Chairman Mike was the man who started it all - 28th April 1972, the day of the first hospital broadcast in Basingstoke.

So how did it all start?  We tracked down our now Honorary President to get some answers...

ORIGINAL NAME: Mini Radio

CONCEIVED: Wednesday 2 February 1972

AUTHORISATION: February 1972

FIRST BROADCAST: Friday 28th April 1972, 9.55am

FIRST WORDS EVER SPOKEN: "This is Mini Radio on Channel One..."

FIRST RECORD: "St Cecelia - Leap up and Down..."

PLAYED FOR: Theatre Nurse Rosemary Greaves

DURATION OF PROGRAMME: 45 minutes

MOST REQUESTS FROM: Gynae & Maternity/Labour
Most children were too young and listeners in other wards were often too ill!

STAFF REQUESTS: From all wards/theatres

TRANSMITTED FROM: Tuner cupboard on top floor of Maternity Hospital (was the General Mini Hospital before the main NHH as it is today was built).

WHERE MADE: Impossible to install a studio, programmes were pre-recorded a day or two in advance.

FAVOURITE CHARACTERS INTRODUCED: Mini Mouse, Clem, MAtron

RESEARCH: Regular visits to BBC stations (IBA radio had yet to start), radio and hi fi press.

STATION MOTIF: The little station with the big sound, bringing messages and music for everyone.

POTENTIAL LISTERNERSHIP: 120 including staff on duty.  Staff would gather in the day rooms to hear the announcements during their coffee breaks, theatre and labour ward staff each had a loudspeaker.  Some patients discharged early would return and sit in the day rooms to hear the programme!  Nobody ever guesses it was recorded, even visiting broadcasters!

STATIION LIFESPANS: 

Mini Radio - 1972 - March 1974
CMMR (Chairman Mike's Mini Radio - Sept 1975 - January 1983
HRB (Hospital Radio Basingstoke) January 1984 - present

WHY MINI RADIO:  The name of the hospital was The Basingstoke and District Mini Hospital.

STYLE OF PRESENTATION: A bit serious at first, such was the era, but soon became a light hearted, tongue in cheek look at hospital life.

MOST POWERFUL BACKERS OF THE PROJECT: The hospital consultants.

WAS NATIONAL NEWS EVER BROADCAST DURING CMMR: No, we wanted people to get better!  The idea was to take listeners into a land of make believe for a few hours a day and help them to forget medical or outside worries.

FAMOUS VISITORS TO THE HOSPITAL: Princess Margaret for the opening, Ed Stewart, Jimmy Saville