Epsom Hospital Radio > History

Back in the late 1970’s, radio stations were starting to appear at most larger hospitals in the United Kingdom. So when two mobile DJs happened to find themselves on the same ward in the then Epsom District Hospital, they formed the idea of starting a station in Epsom, having realised that there was nothing in place to help pass away the hours for the patients in the hospital at this time.

It was October 1978 before enough funds had been raised to begin broadcasting. The facilities were very crude, the equipment extremely old fashioned and basic – but it was a start!

The studio was assembled in a second-hand garden shed, ten feet by six feet and sited on the roof of the hospital.

It was a hostile environment in the winter! The sight of presenters doing a programme dressed in heavy winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves was not uncommon. The equipment used consisted of a microphone, a cassette deck and two turntables that took almost three seconds to get up to a speed of 45rpm. Thus making the timing of a record much more of a skill than it is in this age of an instant start CD, MiniDisc of cart on a PC.

Thankfully, by the way of investing the profits from many a busy day fundraising back into the station, it was able to move to a second site near the nurses’ home in November 1982.

The members were helped by the kind donation of a Portakabin, which, thanks to careful maintenance, was to serve faithfully as the home of the studio for nearly 18 years.

By the early 1980’s, Epsom Hospital Radio’s profile in the area had grown considerably. People of all ages would be seen wearing the stations tee-shirts or sweatshirts around the town and more requests than ever were being received. The record of 48 requests being made during on Friday evening late in the summer of 1982 is a station record that still stands to this day!

The station suffered a setback in the early 1980's, when theives broke into the studio stealing vital broadcasting equipment, infact they took everything excpet for the mixing desk, they took several records too.

Epsom District Hospital Radio (as it was known at the time) staged its own ‘Fun Day’ taking over the paddocks of Epsom Race Course on 21st July 1984. The actor Stratford Johns of TV’s ‘Z Cars’ and ‘Softly Softly Task Force’ fame, opened the ‘Fun Day.’ On a gloriously hot and sunny afternoon more than 2500 people came to join in the fun and watch the stations first road show, hosted by Nigel Ansell, Trevor Leonard and Martin Glazebrook, all of whom had been on site as early as 5:30am to build the staging, set-up and rehearse the three hour long programme of music, live acts, competitions and games.

The money raised from this and many other fundraising activities, was once again re-invested in the station with the purchase of a second Portakabin to provide much needed additional space for the expanding organisation. To coincide with its arrival the station was once again re-located, this time to its current site in August 1986.

When the name of the hospital was changed in 1991 to Epsom General Hospital, naturally the radio station had to change its name in keeping with the hospital community it served. Hence its current identity of ‘Epsom Hospital Radio’ came to be. In 1992, two presenters of the time, Kieran Cooke and Chris Spring, jointly hosted the station’s first 24-hour programme. This was just part of its key role in ‘National Hospital Radio Week.’

After some difficult times, 1996 saw the start of an incredible transformation. With the station under new management, it witnessed a new level of professional expertise amongst many staff being recruited. This upturn in quality and expertise was reflected in the level of technical support, the training given to potential new presenters and the standard of programmes broadcast, with several regular presenters having professional broadcasting experience.

However, Epsom Hospital Radio always remained loyal to the community it served and many others were recruited, not because they had experience, but because they had the desire to learn.

On Saturday 31st July 1999, Epsom Hospital radio celebrated its 21st year in style with a special benefit performance of the stage show ‘Lets Have A Party’ at a packed Epsom Playhouse.

The show paid tribute to some of the biggest recording acts of all time and featured tributes to Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Epsom Hospital Radio’s most requested artist – Elvis Presley. The American singer and actor Mark Clayton, who played the lead role in the award winning production of ‘Elvis – The Musical’ over 4500 times, superbly portrayed the role of Elvis.

The standing ovation for the cast after two encores confirmed the success of the show, which was co-devised, produced and directed by Trevor Leonard of Epsom Hospital Radio.

This night proved to be the biggest single fundraising event ever in the station’s history and helped to pay for another building to house Epsom Hospital Radio’s current broadcasting studio.

This new studio, constructed primarily by Epsom Hospital Radio’s Chris Cook and Dave Woolgar was opened in February 2001. As a result, programmes were now being produced using equipment of a professional standard for the first time. This was essential for the next stage of the stations expansion – the new ‘Patientline’ broadcasting system that began in October 2002, whereby listeners can now enjoy hearing crystal clear stereo on new state of the art equipment.

2009 saw the start of some radical changes to the Radio station and the way we work. First up, the decision was taken to have a dedicated server room for the first time in our history, with the move to an automated playout system, and a computer system for the studio and a planned second studio, it made sense to have all of the computer equipment stored in the same place!

Also in 2009, PatientLine (the company that provides the bedside terminals through which we broadcast) changed it's name to Hospedia, though initially the infrustructure stayed the same.

