Radio Grapevine

Official Name: West Lothian Hospital Broadcasting Service.

Radio Grapevine is the hospital radio station serving St. John's Hospital in Livingston, Scotland.

It has a dedicated team of over 30 volunteers who collect requests, produce and present shows, raise funds and do "outdoor broadcasts" from the local community.

History

The station was originally created in around 1987 when plans for a new hospital in Livingston New Town were unveiled. Present at that initial meeting were volunteers of the newly created charity. It took four years of hard work by dedicated members, to get the station on air and in 1992 the new Hospital Radio service for West Lothian began broadcasting across the brand new St John's Hospital at Howden in Livingston.

Over the following years, Radio grapevine's memebrship grew over tenfold and broadcasting quickly stepped-up to cover 7 days-a-week.

In 1999 and 2000 Radio Grapevine's studios, volunteers and music were used in two "Restricted Service Licence" (RSL) Test Broadcasts for a new dedicated West Lothian radio station which broadcast under the name "Real Radio". It was from these two broadcasts that Radio Grapevine acquired its first Computer Playout system.

This new computer system allowed the station to go on air 24 hours a day, every day (even when there was no one in the studio).

Since then, the playout systems have been upgraded and changed and the station now uses the Myriad programmes from P Squared. This allows the station to run 24 hours a day, and with a weekly and daily planned schedule of live and pre-recorded shows.

Outdoor Broadcasts / Roadshows

Radio Grapevine regularly performs outdoor broadcasts and roadshows in the local West Lothian community including the Peggy Rowney big band and swing show which is widly respected as the best in swing

The station can normally be seen at a variety of events throughout the summer including local Gala Days, fun days and open days.

Funding

Radio Grapevine is funded purely through its own fundraising activities and show sponsorship.

Local companies have the opportunity to sponsor one of Radio Grapevine's many shows.

The Station Today

Radio Grapevine broadcasts live programmes every day from 7pm until 10pm. Each night from 7.00 - 8.30 is a different "specialist" programme including Classical Music, Show Music, Scottish Music and more. Every night from 8.30 until 10.00pm is a dedicated request show where any patient in the hospital can hear their favourite songs played out on air just for them.

The station has a record library of nearly 35,000 songs and so can cater for 99% of all requests made.

Radio Grapevine ia a member-station of the Hospital Broadcasting Association and take part in "Hospital Broadcasting Week" each year. This involves raising the profile of Hospital Radio locally and nationally.

The station are always on the lookout for new volunteers to help out.

Patients within the hospital can listen to Radio Grapevine through their bedside radio sets and switching to Channel 1 on the dial. Friends and relatives can make a dedication by visiting the website at www.radiograpevine.com

More Information

Radio Grapevine's website is a great source of information for anyone interested in the station or in Hospital Radio.

External links

* [http://www.radiograpevine.com website]