Chippenham Hospital Radio

Infobox Radio station
name = Chippenham Hospital Radio


city = Chippenham
airdate = 1983
format = Hospital radio
webcast = [http://www.live365.com/stations/sean_lox Live365]
website = http://www.chrs.org.uk

Chippenham Hospital Radio is a volunteer radio station in Chippenham, England.

Beginnings

Chippenham Hospital Radio was set up as a volunteer organization around 1983 by local people (several of whom remain to this day). The station was to provide news, music and information for patients and staff of Chippenham hospitals.

Local Connections

The station enjoys a relationship with Chippenham Town Football Club, for which it provides updates on most match days, and often has a reporter at home games. It gives some coverage to other sporting events around the area.

The station also gets involved around the town in outside broadcasts of local events. These include Chippenham Folk Festival and North Wilts Festival, both at Monkton park.

The Modern Station

In 2005 and 2006 a studio was renovated to receive Independent Radio News bulletins every hour.

Broadcasting Marathons

Chippenham Hospital Radio had its first broadcasting marathon in 2006. It lasted 48 hours, starting at 7pm on Friday, April 6 and ending at 7pm Sunday, April 8. Teams broadcast throughout the weekend, up to 7 hours at a time. Over £1000 was raised for the station. The event coincided with Hospital Broadcasting Week.

A second marathon was held from March 30–April 1, 2007, starting at 6 pm on Friday and ending at 6pm on Sunday. The shifts were 6 hours, with most teams of 3 people. The marathon was opened by the Mayor of Chippenham, Maureen Lloyd, who stayed to talk with presenters.

People

The presenters run the station, including official positions like Station Manager, Programme Controller and Station Engineer. The organization is run by a full committee, including a chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer, who meet monthly.

Usually, there are shows every day, primarily weekdays during late afternoons/evenings and weekends.

CHR is also home of the 6 people who organize and run Wings FM, the station broadcasting the Royal International Air Tattoo, the largest airshow in Europe. Employees visit hospital wards to gather requests and dedications.

Technological Innovation

CHR believes itself to be one of the first hospital broadcaster to be relayed around the world, via the internet radio service Live365. The station went live on the internet in June 2005 with an afternoon of special programmes. The service can be accessed from the station's website.

External links

* [http://www.chrs.org.uk Chippenham Hospital Radio Station]
* [http://www.hbauk.co.uk The Hospital Broadcasting Association]