I have been at Coventry Hospital Radio now for more than 3 years so I decided to write a little blog about my 3 years there. I have seen the station grow and grow to being number 1 at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for more than 2 years and now maybe going internet (if money will let us too).
When I started as a trainee in May 2011 the station was still using mini-disks/CD's/Vinal and we had no computer apart from the playout system which had to keep changing every 30 Days or so. We had no internet access or website just a basic information details and email address to the volunteers office then they would pass the information up to the CHR committee at that time through meetings.
When I passed my training in July 2011 I was on a Friday afternoon between 1-2pm presenting a sports/music show and had to get all my information printed out before I went to the studio's due to no access to the internet while LIVE on air. The phone call's were very minimum and they had to use the 02476 number which would put people off thinking it would cost them to phone us. I then moved to Thursday afternoon's due to college lesson's. I was given a 2 hour show alongside a request show from 2pm and then CHR started to pick up with ratings and new ideas were brought into the station.
In 2012 the CHR started to climb from 4th/5th in the TV/Radio ratings to 1st and for the first time in ages. A new website was then being built with a very long complicated name with something called coventryhospitalradio.webatu.org. When it came to middle of the year Coventry Hospital Radio had also gone into the social media world by having a facebook and twitter accounts and interacting with the audience that but we still didn't have no internet in the radio studio's for LIVE shows. It was also CHR's 40th Birthday that year so were organizing a BIG birthday bash with people new and old from the past at CHR.
They also appointed a Patron who is Barnie Choudhury and some ambassadors and they were:
1) Hazel O'Connor-Singer,songwriter
2) Pauline Black-Singer,Musician
3) Vic Minett-BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Presenter
4) Brody Swain-Ex 96.2 Touch FM Breakfast presenter and now works for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and Inrix Travel
In that year was also when CHR won a few awards at the Hospital Radio Broadcasting awards including a 48 hour show. By the end of 2012 CHR has already improved within a year and half I have been there and slowly started to bring internet in within the hospital wifi.
They also appointed a Patron who is Barnie Choudhury and some ambassadors and they were:
1) Hazel O'Connor-Singer,songwriter
2) Pauline Black-Singer,Musician
3) Vic Minett-BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Presenter
4) Brody Swain-Ex 96.2 Touch FM Breakfast presenter and now works for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and Inrix Travel
In that year was also when CHR won a few awards at the Hospital Radio Broadcasting awards including a 48 hour show. By the end of 2012 CHR has already improved within a year and half I have been there and slowly started to bring internet in within the hospital wifi.
The start of 2013 saw Coventry Hospital Radio have internet and looking at getting there own internet. Within the CHR studio's there was more audience interaction then before a *800 number started getting rid of the 02476 number. An official website was brought and up running on the internet. Presenter's had there own presenter profile and promo on the internet and things were looking good for Coventry Hospital Radio. At the start of 2013 I moved to a Wednesday evening between 7-8pm but within a few months I changed back to a Thursday Afternoon between 1-3pm with requests at 2pm. Social media sites like facebook and twitter had interaction with people from outside the hospital asking people to play certain songs for people who are in hospital. The playout system was changed with the music sorted out and shows going out in the evening /overnight. Loads of events were also happening for Coventry Hospital Radio they went LIVE at ASDA at Brade Drive in Coventry, They went to the Godiva Festival, Coventry Market with a LIVE show and they had singer Krystal Mills in the studio playing LIVE songs on air and questions being asked from the presenter and since then she has been backed plenty of other times. By the end of 2013 it looked like another great year for Coventry Hospital Radio and with the Lord Mayor of Coventry visiting once again and wishing patients a peaceful new year.
The start of 2014 continued like 2013 with many events/fundraising ideas being mention including competitions. Every week the radio station keeps improving and is still number 1 with great audience interaction from the Coventry public and people who are unfortunately in hospital. Coventry Hospital Radio are always on the look out for new volunteers young and old to help out the station in many ways from getting requests to being a radio presenter.
I always interact with my Thursday afternoon audience on social media on my facebook page: www.facebook.com/simontidmarshdj or on twitter @SiOnTheRadio/@Cov4si or on *800 telephone number. I am looking forward to the next 3 years and beyond at Coventry Hospital Radio and don't forget more details about the station can be found at: www.coventryhospitalradio.org
My profile at Coventry Hospital Radio is at: http://coventryhospitalradio.org/Simon-Tidmarsh.php
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