Chesterfield Hospitals Radio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chesterfield Hospitals Radio went on air, as Hady Radio, in March 1984 after years of lobbying from the eventual Station Director, Colin Downs. Programmes were broadcast from a purpose-built studio in the new Royal Hospital at Calow. The station could be found at the entrance to Eastwood and Durrant Wards. BBC Radio Sheffield were instrumental in the building of the studio. Ivan Spenceley became Station Director in 1985 and remained in that role until its closure to pursue a local FM licence.
Contents |
[edit] Broadcasting Area
The station broadcast to Penmore, Scarsdale, Walton and Whittington Hall hospitals in addition to the Royal Hospital at it's peak. As the Royal Hospital expanded, Penmore and Whittington Hall Hospitals closed.
[edit] Programmes
CHR broadcast programmes every day of the week. On weekdays, broadcasting hours would often be from around 6.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. A specialist music hour would run each night, focussing on jazz, classics, country, folk or the sixties. This would be followed by a thirty minute children's requests show and then the main request programme. dedicated to different wards on different nights. A late show would often follow.
Weekend programming began at 9.00 a.m. on Saturday with a kids programme. The staple of the afternoon would be a three hour sports show, hosted by Les Hart. This would feature, when possible, live commentary of Chesterfield FC's home match, provided by Phil Tooley and Jim Bower. During the summer months this would switch to a cricket commentary from Queen's Park. Later on in the station's life, the summer Saturday afternoon programe covered local cricket and other sport as part of a music show presented by Steve Jowle, Darrell Roberts, Reece Kind, David Blythen. More specialist music would follow on Saturday evening, traditionally big bands and swingtime, and more requests.
Sunday programming started in the early days with Darrell Roberts on Breakfast until Ian Rodgers took over the programme in the late 1980s.This was followed by religious programming and the various request shows until around 1986 whne the children's request show was dropped. Alistair Nicholas and David Bridgman hosted early evening programmes, followed by Les Hart with the popular request show. Ivan Goldstraw and his wife Mavis presented a late night religious programme for a few years. The studio's were usually off air on Sunday afternoon for training purposes.
[edit] Special programmes
There were often 'one-off' shows during the year. These included concerts from the Winding Wheel and the annual mince pie race, which saw presenters darting around the various hospitals, taking requests and sampling festive produce from the kitchens!
[edit] FM Licence
CHR broadcast on an FM wavelength under the name Trust FM for 28 days in 1996 commencing on 11-Nov-96 although the station did come on air before as a test broadcast. It had been hoped that this would serve as a precursor to securing the FM franchise for commercial radio in Chesterfield. However, the licence was eventually awarded to Peak FM. CHR/Trust FM closed with a bumper evening of programmes featuring presenters past and present, in December 1996.
[edit] Presenters
A number of presenters were with the station for many years - Steve Jowle, Les Hart, Darrell Roberts, Ian Rodgers, Dave Banks, Jim Bower, David Bridgman, Jo Bolland, Chris Turner, Rex Bryan, Paul Godley, Alastair Nicholas and Giles Brackenbury to name but a few.
A former member is Chris Binns. He became Tom Binns and developed his satirical character 'Ivan Brackenbury' who's comedy roadshow involves broadcasting to Chesterfield Hospitals. In his stage act he refers to several Chesterfield landmarks, hospital wards and places around the town. Throughout Chris Binn's membership, Ivan Speneley was the Station Director. After leaving, Chris worked at BBC Nottingham and other radio stations in the UK.
Phil Kennedy is now involved with Ashby Radio having worked at Radio Harmony in Coventy and Mansfield 103.2. His brother was a presenter with Radio City in Liverpool. He has a namesake who works for the BBC. Trevor Parsons surfaced on Peak FM. He was also involved with the alternative RSL that ran under the name of First FM. Other long-standing presenters such as Mark Atherton and David Bridgman have appeared on other hospital stations in Derby and London respectively. Mark Atherton has been known to broadcast on Centre/Touch FM, Oak 107, Peak FM and High Peak Radio. Phil Tooley went on to report and commentate for Hallam FM and Peak FM. Jim Bower also broadcast football reports with Peak FM. Lee Gadsby worked at Peak FM, Signal Radio and 'The Revolution' in Oldham.
