2 October 2018
Yesterday Borders Hospital Radio Service (BHRS) celebrated 30 years on the air. The non-profit organisation, which is run by small team of dedicated volunteers, broadcasts nightly between 7pm and 10pm on Channel 1. Patients can listen to the Hospital Radio, via radio equipment at their bedsides, and request music that they would like to hear.
To mark the Hospital Radio’s 30th birthday Radio Borders were broadcasting live from the Hospital Radio Station’s studio based in the Borders General Hospital on Monday 1 October. Presenters Keith Clarkson and Iain Waugh, from Radio Borders, played a lively set which was peppered with song requests and interviews. Interviewees included Colin Taylor, the longest serving BHRS Presenter and Vikki Hubner, Acting Head of Work and Wellbeing, who was introducing our Staff Flu Vaccination Campaign mascot for this year Honey Flu Bee.
Grant McNaughton, Chairman of the Hospital Broadcasting Association, was also on hand to present certificates of dedication. ‘Long Service Awards’ recognised the contribution of long serving Presenters Colin Taylor (30 years), Ewan Thomson (25 years) and Billy Welsh (15 years). While the Borders Hospital Radio Station itself was presented with a congratulatory certificate for 30 years of service.
Radio Borders Presenter Iain Waugh, who began his presenting career at a Hospital Radio Station in Falkirk, said: “Radio is a powerful means of communication - that tiny bit of human interaction and connection from a request or a dedication goes a long way, especially when you are ill and away from home. It’s really important that big milestones like this are celebrated, even more so when people are volunteering their time to help others such as the great Volunteer Presenters that we’ve met today.”
Drawing the celebrations to a close, Colin Taylor, Volunteer Presenter at BHRS, said: “Since 1988 I have been a Presenter for our Hospital Radio playing country music on Monday nights. My colleagues and I immensely enjoy what we do, and hope that patients and their relatives continue to enjoy our output and listen to hospital radio.”
