Mid Downs Hospital Radio inviting former colleagues to 40th anniversary celebration

The station is a charity run entirely by volunteers and is dependent on fundraising activities and donations to support the 24 hour/7 days a week broadcasting service it provides.

It has grown from simple beginnings with limited studios facilities broadcasting only into hospital wards to where MDR is today with a modern studio based on the first floor of the PRH, and listening audience not just in the wards, but in the departmental waiting rooms and public spaces throughout the hospital, and in the local community via 1350 AM and on the ‘Listen Live’ link on our website: http://www.mdr.org.uk/

MDR also has a mobile Outside Events Unit which is used in open air events around Sussex such as summer and Christmas fairs, Arts Festivals and football tournaments. The Unit provides a PA system and presenters who play music, make announcements and provide a commentary on events, as they happen and is a crucial part of our charitable fund raising activities.

Our celebratory plans include:

Inviting all ex members to a 40th anniversary party to be held in November at the Red Lion, Lindfield. The party will be for current and ex members.

Wendy Swinton Eagle, MDR Vice Chair said: “We would like to invite all members and ex members and partners to the party but don’t have contact details for everyone so we’re asking people to pass the word round as well. Anyone who’d like to come should contact me either through the studio on 01444 441350 or [email protected]

“We’d also love to have some stories about the ‘good old days’ to put on the website.”

Recruiting new volunteers whom we can train to be MDR presenters. MDR has a good record of recruiting new members who, without any previous experience in broadcasting, after a period of training now host their own show. MDR also wants new members who can get involved in other MDR activities linked to programme production such as technical/computer issues, request collecting and fundraising. Sol Mead, MDR Chair said “as a charitable/voluntary organisation we always need new members to get involved in the running of the station, whether it be broadcasting or in other roles. We have some presenters who have been with us since the 1980s and are still broadcasting through to those who have joined us in the last year, but we need to constantly recruit new members if we are going reach our half century of broadcasting and beyond.”

Those interested in becoming a member should contact Lynda White MDR Membership Secretary on [email protected]

Expanding the MDR listener base into waiting rooms in GP surgeries and other communal areas within the community.

Continuing to broadcast a high quality and entertaining variety of music programmes and live interviews with a variety of guests. In addition to providing the latest health and social care information not only within a hospital setting, but also to the wider community.

Expanding the use of the OEU. Event organisers wanting to hire the OEU should contact Damian Wilkins on [email protected]

Offering speakers to attend meetings of local health and community organisations, societies, schools and other groups to talk about the radio station. The aiming being to explain how MDR operates and the opportunities it provides as a local broadcaster/media facility for local community and charitable groups not only to publicise their activities but also for individuals of any age over 16 to gain experience in broadcasting.

To book a speaker contact [email protected]

Contributed by Mid Downs Hospital Radio

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