Welcome to Mid-Downs Radio
Mid Downs Radio spreads its’ wings to a larger community!
From an idea and a small
studio in a broom cupboard in the long closed Cuckfield Hospital, Mid Downs Radio
now broadcasts from two well-equipped studios on the first floor of the Princess
Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. These studios, together with our
professionally equipped Outside Broadcast Unit (OBU), are the heart of the station.
Past
and present committees, fundraisers, members, the Brighton and Sussex University
Hospitals Board, PRH and HPNC Leagues of Friends and support from the Mid Sussex
Community and the National Lottery, have all helped us to carry on improving the
quality of MDR’s output to all our listeners.
In recent years we have invested in
an up-to-date Myriad Computer System, a new PA and mike system for the OBU and are
looking at improving the Passive Speaker System around the Priness Royal Hospital
Complex. The new LPAM 1350am aerial has improved the strength and clarity of our
broadcasts.
As well as the Hospedia bedside units; speakers in waiting areas, WRVS shop and League
of Friends Coffee Shop and the foyer; patients, staff and visitors listen in on their
personal radios. This has meant that MDR has become the most listened to radio station
in our corner of Mid-Sussex.
MDR’s backbone are our team of around 30 presenters,
who broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a variety of music (live and
pre-recorded), chat, National and local news, plus Hospital and Health information.
The new Training Team, headed by Brian, and using mentors for ‘Newbies’, teaches
presenters to be professional, but aware of their audience and to above all ‘Be Entertaining’.
The
Production Team; lead by Paul B., Gary (Head Techie), and DC, continually refresh
and up-date with pre-recorded programmes. Specialist programmes such as Wendy’s
‘Spotlight’ interviews and John and Rods’ ‘Locker Room’ Saturday Sports programme
(supported by The Market Place, Burgess Hill), add to the interest.
Now, looking forward
to the future! Excitingly, our big project for the coming year is for Internet Streaming
around the UK. Hopefully this will start in June and be for an, initially, one year
trial period. But, if successful, will be carried on for the future.
Bookings are
coming in for our Events Calendar. This includes Town and Village Fairs, Football
Tournaments and Sporting events, Tin Shakes, Open Days, and Social Get-togethers.
After the success of last years’ fundraising show, Poppa Roy is seeking talent for
another one this year, in the Autumn!
This will all combine to help us in our future projects, including a new desk for
Studio One.
Look out for up-to-date news on the MDR Web-site, run by our wonderful
Allie, and managed by PR Wendy. If you have any items, contact Wendy at the Committee.
Or, why not join our Face Book page and have your views and thoughts go out to other
interested parties?
We are always looking for people to join our Charity, so if you
would like to help out with Fundraising, Request Collecting, Presenting, Production,
programme making or any other area where you could be trained or add your talents,
then please contact Lynda and she will send you Membership forms and information
at Lynda White, Membership Secretary.
MDR would love to have you come and join us!
Cathy Barnett (Chairman).
