A membership of around 30 volunteers
Our members come from all walks of life and span virtually all age groups, from school
attendees with an interest in radio to retired folk who maybe suddenly have time on their
hands.
The only enforced limits are that under 18's must have an adult present when in the studio
and they cannot, except under special circumstances, do the rounds of the wards to collect
requests.
One stipulation which applies to all members is that they must be involved in that most
unloved of all activities - fund-raising... We are a charity and we rely on the goodwill
of the public and our own efforts to keep the service going. And nobody (in theory, at
least!) escapes that commitment.
Like most voluntary organisations, the amount you get out of it is directly related to the
amount you put in. A minimum is required and many are happy to give much more than that.
But whether a member's involvement is going round the wards collecting requests from the
patients, being an assistant on someone's show (all new members wanting to present are
allocated to a presenter who guides them through the process) or having a show of one's
own, the feeling that you get when you play a request specially for someone who asked for
it is immeasurable.
The feeling obviously goes both ways, judging by the feedback which we often receive from
the patients, some of whom contact us later wishing to become members of the organisation
in order to give something back themselves.
Behind the organisation is its Committee, silently (and sometimes not so silently!) doing
its job of keeping the show on the road. Here, typically, the dedication and involvement
is greater than usual.
But whatever type of membership is taken on, there is something very special about being
part of an organisation which is constantly fighting for its survival in an
ever-more-difficult marketplace and doing something which, in British broadcasting, is
quite simply unique. The fact that many 'established' radio names started life as mere
assistants in hospital broadcasting (including here at Choice) is testament to the solid
training which our members are able to take advantage of.
You can see some of the presenters by
clicking on the names below...
IAN RAINE
TONY & BARBARA
DEAKIN
GERRY TAYLOR
DAVE WEBBER
MICHELLE EVELYN
PHIL REARDON
STEVE HEYWOOD
KAYLEY
PERKINS
RICHARD
HAYWOOD
PETE PHILLIPS
RICHARD GREEN
ROBERT GODFREY
KEVIN RUSHBROOKE
ANDY DEAN
