East Surrey Hospital Radio Celebrates 50 Years of Broadcasting

• Apr 25, 2025

A beloved radio service that has been entertaining patients and staff at East Surrey Hospital is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The station's journey began with an experimental broadcast on Christmas Day in 1974 at the former Redhill General Hospital. Regular programming followed in 1975. When the new East Surrey Hospital opened, the station moved into a dedicated studio space, officially launched in February 1985 by Jean Metcalfe, the renowned presenter of BBC's Two Way Family Favourites.

To mark the milestone, a special week of programming kicks off on 13 April. Long-time volunteer Nigel Gray, who joined in 1981 and became chairman in 1984, shared plans for the celebration: “We’ll have live shows throughout the day, guest interviews in the studio, and replays of memorable archive content, including interviews with Dame Judi Dench and Nicholas Owen.”

The station became a 24-hour service in 1988. In its early days, broadcasts reached patients via the hospital’s intercom system. In 2000, the station upgraded to AM medium wave, and it’s now available on FM, online, and through smart speakers.

Staffed entirely by volunteers from diverse backgrounds, the radio team visits hospital wards to gather around 8,000 song requests and dedications annually.

“We’re always looking for new volunteers who want to get involved,” said Gray, encouraging others to join the community-driven effort that has kept the station thriving for five decades