was born. It has been said that most of the equipment was home made and some housed in an OXO tin! A look in the studios now will show what progress we have made since then.
The first broadcast was on Monday 10th October 1967 and the show was called `Monday Date at Eight`. The requests were collected on the Sunday, the records borrowed from Percy Prior's Music Shop on the Monday, played that evening and returned the next day to go back on sale!
Soon more and more patients got to hear about the regular weekly broadcast and placed request cards in various locations within the hospital buildings. Now over thirty years on,
has almost sixty members and transmits almost every day of the year.
to expand its output. We have recently improved our method of broadcasting by using the Patientline system which gives stereo, CD quality sound to our listeners as well as a freephone service to our studios for reqests.
Over the years
Wycombe Radio and its members have had many achievements, here are just a few :-
Established a hospital broadcasting service for High Wycombe and Amersham
In the 1970s raised money by pushing a hospital bed to the Channel Islands
Several members have moved on to "proper" broadcasting with the BBC or commercial radio
Several members have moved on to a career in journalism and writing
Broadcast via an FM link from the Wycombe Show
Broadcast numerous live concerts from venues all over the area
Broadcast live from Wembley Stadium following Wycombe Wanderers
Broadcast Wycombe Wanderers first League match from Carlisle
Members have taken part in the London Marathon
Interviewed many celebrities
In the 1990s raised money by pushing a hospital bed to Holland
Equipped two studios to broadcast quality
To date raised over £100,000 (estimated since 1967)
Provided public address facilities for local events
... and much much more
Our principle is precisely the same in the 21st Century as when the service was first set up, - playing music, providing information and news on an individual basis for our listeners, to make the prospect of a spell in hospital less frightening and more enjoyable as far as we can.
Wycombe Radio is operated by the
Wycombe Hospitals Broadcasting Association, a registered charity.
All running costs are met by volunteers through membership fees, donations and fund-raising. As well as collections, other fund raising activities includes jumble sales, concerts, line dancing and sponsored entries in the London Marathon.
Do You Want To Join Us?
For more information about the association or how to become a member, patron or sponsor, check out or web site www.whba.org.uk or go straight to the new members page www.whba.org.uk/WYCOMBE/help.htm
