Chesterfield Hospitals Radio

Chesterfield Hospitals Radio went on air, as Hady Radio, in March 1984 after years of lobbying from the eventual Station Director, Colin Downs. Programmes were broadcast from a purpose-built studio in the new Royal Hospital at Calow. The station could be found at the entrance to Eastwood and Durrant Wards. BBC Radio Sheffield were instrumental in the building of the studio. Ivan Spenceley became Station Director in 1985 and remained in that role until its closure to pursue a local FM licence.

Broadcasting Area

The station broadcast to Penmore, Scarsdale, Walton and Whittington Hall hospitals in addition to the Royal Hospital at it's peak. As the Royal Hospital expanded, Penmore and Whittington Hall Hospitals closed.

Programmes

CHR broadcast programmes every day of the week. On weekdays, broadcasting hours would often be from around 6.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. A specialist music hour would run each night, focussing on Jazz (Tom Mellor), Classics (Wilf Hurst/Les Hart), Country (Jo Bolland), Folk, Sixties, Religious, Great Revive 45 Show (Ian Rodgers). This would be followed by a thirty minute children's requests show (Jo Bolland/Angela Byfleet)and then the main request programme (Steve Jowle) dedicated to different wards on different nights. A late show would often follow ... 'Radio Zoo' was one(ear1y 90's) presented by Carl Westwood.

Weekend programming began at 9.00 a.m. on Saturday with a kids programme, followed by 'Saturday Spin-off,' a request show for patients at Walton hospital, presented by Ivan Spenceley and from March 1989, David Blythen. The staple of the afternoon would be a three hour sports show, hosted by Les Hart. This would feature, when possible, live commentary of Chesterfield FC's home match, provided by Phil Tooley and Jim Bower. During the summer months this would switch to a cricket commentary from Queen's Park. Later on in the station's life, the summer Saturday afternoon programe covered local cricket and other sport as part of a music show presented by Steve Jowle, Darrell Roberts, Reece Kind, David Blythen, Lee Glasby. More specialist music would follow on Saturday evening, traditionally big bands and swingtime, and more requests.

Sunday programming started in the early days with Darrell Roberts on Breakfast until Ian Rodgers took over the programme in the late 1980s.This was followed by religious programming and the various request shows until around 1986 whne the children's request show was dropped. Alistair Nicholas and David Bridgman hosted early evening programmes, followed by Les Hart with the popular request show. Ivan Goldstraw and his wife Mavis presented a late night religious programme for a few years. The studio's were usually off air on Sunday afternoon for training purposes.

pecial programmes

There were often 'one-off' shows during the year. These included concerts from the Winding Wheel and the annual mince pie race, which saw presenters darting around the various hospitals, taking requests and sampling festive produce from the kitchens!

FM Licence

CHR broadcast on an FM wavelength under the name Trust FM for 28 days in 1996 commencing on 11-Nov-96 although the station did come on air before as a test broadcast. It had been hoped that this would serve as a precursor to securing the FM franchise for commercial radio in Chesterfield. However, the licence was eventually awarded to Peak FM. CHR/Trust FM closed with a bumper evening of programmes featuring presenters past and present, in December 1996.

Presenters

A number of presenters were with the station for many years - Steve Jowle, Les Hart, Darrell Roberts, Ian Rodgers, Dave Banks, Jim Bower, David Bridgman, Jo Bolland, Chris Turner, Rex Bryan, Paul Godley, Alastair Nicholas and Giles Brackenbury to name but a few.

A former member is Chris Binns. He became Tom Binns and developed his satirical character 'Ivan Brackenbury' who's comedy roadshow involves broadcasting to Chesterfield Hospitals. In his stage act he refers to several Chesterfield landmarks, hospital wards and places around the town. Throughout Chris Binn's membership, Ivan Spenceley was the Station Director. After leaving, Chris worked at BBC Nottingham and other radio stations in the UK.

Phil Kennedy is now involved with Ashby Radio having worked at Radio Harmony in Coventy and Mansfield 103.2. His brother was a presenter with Radio City in Liverpool. He has a namesake who works for the BBC. Trevor Parsons (Presenter, producer and creative) surfaced on Peak FM, Trax FM (Doncaster & Bassetlaw), Ridings FM, Amber Sound FM as programme controller and head of production. He was also involved with the alternative RSL that ran under the name of First FM. Other long-standing presenters such as Mark Atherton and David Bridgman have appeared on other hospital stations in Derby and London respectively. Mark Atherton has been known to broadcast on Centre/Touch FM, Oak 107, Peak FM and High Peak Radio. Phil Tooley went on to report and commentate for Hallam FM and Peak FM. Jim Bower also broadcast football reports with Peak FM. Lee Glasby worked at Peak FM, Signal Radio and 'The Revolution' in Oldham. Reece Kind is currently (2008) with Mansfield 103.2.

Non-presenters

Mention should be made of the people who helped behind the scenes. Margaret Sykes was the organisation's secretary for a number of years and Brian Dentith officiated as treasurer. The presenters were assisted by, amongst others,Kath Downs, Zena Murrell, Ruth Hart, Deborah Raybould, Dawn Bridgman and Sue Spenceley.