It has come to our attention that there may be some confusion as to who our official publisher may be. The committee of WHR wishes to confirm that we are no longer connected or have any associations with a publishing company called 'Smile' or 'The Volunteer', who's director is Jim Lloyd.

Our official publisher is Hospital Radio Publications Ltd Michelle Newstead is our account manager and is authorised to act on our behalf in all advertising matters. Tel: 01245 382229

If you have any questions regarding our colleagues within the Voluntary Services Department at the hospital, please call Vivian Payne (VSO manager) on 01923 217307.

The Latest News...

March 07

WHR received a Lottery grant of £9000 from 'Awards for All' to help refurbish studio two.

September 06

Andy Stroud - Personnel Officer

This week I received a questionnaire from BT via my email asking about my experience as an award winner at the BT Tower when I collected my trophy and a cheque for £3000 for WHR. It bought the memories flooding back. But as these questionnaires always ask 'how can we improve things', quite honestly they couldn’t!

It was a bright Sunny day and I was wearing my new suit that I had bought for the day and off I set with my daughter Rachael for a day out at the BT Tower. I had no idea I was about to win anything although I hoped I would get something. But there was to be a nice buffet and a visit to the revolving restaurant that had been closed to the general public after a bomb explosion in the 1970’s. We arrived in good time at 9.45 and after the scanning of our belongings and clothing of the type you might see at an airport, we were shown into the reception area by a friendly receptionist where we mingled with other prospective winners. The people were from all over the UK including Scotland and Northern Ireland. Everyone was standing around chatting and drinking coffee and orange juice while munching on the odd biscuit.

After about an hour we were shown into a theatre with a stage at the front. The seats were very comfortable and I had visions of nodding off somewhere during the proceedings. My daughter was sitting beside me and my line manager from BT was right behind. I instructed them both to give me a nudge should my head start to wobble.

The lights were dimmed and an MC introduced Sir Christopher Bland, the BT Chairman. It all started with one of last years winners telling us about what his organisation had done with the money he had received. Then the awards began in earnest. The first category was Community and they read out the first two names who both received a runners up prize. Then, I heard them talking about Watford Hospital Radio, then my name, then they played the video that they had made a few weeks before. Up I went and collected my trophy and the cheque for £3,000. I have to say that there was no way that I was going to nod off after that!

There were some really good causes helped by this award scheme and I was on a high all day. After the awards were over it was up to the restaurant for more photographs and the loveliest food you can imagine. We spent the afternoon talking to such interesting people, whilst looking at London from the revolving restaurant.

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