Katie Ayers Team Leader

Katie Joined Radio Heatherwood in February 2005

Katie joined Radio Heatherwood in February 2005, looking for a new challenge…which is certainly what she got!

On arrival at the station her musical knowledge was limited, due to her less advanced years, but she had bags of enthusiasm and was eager to learn. With encouragement from Big Al and the rest of the team, Katie has since embraced the wonders of vinyl and will choose a 45 over an mp3 any day!

Katie was let loose on the airwaves in September 2005 and later invited to become team leader in April 2006.

The photo shows her proudly receiving the key to the door (though in all honesty, she looks more like a hobbit receiving the rings). She is now on Monday nights and busy helping to train up the new recruits.

This is a big challenge but very rewarding at the same time. She gets to meet some lovely people as they first come in, help them on their way, then stand back proudly as they leave the nest as fully fledged presenters! Katie loves all aspects of Radio Heatherwood and feels quite at home pottering around the station.

Visiting the wards is a highlight each week. Katie endeavours to take a request from every patient that feels up to it, even if this means spending a while going through their musical interests and their many interesting stories.

Members of the team have commented that Katie spends more time “tucking the patients in for the night” than getting requests!

On visiting a special school some years ago, she was told the parable of the starfish: After a terrible hurricane, thousands of starfish were washed up on a beach, unable to get back to the water.

A man walked along the beach, picking up the creatures and tossing them one by one back into the ocean. Another man saw his efforts and asked "Why do you bother? You can't save them all, or even a tiny fraction of them. You can't possibly think you are making a difference."

The first man picked up another starfish and tossed it into the ocean. He turned to the second man and said "I made a difference to that one."

Young Katie Katie likes to think of the patients as starfish.

At Radio Heatherwood we can’t possibly cure all their ills, but if just one person listens and we manage to brighten their day, then what we do has been worthwhile. Failing that, Radio Heatherwood is a great way to meet, and spend time with, some fantastic people – presenters and patients alike!

Katie

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Jenny Gallagher Presenter

Jenny joined Radio Heatherwood in June 2008

Jenny joined Radio Heatherwood in June 2008...and then promptly went on holiday to Rhodes! But after her sunny break, she came back to the Radio to continue her training and be part of the Monday madness!

In her early 20s, Jenny is ever extending her musical knowledge thanks to the songs patients request and she now knows how to use LPs!

Jenny

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