Radio Services, which has entertained East Surry Hospital patients and staff, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The first experimental broadcast took place on Christmas Day in 1974 at the former Red Hill General Hospital, and the following year a regular program began.
The station, along with Jean Metcalfe, a favourite host of two family members on the BBC radio show, acquired the then-new East Surry Hospital studio, and held its opening ceremony in February 1985.
The weekly program marking an anniversary will begin on April 13th.
Nigel Gray, who joined in 1981 and became chairman three years later, said, “We have live programs all day long, we have lots of studio guests and repeat archive interviews with people like Dame Judi Dench and Nicholas Owen.”
The station was operated 24 hours a day in 1988.
In the early days, patients listened on the company’s intercom system, but in 2000 they began broadcasting on AM Medium Wave.
You can also listen now via FM, online or smart speakers.
The service is fully staffed with volunteers of various ages and backgrounds.
They gather requests and dedication by visiting patients in the ward and receive approximately 8,000 requests each year.
“We always want to hear from people who want to be involved with us,” Gray said.
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