..........was the name of Dorset County Hospital's staff magazine, sadly
no longer produced, in which a page or two is contributed by Ridgeway
Radio. Below is our article from the Spring 2000 issue by Ridgeway Radio's
chairman, Andy Worth.
Spring 2000
"Dear Listeners.
We've done it again! We have won a national competition and are now officially the 9th best hospital radio station in the U.K.!
Our entry for the 'Station of the Year' category in the national BT 2000 Hospital Radio Awards competition was placed among the top ten. Entries from 250 hospital radio stations throughout the U.K. were judged by a panel drawn from the Hospital Broadcasting Association, British Telecom and representatives of the broadcasting industry. We were awarded a certificate and £250 at an award ceremony held at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool during the HBA's Spring conference.
Our entry illustrated the entire range of programmes that we offer in just 15 minutes. The producer, Amanda Yates, spent three solid weeks listening to, and selecting, clips from the programmes, special events, outside broadcasts and features that we have broadcast during the last 12 months. Her choice was just right. Thanks to Amanda and all our broadcasters for doing such a good job!
Our other entry for the best 'Non-Music' programme category was also placed in 9th position. This 10 minute recording was produced by our North, South, East and West magazine team. They went along to the Antiques Road show that was broadcast last year on BBC1 from Athelhampton House. Television presenter, Hugh Scully, was interviewed at length by Peter Foster. Hugh related some roadshow highlights and also talked about his early broadcasting days in the BBC West region
Last year we won the competition for best special event broadcast in the HBA Awards. The £500 prize money was very welcome indeed and has helped to fund the computer playout system that will support our two new services - RIDGEWAY LIVE and RIDGEWAY 24. The wonderfully generous hospital League of Friends provide the rest of the money. THANKS!
We've all been very busy preparing programmes for RIDGEWAY 24 during the last 6 months. The programmes are designed to treat our listeners to something special all through the night. We hope to start transmitting RIDGEWAY 24 in early June.
The new computer system is also designed to help us to find and play music, features and requests much more easily during our daytime service - RIDGEWAY LIVE. All of our broadcasters are currently getting to grips with the new technology and if there are any mistakes they really can blame the computer!
KINGFISHER CLUB, our very special programmes for the children's ward, is about to expand and will broadcast a programme every day of the week! Listen in between 6pm and 8pm for some excellent fun, great listening and competitions.
Our locally produced magazine programmes can now be heard every morning. Listen in for some 'Good talk, Good Music, & Good Company. You might even be the first to hear next years winning competition entry!
Request Time is broadcast live every day between 8 pm and 10pm. Look out for our request collectors in their Gold polo shirts. They will be happy to help you chose a record for yourself and if you wish for a member of staff or another patient.
Listen out for our competitions. There are lots of prizes for everyone, young or old. Our very special thanks goes to to all the companies, local and national, that have donated so many things for us to give away in our competitions. You are very welcome to have a go, and if you're lucky you might be a winner with RIDGEWAY RADIO.
During the past few months a lot of people have joined us and are helping us to make every listeners stay in hospital just a little bit nicer. Thanks to all of them.
You can listen to RIDGEWAY RADIO by switching to Channel 6 of the bedhead radio units. Any nurse will be happy to help you tune in. (We might be on Channel 5 in some areas)
Anyone can telephone us at any time to request a record or leave a message on our 24 hour Request Line. Just dial 4227 ( it's free! ) from a phone in the hospital.
To send a request or message from outside the hospital dial Dorchester (01305) 254227.
You can also send us a message or request, and find out a lot more about us, by visiting our website - www.ridgewayradio.org.uk
Our postal address is -
Ridgeway Radio, Room 200, Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY
Unlike any other radio station our door is always open, so why not come along to the studio and meet us. You can find us in Room 200, level 2, North Wing. Look out for the 'ON AIR' sign. The best time to come for a friendly chat is usually from 8pm in the evening when the request programme is being broadcast. You'll be very welcome to make a request for someone, or ask us to play a track for yourself. If you have young visitors then why not send them along. They will be especially welcome to come and join in with the KINGFISHER CLUB which stars at 6pm. Don't be shy, we don't bite and we'd love to meet you and yours.
All the very best to you from,
the RIDGEWAY RADIO volunteers.
PS Hope to see you at the Teddy Bears Picnic. We'll be hosting this special event in the Borough Gardens, Dorchester, on the 25th of June. The picnic starts at 12 noon so bring along your favourite teddy Bear and a picnic for a great afternoon of fun and games for all ages!"
Winter 2000
"A very happy New Year and a warm welcome to the 21st Century from your very own radio station, Ridgeway Radio.
Unlike any other radio stations our door is always open to visitors. Why not come along, we would love to meet you, just like young Laura who arrived not on foot or in a wheelchair but in her bed!
We have rearranged our studio so that we can squeeze in as many people as possible. To make even more room we have done away with our vast record library which simply took up too much space. The music from the collection has been transferred to our new computer system that can store and play music. Not only does this give us more space it also makes it much faster and easier to locate the music for listeners' requests. The computer even does away with all the pops and clicks on some of the old records. Many thanks to everyone who has taken away and also donated cash for the records that were left outside the studio. The money is every bit as welcome as the very generous gift from the hospital's League of Friends which helped to make it all possible.
Our volunteers are busy preparing programmes that will make up our new overnight service - Ridgeway 24. The computer system will make sure listeners are entertained with something suitable for those sleepless and lonely early hours from the friend by your bed.
Welcome to Louise who joins the Kingfisher Club to help Amanda and Emma present our very special programmes for the children's ward. During the past few months a lot of people have asked if they can join us to help make our listeners' stay in hospital just a little bit nicer. Some of them have been members of the Kingfisher Club who have visited the studio during their stay in hospital (see Visitors Album). Gemma and Kieran are very good - listen out for them. Kieran also provided the disco for the Children's Centre Christmas party, while Amanda, Emma and Colin organised games and handed out prizes from the Ridgeway Treasure Trove.
Thanks to all the companies that have donated so many things for us to give away in our competitions. Listen out for them and you might be a winner with Ridgeway Radio. There are prizes for everyone, young and old.
If you are up on the elderly care wards why not listen in to the programmes that are made especially for you. Our request collectors will help you choose a record and also show you how to use the radio.
Last year we came first in a competition for the best special event broadcast in the National BT Hospital Radio Awards. The £500 prize money was very welcome indeed and it has helped to fund our new services.
This year we have high hopes that our entries for national Station of the Year will gain us £1000. We have just 15 minutes to show the judges the range of things that we do, and it was very difficult to choose what should be squeezed into such a short time.
Our entry for the best Non-Music programme award was a recording made by the North, South, East and West magazine team who went along to the Antiques Roadshow which was broadcast from Athelhampton House last summer. The Show's presenter, Hugh Scully was interviewed at length and he recalled some roadshow highlights and talked about his early days in the BBC West region.
This year's Special Event entry followed gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh as he planted the tree that was named after our own Dr. Jo in the hospital grounds. We hope that the judges are as amused by some of Alan's jokes as we were.
We all have our fingers and toes crossed as we need the prize money, so wish us well and while we are all waiting for the results join us for some Good Listening and Good Company from your very own radio station, RIDGEWAY RADIO."