Thameside Hospital Radio Memories

Thameside Hospital Radio started broadcasting in 1977, serving the patients and staff at Southend, Rochford and Westcliff hospitals. This page contains information on the radio station, and some nostalgia

 

In 2005, the station changed its name from Thameside Hospital Radio to ‘Southend Hospital Radio’, and continues to broadcast to patients at Southend University Hospital from is radio studios based at Southend General Hospital, in Essex.

Southend Hospital Radio broadcasts seven days a week, providing a relevant and entertaining service to patients. The station broadcasts via a closed-circuit to wards around Southend General Hospital on Channel 13, and also has a 24 hour continuous music service, Thameside 2, broadcasting on Channel 14.

Like all Hospital Radio stations in the UK, Southend Hospital radio is run entirely by hard working volunteers, with funds raised by members from local activity, and from donations.

For more on Southend Hospital Radio, go to southendhospitalradio.co.uk.

 

Thameside Radio’s History

Thameside Hospital Radio began broadcasting on February 5th 1977. Here are a few pictures illustrating Thameside’s history.

Day one, Feb 1997	The team of 1990	Master control room (1986)
Mike Royston Bingo Beat	The team of 1994	Donated Tape machine
The studio (1986)	The team of 1993	Flagday label licking

 

Music on Hospital Radio

The hospital radio library has around 20,000 different tracks on the computer system, CD and vinyl, covering all musical styles from the 1920’s up to the present day. The archives
also contain a selection of comedy shows, including classics like “The Goon Show”, “Hancock” and more modern material like “The Fast Show” and “Mrs Merton”.

With a few exceptions, the station relies totally on donations to stock the library.

To help Ward Liaison teams, Southend Hospital Radio has a music library computer system that can search music by artist, title, year or chart position. The station also records and broadcast local events such as Christmas Carols and Music Festivals.

 

The Studios

For the technically minded, here’s a quick look at what goes on technically behind the scenes at the Southend-based studio complex.

Audio and broadcast technology is changing all the time, and over the years, radio stations have moved on to make use of more reliable, durable and economical studio equipment. When Thameside Radio started broadcasting, what was state-of-the art in the 70’s, is now seen as ancient technology. Audio tape has now been replaced by recordable CD and minidisk technology, and
vinyl records have moved on to CD, and now onto a computer-based hard-disk system.

Programmes are delivered to the listener on a closed-circuit digital multiplex, which also carries network and local radio plus TV sound, and a switching matrix allows either or both studios to be routed directly to one of our two allocated channels.

 

Thameside Radio Audio Clips

Some audio clips of old jingles and promotions as broadcast on Thameside Hospital Radio. Audio files are in MP3 format

Category	Cut
Jingles	News Jingle 1985
	Short theme ident 1985
	Thameside Music radio (Whisper)
	Serving Southend/Westcliff/Rochford
	We will, we will rock you!
Themes	Station opener 1985 (Timbo – fade from Essex Radio)
	Station opener 1986 (fade from Essex Radio)
	Station closer (fade to Essex Radio)
Programme Jingles	Barry Humphries Intro
	Thameside Alternative
Off-air clips	John Staff – The Staff of Life (Feb 85)
	Newsline – Margaret Pay (Feb 85)
	Paul Taylor’s Request Show – Extract 1 (Feb 85)
	Paul Taylor’s Request Show – Extract 2 (Feb 85)
Promos	Thameside Merchandise (Glen Fraser)
	Thameside Calendar promo
	Golden Disc
	Do you like listening?
	Steve Leggett Sunday promo
	Tea with Les Cottis

You can find more Thameside audio clips at Mark Himsley’s site: Thameside Audio Archive

Former Thameside Radio Person?

If you used to work at Thameside Radio, you might be interested in joining the Thameside Radio Facebook Group

 

Thameside Hospital Radio 2003 Schedule

For historical reasons, here’s a copy of the May 2003 Thameside Radio programme schedule. If you’re looking for the current schedule for Southend Hospital Radio, you’ll find it at www.southendhospitalradio.co.uk

Monday

Tuesday

6:00pm 7:30pm 8:28pm 8:30pm 9.58pm

“Dave Gowland” “F.Y.E.” With Nigel Dee (repeat from Sunday) “Your Stay in Hospital” – Hospital Information “The Request Show” with Maurice Jardine Thought For The Day

Wednesday

6:00pm 7:00pm 8:28pm 8:30pm 9.58pm

Top 40 Chart Show with James Michael Solid Gold 70’s with Dave Gold Your Stay in Hospital – Hospital Information The Request Show with Dean Baxter Thought For The Day

Thursday

6.00pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 8:30pm 9.58pm

Two From One with Steve Rogers Easy Classics with Lorraine All The Number One’s with Lawrie Kurn The Request Show with Dave Gold and Friends Thought For The Day

Friday

6.00pm 7.00pm 8:30pm 9.58pm

Nigel Waymark’s Soul Show “Here Come’s The Weekend” with Chris Verity The Request Show with Ray Machin Thought For The Day

Saturday

10:00am 12:00pm 2.00pm 5:00pm 7.00pm

Phillip Baldwin’s Morning Zoo Midday Miscellany with Ron Guttridge Vacant The Chill-Out Zone” with Steve Tyler Thameside’s continuous music service

Sunday

10:00am 1.00pm 3.00pm 5:00pm 6.00pm 8:00pm

The Sunday C.C.M Show  with John Staff John D Fordham The Sunday Supplement With Jonathan Johnson F.Y.E. With Nigel Dee (repeated Tuesday’s at 7.30pm) Chartbreakers with Richard James Michael Long

 

 

Handy Radio Links

• Southend Hospital Radio – Homepage for Southend’s radio station
• UK Radio Information – Details of today’s radio broadcasting industry
• Radio Frequently-asked questions – Answers to common radio questions
• Southend Radio Stations – A list of other radio stations in Southend
• Essex Radio Stations – A list of radio stations in the Essex area

Page
created by Southend Hospital Radio member Pete
Sipple