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Presenter Profiles

Simon Barrie
I have always had a keen interest in Radio Broadcasting since my early teenage years. I was fortunate enough to have joined a local radio station where I received my basic training.

I joined Mid Downs Radio in August 2005 where I underwent more advanced training in the techniques of Radio Broadcasting.
After 3 months I was fortunate enough to be given my own programme for which I still present to the present day.
I revamped my show and now broadcast the MDR Double Top 20 where i play music from the 70's 80's and 90's to the present day. Each week I playing music from one decade.
My hobbies include swimming, aviation, keeping fit and Radio presenting.

You can hear me every Sunday between 1200 and 1400hrs for the MDR Double Top 20 on 1350am
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Ann Bird
Wednesday Evening 2000-2200hrs 'All Kinds of Everything' with Mavis McLaren
"I have been presenting a program with Mavis McLaren from 8 till 10 on a Wednesday evening for over 25 years. Adrian joined us some years ago and added a new dimension to the program with his wit and humour. Our program 'All Kinds of Everything' (Dana) is a variety of all kinds of music from classical to country and western and popular artists plus a feature. And of course, requests, we collect ourselves to make it more personal. We also train newcomers which is very rewarding when they go on to present their own program. I am a cashier in the finance department of a local health company. I enjoy folk dancing and days out with my two grandchildren who keep me very busy. I also try to find time to keep the garden tidy and enjoy walking. I have walked the South Downs Way both ways! I also enjoy watching snooker and tennis on TV" TOP

Janet Bridger
Hello- I’m ward Relations officer, presenter, committee member of Mid Downs Hospital Radio. I’m a widow with a daughter Dee, who has Cerebral Palsy and we have 3 small dogs – Sam, May and puppy Dylan. My radio programmes are Morning rounds Tuesdays between 10 and 12 noon, “Afternoon Delight” Thursdays between 1and 3pm plus the occasional “Country Hour” on Sundays at 8pm. I play easy listening music for all ages and you can make your requests by phone (ext 8139_ or through Patientline (*800). My hobbies, apart from MDR of course are, Dee, driving, gardening and sport on TV. Among my favourite artists are Jimmy Nail, Russell Watson, Lighthouse Family, Bee Gees, Johnny Cash and all old classic Country music. I look forward to playing your music for you – just give me a ring! Happy Listening!. TOP

Charlene Byrne
I have been a member of MDR for about three years now. My time to date with the station has not only been fun and enjoyable, but also very rewarding. All the activities I have been involved in, from tin shakes and outside broadcasts, through to the presenting of a weekly show, have enabled me to come into contact with some truly wonderful characters. Some of these are fellow members and presenters and some, of course, are our listeners - the patients and staff of the PRH.

Loves: Music (particularly live), the theatre, good cinema, a bright, sunny sky with a gentle scattering of cloud, optimism, laughter.

Hates: Greed, selfishness and arrogance.

My regular presenting spot enables me to indulge my passion for music and hopefully, at the same time, provides a little warmth and joy to people when they may need it most. TOP

Paul B
Paul B broadcasts 15:00-17:00 on Thursdays with his show ‘Tiffin With Paul B’ – a mixture of music, entertainment news and an amusing (it says here) stories with guest appearances by Cathy The Request Collector. ‘Tiffin’, Paul explains, was mid-afternoon refreshment popular in days of the British Raj – which seems appropriate. His musical tastes range from 1950s to the present day ‘There’s always something worth listening to..’. He has, however, a special interest in Jamaican music - ‘It’s not all reggae…!’ He also plays rhythm & blues guitar, keyboards and sings (but not, you will be pleased to hear, on air) and has been known to perform occasionally with his band ‘Déjà Vu’ when the ageing bones allow him to. TOP

David Eggleston
I started out with MDR in 2004, following my move to Sussex from Hertfordshire, where I was a member and presenter with East Herts Hospital Radio for around eight years. I present a programme on a Friday evening, where the emphasis is generally on easy listening music from the 50s/60s/70s/80s, as well as songs from the musicals, ranging from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Rice and Lloyd Webber. Aside from my keen interest in radio, I am an avid follower of many sports, particularly football and cricket, and do a fair amount of running (I have taken part in several marathons, doing my charity fundraising bit at the same time !).

