Station History

Walsall Hospital Radio can trace its roots back to a time when flairs were the fashion to be seen in, the Sex Pistols were the band to listen to and Star Wars the film to see. That’s right – we’re talking about the seventies, specifically, March 19^th, 1978 when radio first came to the Manor Hospital .

Originally called ‘Radio Lions’ on the account that the station was set up by the Walsall Lions Club, broadcasts took place every Sunday morning between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm with a converted bathroom on the top floor of Salisbury ward being the station’s first home.

On October 8^th, 1983 Radio Lions packed up its two record decks and moved across the car park to a more spacious studio complex at the top of St. John’s wing. Like a growing plant given a bigger pot, the upgrade from one rather too ‘comfy’ space to a larger facility gave Radio Lions the space it needed to expand. New members joined, more shows were aired and the station began to show signs of maturing.

Above - These were all the rage back in the days when WHR first began broadcasting. A historian will tell you that it's called a 'turntable'.

1988 saw the commencement of one of our most popular broadcasts, our live coverage from games played by the mighty Walsall FC. Commentary came direct from Fellows Park , switched to the Bescot Stadium when the club moved and has been going strongly ever since.

By 1992 Radio Lions had become a little too much for the Lions Club alone to handle and so it was decided to rename the station ‘Walsall Hospital Radio’ in reflection of its independent status. In the same year WHR received its first proper mixing desk, a donation unwittingly made by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. You may be interested to know how someone could unwittingly donate something the size of a studio desk. Well, legend has it that a member of WHR’s team was doing some work at the Rep and noticed the desk sitting in a skip. A quick phone call here, a truck journey there and hey presto! WHR has its very own desk, one that’s still working today.

In addition to our new (well, newish) mixing desk, 1992 was also the year in which WHR benefited from a studio refurbishment with new CD players and record decks installed.

Above - Who remembers the Spice Girls? The posters on the studio's walls reflect the station's history.

In 2002 our second studio, used primarily for editing, was refurbished. A mixing desk was installed, CD players were put in as was a new system called Minidisc on which we could play jingles and backing music. The studio was officially opened by former Walsall Hospital Radio, then Heart FM DJ Tushar Makwana.

WHR joined the computer age in 2003 with the purchase of a dedicated playout system which enabled the station to broadcast 24 hours a day with an automated program playing songs when the station’s human DJs were tucked up in bed.

Both the refurbishment of the second studio and the acquirement of the playout system were made possible by generous funding from groups including Lloyd’s Pharmacy, Wolverhampton Patients’ Aid, Lloyds TSB, New Deal of Walsall, the National Lottery Awards for All scheme as well as sponsorship from Saga FM and Darlaston’s Rainbow Fish Bar.

A new training program was introduced and the station recommenced its work experience scheme in 2005 thanks to a grant from Walsall CVS. The work experience scheme gives youngsters interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting the opportunity to try it out and to learn essential skills. 

The station received a further Awards for All grant in 2007 which helped pay towards a new mixing desk and other essential studio equipment such as new records, headphones and microphones.        

In 2008, Walsall Hospital Radio celebrated thirty years broadcasting to the patients of Manor Hospital and the station shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, quite the opposite is true as the station's volunteers are currently looking forward to 2010 when the studios are expected to expand into a new premises in the Maternity Ward. Fundraising is still going as strongly as ever as is recruitment with a steady supply of new volunteers eager to join the station. Going on the strengths of recent years, Walsall Hospital Radio looks set to enjoy another thirty years serving the local community and all those staying in the Hospital.