by the volunteers but the management team in keeping the radio
on-air. To be denied a chance to promote our corner, as the decision
not to renew the lease had already been made. I don’t hold a grudge
against any individual my only disappointment is we were not worthy to
be consulted.
I never started this voluntary work looking for a gong; I was purely
interested in sharing my love of music with the patients and staff.
The hospital radio bug grabbed me and all this time later I’m writing
this obituary to my voluntary service.
Whilst 2016 will be remembered for the year the station has closed,
it’s the development of providing an internet listening stream; I
would prefer it to be remembered for.
I want to give a mention to some people who in our history had the
foresight to know we were all about entertaining the patients. Ascot
fire brigade trust, Sunninghill fuel allotment trust and the Victoria
hall fund and Windsor and maidenhead council who between them
supported the radio through its many projects and were it not for
these, the radio would have closed some years ago.
The league of friends should be proud of it’s funding of the radio
service from those early shoots of the radio in the late 1960’s to the
funding of the internet service.
I still believe hospital radio has a part to play in the care of
patients; it must move with the times and engage always with the
listeners. A nice studio facility doesn’t make good radio, it’s
engaging with the patients by being there at the end of the bed.
To all those hospital radio volunteers who crossed my path thank you
for some wonderful times.
One redundant secretary, engineer, fundraiser, tea boy, all round dogs
body available.
Would I ever consider a return?
Never say never
The patients and nursing staff of Heatherwood gave me great times and
allowed me to share my talents, to them, it’s what this was all about.
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