I have worked professionally in the voluntary sector for some 12 years and am currently involved in fundraising and marketing with a leading local charity. It was perhaps no surprise therefore that I was gently coerced at the AGM in 2005 into taking on some similar roles with MDR ! TOP

Alan French
I joined the station in 1994 as a trainee presenter and it seems to me, once having passed into full membership, that I have served on the committee from almost day one. I have held the post of Ordinary Committee Member, Production Manager and Chairman and can assure that, although hard work at times, committee work can be quite rewarding.
As well as presenting programmes I also spend much of my time training new presenters, a very rewarding experience, some of whom now work in the radio industry and can be heard on the airwaves of Surrey and Sussex.
Musically I have a broad range of interests from the Big Bands to the Classics, Country to Pop, but if the truth be known I am a sucker for ballads and that easy listening music. Variety is the spice of life they say and that goes for music as well. TOP

Paul Howard
I joined MDR in early 2005 and was immediately thrown in the deep end when asked to emulate the consummate style of my trainer, the incomparable Richard Lee. His patience and perseverance eventually saw me qualified to fly solo, since when I have presented a two-hour show on Friday mornings (although the existence of four hungry mouths to feed at home means this has been a bit sporadic of late). As much as presenting shows I enjoy making radio programmes. To date these include a meeting with the Afghanistan national cricket team and several podcasts recorded for work (I am a freelance journalist). Children permitting, a programme featuring the highlights of last year's 30th anniversary celebrations is on the cards. Anyone with any advice for recording and editing sound should feel free to get in touch. TOP

John Joyce
I've been at MDR for twelve years. My first solo effort, after being trained by Geoff Perkins, was in late 1994 when I read out the numbers of the very first national lottery result. Since then I have been doing Tuesday nights, more recently accompanied by my pal, Wild Bill Parsons, and we now present "Bill and John's Nocturnal Emissions" on alternate Tuesdays ("Smoggy" Paul Crowe does the other ones.) We feature the Criminal Record (in which a dreadful record is destroyed in the studio), the Love Triangle (someone's favourite 3 love songs), 1000 To One (running down the top thousand songs of the last millennium) plus tabloid titbits and all the latest football scores. We have interviewed BBC World Service legend Paddy Feeny and Brighton soccer star and local publican Gerry Ryan in the past. I have asked Jimmy Hill for an interview, and am in contact with Audley's (Fame Academy) agent to set up an October chat. Local talent (eg soul diva Cylvian) has also been spotlighted. There is no truth in the rumour that I once played Congratulations for a woman of 111, only to find that she was in fact ill !!! TOP

Richard Lee
Having just taken early retirement from my 'day job' of more years than I care to remember, I joined MDR at the start of 2002 as a trainee voice and went on to augment our daytime live programming, presenting Morning Rounds on Wednesdays and Thursdays. And great fun it is too, not least because of the chance to play an amazingly broad range of music, which suits my own musical tastes perfectly.

I'm also one of the team that rotates hosting our country music programme on Sunday evenings and, of the time that I spend up at the studio, that particular hour is probably the most enjoyable (hopefully for you, dear listener, as well!).
Away from MDR, family matters take up most of my time including providing what seems like a constant taxi service for our two daughters! TOP

Mavis McLaren
I joined Mid Downs Radio in 1978 when it was known as “Cuckfield Hospital Radio” and located by the post room in what was fondly called “The Broom Cupboard”! Initially I was a request collector and fairly quickly progressed to a presenter. Since then I have continued to present a programme Wednesday evenings with Ann Bird and Adrian Beveridge.
I have worked through the MDR ranks; ordinary member, Membership Secretary, Vice-Chair and Chairman.
I took retirement from work at the National Association of Head Teachers in 2001. I now lead a very busy life which includes looking after my two grandchildren, line dancing, short mat bowls and secretary for the University of the Third Age. I lost my husband in 1997 and in 1999 met Vic, a widower and my present partner.
Having been with the station for just over 25 years I wonder how many more years I will stay - hopefully I can get to 30 years. TOP

Julia Mewes
I have been with MDR for 3 years now and have really enjoyed the challenges of becoming a presenter for Mid Downs Radio, thanks to Alan’s brilliant training. My previous voluntary work was as a PAT Dog visitor with my little Bella, but she is now a bit aged for hopping on and off beds and is enjoying retirement.

