Radio Heatherwood Newsdesk Archive 2000

• Radio Heatherwood Year 2000

  December

  As the year 2000 draws to a close, the radio can look back and reflect at what seemed the worst year in it’s history as the station is forced to move premises.

  It’s only through the support of patients and nursing staff was the station able to re-build itself and be prepared for new challenges in the coming years.

  A dedicated group of volunteers have made possible the continuation of a dearly loved service. To all the friends and families associated with the League of Friends radio service " Radio Heatherwood ", we wish them all a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

  PJ Station Engineer/Secretary.

• New Loan Radio Sponsor

  November

  On Saturday 11th November Gwen Cowland a patient on ward 4 sponsors a new loan radio. This raises the total issued over the last ten years to 246 new units. In addition 60 replacements have been issued for those broken beyond repair.

• Radio Heatherwood On 999 kHz AM

  October

  On Tuesday 17th October Radio Heatherwood resumed programs for the patients of Heatherwood.

  After Three months silence on the airwaves the radio service was able to turn on the comfort factor for listeners recuperating from their operations. Initially programs are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, evenings and Saturday Mornings.

  A large recruitment drive is now under way to train new presenters and increase broadcast hours.

  A nice touch for the first week back on air when a grateful patient from ward one sends a donation of £10 to the station.

2000 Year Twenty Four Story Unfolds

2000 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

• 2000 Year Twenty Four Summary
• 2000 Summer House Under New Management
• 2000 Summer House Building Work Gallery
• 2000 Summer House Construction Reports
• 2000 First Web Presence
• 2000 Our Stars & Backstage Information
• 2000 Time To Say Goodbye
• 2000 Archive News Stories
• 2000 Staff Newsletter
• Story Of the Archive
• Radio Video Archive
• History Site Map

• Testing The New Studio Facilities, Matthew Robinson Reports:-

  October 7th

  Testing, Testing, Testing was the cry on Saturday 7 October as David Smith (The Gaffer) and I got given the dubious honour of trying the equipment in the new broadcast studio.

  PJ has obviously spent an inordinate amount of time moving the equipment from the old radio studios, cleaning it up and installing it in the new studio.

  It all sounds so simple until you get to see the new studio and the miles of cable, mountains of wood and even new curtains which had to be put into something resembling a new studio for Radio Heatherwood.

  I was impressed with the new layout but the objective on Saturday 7th was to see whether it sounded as good as it looked without breaking!

  The first thing I noticed was how clear the sound was – it even made me sound deeper and sexier than usual. I did an hour and a half without any incident despite the faders not being labelled followed by David doing another hour and a half.

  The only problem was the heat in studio 1 which was unbearable despite having windows open and fans blowing. Perhaps having 2 radiators and hot pipes all along the wall along with several pieces of electrical equipment was too much!

  Fortunately all the equipment functioned well which is testimony to the effort put in by PJ and David – pity the presentation was not up to the same high standard ! I blame the lack of practice. Now that the equipment is working OK in one studio, effort will be concentrated on getting the second studio up and running but in the meantime, shows can start again to keep patients informed, entertained and amused.

  A big thanks to PJ and David for their effort.

• And in the end Saturday 22nd July 2000

  July

  Radio Heatherwood bid farewell to it’s old premises today 7pm when after 24 years it broadcast it’s final shows, presenters, Peter Davidson-Smith, Roger Hawkes, Matthew Robinson, Dave Smith, Alan Holder, Sarah Bishton, Jenni Ferguson, Bruce Crosland, and not forgetting behind the scenes work by Ada Hawkes, all ensured the occasion was one to remember.

  The final record played " Time to say Goodbye " Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli.

  Radio Heatherwood off air until further notice.

• The Final Broadcast on 22nd July 2000

  July 22nd

  Radio Heatherwood this week presents it’s final shows before closedown on Saturday 22nd July.

  An air of sadness for the presenters as they say goodbye to an old friend. From 10am till 7pm next Saturday, Radio Heatherwood will Rock the airwaves for the final time from the Ante-Natal Clinic Heatherwood Hospital.

• Radio Closedown Report

  June 24th

  Radio Heatherwood will cease broadcasting on Saturday July 22nd from it’s current premises.

  Movement of all equipment and facilities will commence from Saturday July 29th. An estimate on the on–air return date is forecast for October 2000.

Archive Gems

Just some extra's we found:-

Radio History Snippets

A Look At Radio Heatherwood's Past:-

• Patients Top 50 1985

  Throughout 1985 all requests were collated to produce the top 50

• The No 1's

  The patients chart which was popular each week throughout 1985