My local charity of the week is Hospital Radio Swindon, a free radio service for the patients and staff at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, which is run solely by volunteers. I am delighted to have been a guest of Hospital Radio Swindon.
The history of Hospital Radio Swindon can be traced all the way back to 1938 when a single gramophone was taken around the wards. In 1955, a football commentary box was installed at the County Ground in Swindon and commentaries were broadcast to Swindon Hospitals. It was one of the commentators, Les Harris, who suggested the format be widened to include broadcasting requests, music, and chat to lighten the patient's stay in the hospital. The Swindon Hospital Broadcasting Society came into existence in 1965 and began broadcasting.
In 2007, Hospital Radio Swindon moved into a new studio in the Great Western Hospital, where they currently broadcast from on the second floor. In 2013, the studio was renamed the David Penfold Studio after one of the members who was very influential in getting Hospital Radio Swindon into the Great Western Hospital. You can learn more about the fascinating history of Hospital Radio Swindon as well as how you can support this wonderful local charity by visiting http://www.hospitalradioswindon.org/
You can also follow Hospital Radio Swindon on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/hospitalradioswindon and on X here: https://twitter.com/HRSwindon
