This June sees the 40th anniversary of the inaugural programme broadcast to the patients at St Helier Hospital, on Radio St Helier, the hospital's radio station.
Our history
After an agreement with the hospital management, the founder of Radio St Helier, Mike Button, presented the first programme from the corner of the then Chaplain's changing room on 6 June 1970 - and Radio St Helier was born.
As the membership grew, more programmes were broadcast and eventually the station took over the room completely and turned it into a fully functioning radio station. This situation prevailed until the late 1980s when it was felt that the service was outgrowing the space it had. A search for bigger premises was undertaken.
Unable to find a suitable area to refurbish, the hospital management identified an unused area as a possible site which could be built upon if it were practical to do so. A major fundraising project was launched: over three years, with the assistance of the community and local businesses, £125,000 was raised. A purpose-built radio station was created which was officially opened on the station's 21st anniversary on 6 June 1991.
Radio St Helier today
The service is run entirely by unpaid volunteers who provide a variety of programmes to patients at both St Helier Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children. Inpatients can listen to the station for free on channel 1 of the internal bedside radio units on the majority of the wards.
Radio St Helier broadcasts live programmes in the evenings (7pm - 10pm on weekdays) and at weekends (9am - 10pm). At other times, a computerised system provides a mix of music, comedy, news and entertainment for listeners.
The station broadcasts a wide variety of specialist programmes such as the Christian and gospel music show "The Journey" and the local magazine programme "Sutton Scene". They have an extensive record library catering for every taste in music including light orchestral, military, jazz, country and western, classical, rock and pop.
The radio station is totally self-funded and raises its income by providing a service at events in and around the local area with its outside broadcast units.
Contact the team
If you would like to find out more about Radio St Helier, contact the team on 020 8296 2259, visit their website at www.radiosthelier.co.uk or email them at requests@radiosthelier.co.uk
Registered charity number 279541.
