One
of the TOP 5 stations in the UK as nominated in the Station of the
Year at The National Hospital Radio Awards 2008 plus GOLD award
winner in the Special Event Category
Want
to join HRB?
Want
to join HRB? Why not apply now!
Online application
form here
Friday 27th August 2004 saw a visit to HRB by the Basingstoke Observer.
Lindsey Mitchell, one of the the staff journalists at the local newspaper
reported for duty as a hospital radio presenter for the day. The visit was
to provide an insight into the work of a presenter and the technical staff of
the station. The Observer is assisting the station in our Autumn
recruitment drive and Lindsey was keen to find out what a radio show involved.
Unlike our regular presenters, who spend three months training before taking
on their own show, she was put through an intense training course in just a
single afternoon. After the training session, next on the agenda was a
ward round to collect requests and to publicise the work of the radio station.
The ward rounds are an important part of a presenter's work as they are one of
the main links between the station and its audience. Lindsey, with other
HRB staff toured the Maternity ward and spoke to staff and patients with an
Observer photographer. Several photographs and half an hour later, it was
time to head back to the studio to prepare the show, selecting music for the
requests and scripting the show.
The countdown to 5 o'clock came and the show began with the news from IRN.
Just three minutes later and Lindsey went on air for the first time ever to
welcome listeners to her one hour show. Modern studios rely heavily on
computers to assist with music and jingle play back.
HRB is no exception and our novice presenter had the job of running the
playout computer as well as using CDs and even 7" vinyl records. Even with
the assistance of a technical operator to guide her through the more complex
parts of the studio, Lindsey worked hard to master the technical aspects of the
show and performed wonderfully. At the end of the show she commented
"I've never concentrated so hard in my life" And we have to
agree. It was a terrific performance by Lindsey, who managed to give the
impression that she cruised through the show with ease.
Lindsey's article was published in the Basingstoke Observer on 7 October 2004
(see below) and we will welcome her back to the studios whenever she wants to visit
again. We are always looking for new volunteers to join the station,
either as presenters or in one of the many other roles within the organisation.
While we can't promise to get you on air in quite the same way that today's
guest managed, we are keen to train new volunteers to give them the skills
required to present shows or undertake a research or admin job. Please get
in touch if you want to know more.
Want
to join us but not present a programme? We are looking for
new members to be ward visitors, to go around the wards during
the day and collect requests to play on the evening's
shows. Interested? Click
here for more information
A new era
for HRB is coming soon. At the end of July, we'll be
moving out of our existing building and replacing it with a
brand new building. More info and pictures here
Programme
News
A
taste of life down under - Andy McCormick's
Postcard from New Zealand returns to Sundays at
the end of June
HRB
In The Morning is back every weekday morning
with Hayley Prew from 23 June
Ken
Anton plays the music from the 30s to the 60s
every weekday morning at 10 in Get Out Those Old
Records and The Sunny Side of the Street
