30 years on, radio team celebrating anniversary

9:01am Saturday 5th July 2008

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PRESENTERS from a hospital radio station celebrated its 30th anniversary yesterday.

Auckland Hospital Radio, at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, was launched in 1978.

Not only has technology advanced dramatically over the years, but the hospital moved site in 2002.

Craig Robinson, who has been involved with the station for 15 years and has been station manager for six, said: "It has changed beyond recognition in the last 15 years. Then, we were still using vinyl and tapes.

Now it is 100 per cent digital. We have two channels and live camera feeds from the studio.

"It is so enjoyable. You meet the patients and get a real buzz."

The station was launched in October 1978, but the anniversary celebrations took place yesterday to coincide with an annual marathon broadcast.

As well as the usual output, presented by about 30 volunteers, a documentary about the station's history and material from its archive was also broadcast to mark the milestone.

Jim Wild, 80, founded the station with the help of Doreen Valentine, John Maughan and Anthony Parkin.

Mr Wild said: "It is nice to see it working so well after all these years. With the modern ideas, it takes some of the excitement out of the job.

"We used to gather requests during a prerecorded show, and one lad got a request from a Mrs Slack in ward eight to play an arrangement of a song called Espana. Later he read out the request and said Mrs Slack from ward eight wants a spanner'."

To volunteer with the station, go to ahr.org.uk