Radio West Middlesex: Meet the volunteers who give up their free time to smile on patients' faces (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Radio West Middlesex: Meet the volunteers who give up their free time to smile on patients' faces

6:50am Sunday 10th January 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

Radio West Middlesex has been entertaining patients for more than 42 years. CHARLOTTE SUTER goes behind the scenes to meet the volunteers who give up their time to keep spirits high at the Isleworth hospital

Patients who spent Christmas and new year in hospital were given a little bit of sparkle thanks to volunteers at West Middlesex Hospital.

While most of us spent our precious free time frantically buying last-minute presents, volunteers at Radio West Middlesex – “A friend at your bedside” – were busy spending theirs cheering up patients.

Since the station was co-founded in 1967 by Alan Hardy and Chris Payne, a dedicated team of volunteers have devoted their time to entertain and inform patients, as well as comfort them during times of struggle.

Mr Hardy, chairman, programme controller and presenter for 42 years, explains: “We are one of 250 hospital radio stations with the aim of trying to entertain patients during their stay.

“We have about 20 people who volunteer, with our youngest aged 18 and our oldest aged 80.”

The station, recognised nationally by several Hospital Radio Awards, has come a long way since it began. Its first broadcast, on May 27, 1967, was a show called Needle Talk, which still runs today – but Mr Hardy explains: “We didn’t even have a studio.”

After developing a keen interest in radio while on an apprenticeship at record label EMI, the 60-year-old retired media consultant, from Whitton, noticed there was no station at West Middlesex and got in touch.

Mr Hardy started off recording shows on tape after work in his bedroom, which he did for five years before finally moving into the hospital.

The first studio, built in the mid-1970s, saw the station’s gradual expansion and enabled more programmes to be broadcast live.

And the introduction of “Hospicom”, a bedside entertainment system, invited the interaction of patients.

Since 2003, Radio West Middlesex has broadcast 24-hours-a-day – something volunteers could only dream about in the early days.

Mr Hardy says: “People often say, ‘I do like listening to you overnight’. If we can help lull just one person struggling to sleep, that’s enough.”

Self-funded, the radio team work tirelessly juggling manning the station with their day jobs and community events.

Mr Hardy says: “The main source of money comes from appeals to outside events, the most recent being the Christmas light switch-on in Whitton High Street.

“We build up money as the years go on so we can afford large expenditures should any equipment need replacing. The most spent in one go was £40,000 to move to our current studio.”

Including receiving letters of thanks, one of Mr Hardy’s fondest memories of the station is when a caller from Birmingham rang the show to request a song for a patient.

“We had a chat with her live on air where she was able to send a personal message,” he explains.

Fellow presenter Keith Trueman, 40, adds: “When you get some good feedback it does make you feel like you are doing a worthwhile job.”

Mr Trueman, of Whitton, got involved with the station 16 years ago when he responded to an advert seeking radio volunteers.

He says: “I was looking for something to do for the community and I saw it as a new challenge.”

The father-of-two began working as a general staff member on the ward, visiting patients and taking song requests, for five years alongside his job at Barclays.

He filled a position on the show after a presenter of 20 years left. His fondest memory was two years ago during the station’s 40th anniversary.

“A licence to broadcast outside the hospital was bought for a weekend to celebrate.

“It was fantastic – old presenters from over the years were invited back and everyone was on a real high,” he says.

A popular feature on the radio are the request shows. Although presenters try to play relaxing music such as Westlife – Frank Sinatra’s My Way has been the most popular song of the past 10 years – Elvis and Katie Melua, there are occasions where random requests are made.

“It’s a challenge for us,” says Mr Hardy.

“One person could request Kanye West followed by another who wants Luciano Pavarotti, but we like it and it makes the patients’ time here more enjoyable.”

The show has also been the starting point in the careers of many famous faces – including comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar, best known for The Kumars at No 42 and Dancing On Ice judge and former ice dance national champion, Nicky Slater, presented Junior Requests for several years.

Before Christmas, volunteers held a ward party where patients were treated to gifts from Santa.

Mr Hardy added: “As volunteers, we all know people are ill, but if we can make their time here a little bit more comfortable and happy, then that’s enough.

“People who work here say you never leave Radio West Middlesex and that’s because we enjoy what we do so much.”

For more information or to request a track for a friend or relative, visit radiowest middlesex.org.uk, call 020 8321 5166 or email studio@ radiowestmiddlesex.org.uk.

• Has the radio cheered you up? Let us know by email (gholt@london.newsquest.co.uk), phone the newsdesk on 020 8744 4271 or leave a comment below.