13 February 2009
A local MP joined volunteers at Radio St Helier recently to help present their weekly Sunday evening request show.
Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, was taken around four wards at St Helier and met patients and staff whilst collecting requests for the show.
Brian Cantwell, who's been associated with the station for the past 27 years, co-presented the show with Mr Brake. He said: "It was great having our local MP with us for the evening. He was very pleased to see what we do and really got involved in the preparation of the show, making sure we had plenty of requests.
"The patients were pleased to see him too. It all made for a very pleasant evening."
Mr Brake also joined Brian to introduce records and spoke about the reasons why patients had chosen their particular songs.
Brian added: "Mr Brake got a taste of what we typically do each weekday evening and at weekends.
"Our request shows are very popular with our listeners. They are one of the main ways in which we engage with patients directly. It is also really nice for patients who may not have had any visitors."
Mr Brake had one request of his own - a classic Procol Harum smash called 'A Salty Dog.'
He said: "That particular track was the first record I had ever brought and it still sounds great.
Talking about the evening, he added: "I really enjoyed my time with Radio St Helier. The volunteers do a great job, working tirelessly to entertain the patients in the hospital. They really are an enthusiastic team.
"We've also had some great requests from patients from the different wards. I hope we spread a bit of cheer on a cold winter's night."
