A much-loved radio station broadcasting to patients at Basingstoke hospital has been nominated for three top awards.
The annual National Hospital Radio Awards shortlisted the local service for station of the year, special events broadcast, and best newcomer for presenter Christine Rowley.
Chairwoman of the hospital radio's eight-strong board of trustees, Marilyn Price, said she was chuffed for her team.
“I am thrilled to bits, and very proud of the team.
“We are very honoured, especially considering the number of stations around the country we are lucky to be nominated at all,” said Marilyn.
“We have never gained the gold for radio station of the year, so it would be fantastic if we did it this year.”
Up to 35 volunteers produce the round-the-clock programming for patients at Basingstoke Hospital.
On April 28 the station team, who work from a portacabin at the Aldermaston Road site, will celebrate 40-years of broadcasting.
At the National Hospital Radio Awards, the team will be vying with nine other stations for the top spot.
And volunteers Dave Warren Chris Fox, Laura Emery, Steph Ferguson, Adrian Barrett, and Neil Ogdon’s coverage of the Basingstoke Half Marathon in October last year has been nominated in the special event category.
New presenter Christine Rowley, who fronts Music on Demand on Tuesday’s from 6pm to 9pm, will be up for Best Newcomer at the awards ceremony in Northampton on March 31.
Speaking to the Basingstoke Observer, Christine, 50, from North Waltham, said the nominations were a fitting way to mark their 40th anniversary.
Christine became a volunteer alongside her full time job with Hampshire County Council in March 2011 after being inspired to join when listening to hospital radio at Frimley Park Hospital while recovering from a hip operation.
“I find it extremely rewarding,” she said. “Because it’s a hobby, a hobby I love doing.
“The nice thing is I hopefully get to cheer someone up. That’s what happened to me when I was feeling low when I was in hospital recovering.
“They came round and did a quiz and I won a mug, which is what we do and it does help patients a lot.”
