Five years at Sunshine Hospital Radio

This year I will have been volunteering at Sunshine Hospital Radio for five years. I have also been shortlisted for the first time in the National Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA) awards in the Female Presenter of the Year category. And to top it all off 2013 marks Sunshine’s 35th anniversary. So I thought I thought I would look back on how I got involved with Sunshine, some memorable moments, and what the future holds for us.

I first joined Sunshine Radio in March 2008. I had finished University the July before, and had just got my first job as a journalist. I had wanted to join the station earlier, but I was working shifts in a petrol station while I looked for a job, and so couldn't commit one specific evening a week. So when I started my new job, and had my evenings back I was quick to fill out the form. I have always been interested in radio, and as those of you who know me will agree I am pretty talkative! So volunteering at a hospital radio station seemed a great idea, and also the chance to meet new people and learn new skills.

Weston Hospital in particular appealed to me as it has a connection with my granddad  When I was little he had his own building company, and worked on a number of projects in the area. Weston used to have three hospitals, and in the 1980’s it was decided to build one hospital and bring them all together under one roof. My granddad was the site manager on the project, and oversaw the building of the hospital in Uphill. A lot of changes have taken place there since he worked on the original building, but I love the fact that he was responsible for the place where I volunteer. If he was alive today he would be straight on my show, Talk of the Town, to talk about the construction of the hospital! Ironically Weston Hospital was also where he was treated before he died, and so I feel that by volunteering on Sunshine I am close to him.

The moment I walked through the doors of the studio I felt right at home. The volunteers were lovely, and I was fascinated by the recording equipment. This marked the start of my 12 week probation period. During this time I was shown how to take requests from patients, find them on the system, and then play them on the wardround request show, which is on between 8 and 9 every weekday night. Talking to patients and asking them for song requests is just so lovely. You meet some wonderful people, with some very interesting stories to tell. Having a song played, or simply just talking to them can mean the world to patients. You could be the only visitor they see, and chatting to you can really lift their spirits at what is a difficult and often frightening time. Over the years I have met many lovely people - too many to list them all here. I will never forget the lady in her 80’s who asked me to play ‘You're the First, the Last, My Everything’  by Barry White as it reminded her of her husband who died two months before. The following week I returned to the ward to find she had sadly died, and the nurse said she had such a big smile on her face when we played the song. I like to think she is with her husband, who she said was her first and only love. I also remember the old man in his 90’s who requested ‘some of that modern dance music stuff’ as it made him laugh, the lady who named her newborn baby Adele as when she was trying to decide on a name she listened to Sunshine and we were playing Adele, and more recently the old man who asked me to play ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ and then sang it to me at full volume. Being able to spread a little joy and cheer to patients is what Sunshine Radio is all about!

In 2010 I took the next step forward and took on my own show. At Sunshine members are able to do shows that reflect their interests and hobbies. As a journalist I am interested in news, and what is going on around me. So this inspired me to create a news show every Monday from 7 - 8. Talk of the Town was born. Since the first show I have had many guests in talking about events in Weston, including the mayor, MP John Penrose, representatives from different charities, and local musicians. There have been too many to pick a favourite, but a special mention has to go to The Wrinkly Wrappers, Weston’s own rap group made up of women in their 70’s. They were great to interview, and every recorded a new jingle for the station! They gave me the nickname of Laura Shizzle Dizzle Tremelling, and let me rap for some of their songs! For this show I have also been out and about recording pieces, including interviewing the witch of Wookey Hole Caves (where I tried....and failed...to cackle), watching Sooty turn on Weston’s Christmas lights, dancing behind a Chinese dragon at the Your North Somerset cultural event, and going round and round on the Weston Eye!










This same year I became fundraising officer for the station, a job I love! As a charity we receive no funding, and so we need to raise money ourselves to pay for licences and equipment updates. This is a challenge I readily take on, and I can often be found badgering members to take part in bag packs, and cake sales! My experience as fundraising officer has enabled me to do two things that were on my bucket list - a sky dive and an abseil. The sky dive was fantastic! Though Mike (who I roped in to do it with me) may not agree! The feeling of jumping out of a plane at 12,000ft was incredible, and I enjoyed every minute of it! However the same cannot be said about the abseil! I was the first one down (as the organiser I had to show willing!) and stepping backwards over the cliff was terrifying! I also lost my footing halfway down and ended up spinning round and round. Don’t worry though, when I eventually reached the bottom a lovely thorn bush broke my fall!






Through Sunshine Radio I have also been lucky enough to cover T4 on the Beach, and got to interview all the bands backstage! This was the day where I met Peter Andre! I cannot begin to describe how amazing this was! I have been a fan since I was 9!

During my time at Sunshine I am proud to have been awarded both the Jill Dando award and the Karen Radford Award. The Jill Dando award is for the best show contribution. it is named after television presenter Jill who used to volunteer with Sunshine before her TV career took off. The Karen Radford Award is for best all round member. It is in memory of Karen, a volunteer who sadly lost her life in a car accident. To have won both of these awards is great.

This year for the first time ever I decided to enter the HBA awards for best female. I didn't for one minute think I would be shortlisted, as it is open to all hospital radio stations in the country. For this I had to put a five minute entry together showcasing the variety of my skills, and my awareness of patients. This was a stressful few weeks, as I had to shift through a years worth of logs to find the clips I wanted and put them together. Special thanks to Steve for keeping me sane (and buying me a hot chocolate) and Marcus for his awesome editing skills putting clips together! I am so chuffed to have made the shortlist and am now very excited for the award ceremony which takes place on March 23 in Blackpool!

Last year the very talented Nick made a film on the volunteers at Sunshine. Have a look!

This year Sunshine radio turns 35. The station has come a long way since it was put together on a portable piece of equipment in the bedroom of president John Jiggins. Membership has grown, and we attract people from students to adults in their 70’s. Talks are already in place as to what we do to mark this event, and I am looking forward to it!

I have loved every minute of being a member of Sunshine Hospital radio, and have made many good friends. Joining the station five years ago was one of the best things i have ever done, and I look forward to many more enjoyable years as a member!