16 Feb 2011

Royal 1 Radio

The Glasgow Royal Infirmary has it's own independent radio station called Royal 1 Radio, which apparently broadcasts seven days a week. Sadly when I attempted to visit the website and gain further information and a bit of a background history, I discovered that their site was under construction. Therefore, I shall contact them and report back later.

Tel: 0141 221 4835

Radio Lollipop

Radio Lollipop began in 1978 at what was the largest children's hospital in Europe at the time, Queen Mary's, Carshalton, Surrey. Today the service is available in Australia, New Zealand, America and throughout the UK.

Based in London, the charity's main aim is to focus on play and entertainment for sick children.

A swift browse online for images associated with Radio Lollipop demonstrates their commitment to that cause. Unlike most radio stations there are few images of the presenters, the studio or equipment and instead there are lots of images of parties, fun activities and events organised for the children themselves.


Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Yorkhill Division
Dalnair Street
Glasgow
G3 8SJ

Tel: 0141 201 0781
Email: glasgow@radiolollipop.org

http://www.radiolollipop.org/

VIR

Victoria Infirmary Radio (VIR) is based in the original hospital administration block across from Queen's Park and has two broadcasting channels, which provide talk & music or sport, religion & specialist radio output. This offers a very diverse service not generally found on hospital radio. In 1990 the station fell silent due to insufficient funding, however radio enthusiast Alan Hall relaunched the station in 1995 after visiting his mother in hospital and discovering there was no radio service.

When not broadcasting, VIR switches to BBC Radio Scotland.




Victoria Infirmary Radio
Victoria Infirmary
NHS Trust
Langside Road
Glasgow

G42 9TY

Tel: 0141 201 5173 


Southern Sound

The Southern General hospital is not served by HBS (see below) and is one of the few remaining local independent hospital radio stations in the Glasgow area. Broadcasting upwards of 47 hours a week 'Southern Sound' like most hospital radio stations is staffed by volunteers.



Alan Taylor (Secretary)
Southern Sound Hospital Radio
Southern General Hospital
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow G51 4TF

Telephone:  
07973 516 007 


http://www.southernsound.org.uk/

Hospital Broadcasting Service

Hospital radio in Glasgow began in 1969 with a pilot service called 'Radio Phoenix' at the Foresthall Hospital. The year long experiment proved to be very popular and on December 25th 1970 the Hospital Broadcasting Service (HBS) was launched with a view to making radio available to all of the NHS hospitals in the local area.

Six NHS hospitals are served by HBS today* and one last hospital (Clydebank) retaining the option to connect if required.

Based in Baltic Chambers, Wellington Street HBS broadcasts from two studios with the help of approximately 80 volunteer staff.




Contact:
Suite 444
Baltic Chambers
50 Wellington Street
Glasgow
G2 6HJ

Tel: 0141 221 4043
Email: studio@hbs.org.uk

* The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Clinic, Blawarthill Hospital, Drumchapel Hospital, Gartnaval General Hospital, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital & Western Infirmary.

http://www.hbs.org.uk/index.html

Introduction

My name is Gavin and I am a mature student at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, UK. I'm currently studying 'Media & Communications' and as part of my coursework I have decided to produce a blog on a specific area of interest. As I am also the co-manager of GCU's student radio station (Radio Caley) it should come as of no surprise to learn that I have decided to focus on the Glasgow Radio Scene.

However, there is a twist in the tail as although I shall take a look at independent, commercial and national radio my main focus will be on the unsung heroes, the mostly unpaid and volunteer groups who produce some of the more obscure output on our airwaves and online.

Heard of Sandaig Radio? Know who'd be presenting on your local hospital radio station? Any idea what the output is of the local universities in the Glasgow area?

If the answer to any of these questions is 'no', then please follow this blog and find out. You might be pleasantly surprised, whilst finding an alternative to your current radio listening habits.

One question I have been asked was why I chose the name Obsidian Notes for the blog? Well, it stems from high quality record turntable plinths, which were manufactured from obsidian in the 1970s such as those produced by Technics. The quality of output was remarkable.