The engineers are currently working on delivering 24 hour broadcasting by Easter 2010, when we aim to launch our new computer automation system. The Automation system will also be integrated into the studio as an essential tool to help us produce and present radio shows.

Beyond that, we have plans to build a second studio to help us to pre-record programmes for the automation system to help to provide interesting content at times that we are off the air.

Epsom Hospital Radio aims to continually expand and improve the service it provides to all patients, staff and other charitable organisations within Epsom General Hospital and the community in which it is based.

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From the archives...

In June 2009 We cleared out a storage cupboard in our studio complex, with the intention of turning it into a new server room for the 24 hour project as it neared completion. During the the clear out, we discovered a folder of old press cuttings, mostly from about 1980 to 1985. The press cuttings looked to be in a sorry state, so the decission was taken to scan them to preserve them digitally forever.

Having scanned them and lifted all of the text from the pages, is wasn't much more effort to put them on the website. So here is a little look into the past at Epsom Hospital Radio, or Radio EDH as it was then known, and how previous volunteers recuited volunteers and raised money.

Here are some old press cuttings from various local newspapers about Epsom Hospital Radio's from the past giving little snapshots in time of what life was like at the station. There are many more articles on the Events / Outside Broadcasts , Becomes A Presenter / Donate and the Schedule pages of this website.


Hospital radio put off the air

Click to enlargeEpsom's hospital radio is off the air, thanks to callous theives.

Hospital patients can no longer enjoy their own special programmes until the organisers manage to raise enough money to buy new equipment.

Theives broke into the "studio" in the grounds of Epsom District Hospital and stole over £600 worth of vital radio equipment and over 60 single records.

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Patients tune into a tonic

Click to enlargeNick Farrell meets the happy band of dedicated volunteers who run Radio EDH.

Somewhere among the mass of buildings at Epsom District Hospital is a rather ordinary small blue portakabin.

It could be a construction site office but is, in fact, the home of Epsom's only radio station - Epsom District Hospital's Own.

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Tips From The Top
(March 1985)

Click to enlargeGetting some tips on how the professionals do it is Epsom District Hospital Radio DJ Nigel Ansell.

Nigel was among several hospital radio DJs who were invited to a get together by Capital Radio.

During his tour of the studios, Nigel maneged to get a few words with Capital's morning show host, David Jensen.

Nigel has been with Radio EDH for seven years and is now station controller. His Thursday night show is on the air between 8pm and 10pm.


No Headline
August 1985

Click to enlargeA group of children from Epsom District Hospital enjoyed a day out at the movies on Sunday - thanks to the hospital radio station.

Vicky Warren of Radio EDH wrote to the distributors of the new "Care Bear" film, and to her surprise received 47 tickets in return.

"I really just wrote to them on the off-chance, asking if the hospital radio station could get involved in this, and was amazed when the tickets came back," she said.

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Blazing a fete trail.

Click to enlargeHow many pairs of feet can you get aboard a fire engine! The answers in the hundreds, if you're really trying!.

And they enjoyed trying at West Ewell on Saturday when Riverview County First School and the 1st Ruxley Scouts group got together to blaze a trail to a fun-filled fete.

As well as this big attraction there were sideshows, raffles, and pony rides for visitors to enjoy. Radio EDH supplied the afternoon's music.

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This Is Radio Epsom calling Port Stanley.
September 1985

Click to enlargeRadio Epsom District hospital will soon be broadcasting further afield... in the Falklands.

The station will play requests and dedications for people in that area - especially the armed forces.

Programmes will be broadcast, possibly via the military hospital. A hospital spokesman said: "We will use the tapes when appropiate."

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Cheering You Loud And Clear

Click to enlargeThe radio team with the personal touch for patients.

Tucked away in the grounds of Epsom District hospital is a music station that's gone from strength to strength.

Run by a band of caring volunteers, Radio EDH has cheered up hundreds of patients since it began eight years ago. Myra Beasley reports:

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Air...on a shoestring.
Epsom & Ewell Herald, Wednesday May 2nd 1990

Click to enlargeRadio EDH is to extend its hours "on air". So if you are interested in having fun, love music, and hard work, want a career in radio or even fancy yourself as the next Bruno Brookes or Tommy Vance, phone them.

Although the station is hoping to attract a lot of interest from anyone between 25 and 45, age doesn't matter as long as you are over 18 and feel young at heart.

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Here is the news!

Click to enlarge...thanks to the best local paper.

This is the news... Chris Spring and Emma St Giles (pictured right) of Epsom Hospital Radio, scan the Epsom and Ewell Herald for suitable items to use in their proposed new programme.

It's the idea of recent arrival Emma, from Kingston, who thought too much music was being broadcast. A survey among patients supported her view - they said they liked plays and chat shows.

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