At University I loved to dance, whether in the “sweaty bops” as we called our discos, or for the University Ballroom Dancing Team in competitions against other teams. I was an avid pop music listener until I fell pregnant when I experienced the soothing qualities of classical music, so I now enjoy a much broader spectrum of listening.

Apart from dancing, animals have always been my passion. I am a practicing veterinary surgeon and run my own clinic for pets here in Haywards Heath.

I hope you will enjoy my program on MDR each Friday afternoon from 1pm .TOP

Mike Mitchell
I have been presenting on MDR since Christmas 2003. I love playing a range of music. It's one of the only stations where you can hear a song from the 60's next to a brand new song from today.

I have a varied taste in music. I like R'n'B, pop, modern dance and even some slow romantic ones too! My show isn't based on one type of genre so you will hear a mixture of both old and new songs.

During the week I work for a transcription company who produce other companies documents into audio, braille and large print for the blind and visually impaired. I deal with the audio side.I am a black belt in judo and also like to go to the gym. Join me Sunday afternoons from 2 - 4pm. TOP

John O'Sullivan
Although enjoying a life-long interest in radio it was not until 1985 that I first became involved in Hospital Radio Broadcasting with Colwell Radio, serving the patients and staff of St. Francis Hospital in Haywards Heath.
The majority of listeners were residents so they could drop in to the studio to request their records and chat with you whilst you presented your program.

Joining Mid Downs Radio nearly 10 years ago I have seen the station go from strength to strength. My favourite types of music are pop and soft rock, but listeners' requests have broadened my tastes - so I am just as happy playing Frank Sinatra or Chopin! It is very rewarding when patients say they have enjoyed your program - this makes it all worthwhile. Here's to the next 10 years of happy listening! TOP

Kevin Payne
I joined Hospital Radio in the Cuckfield days in January 1984 and served for 5 years as a member of the 10 strong committee.
After becoming a Christian in 1988 I applied to join the staff of Christian Hospital Radio in Tunbridge Wells. Between 1991 and 1997 I produced over 300 editions of “Living Sounds” a 30 minute programme of contemporary Christian music. “Living Sounds” was distributed across the Hospital Radio network at home and abroad.
These days I present “Kev’s Classics Years” on a Saturday evening (5:30pm) on MDR. This music based show features “the most enduring songs on the radio” as well as retaining some contemporary Christian music at 6:30pm.
I am married to Jacqui and have lived in Mid Sussex for over 40 years. TOP

Joyce Rainier TOP

Linda Wishart
During my 30-year service with the NHS in St. Francis Hospital and the Princess Royal, I was interested in writing plays, poems, etc. and became a member of the Drama Section of the Social Club and Wivelsfield Little Theatre. It was during this time when we put on Revues in the old Norman Hay Hall that I encountered MDR in action when they came to some of the shows to relay the fun to the patients. I wrote a play called “Little Tinker” for a cast from Wivelsfield Little Theatre to record in the MDR studio. This is when everything got “up close and personal” and I was hooked! I wanted to be part of the MDR team!

By the way, I also love dance, film and theatre and run a monthly quiz in the hospital’s Social Club. How about a couple of teams of four from MDR? TOP

Steve Watson
I’ve been a member of MDR since November 1991 when we moved from South London. I trained until spring’92 when I got my own show. I did a weekly show for around 5 years then had a break. I present a show on alternate Tuesday's from 8 to 10 pm, playing a mix of music from 8 to 9, then I do a Jazz and Big Band hour from 9 to 10. I also provide updates on any midweek football that is going on with latest scores, sending off's and final results too.
During my time with MDR I have served as Secretary, Membership Secretary & Vice Chairman.
Outside MDR my interests include playing snooker, which I play every couple of weeks. I also manage the website for my local Church. My music tastes range from Rock to Reggae with a Bit of Jazz and Big Band thrown in for good measure! TOP

Rob White TOP