Hospital Radio Swale is one of the Mayor's chosen Charities

Rotary Supports HRS

Apr 15, 2016

 

Hospital Radio Swale is based at Sheppey Community Hospital in Minster and has been broadcasting since 1974. Staffed entirely by volunteers it is “on the air” 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This level of activity means it has to pay substantial licence fees and is constantly fund raising. The trustees contacted MP Gordon Henderson to find out if he could help.

 

Gordon approached the Presidents of the four Rotary clubs, Isle of Sheppey, Sittingbourne & Milton, Minster on Sea and Sittingbourne Invicta, in his constituency and they immediately sprang into action, contributing £250 from each club into a fund for the station.

 

On Wednesday 9th March the Presidents and other members of each club, together with Mike Whiting representing Gordon Henderson, Met at the station’s studios and were given a guided tour by the Secretary John Robinson and Chairman Dusty Miller.

 

John Robinson said “We are delighted by the support we have received from the four Rotary clubs and the money they have contributed will go towards the licence fees we have to pay, enable us to set up 24 hour broadcasting at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, expand into new areas of Sheppey Community Hospital and look for longer term moves to other hospitals and medical units.

 

Mike Whiting said “Gordon Henderson is very proud of the service HRS supplied to the community and is fully supportive of their efforts to renegotiate the basis on which licence fees need to be paid. He is grateful to the Rotary clubs for the level of support they have given and the speed in which this was done”.

 

Steve Wood, President of Sittingbourne Invicta but speaking on behalf of all the Rotary clubs said “We are very pleased to be involved with such an important community service and we hope this will be the start of a long-term relationship. Rotary’s moto is “Service Above Self” and this project with HRS matches our remit exactly”.

 

Steve has been training as a Presenter with John Robinson and will begin his own live show in May. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Presenter can contact the station through its website.

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