Conquest Hospital Radio has been celebrating 50 years of continuous broadcasting.
Some of the team from Conquest Hospital Radio
It all started in 1975 when four enthusiasts started recording programmes at home and broadcasting them using a tape recorder installed in a cupboard at the Royal East Sussex Hospital in Cambridge Road, Hastings.
They then merged with a similar operation at St. Helen’s Hospital, Frederick Road in Ore in 1976 and by 1984 had a two studio suite at St. Helen’s Hospital before moving to Conquest Hospital in July 1992.
The station was set up with the core aim of providing comfort and entertainment for patients in hospital. Today, that still remains their core aim.
Conquest Hospital Radio (CHR) committee member, Graham Belchamber said: “When they started in 1975 I wonder in their wildest dreams if they ever thought that we would be celebrating the 50th anniversary of us continuously broadcasting? Well, here we are celebrating an undoubted 50 year old success story.
“It’s strange at times when I mention hospital radio out there; the reactions can be as if we are something from a by gone age, past it’s sell by date. Well 41,000 listening hours in a year and 50 years later proves them wrong.
“We are still going strong. We are recruiting new members. We have more live shows, organise more public events, have great partnerships with Hastings United FC and Brighton University and with the people of Hastings and beyond. More and more people are getting to know about CHR.
“We couldn’t have done this without the pioneers who started it, in 1975, and the team of volunteers over the years, who are the backbone of it still today, and who work tirelessly, not just in front of the mic, but behind the scenes, to keep us broadcasting to Conquest Hospital and beyond into the community. Thank you for everything thing that you do and for all of your support, long may we continue broadcasting.”
Conquest Hospital Radio broadcasts around the hospital, but is also available on-line here.
For more information about CHR, and see how you can get involved or make a donation, visit www.conquesthospitalradio.co.uk.