Epsom Hospital Radio > Meet The Team > George Holland

George Holland joined Epsom Hospital Radio in September 1997 with his elder sibling Margaret. He trained on the Saturday Sports Express Shows, before being let off for good behaviour and being given his own Shows. He has Presented Shows on Saturday Mornings 10am-12 Noon, Sunday Evenings 6pm to 8pm, Wednesdays 8pm to 10pm, on previous slots in the schedule.

You can now catch me in the Hot Seat on Saturdays from 6.30pm to 8pm, for "The Last 90 Minutes.

Tune into George’s Show and you'll hear Sports Updates, local news, the what's on guides, a few surprise guests, the gossip on Dr. Who and Torchwood and the Casey Club Choice at 7.30pm, when I play 2 tracks back to back by the same artist for my lovely friends on Casey Ward.

At Epsom Hospital Radio, over the years, I have helped with training, publicity, recruitment, ward visiting, outside broadcasts, fundraising events, standing in for other presenters, extra shows at Christmas, New Year, and Easter, reporting from Local Non League Matches, being a guest on other Presenter's Shows, and giving talks about the Station to groups, as well as writing articles for our superb Patient's Guide.

The Question & Answer Zone...

What's your favourite genre of music?

My favourite genre of music is '70s Rock, but I also love to collect and play football songs, comedy tracks, radio linked tracks and funny tracks to do with politics.

When you're not at Epsom Hospital Radio, what are you doing?

My Day Job is Managing The Holland and Barrett Health Food Store in Reigate, Surrey. When I joined them on 4th July 2005 I discovered that there is 3 Hollands and 2 Barretts working for the Company. None of us are related to the owners.

In my spare time I am tracing my Family Tree, watching TV, reading newspapers and books, checking my emails, shopping, socialing, going to the theatre and cinema occasionally, visiting friends and my Godson's family in Hailsham, Sussex, watching sports, reporting for various radio stations on football matches, collecting football memorabilia, and I am the Press Officer for Epsom and Ewell Football Club. The Club currently share Banstead Athletic's ground at Merland Rise, Tadworth and you can catch all the latest news on the club's activities and the book on the history of the Club "Two Legs Not Four" at £19.95 each, on the Club's website, www.eefc.net

If you had £1,000,000 to spend on yourself and no-one else what would you spend it on?

With £1000,0000 I would, in no particular order, pay off my Bank Loan and Overdraft, get a bigger car, buy a second home in Toronto, and a third one in Swansea, build my own football ground and donate it to Epsom and Ewell FC, include my own radio studio and press box at the ground, purchase a Chelsea FC season ticket, decorate my house and garden, give some to Epsom Hospital Radio to complete our 24 hour project, buy every Football Song ever made, and get a life's supply of tea, ice cream and scampi and chips, not forgetting tons of cappuccino and complete my Family Tree. I think I may need a few more millions of pounds.

What is your ideal holiday destination?

My ideal Holiday destinations are Swansea, Cork, Dublin, New York and at the top of my list, Toronto. I also like to spend time for a few days in Hailsham, Sussex.

What is your favourite film?

My Favourite Films are any James Bond, any Dr Who, and any football films. I do hope to go and see "Sex In The City" soon.

What is your favourite TV programme?

My favourite TV Programmes are Dr Who, Torchwood, any football programmes, Neighbours, The Invisibles, Hotel Babylon, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and Top Gear.

Who is your favourite comedian?

My Favourite Comedian is Sir Norman Wisdom. I have interviewed him twice at Epsom Hospital radio, read his books, got his records, seen his films and met him numerous times when he has stayed at his Epsom flat. Sadly, he is now in a Home on the Isle Of Man, as he has dementia.

Who is your favourite sports team/star?

My favourite sports teams are Chelsea FC and Epsom and Ewell FC, the Dutch football team, the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and any players who have played for Chelsea FC, also the late George Best, what a star.

What is your favourite drink?

My favourite drinks are tea, cappuccino, and lager shandy, followed by a tot of port.

What is your favourite food?

My favourite foods are prawn cocktail, curly fries, scampi, peas, ice cream, and some of Margaret's superb cheesecake.

What inspires you?

The things that inspire me are my godson, Christopher in Hailsham, any radio presenters and the late screaming Lord Sutch who sadly died in June 1999. He was the leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party of which I am a member, he had his own pirate radio, "Radio Sutch", made a few records, wrote a few books and entertained millions. I met him once, what a star he was.

Middle name?

My Middle names are Henry Michael, so I have a clothing line at Asda named after me and England's Patron Saint, a vacuum cleaner named after me, M and S have also named their clothing range after me, and I have a country named after me. Just joking. Although, having traced the family history, the Holland Tunnel in New York was built by an engineer called Holland, he also built some roads in Malaysia. He is a descendant and we are related to the engineer that built the first submarine.

Do you have any nicknames?

My nick name at Epsom Hospital Radio is the “Hairy Cornflake,” I am also a member of the Monster Raving Loony Party, my nick name with them is the “Monster Hairy Cornflake!”

Whenever I correspond with the Heathrow Flyers, my nickname/handle/call sign with them is “Chelsea Boy.” The Heathrow Flyers have made quite a few trucking, comedy and CIN songs, mainly about the M25.

Back in January 2000, there was a group of people in the village of Ashurst Wood who set up their own state called PRAWNS: Peoples Republic of Ashurst Wood Nation State. They generated a lot of publicity and press of TV, Radio and newspapers locally, nationally and internationally. I even did an interview for Epsom Hospital Radio with Joe Taylor aka “Tiger Prawn.”

They made me an honorary member of the PRAWNS issuing me with my own Passport and I was given the title “The Commander of Sea Crabs.” I became their “overseas” communications officer, overseas because I live outside their boundary.

Star sign?

My Star Sign is Leo.

Weird & wonderful talents?

My weird and wonderful talents are being able to mimic silly voices, I make a superb pot of tea and I can remember addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and car registration numbers.

I have taken part in two attempts to get into the Guinness Book of Records.

In the summer of 2001 I took part in an attempt to create the longest Mexican wave in the world, I joined millions of people on the South Downs near Ashinghurst, Sussex. I do believe that we made into the record books.

In September 2000, I witnessed the “Running of the Bull” in Toronto, Canada. Based on the even in Spain, there was a whole day of mock Bulls of different shapes and sizes with people in fancy dress, I think this event somehow made it into the record books too.

Most treasured belongings?

My most treasured belongings are my car, my house, passport, driving licence, football songs, my bank account, my job, and my memberships to Epsom and Ewell FC and Epsom Hospital Radio and of course my phone.

Favourite smell?

As I can not smell, it enhances my taste buds. Although I have smelt some really strange things when they have been really pungent on the odd occasion. But none of them would be a favourite smell.