Radio station cut down in its prime (From Stroud News and Journal)

Radio station cut down in its prime

STAFF from a radio station with a unique connection with its listeners were left mourning the day the music died at Christmas.

Standish Hospital Radio was finally taken off the air on Christmas Eve after over 50 years of broadcasting. "It was very sad," said Richard White.

"During the last two hours all the presenters who could make it came to the hospital to broadcast their own 20 minute slot.

"We wanted to finish on a high note." He said losing the station was like having a chunk of his life taken away.

"I miss it already," he said. "I did the Sunday night show and only missed it three times in the past five and a half years.

The station had an unusually strong connection with its audience. "Of course we'll miss the broadcasting side of it but it's really sad to lose the contact with the patients," said Mr White.

"Every presenter went round every night to get to know the patients. "When we were doing requests it wasn't just a name read off a list, it was personalised and there was a real connection."

By the time the music stopped the station had accumulated over 8,000 records and CDs which are now packed away in secure storage along with all the equipment. "It took us two days to take it all apart and pack it up."

"We're now waiting to find out the outcome of the bids for the site. "We've been told there's a chance there might still be a need for a radio station if the community bid wins," said Mr White.

The League of Friends of Standish Hospital has paid for the storage for a year. Mr White admitted he and his colleagues were disappointed to see the end of an era.

"It wasn't as if we were winding down, we were going flat out and were cut down in our prime," he said. "It was a very sad Christmas for us all."