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About HRB |
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Hospital Radio in Basingstoke started as Mini Radio on 28th April 1972, taking the form of a short pre-recorded programme sent round the existing loop system in what was then known as Basingstoke's Mini Hospital. In those days, what is now the maternity block, was the whole hospital. The station gradually grew and became Chairman Mike's Mini Radio (CMMR), broadcasting from a studio in the Maternity Block when the rest of the District hospital opened in 1975. After a year off the air due to lack of space, the station came back as Hospital Radio Basingstoke in 1984. During 1984, the station took possession of brand new studio equipment bought with money raised by staff of Marks and Spencer in their centenary year. In 1988, the station launched the 945 frequency, broadcasting by an induction loop system after a frantic 18 months of fundraising. In the nineties, the station won the South and South West regional award in the BT Hospital Radio awards and went on to the finals in London. This is something the station is still very proud of. Also in the nineties, the station ran four short term radio stations, firstly as Basingstoke Carnival Radio and then as Kestrel FM. This was how what is now the full time commercial station of Basingstoke 107.6 Kestrel FM came into being. The station's most important programmes are those that involve the patients' requests. We have also broadcast live from wards with karaoke, bingo and other events. Patients talk live on air and announce their requests themselves. These are some of the most enjoyable shows for both presenter and patient. 15th July 1999 was probably the worst day in HRB's history as fire gutted the station's studio and forced HRB off the air for 18 months. These were dark times for the station as everyone involved battled to keep the station going and get back on air. Click here for more about how we rebuilt the station after the fire On 28th January 2001, just that happened as Dave Leonard and Neil Ogden presented the opening show. Click here to download some highlights of the opening show We received good luck messages from many people and organisations. Click here to read some... 2002 was HRB's 18th birthday and the 30th anniversary of the start of hospital radio in Basingstoke. The anniversary year was very busy with lots of events and was rounded off in the best possible way by coming in the top ten of the Station of the Year Category at the PPL sponsored National Hospital Radio Awards in March 2003. A great end to a great year. 2003 was also spent adding music to and installing the new computer system which finally went live in December of that year. Despite some technical problems related to the new system during the first few months of 2004, things were resolved and the station has continued to build itself up ever since. The new system allows a bigger variety of shows to be broadcast around the clock. HRB has also been active at fund raising during the last 12 months, and in March 2005 became the charity that will benefit from the fundraising efforts of Dummer Golf Club. Other fund raising events also happened during 2005, and with another top 10 placing in the National Hospital Radio Awards, 2005 has been a good year all round for the station. 2006 started off well with another top 10 nomination in the Station of the Year at the National Hospital Radio Awards. We've been busy trying to build the station up in 2006, to produce more live shows and expand our range of specialist music shows. HRB is ever hopeful that next year will be the year of moving into new premises, and continues to invest in new equipment, develop new programmes and recruit new members as well as raise money. We've welcomed more new members to the station this autumn.
30 April 2008 20:18:40
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